Vancouver, british columbia
Attractions Guide

Vancouver is a stunning modern city of striking high-rise buildings surrounded by breathtaking scenery, located just north of the US state of Washington in the massive Candian province of British Columbia. Downtown Vancouver is the main hub of the city and is located on a peninsula, with lavish marinas along the southern and northern end of the peninsula and the vast Stanley Park located on the northwestern tip.

One of the most popular activities in Vancouver is to bike around the coastline of Vancouver's Downtown peninsula, heading counter-clockwise along the one-way bike path. This bike path is an excellent way to see many of Vancouver's most scenic locations, while also enjoying the beautiful views of the coast and other parts of the city from across the water.

Plan to spend several hours or the greater part of a day exploring Vancouver by bike. The next two sections of this destination guide include many popular attractions along a highly recommended biking route through Downtown Vancouver and Stanley Park.

The best place to start the extremely scenic biking route is from the Olympic Cauldron, a monumental torch structure located along the water which was built for the 2010 Winter Olympics. Near the Cauldron you can enjoy temporary art exhibits and amazing views of North Vancouver across Vancouver Harbour.

You can bike west from the Olympic Cauldron along the upscale Coal Harbour, which hosts upscale apartment buildings and marinas.

Once you reach Stanley Park you'll be biking along the Vancouver Seawall, which traces along the coastal edge of the park hosting fantastic views of Vancouver Harbour.

Near the eastern edge of Stanley Park are the iconic Totem Poles, which consists of nine genuine tall and colorful totem poles, constructed by the First Nations indigenous people of Canada.

At the most northern point of the bike path you can enjoy picturesque views of the massive Lions Gate Bridge, which connects Downtown to North Vancouver. Before reaching the bridge you might consider taking a detour up to the Prospect Point Lookout to enjoy views of the bridge and the entrance to Vancouver Harbour from high above. This detour is approximately 1.8 miles (2.9 km).

Downtown Beaches

As you continue around the scenic western edge of Stanley Park you'll pass by the photogenic Siwash Rock, the sandy Third Beach, and the Teahouse, a great place to take a break. Continue along the coast of the English Bay after reaching the end of Stanley Park, passing English Bay Beach with even more amazing coastal views.

It's highly recommended to continue biking along the coast to False Creek, a long inlet lined with more beautiful ultra-modern high-rise buildings and waterfront parks alongside marinas.

This area of Downtown along the northern side of False Creek is the aesthetic Yaletown neighborhood, which formerly consisted of many warehouses and industrial buildings. Yaletown was converted into a hip and upscale neighborhood, hosting many great restaurants, bars, and boutique shops.

Across False Creek from Yaletown is the small Granville Island, an extremely popular tourist attractions. The island is famous for the Granville Island Public Market, as well as its many art galleries and other unique shops. The easiest way to reach Granville Island is via a very short ferry ride across False Creek.

One of the most iconic sights in Vancouver is the Steam Clock, a lovely antique clock powered by steam near the center of the Gastown neighborhood. Gastown is the original downtown center of Vancouver and has become a very hip neighborhood, with many art galleries and unique restaurants. Gastown also hosts many great bars and pubs, with an exciting nightlife scene.

Nearby Gastown is the city's iconic Harbour Centre building, which hosts a massive round tower atop it. Within this round tower is the Vancouver Lookout, which hosts panoramic views overlooking the city and surrounding landscape from over 480 feet (145 m) high.

More Downtown Attractions

Major places of interest near Gastown in Downtown Vancouver include the Vancouver Art Gallery, which hosts a vast collection of Canadian and European paintings, modern art, and photographs. Also Downtown you'll find the Vancouver Public Central Library building, with its stunning exterior reminiscent of the Roman Colosseum.

Kitsilano Beach

Near Granville Island across the water from Downtown Vancouver is Kitsilano Beach Park, a sandy beach hosting gorgeous views of the English Bay and Downtown. For even more picturesque views you can walk along the beach to Elsje Point at the tip of the Kitsilano Seawall. Kitsilano Beach also hosts a vast heated waterfront pool, the Kitsilano Pool, which you can swim in while enjoying amazing views.

Queen Elizabeth Park

To the south of Downtown Vancouver is the beautiful hilltop Queen Elizabeth Park with its lush well-manicured gardens. The park also offers breathtaking views overlooking Downtown Vancouver framed against the North Shore Mountains.

In North Vancouver you'll find an incredibly popular attraction, the Capilano Suspension Bridge. This 460 foot (140 m) long suspension bridge is set amongst a lush dense forest, spanning high above a majestic river canyon.

The Capilano Suspension Bridge Park also offers attractions such as CliffWalk, a suspended walkway above the trees attached to a cliff offering marvelous views of the forest. Additionally the park offers a series of suspended walkways between the trees high above the ground, called the Treetops Adventure.

Grouse Mountain

Further north in Northern Vancouver is Grouse Mountain, which hosts a popular ski resort in the winter and lifts that operates year-round. From the top of the main lift you can enjoy views over Vancouver and the bay below.

Take the Peak Chair Lift up to the top of Grouse Mountain for expansive views overlooking Vancouver and the stunning landscape surrounding it. To enjoy the most far-reaching and truly breathtaking views, you can take the elevator to the observation deck atop the Eye of the Wind, a towering windmill.

Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge

On the eastern side of North Vancouver is another suspension bridge within a tall dense forest, the Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge. Unlike the Capilano Suspension Bridge this bridge is free, although it is much smaller. Across the bridge are many trails, the most popular being the 1.2 mile (1.9 km) round-trip Lynn Canyon Loop, which features views of a striking blue-green river as well as small waterfalls.