One Perfect Day in Vancouver

Sample Itinerary

If you're short on time and want to get a taste of Vancouver in just one delightful day, this easy-to-follow, one-day Vancouver itinerary offers a fun mix of some of Vancouver's top sights and things to do. See route map

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  1. Your day begins with a scenic drive through Stanley Park, a 400-hectare (1,000-acre) green wonderland. If you want a more up-close introduction to the park, rent a bike and ride the 8.8-kilometre seawall path. The drive should take about 30 minutes; by bike it will take a couple of hours, depending on your fitness level. 2. While you're in Stanley Park, pull off at Brockton Point to see the authentic totem poles erected in the 1920s. Snap a few pictures or step into the gift shop and buy some maple sugar candies. 3. Also in Stanley Park is Prospect Point, a scenic overlook where you can get out of the car and check out the spectacular views of Lion's Gate Bridge, North Vancouver and West Vancouver. On a clear day, you can see the peaks on the North Shore, including Grouse Mountain.
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  4. Complete your tour of Stanley Park at English Bay, driving out onto Beach Avenue. Stop and check out the relaxing English Bay beach. When you're ready to continue, turn left to go down Denman Street, a bustling and eclectic neighbourhood avenue that is worth a stop to stroll, shop and people watch at the cafes. Once you are ready to continue, take a left onto Georgia Street to go over the Lions Gate Bridge. You will see more breathtaking views of the North Shore and get a glimpse of downtown as you head over the bridge. 5. Leaving the bridge, veer to the right to head into North Vancouver. Take a left at Capilano Road, go all the way up, and you're ready to take the Skyride to the top of Grouse Mountain where the views are travel-magazine worthy. Plan to spend a couple of hours here. If you're ready for lunch, you'll find a few great places to eat at the top of the peak, including a cafe, a bistro and a barbecue restaurant. 6. On your way back to the city centre, be sure to stop at the Capilano Suspension Bridge (which you will have passed on your way to the Grouse Mountain Skyride) and explore the park's Treetops Adventure, which takes visitors through a series of interconnected platforms and bridges linking giant trees. Think the Ewok's village in "Return of the Jedi." If you didn't eat when you were at Grouse Mountain, take a break here and have a snack or a meal.
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  7. Retrace your steps across Lion's Gate Bridge and through Stanley Park. Stay on Georgia Street until you reach Bute Street. Take a right and you will run into Robson Street, downtown Vancouver's ultimate shopping destination. Spend the afternoon browsing the many boutiques and designer clothing shops along Robson. This is one of Vancouver's most happening neighbourhoods, so it's a great place to people watch and soak in the scene. A number of restaurants, cafes and watering holes have sidewalk seating where you can enjoy a drink or a snack. 8. Head back to the hotel and rest before heading out for dinner in Yaletown. Home to more than 65 different restaurants, the neighbourhood has just about every kind of cuisine you can imagine.