Vancouver itinerary: 1 to 7 days
Plans for one to seven days in Vancouver, day by day: Chinatown, Gastown and Stanley Park first, then Canada Place, Granville Island and the Capilano Suspension Bridge, and False Creek, the Vanier Park museums and English Bay as you add days. Every stop has a typical visit length.
How long do you have?
Map: 3 days
Vancouver in 1 day
Day 1
Chinatown, Vancouver
Canada's largest Chinatown, around Pender Street, with the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden.
Gastown
Vancouver's original settlement, with cobbled Water Street, Victorian buildings and the steam clock.
Stanley Park
A 405-hectare park on the downtown peninsula, ringed by the seawall, with forest, beaches and totem poles.
Vancouver in 2 days
Day 1
Chinatown, Vancouver
Canada's largest Chinatown, around Pender Street, with the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden.
Gastown
Vancouver's original settlement, with cobbled Water Street, Victorian buildings and the steam clock.
Stanley Park
A 405-hectare park on the downtown peninsula, ringed by the seawall, with forest, beaches and totem poles.
Day 2
Canada Place
The waterfront building with a sail-shaped roof, built for Expo 86, home to the cruise terminal and convention centre.
Capilano Suspension Bridge
A long suspension bridge high over the Capilano River in North Vancouver, with treetop walkways and a cliff walk.
Vancouver in 3 days
Day 1
Chinatown, Vancouver
Canada's largest Chinatown, around Pender Street, with the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden.
Gastown
Vancouver's original settlement, with cobbled Water Street, Victorian buildings and the steam clock.
Stanley Park
A 405-hectare park on the downtown peninsula, ringed by the seawall, with forest, beaches and totem poles.
Day 2
Museum of Vancouver
The city's civic history museum in Vanier Park, telling Vancouver's story.
Granville Island
A former industrial area under the Granville Bridge, now a public market, artists' studios and theatres.
Vancouver Art Gallery
The largest art museum in western Canada, in the old courthouse, with a large collection of Emily Carr's work.
Day 3
Harbour Centre
A 1977 downtown skyscraper topped by the Vancouver Lookout, an observation deck reached by glass elevators.
Capilano Suspension Bridge
A long suspension bridge high over the Capilano River in North Vancouver, with treetop walkways and a cliff walk.
Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge
A free suspension bridge high above Lynn Creek in a forest park in North Vancouver, with trails and pools.
Vancouver in 4 days
Day 1
Gastown
Vancouver's original settlement, with cobbled Water Street, Victorian buildings and the steam clock.
H. R. MacMillan Space Centre
An astronomy museum and planetarium in Vanier Park, sharing a building with the Museum of Vancouver.
Stanley Park
A 405-hectare park on the downtown peninsula, ringed by the seawall, with forest, beaches and totem poles.
Day 2
Museum of Vancouver
The city's civic history museum in Vanier Park, telling Vancouver's story.
Granville Island
A former industrial area under the Granville Bridge, now a public market, artists' studios and theatres.
Chinatown, Vancouver
Canada's largest Chinatown, around Pender Street, with the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden.
Day 3
English Bay
The West End's beach on English Bay, a favourite spot for sunsets and summer fireworks.
Harbour Centre
A 1977 downtown skyscraper topped by the Vancouver Lookout, an observation deck reached by glass elevators.
Day 4
Vancouver Art Gallery
The largest art museum in western Canada, in the old courthouse, with a large collection of Emily Carr's work.
Capilano Suspension Bridge
A long suspension bridge high over the Capilano River in North Vancouver, with treetop walkways and a cliff walk.
Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge
A free suspension bridge high above Lynn Creek in a forest park in North Vancouver, with trails and pools.
Vancouver in 5 days
Day 1
Science World
A science centre in the geodesic dome built for Expo 86 at the east end of False Creek.
Stanley Park
A 405-hectare park on the downtown peninsula, ringed by the seawall, with forest, beaches and totem poles.
Day 2
False Creek
The narrow inlet between downtown and the south shore, lined by the seawall path and crossed by small ferries.
Gastown
Vancouver's original settlement, with cobbled Water Street, Victorian buildings and the steam clock.
Chinatown, Vancouver
Canada's largest Chinatown, around Pender Street, with the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden.
Day 3
H. R. MacMillan Space Centre
An astronomy museum and planetarium in Vanier Park, sharing a building with the Museum of Vancouver.
Queen Elizabeth Theatre
A downtown performing arts venue for opera, ballet and touring shows, opened in 1959.
Harbour Centre
A 1977 downtown skyscraper topped by the Vancouver Lookout, an observation deck reached by glass elevators.
Canada Place
The waterfront building with a sail-shaped roof, built for Expo 86, home to the cruise terminal and convention centre.
Girl in a Wetsuit
A 1972 bronze statue by Elek Imredy on a rock off the Stanley Park seawall.
Day 4
Granville Island
A former industrial area under the Granville Bridge, now a public market, artists' studios and theatres.
Museum of Vancouver
The city's civic history museum in Vanier Park, telling Vancouver's story.
Day 5
Brockton Point
The eastern tip of Stanley Park, with a lighthouse and views across the harbour; the totem poles are nearby.
Capilano Suspension Bridge
A long suspension bridge high over the Capilano River in North Vancouver, with treetop walkways and a cliff walk.
Vancouver in 6 days
Day 1
Science World
A science centre in the geodesic dome built for Expo 86 at the east end of False Creek.
Stanley Park
A 405-hectare park on the downtown peninsula, ringed by the seawall, with forest, beaches and totem poles.
Day 2
False Creek
The narrow inlet between downtown and the south shore, lined by the seawall path and crossed by small ferries.
Gastown
Vancouver's original settlement, with cobbled Water Street, Victorian buildings and the steam clock.
Chinatown, Vancouver
Canada's largest Chinatown, around Pender Street, with the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden.
Day 3
H. R. MacMillan Space Centre
An astronomy museum and planetarium in Vanier Park, sharing a building with the Museum of Vancouver.
Queen Elizabeth Theatre
A downtown performing arts venue for opera, ballet and touring shows, opened in 1959.
Harbour Centre
A 1977 downtown skyscraper topped by the Vancouver Lookout, an observation deck reached by glass elevators.
Canada Place
The waterfront building with a sail-shaped roof, built for Expo 86, home to the cruise terminal and convention centre.
Girl in a Wetsuit
A 1972 bronze statue by Elek Imredy on a rock off the Stanley Park seawall.
Day 4
Granville Island
A former industrial area under the Granville Bridge, now a public market, artists' studios and theatres.
Museum of Vancouver
The city's civic history museum in Vanier Park, telling Vancouver's story.
Day 5
Brockton Point
The eastern tip of Stanley Park, with a lighthouse and views across the harbour; the totem poles are nearby.
Capilano Suspension Bridge
A long suspension bridge high over the Capilano River in North Vancouver, with treetop walkways and a cliff walk.
Day 6
Vancouver Maritime Museum
A museum in Vanier Park built around the St. Roch, a police schooner that sailed the Northwest Passage.
English Bay
The West End's beach on English Bay, a favourite spot for sunsets and summer fireworks.
Vancouver in 7 days
Day 1
Science World
A science centre in the geodesic dome built for Expo 86 at the east end of False Creek.
Stanley Park
A 405-hectare park on the downtown peninsula, ringed by the seawall, with forest, beaches and totem poles.
Day 2
False Creek
The narrow inlet between downtown and the south shore, lined by the seawall path and crossed by small ferries.
Gastown
Vancouver's original settlement, with cobbled Water Street, Victorian buildings and the steam clock.
Chinatown, Vancouver
Canada's largest Chinatown, around Pender Street, with the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden.
Day 3
H. R. MacMillan Space Centre
An astronomy museum and planetarium in Vanier Park, sharing a building with the Museum of Vancouver.
Queen Elizabeth Theatre
A downtown performing arts venue for opera, ballet and touring shows, opened in 1959.
Harbour Centre
A 1977 downtown skyscraper topped by the Vancouver Lookout, an observation deck reached by glass elevators.
Canada Place
The waterfront building with a sail-shaped roof, built for Expo 86, home to the cruise terminal and convention centre.
Girl in a Wetsuit
A 1972 bronze statue by Elek Imredy on a rock off the Stanley Park seawall.
Day 4
Granville Island
A former industrial area under the Granville Bridge, now a public market, artists' studios and theatres.
Museum of Vancouver
The city's civic history museum in Vanier Park, telling Vancouver's story.
Day 5
Brockton Point
The eastern tip of Stanley Park, with a lighthouse and views across the harbour; the totem poles are nearby.
Capilano Suspension Bridge
A long suspension bridge high over the Capilano River in North Vancouver, with treetop walkways and a cliff walk.
Day 6
Vancouver Maritime Museum
A museum in Vanier Park built around the St. Roch, a police schooner that sailed the Northwest Passage.
English Bay
The West End's beach on English Bay, a favourite spot for sunsets and summer fireworks.
Day 7
Orpheum
A restored 1927 vaudeville theatre, now home of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra.
Commodore Ballroom
A 1929 ballroom on Granville Street with a sprung dance floor, now a live music venue.
Vancouver Art Gallery
The largest art museum in western Canada, in the old courthouse, with a large collection of Emily Carr's work.
Watch: Vancouver in 3 days
A one-minute look at the plan: every stop, day by day, with the map.
When to go to Vancouver
June to September is the best time to visit Vancouver, with dry, sunny weather for the seawall, beaches and mountains. October to April is mild but rainy, with grey days in the city and snow on the nearby ski hills from December to March. Summer is the busiest and most expensive period, with Alaska cruise ships departing from May to September.
Plan the rest of your trip
- Where to stay: hotels in Vancouver on Booking.com or Trip.com
- Skip-the-line tickets: museums and sights in Vancouver on Tiqets
- Tours and day trips: things to do in Vancouver on GetYourGuide or on Viator
- From the airport: a private transfer in Vancouver with Kiwitaxi
- Data on arrival: an eSIM for Canada from Airalo
- Last day: leave your bags in Vancouver with Radical Storage and keep sightseeing
Some of these are affiliate links: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Tips for Vancouver
- Use a Compass card or tap a contactless card on SkyTrain, buses and the SeaBus to North Vancouver.
- Lynn Canyon's suspension bridge is free; Capilano charges admission but runs a shuttle from downtown.
- Rent a bike for the Stanley Park seawall; cyclists ride it one way, counter-clockwise.
- Rain is common outside summer; bring a waterproof layer.
- Small ferries cross False Creek between Granville Island, Yaletown and Science World.
Make it your own
Open the guide in Andiamo Places to see every stop on a map with walking directions, move places between days, check opening hours for your dates, and add your own finds. After the trip, your photos become a journal and, if you like, a printed photo book.
Guides are made with the help of AI and public sources such as Wikipedia, and may contain errors. Opening hours and prices change, so check before you go. Spotted a wrong photo, a pin in the wrong place, a missing stop or a better one? Write to andiamotravelapp@gmail.com: the e-mail opens with this guide filled in.
Photo credits
- Brockton Point: Another Believer, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Canada Place: Nicolas Untz, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Capilano Suspension Bridge: Markus Säynevirta, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Chinatown, Vancouver: MRDXII, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Commodore Ballroom: Deinocheirus, CC BY-SA 3.0
- English Bay: No real name given, CC BY 2.0
- False Creek: Wpcpey, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Gastown: Anthony Maw, Vancouver, Canada, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Girl in a Wetsuit: Bobanny, Public domain
- Granville Island: Zhatt, Public domain
- H. R. MacMillan Space Centre: Ɱ, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Harbour Centre: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Museum of Vancouver: Ɱ, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Orpheum: MichaelThoeny, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Queen Elizabeth Theatre: Richard Macdonald, CC BY 3.0
- Science World: Differense, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Stanley Park: The original uploader was Soggybread at English Wikipedia ., CC BY-SA 3.0
- Vancouver Art Gallery: dronepicr, CC BY 2.0
- Vancouver Maritime Museum: unknown author, Public domain
Opening hours change; check before you go. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
