Vancouver is one of the most beautiful and liveable cities in Canada, surrounded by mountains and the ocean and full of wonderful parks and green areas. There are many things to see and do and, with 3 days at your disposal, you will have to make some sacrifices, especially among the museums, but you will still be able to discover the most beautiful corners of this destination.
In order to max out your time and make the most of your visit, it's recommended to find centrally-located lodging. Ideally, this would be situated near places such as the UBC Hospital which makes it easy to access different parts of the city. Why not consider these Hotels in British Columbia near UBC Hospital at britishcolumbiahotels.net?
Alternatively, for a wider variety of options, you can explore and Book Hotels in British Columbia at tophotels.com. They offer a wide array of accommodations to suit every taste and budget.
Here are all our tips for organising the perfect 3-day Vancouver itinerary!
SEE ALSO: What to see in Vancouver
First time in Vancouver? Let us guide you: for a first approach to the city, we recommend booking a guided walking tour with a local guide or an open-top bus tour.
Day 1
Distance travelled: 5.1 km
Places visited: Stanley Park (free, Park Train 6.80 CAD/€5.00), Robson Street, Chinatown, Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden (16.00 CAD/€11.80), Vancouver Lookout (18.25 CAD/€13.50), Gastown
Where to eat: Lunch at JOEY Burrard(Get directions), Dinner at Nightingale(Get directions)
1 - Stanley Park
Start this trip to Vancouver from one of its quintessential attractions, namely Stanley Park. This is the city's large 404.9-hectare park, also voted best park in the world by Tripadvisor users, a true oasis of peace and greenery, to which the whole morning should be devoted.
There are so many activities to do here! Hire a bike and ride around the park (average per hour 35.00 CAD/€25.70) or enjoy a ride on the Stanley Park Train (ticket $6.80/€5.00), ideal if you are travelling with children. The full ride takes an average of 15 min and you will have a full view of the park. If you're travelling with the little ones, you can also visit the Vancouver Aquarium, which is located right inside the park (daily 10am-5pm; full admission $40.00/€29.40, concessions $32.00/€23.50).
If you want to lose yourself in nature, then we recommend the Merilees Trail, which also follows a stretch of coastline, with beautiful views of the ocean. If, on the other hand, it is a nice sunny day, you can also walk to Third Beach.
Find thepark's totem poles: not too far from the aquarium, you can find this area full of totem poles, a reminder of the indigenous Canadian people who lived in the park area.
2 - Robson Street
Photo by Adam Jones, Ph.D.. After your visit to Stanley Park is over, move on to the heart of Vancouver, Downtown. To get there you can take the long Robson Street, which runs right through downtown from Stanley Park to BC Place Stadium.
Rosbon Street is Vancouver's most famous street. Here you can find numerous shops and you will find yourself strolling among tall skyscrapers. There is no shortage of restaurants and bars, so stop along the street for lunch. The street is particularly long, stretching for over 2 km, so it's up to you whether you want to walk the whole thing or just a little bit and then take public transport to Chinatown.
Stop at Robson Square: the large square hosts a skating rink in winter and various events are held throughout the year. If you want to enjoy a quick lunch without stopping at a restaurant, you can also find numerous food trucks here.
3 - Chinatown and Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden
Photo by Ɱ. Once you have walked all the way down Robson Street you will arrive in Chinatown, Vancouver's Chinese neighbourhood and the third largest in North America by population, after New York and San Francisco. Here for a moment you will feel as if you are in another world, far away from Canada.
Enjoy a stroll through its streets, visiting the small shops full of colour and fragrance, or head to the large market where you can also sample some special street food.
But Chinatown's main attraction is definitely the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden, the first classical Chinese garden in the whole of Canada (May to mid-June and September 10am-6pm, mid-June to August 9.30am-7pm, October to April 10am-4.30pm; admission 16.00 CAD/€11.80). It is a true oasis of peace, with ponds, walkways and pavilions that will make you feel you are in China.
Check out the activities on offer: the garden offers free guided tours and traditional Chinese tea tastings. Highly recommended for families, admission also includes a treasure hunt for the little ones.
4 - Gastown Quarter and Vancouver Lookout
Finally, head to the nearby neighbourhood of Gastown, Vancouver's oldest neighbourhood. It is located next to Chinatown, so you can get there on foot.
Gastown is a mix of new and old, a neighbourhood full of Victorian buildings but completely surrounded by tall skyscrapers. Also listen out for the whistle of the Gastown Steam Clock, the steam-powered clock that tells the time!
This is also one of the districts, along with Chinatown, where the evening nightlife is concentrated. But, before or after dinner, be sure to also climb the Vancouver Lookout, the revolving observation platform that offers a splendid view of the entire city (October to May 9am to 9pm, June to September 8.30am to 10.30pm; full admission 18.25 CAD/€13.50, concessions 13.25 CAD/€9.70). You can go up there at sunset or in the evening to admire the illuminated city.
Spend the evening in Gastown and Chinatown: the nightlife districts. In Chinatown you can find the Fortune Sound Club, which often hosts international DJs, and The Keefer Bar, with Asian-inspired cocktails. For a beer in Gastown you'll find the Steamworks Brewpub, and for a more lively night out, The Red Room nightclub.
Day 2
Distance travelled: 7.7 km
Places visited: Vancouver Art Gallery (24.00 CAD/€17.70) or Science World (30.40 CAD/€22.40), Granville Island, Museum of Vancouver (10.00 CAD/€7.40), Yaletown
Where to eat: Lunch at Granville Island Market(Get directions), Dinner at MeeT in Yaletown(Get directions)
1 - Morning at the museum: Vancouver Art Gallery or Science World
Devote this second morning to visiting one of Vancouver's museums. The choice is wide and there are museums for all interests, but we mainly recommend two.
Option A at the Vancouver Art Gallery (daily 10am-5pm, Tue until 9pm; admission CAD 24.00/€17.70). The city's art museum. Inside, you can admire an extensive collection of paintings and works, which now numbers more than 10,000 pieces. But that's not all: one of the most important photographic collections in North America is exhibited in its halls.
Option B at Science World (Mon-Fri 10am-5pm, Sat-Sun 10am-6pm; admission 30.40 CAD/€22.40). This famous science museum includes permanent collections and temporary exhibitions, as well as futuristic and interactive exhibits. It is immediately recognisable by its distinctive dome shape. Also ideal to visit with children!
Another alternative: if you are not particularly interested in visiting a museum. Take part in the incredible FlyOver Canada experience, a flight simulator that allows you to 'fly' over all the most famous places in Canada!
2 - Granville Island
Around lunchtime, head to Granville Island, one of Vancouver's best neighbourhoods! Taking the Vancouver Art Gallery as your starting point, you can either walk there (20 min), or take the Granville Island-Hornby Street ferry from the Hornby stop and get off just steps away from the famous market (cost CAD/€3.75).
Once on Granville Island, visit the famous Granville Island Public Market (daily 9am-6pm; free admission), one of the best open-air markets in North America! Take advantage of your visit to stop here for lunch, sampling seafood specialities and enjoying the Vancouver skyline.
Consider a whale watching tour: whale watching boat trips depart from Granville Island. Departure is at 14:30 and the tour lasts about 5 hours. Dress well, bring something to eat and drink and don't forget your camera! It's a truly unique experience.
3 - Museum of Vancouver and Kitsilano Beach Park
If you're not interested in the whale-watching tour, head to the nearby neighbourhood of Kitsliano in the afternoon, which is home to Vanier Park and the Museum of Vancouver, the city's local history museum (Thu-Sun 10am-4pm; full admission 10.00 CAD/€7.40, concessions 5.00 CAD/€3.70). We recommend visiting the latter to admire the collections that trace the city's history, such as the'Neon Vancouver' exhibition, where you can discover the city of the 1950s, when it had some 19,000 neon lights scattered throughout the streets!
Then visit the wonderful Kitsilano Beach Park, one of Vancouver's most beautiful parks. It is best known for its beach which houses the Kitsilano Pool, with water heated to 27° and a wonderful view of the surrounding mountains. If you're travelling with children, you'll also find plenty of playgrounds, as well as numerous clubs and shops for a bit of shopping.
4 - Yaletown
Move on to Yaletown, a lively and trendy neighbourhood in Vancouver. From Kitsilano, the best option is definitely to take a taxi.
Overlooking Vancouver's marina and with a beautiful view of the Cambie Bridge, Yaletown is a former industrial area where old warehouses have been converted. Today it is one of Vancouver's most beautiful neighbourhoods and is home to trendy bars, cafes and lounge bars, as well as designer shops. Watch the sunset from the waterfront and enjoy the evening in this neighbourhood.
Spend the evening in Yaletown: one of the nightlife hotspots. For a good beer with friends head to the Yaletown Brewing Company, for great cocktails in an old-fashioned setting the Yaletown Distillery Bar. But there's no shortage of lounge bars like The Parlour or nightclubs like The Roxy Cabaret.
Day 3
Distance travelled: 25.8 km
Places visited: Capilano Suspension Bridge (Park and Suspension Bridge €46.23), Grouse Mountain (free, Skyride from 32.00 CAD/€23.60), Coal Harbour
Where to eat: Lunch at Cliff House Restaurant & Bar(Get directions), Dinner at Mahony's Tavern(Get directions)
1 - Capilano Suspension Bridge
For this final day we take you on a discovery of two of the most beautiful places immediately north of Vancouver. The first is the Capilano Suspension Bridge, the suspension bridge in the middle of the forest (from 9am, closing between 5-7pm depending on the time of year; admission €46.41). To get there you can take one of the free tourist shuttles, which leave from Canada Place Way at the information kiosk, from Melville St in front of the Hyatt Hotel, from Robson St in front of the Blue Horizon Hotel and from the Westin Bayshore.
Here you can discover the beautiful Capilano Park, a true natural oasis. The main attraction is the famous suspension bridge, an activity to be enjoyed safely and loved by young and old alike. But there are many other activities to do in the park: with the Cliffwalk you can cross a granite cliff along the Capilano River, while with the Treetops Adventure you can walk across seven suspension bridges between centuries-old trees.
Consider a guided tour: the afternoon stop is the beautiful Grouse Mountain and, if you don't want to go it alone, you can join the North Shore Capilano and Grouse Mountain suspension bridge tour, with transport included and a guide accompanying you the whole time.
2 - Grouse Mountain
In the afternoon, head to Grouse Mountain, the beautiful mountain park with breathtaking views. It is really close to Capilano Park: take bus line 232 or 236 from NB Capilano Rd to Grouse Mountain Skyride (10 min).
The bus will drop you off right in front of the station of the iconic Red Skyride, the cable car that takes you to the top of the mountain and gives you the opportunity to see British Columbia's extraordinary wildlife. The trip up takes just 8 min, but the spectacle is unique (daily 9am-9.30pm; costs vary according to season, from CAD 32.00/€23.60). This area also offers plenty of activities to do all year round: with the kids you can visit the refuge that is home to two orphaned grizzly bears and a zipline, in summer you can follow one of the hiking trails while in winter you can indulge in winter sports.
In theevening, return to Coal Harbour: the neighbourhood overlooking the sea and close to Gastown. Admire the famous Canada Place convention centre all unrestricted and then enjoy the area's nightlife. Marvel at the Cactus Club Cafe Bentall 5, with a great view, as well as the elegant Hy's Steakhouse & Cocktail Bar or the 1927 Lobby Lounge.
How much does a weekend in Vancouver cost
Vancouver, and Canada in general, is a decidedly expensive destination, with costs such as flights and accommodation weighing heavily on the trip(compare flights). By booking in the off-season and well in advance you can save considerably, and then adopt various strategies once you arrive to reduce your expenses.
There are many types of accommodation in Vancouver: international chain hotels, hostels, motels, b&b's, flats. Gastown is the best district to stay in, but also one of the most expensive. To stay downtown but still save money, choose Chinatown. In any case, you will have to get around by transport, as the city is really big. To settle in best, we recommend the tourist bus. For lunches and dinners, the average cost in the city does not deviate much from Italian standards, so you can spend a little or a lot depending on the place and what you want to eat.