Vancouver

Budget Itinerary

With a favourable exchange rate for U.S. and international visitors, a slew of free or nearly-free attractions, a walkable downtown core, and lots of parks and gardens, seeing Vancouver can definitely  be done affordably. This Vancouver itinerary can be done in one day or over several. Either way, by the  end of it, you'll get a decent cross-section of Vancouver at its best - and most budget-friendly.

MORNING 

Granville Island
Grab breakfast and coffee at Granville Island's famous Public Market, one of Vancouver's most popular  places to satisfy foodies. The choices are seemingly endless: Fraser Valley strawberries, cured deli meats, the finest brewed coffee and loads more, all for reasonable market prices. Grab a spot overlooking quiet False Creek and enjoy the fresh morning air. After breakfast, you can really dive into the Granville Island experience. Browse galleries and studios for one-of-a-kind artworks and hand-crafted designs. Families will love the Kids Market, filled with toys, games, candy and crafts of all sorts, and as the street performers come out of the woodwork, it's hard  not to catch a strain of that bohemian spirit.

The Stanley Park Seawall
Visitors on a budget shouldn't pass up a stop at the Stanley Park Seawall, a 10-kilometre (6.2 mile) paved  path where cyclists, joggers and in-line skaters enjoy the beauty of Vancouver's scenery. The views of  English Bay are free of charge and postcard worthy.

AFTERNOON

Robson Street
Combine your love for window-shopping and people-watching on Robson Street, perhaps the best- known shopping neighborhood in Vancouver. Take a seat on a street-side patio and check out the latest  fashions as Vancouverites and visitors alike strut by. 

Christ Church Cathedral
Swing by Vancouver's oldest church, built between 1889 and 1896, for a look into the city's spiritual  side. The Gothic-style structure is awe-inspiring, as are its stained-glass windows with scenes from the  Old and New Testament. For a real treat, walk the labyrinth and enjoy a choral performance by the  church's choir.
 
Canada Place
This mixed-use facility hosts a number of free activities, such as outdoor yoga and movies during the  summer, and Canada Day festivities. Even when these events aren't going on, Canada Place is still a  place to wander and explore. The complex extends four city blocks, its five Teflon-coated sails as its  most recognizable feature. Along the western side of the landmark, you’ll find interpretive signs and  activities celebrating Canada. 

Chinatown
Discover North America's oldest Chinatown to experience one of Vancouver's most dynamic  communities. Authenticity is the key word here, and the neighbourhood has all the things you might  expect from a bustling Chinatown. Herbal shops, bakeries and lanterns line the streets, while the  distinctive architecture harkens back to Canton. Stop by the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden  after browsing the shops. The intimate garden was the work of 52 artisans from China and is a  representation of an authentic Ming Dynasty-style garden. 

EVENING

Gastown
Make a stop in Gastown and check out the neighbourhood's Victorian-style streets. The atmosphere  here is distinctly old school: cobblestone streets, Italian tilework, Victorian streetlamps. Make sure to  stop by the Gastown Steam Clock, the world's first steam clock, which chimes every quarter hour with a  steam whistle. Tucked in among the traditional souvenir stores are a growing number of hip fashion  boutiques, high-end décor stores, and quirky gift galleries, making the window-shopping here highly recommended.