Top Spots in Vancouver – Sightseeing, Attractions and Fun Places to Go

Whether you’re a tourist, visitor or new citizen of Vancouver, this city has marvellous places which would be a shame to miss out on. If you’ve got a free weekend ahead, or trying to think of a place to take your kids, make sure you look into my top picks for Vancouver fun and sightseeing – for families or individuals.

Canada Place
Canada Place is definitely one of the most spectacular spots to visit in Vancouver. It is a combination of cruise ship and convention centre with a hotel inside, and it represents one of the best architectural delights the city has to offer, right on the waterfront. The panoramic view of North Vancouver and the surrounding mountains makes it an ideal place for taking dates or taking pictures – or just watching the city pulse.

Canada Place – by Chang’r

Science World
A great kid-friendly museum that offers prolonged hours of fun and education. It is located on Main Street at the far east end of False Creek. The site also offers a fabulous view of the Vancouver skyline.

Science World – by Alastair Moore

Chinatown
Vancouver’s Chinatown is the largest in Canada, which makes sense considering that Chinese-Canadians make up the largest minority group in the city. Chinatown is filled with great markets, offering the freshest vegetables, mushrooms, oriental medicine and seafood, both fresh and dried. Visitors will enjoy this part of town – it’s loaded with cultural influence, making it unique and fun.

Chinatown herbal store – by SqueakyMarmot

Capilano Suspension Bridge
For thrill-seekers suffering from low adrenaline levels, the Capilano Suspension Bridge will provide the much needed cure, all set in cedar-scented rain forest trails around North Vancouver’s most famous landmark. During the summer, the park is open from 9 AM until 9 PM, with an admission fee of $25 for adults and $18 for children. British Columbia residents are eligible for a discount that comes with a season pass. The best months to visit are May through September.

Capilano Suspension Bridge – by Rick Audet

Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge
Offering similar excitement as above, the Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge is free to visit. While not as high and long as the Capilano, it’s narrower and moves about a lot more. It is a part of the Badon-Powell trail, which is a popular hiking route.

Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge – by Richard Winchell

Grouse Mountain
One of the premier attractions of Vancouver, Grouse Mountain offers outdoor sport enthusiasts many activities including skiing and snowboarding (with 25 runs), skating, sleigh riding, snowshoe trails and hiking. You may just catch one of the many events held there, such as the World Famous Lumberjack Show. The Observatory restaurant provides an excellent panoramic view of the downtown area, and the great West Coast cuisine will ensure that nobody leaves hungry. You can also visit the Grouse Mountain Website.

The upper run at Grouse Mountain – by Payton Chung

Historic Gastown
Gassy Jack is a historical figure that you may already have read about in the historical article on this site. He is credited as being one of the most important figures in Vancouver’s past. Just as he would have liked, today Vancouver represents a mix of art and entertainment. It’s full of nightclubs, restaurants, art galleries and studios, but you can find film schools and media and design companies as well. Make sure to check out the steam-powered clock which can be found at the corner of Cambie and Water Street.

The Gastown steam clock – by Jeff Kramer

Gastown Website | Google Maps Directions

The Vancouver Aquarium
A definite must-see for animal enthusiasts, the Vancouver Aquarium offers a glimpse of more than 60,000 exotic and fantastic living creatures from all over our planet. The aquarium contains a total of 9.5 million litres of water in 166 tanks. Kids will enjoy watching shows with dolphins, whales and belugas which are featured daily. Vancouver Aquarium Website | Google Maps Directions

At the Vancouver Aquarium – by Iwona Erskine-Kellie

Granville Island
A unique neighbourhood completely transformed from its industrial past, it’s a fabulous place for shopping or lounging at one of the many cafes. Adults may enjoy the historic beer brewery. Granville Island is located on the picturesque waterfront.

Granville Island Public Market – by Matt Musselman