Vancouver · Canada
Things to Do in Vancouver: Tours, Tickets & Day Trips
The best things to do in Vancouver, ranked by real traveller reviews: cross the Capilano Suspension Bridge, cycle the Stanley Park seawall, eat through Gastown and Granville Island on a food tour, sail past the seals on a harbour boat tour, go whale watching, drive the Sea-to-Sky Highway to Whistler and ferry across to Victoria and the Butchart Gardens. Compare 920+ tours, tickets and day trips side by side — most with free cancellation.
909 experiences Free cancellation Top-rated tours Instant booking
Sunset tours in Vancouver
Departures that are under way when the sun sets in the coming weeks — start times checked against the local sunset.
Good for families in Vancouver
Children can join from a young age and pay less than adults — taken from each operator’s price list.
Vancouver
From Vancouver: Victoria, Butchart Gardens, & Gulf Islands Cruise
from$184/ person
via Viator
Vancouver
Whistler, Sea to Sky Gondola, & Shannon Falls Tour from Vancouver
from$165/ person
via Viator
Vancouver
Grouse Mountain, Skyride Gondola & Capilano Bridge from Vancouver
from$180/ person
via Viator
Vancouver
Whistler Tour from Vancouver + Sea to Sky Gondola + Shannon Falls
from$151/ person
via Viator
−5%
Vancouver
Victoria & Butchart Gardens Tour with Ferry from Vancouver
from$174$183/ person
via Viator
Vancouver
Vancouver: Gastown Food Tour with 6 Authentic Local Food Tastings
from$113/ person
via Viator
Vancouver
Victoria 1-Day Tour (Butchart Gardens /Victoria Downtown) English
from$171/ person
via Viator
Browse
Explore Vancouver by interest
Whatever brings you to Vancouver — world-class museums, the river, or a long lunch — start with the experiences travellers love most.
City & Stanley Park
Seawall and Gastown.
ExploreCapilano & Grouse
Bridge and mountain.
ExploreWhale watching
Orcas and humpbacks.
ExploreWhistler & Sea to Sky
Scenic alpine drive.
ExploreVictoria & gardens
Capital and Butchart.
ExploreGastown food
Historic foodie quarter.
ExploreSeaplane flights
Aerial views.
ExploreNorth Shore
Rainforest nature.
ExploreWhat to see
Top attractions in Vancouver
The landmarks that define the city — and the tickets and tours that get you in, often skipping the line.
Stanley Park
Seawall and totems.
300+ toursView tours
Capilano Bridge
Canyon footbridge.
200 toursView tours
Grouse Mountain
Skyride and views.
150 toursView tours
Whale Watching
Orcas and humpbacks.
200 toursView tours
Sea to Sky
Whistler highway.
200 toursView tours
Butchart Gardens
Victoria day trip.
150 toursView tours
Gastown
Historic steam clock.
120 toursView tours
Whistler Village
Alpine resort.
150 toursView tours
2 days
Vancouver in 2 days
- 1Day 1: city & North Shore
- 2Day 2: Sea to Sky
- 3Whistler village
- 4Shannon Falls
3 days
Vancouver in 3 days
- 1Day 1: city & North Shore
- 2Day 2: Sea to Sky
- 3Day 3: Victoria & whales
- 4City, mountains & sea
With kids
Vancouver with kids
- 1Capilano Treetops
- 2Grouse wildlife
- 3Stanley Park
- 4Whale watching
2 hrs awayWhistler
Sea to Sky resort.
from €90View trips
Ferry/seaplane awayVictoria
Capital and gardens.
from €110View trips
North Shore awayCapilano Bridge
Canyon footbridge.
from €60View trips
North Shore awayGrouse Mountain
Skyride and views.
from €55View trips
Salish Sea awayWhale Watching
Orcas and humpbacks.
from €100View trips
Harbour awaySeaplane Flight
Aerial city views.
from €120View trips
Practical guide
Know before you go
Short, straight answers to the questions every Vancouver visitor asks before booking.
The sweet-spot months
June to September brings the warmest, driest and sunniest weather — the prime time for the city, the mountains, whale watching and Whistler.
Summer (Jun–Sep)
Warm, dry and long-lit days, ideal for Stanley Park, Capilano, the Sea to Sky and whale watching; the peak season, so book ahead.
Spring & autumn
Mild and green with some rain, quieter and good value; spring blossoms and autumn colour are lovely.
Winter (Nov–Mar)
Cool and wet in the city but snowy in the mountains, perfect for skiing at Grouse, Cypress and Whistler.
For whale watching
The whale-watching season runs roughly April to October, with the best orca and humpback sightings in summer.
For Whistler
Summer is best for the Sea to Sky drive and hiking; winter for world-class skiing and snowboarding.
One day
The city, Stanley Park and the North Shore.
Two days
Add the Sea to Sky drive to Whistler.
Three days
The sweet spot: city, Whistler and Victoria or whales.
Four to five days
Add more of Whistler, the Gulf Islands or a longer BC trip.
Gateway to BC
Vancouver launches trips across British Columbia and the Rockies.
Travelling with kids
Mix Capilano, Grouse and whale watching.
On foot & by bike
Downtown, Stanley Park’s seawall and Gastown are walkable, and bike rentals are a great way to explore the seawall.
SkyTrain & transit
The SkyTrain, SeaBus and buses connect the city, airport and North Shore cheaply and efficiently.
Tours & transfers
Day trips to Whistler, Victoria and the North Shore include transport and pickup, the easiest way to explore.
Ferries & seaplanes
Ferries and floatplanes connect Vancouver to Victoria and Vancouver Island across scenic waters.
Hop-on hop-off
Sightseeing buses and trolleys link the main sights for easy, flexible city touring.
From the airport
Vancouver International Airport is about 25–30 minutes from downtown on the SkyTrain Canada Line or by taxi.
Canadian dollars
Canada uses the Canadian dollar; cards are widely accepted, and tipping (15–20%) is customary in restaurants and for guides.
Combine the North Shore
Capilano and Grouse Mountain are close together, so combine them in one North Shore trip to save time.
Layer up
Coastal weather can change quickly — bring layers and a waterproof, even in summer, especially for the mountains and boats.
Sighting guarantees
Many whale-watching tours offer a sighting guarantee with a free repeat trip if no whales are seen.
Start day trips early
Whistler and Victoria are full-day trips, so choose early departures to make the most of them.
Pre-book in summer
Whale watching, Whistler and Victoria trips sell out in summer — book ahead.
Whale watching
Summer orca and humpback trips sell out — book ahead.
Whistler tours
Sea to Sky day trips fill up — reserve early.
Victoria trips
Butchart Gardens day tours are popular — pre-book.
Capilano & Grouse
North Shore tours are busy in summer — book ahead.
Seaplane flights
Scenic flights have limited seats — reserve early.
Summer peak
June–September is busy — plan ahead.
City tours
Around €30–70 for a Vancouver city sightseeing tour.
Capilano & Grouse
About €60–110 for a North Shore tour with admissions.
Whale watching
Roughly €90–160 for a half-day whale-watching trip.
Whistler
Around €90–160 for a Sea to Sky and Whistler day trip.
Victoria
About €110–200 for a Victoria and Butchart Gardens day trip.
How to save
Combine the North Shore attractions, join group tours, and travel in the shoulder months.
When to visit
Vancouver through the seasons
What's best, how busy it gets, and one booking tip for each time of year.
Summer (Jun–Sep)
Jun–Sep
- Best for
- City, whales, Whistler.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Ideal; book ahead.
Spring (Apr–May)
Apr–May
- Best for
- Blossoms, fewer crowds.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Some rain.
Autumn (Oct–Nov)
Oct–Nov
- Best for
- Fall colour, value.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Cooler, wetter.
Winter (Dec–Mar)
Dec–Mar
- Best for
- Skiing in the mountains.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Wet in the city.
People also ask
Vancouver travel FAQ
What are the top 10 things to do in Vancouver?
Ranked by traveller reviews: 1) the Capilano Suspension Bridge, 2) the Gastown historic food tour, 3) Stanley Park and its seawall by bike, 4) Granville Island Public Market, 5) a Victoria and Butchart Gardens day trip, 6) a harbour boat tour past the seal colony, 7) whale watching in the Salish Sea, 8) a Whistler and Sea-to-Sky Highway day trip, 9) Grouse Mountain’s Skyride and grizzly bears and 10) FlyOver Canada at Canada Place.
How many days do you need in Vancouver?
Plan three to four days. Day one: cycle the Stanley Park seawall, lunch at Granville Island, walk Gastown and Chinatown. Day two: the North Shore — Capilano Suspension Bridge or the free Lynn Canyon, then Grouse Mountain. Day three: a whale-watching or harbour cruise, Kitsilano Beach and Queen Elizabeth Park. Day four: Whistler via the Sea-to-Sky Highway, or the ferry to Victoria and the Butchart Gardens. Add days for Bowen Island or the Gulf Islands.
What to do in Vancouver for free?
The Stanley Park seawall, the totem poles at Brockton Point and Prospect Point lookout, Granville Island’s market and street performers, English Bay and Kitsilano beaches at sunset, the Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge and its 30-foot pool, the Grouse Grind hike, Queen Elizabeth Park’s quarry gardens, the Gastown Steam Clock, Chinatown’s Millennium Gate, Pacific Spirit Park’s forest trails and Wreck Beach. The Museum of Anthropology and Art Gallery have discounted evenings.
What are the best day trips from Vancouver?
Whistler along the Sea-to-Sky Highway, with stops at Shannon Falls and the Sea-to-Sky Gondola in Squamish (two hours; tours from about $150); Victoria and the Butchart Gardens by ferry (a full 12–13-hour day, $166–190); a whale-watching trip from the harbour or Steveston (three to five hours); Bowen Island by 20-minute ferry; Harrison Hot Springs and the Fraser Valley wineries (90 minutes); and a seaplane or scenic flight over the Gulf Islands.
What to do in Vancouver at night?
Take a dinner cruise on the harbour, ride the Grouse Mountain Skyride for the city lights, go to the Richmond Night Market (May–October) for Asian street food, bar-hop the cocktail rooms of Gastown and the breweries of Mount Pleasant, watch the sunset from English Bay or the Vancouver Lookout, catch a Canucks game at Rogers Arena, and see the Granville Street clubs or a show at the Commodore Ballroom.
What is there to do in Vancouver in winter?
Ski or snowboard on the North Shore at Grouse, Cypress and Seymour — 30 minutes from downtown — or in Whistler two hours away, skate on Grouse’s mountaintop pond, and walk Capilano’s Canyon Lights (mid-November to January), the VanDusen Festival of Lights and Stanley Park’s Bright Nights train. The city itself is rainy but mild; the aquarium, Science World, FlyOver Canada and Dine Out Vancouver (late January to February) fill wet days. Whale watching pauses from November to March.
What are the best things to do in Vancouver with kids?
The Vancouver Aquarium in Stanley Park, Science World’s dome, the Capilano Suspension Bridge’s Treetops Adventure and Cliffwalk, Grouse Mountain’s grizzly bears and lumberjack show, Granville Island’s Kids Market, FlyOver Canada, the Stanley Park miniature train, cycling the seawall on a family bike, Kitsilano’s beach and outdoor pool, and the Lynn Canyon suspension bridge. In summer add the Playland amusement park at the PNE.
When is the best time to visit Vancouver?
June to September — dry, warm and long evenings, with every day trip and whale-watching season in full swing. May and late September are quieter with good weather. April brings the cherry blossoms. October to March is the rainy season in the city but ski season on the mountains.
Is the Capilano Suspension Bridge worth it?
For most visitors yes — the 140-metre bridge over the canyon, plus the Treetops Adventure and the Cliffwalk, is the most-visited attraction in Vancouver and the city tours that include it are the highest rated. If the price puts you off, the Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge 15 minutes east is free and only slightly smaller.
909 Vancouver experiencesfrom $17 · free cancellation
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