Granville Island Public Market
sightAn indoor market hall with vendors selling fresh produce, seafood, baked goods, and prepared foods. The island also has artist studios, theaters, and waterfront seating.
In Granville IslandVerified · Apr 26, 2026
Things to do in Vancouver
12 named places across 11 neighborhoods — restaurants, sights, bars, cafés, parks, and shops. Specific recommendations, no generic filler.
— 5 picks
Sights & landmarks in Vancouver.
The monuments, museums, and photo spots actually worth the queue.
Capilano Suspension Bridge
sightA 450-foot suspension bridge crossing a canyon 230 feet above the Capilano River. The park includes treetop walkways and a cliffside path through the rainforest.
In North VancouverVancouver Art Gallery
sightThe city's main art museum, housed in a neoclassical courthouse building, with a large collection of Emily Carr paintings and rotating contemporary exhibitions. The gallery overlooks Robson Square.
In DowntownMuseum of Anthropology
sightA museum at UBC with extensive Northwest Coast First Nations collections, including totem poles in a glass-walled Great Hall. The building by Arthur Erickson overlooks the mountains and ocean.
In University Endowment LandsDr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden
sightA Ming Dynasty-style garden built by artisans from Suzhou, with covered walkways, courtyards, and a central pond. The garden uses traditional principles of Taoist design and includes guided tours.
In Chinatown— 2 picks
Where to eat in Vancouver.
Editor-picked restaurants from the neighborhood deep-dives — no tourist traps.
Vij's
restaurantAn Indian restaurant serving contemporary dishes like lamb popsicles and jackfruit in black cardamom curry. The menu changes seasonally and focuses on regional flavors from across India.
In South GranvilleTojo's
restaurantA Japanese restaurant run by chef Hidekazu Tojo, known for omakase menus and credited with inventing the California roll. The dining room features a sushi bar where Tojo often prepares meals himself.
In Fairview— 1 picks
Bars & nightlife in Vancouver.
Where to drink, from aperitivo terraces to locals-only dive bars.
Alibi Room
barA beer-focused bar with 50 taps pouring mostly BC craft brews, plus a menu of snacks and entrees. The industrial space has communal tables and exposed brick walls.
In Gastown— 1 picks
Cafés & coffee in Vancouver.
Morning stops, espresso counters, and bakery classics.
Revolver Coffee
cafeA small specialty coffee shop serving single-origin espresso and pour-overs from rotating roasters. The narrow space has minimal seating and focuses on coffee preparation.
In Gastown— 2 picks
Parks & green space in Vancouver.
Where to slow down, picnic, or escape the summer heat.
Stanley Park
parkA 1,000-acre urban park with forested trails, the Seawall path for walking and cycling, and views of the harbor and mountains. The park includes totem poles at Brockton Point and beaches along its perimeter.
In Coal HarbourVanDusen Botanical Garden
parkA 55-acre botanical garden with themed areas including a Korean pavilion, Elizabethan hedge maze, and seasonal displays. The garden features over 7,500 plant species from six continents.
In Shaughnessy— 1 picks
Standout hotels in Vancouver.
Destination stays — worth a look even if you end up booking elsewhere.
The Sylvia Hotel
hotelA 1912 heritage building covered in Virginia creeper ivy, located across from English Bay Beach. The hotel has a lounge popular with locals and straightforward rooms with vintage character.
In West EndAdvertisement
— FAQ
Planning Vancouver.
- What are the top things to do in Vancouver?
- We've listed 12 named places across 11 neighborhoods on this page — specific recommendations, not generic filler. The grouped sections (sights, food, bars, cafés, parks, shops) let you pick by intent. If you only have one day, work the "Sights & landmarks" list top-to-bottom.
- How many days do you need in Vancouver?
- Three full days is the honest floor for a first visit to Vancouver — enough to cover the essential sights without a march, plus two meals per day in different neighborhoods. Five days lets you add day trips. Anything less than three and you're queuing instead of experiencing.
- Are guided tours in Vancouver worth booking?
- For major sights with skip-the-line value (Vatican, Colosseum, Alhambra-tier queues) yes, almost always. For neighborhood walks — usually no, our free deep-dives cover the same ground in more honest detail. The CTAs on this page go to Expedia's tours inventory if you want to compare.
- What's the best neighborhood to base yourself in Vancouver?
- Depends on your trip style — our /hotels/vancouver page ranks the neighborhoods by price and vibe. Generally: central for first-timers, residential-adjacent for return visits, canal/waterfront if the city has one.
- Are these recommendations updated?
- This page was last refreshed on the date shown in the trust pill above. We're rolling out hand-vetted neighborhood deep-dives for Vancouver — until those land, the entries here are sourced from well-established places that have been operating for many years, but we recommend confirming opening hours and current operations before you go.
Keep planning
Complete your Vancouver trip
Trip plannerVancouver one-stop planTours, transfers, packages, and events for Vancouver in one place.StaysWhere to stay in VancouverNeighborhood-by-neighborhood picks with live nightly rates.NeighborhoodsVancouver by districtLongform breakdowns of where locals eat, drink, and sleep.When to goBest time to visit CanadaMonth-by-month verdicts on weather, crowds, and prices.
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