Vancouver Tours &
Things to Do
Discover the best Vancouver tours, Canada’s stunning Pacific city ringed by mountains and sea: city sightseeing through Stanley Park and historic Gastown, the Capilano Suspension Bridge and Grouse Mountain in the North Shore rainforest, whale-watching adventures, the spectacular Sea to Sky road to Whistler, and day trips to Victoria and the Butchart Gardens. Compare top-rated activities and plan your perfect British Columbia trip.
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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.
ExploreTop 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.
Capilano Bridge
Canyon footbridge.
Grouse Mountain
Skyride and views.
Whale Watching
Orcas and humpbacks.
Sea to Sky
Whistler highway.
Butchart Gardens
Victoria day trip.
Gastown
Historic steam clock.
Whistler Village
Alpine resort.
Vancouver in 2 days
- 1Day 1: city & North Shore
- 2Day 2: Sea to Sky
- 3Whistler village
- 4Shannon Falls
Vancouver in 3 days
- 1Day 1: city & North Shore
- 2Day 2: Sea to Sky
- 3Day 3: Victoria & whales
- 4City, mountains & sea
Vancouver with kids
- 1Capilano Treetops
- 2Grouse wildlife
- 3Stanley Park
- 4Whale watching
2 hrs awayWhistler
Sea to Sky resort.
Ferry/seaplane awayVictoria
Capital and gardens.
North Shore awayCapilano Bridge
Canyon footbridge.
North Shore awayGrouse Mountain
Skyride and views.
Salish Sea awayWhale Watching
Orcas and humpbacks.
Harbour awaySeaplane Flight
Aerial city views.
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.
Vancouver through the seasons
What's best, how busy it gets, and one booking tip for each time of year.
- Best for
- City, whales, Whistler.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Ideal; book ahead.
- Best for
- Blossoms, fewer crowds.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Some rain.
- Best for
- Fall colour, value.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Cooler, wetter.
- Best for
- Skiing in the mountains.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Wet in the city.