Vancouver is located in British Columbia, Canada’s westernmost province. It is about a 20 minute drive from the airport to downtown Vancouver. Most attractions, listed below, are walkable from downtown Vancouver, which is very nice. Overall, Vancouver is a safe city, but it is always wise to be aware of your surroundings. Here are the things we did with only three days in the beautiful city!
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1) STANLEY PARK HORSE-DRAWN TOUR
The first place we visited was Stanley Park, the third largest urban park in North America, covering 1,000 acres. The Stanley Park Horse-Drawn Tour is a one hour narrated tour around the eastern side of the park. No reservations are required but the tours fill up pretty quickly. We booked our tickets online but since there are no reservations, they assign you to the next available tour once you check in. We went in the early afternoon and had to wait for about one hour for our tour. I would also recommend booking your tickets online as they were cheaper than buying them there. You can purchase tickets here.
2) GRANVILLE ISLAND
Granville Island is a peninsula and shopping district surrounded by False Creek, a short narrow inlet in the heart of Vancouver. It was one of our favorite places to visit. You can easily spend 2-3 hours or more here.
There is Granville Island Public Market, which includes 50 vendors selling a wide range of items such as fresh produce, meats, seafood, deli food, candy, and snacks. It is a great place to get locally made souvenirs.
There is a beautiful outdoor seating area that overlooks downtown Vancouver. You can drive, walk, or take the Aquabus from downtown Vancouver. We were there on a Saturday and there was a lot of traffic getting into the area. I would recommend taking a taxi or the Aquabus Ferry. It is a short ride on the Aquabus and you can enjoy beautiful views of the Vancouver skyline while the Aquabus makes several stops along False Creek.
Our next stop was VanDusen Botanical Garden. We took the Aquabus Ferry to Stamps Landing, the stop nearest to the garden. Once we arrived, we called a taxi as there are not many in the area.
3) VANDUSEN BOTANICAL GARDEN
VanDusen Botanical Garden seems to be a popular spot for weddings and wedding photos. I can see why as there are so many beautiful flowers and gardens in the park. We went on a Saturday, which is probably why it seemed like there were a lot of photo shoots and weddings going on. I would recommend going on a weekday if you can. Some areas were closed off for photo shoots and weddings, which was understandable.
4) VANCOUVER LOOKOUT
Vancouver Lookout offers beautiful 360° views of downtown Vancouver. I have seen beautiful sunset photos from Vancouver Lookout but the sun did not set until 9:50 p.m. while we were there and they closed at 7:00 p.m. It was still beautiful, nonetheless.
5) CAPILANO SUSPENSION BRIDGE PARK
Capilano Suspension Bridge is a must when visiting Vancouver. If you want to avoid the peak crowd times, it would probably be best to go when they open or at the end of the day, just before closing. Make sure you give yourself enough time to explore the park. There is more to see than just the infamous bridge. We arrived just after they opened and there was already quite a bit of people. I really loved exploring the park. It was so beautiful and peaceful. They have restrooms, or washrooms as they call it in Canada, along the way and a beautiful sitting area where you can enjoy some refreshments and their popular otter balls. They also offer a free shuttle service that operates year round.
6) ROBSON STREET
Robson Street is a popular shopping street with fashion shops and restaurants. We took the complimentary Capilano Suspension Bridge shuttle and got dropped off one block away from Robson Street. If you plan to do the same, ask the bus driver which stop is closest to Robson Street.
7) GASTOWN
Gastown is a charming street known for its many souvenir shops, restaurants, boutiques, and its whittling steam clock. We were told by our taxi driver that the next street over from Gastown is not safe so be sure to stay on the main street where all the shops and restaurants are located.
WHEN TO VISIT
We visited in the beginning of July and the weather was beautiful. There was actually a slight heat wave so the temperature ranged from the 60s to low 80s. If not for the heat wave, the temperature would have ranged between the 50s and 70s. The good thing about Vancouver’s weather is that there is no humidity so even with the temperature being in the 80s, the shaded areas were nice and cool.
GETTING AROUND VANCOUVER
Vancouver is a beautiful walkable city, which makes getting around very convenient. We either walked or caught a taxi, which wasn’t more than a 20 minute ride. If you have a hard time getting a taxi, call the Vancouver Yellow Cab to schedule a pick up. The response is pretty quick.
WHERE TO EAT
BELLAGGIO CAFE
Bellaggio Cafe was recommended by the hotel we stayed at, Hyatt Regency Vancouver, and it was a great choice! It was a beautiful day so we sat outside and enjoyed the cool Vancouver morning air. The breakfast was amazing too!
FAUBOURG
Faubourg, located a couple doors away from Bellaggio Cafe, is a French bakery that specializes in breads, pastries, and macaroons.
STANLEY’S BAR & GRILL
After the Stanley Park Horse-Drawn Tour, we had a lovely lunch at Stanley’s Bar & Grill. It is located at Stanley Park Pavilion, a short walk from the tour. They have indoor and outdoor seating options and are open for lunch and dinner.
GRAIN TASTING BAR
Grain Tasting Bar is one of the restaurants in the Hyatt Regency Vancouver hotel. The food was delicious!
ALIMENTARIA MEXICANA
There are many restaurants and food options at Granville Island so it was difficult to decide what to eat. We decided on Mexican food at Alimentaria Mexicana and were so happy we did!
HORIN TONKOTSU RAMEN
While strolling along Robson Street looking for a place to eat, we spotted a small ramen restaurant that serves authentic Fukuoka tonkotsu ramen. The ramen was so tasty and you can even customize it to your liking.
WHERE TO STAY
HYATT REGENCY VANCOUVER
We stayed at Hyatt Regency Vancouver, conveniently located in downtown Vancouver. Most attractions and eateries mentioned in this post are in walking distance of the hotel. The rooms were very clean and spacious and the hotel staff was very pleasant. We really enjoyed our stay here.
Happy Travels!
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