This coastal city is perfect for people who like a little bit of everything, with a variety of cuisines and cultures to choose from.
Surrounded by nature, this is a gateway to outdoor adventure, with hiking, biking, and paddling easy to access from the city center. If the weather is good, visitors can shop, ski and swim.
Here are the best neighborhoods to visit. You can either see them all or dive into what makes each unique.
Ready to start planning? Sign up for our weekly newsletter and get 20% off your next guidebook.Granville Island combines fresh, local, award-winning cuisine with a carefully-curated collection of galleries, theaters, and shops in a setting that combines industrial heritage with modern day architecture to create a really vibrant community.
Many award-winning restaurants, cafes, and shops can be found inside The Public Market, as well as fresh fish, produce, breads, and pasta. Lee's Donuts is a mom-and-pop donut shop that caters to locals and celebrities.
A two-level mini mall filled with toy shops, play spaces, and interactive games can be found at the Kids Market. Live entertainment, art demonstrations, and a variety of fairs and festivals are available for families to enjoy.
Commercial Drive is a laid back shopping strip filled with eclectic shops and quirky cafes. The heritage and highlights of the city's "Little Italy" area include Italian-owned treasures that date back to the early 1940s when the community became the enclave of Italian immigrants.
You can buy anything from beaded curtains and bongo drums to fresh pastas and cheeses at the variety of shops and boutiques that The Drive has to offer. There are two distinct parks on the strip, one at the south end and another on the north end.
The shipyards district is located in the Lower Lonsdale area of the North Shore. In the past, the main draw for visitors was the Lonsdale Quay Market, but today the neighborhood has grown into more than that, with independent shops and boutiques run by North Shore creatives, and a local brewery scene that encourages day-trippers to stick around.
The neighborhood is located at the water's edge, which gives it a beautiful backdrop for a stroll outside. Dozens of delicious restaurants and the must-see contemporary arts exhibits can be found in the rejuvenated waterfront area.
During the winter months, the seaside Skate Plaza is the region's largest outdoor rink, and in the summer, cool off at the shipyards splash park. With so much to see and do, you might want to stay at one of the shorefront hotels for an overnight stay before returning to the city.
Gastown and Chinatown are both part of the pioneer-era region of the city. Independent boutiques and coffee shops can be found in heritage buildings. The most famous landmark in the area is the Gastown clock steam, so make sure to take a photo of it.
One of the largest Chinatowns in the world is located in the city of Vancouver. The Classical Chinese Garden and Park is the first of its kind in Canada. The collection of 150-year-old trees and taihu rocks that were imported from China are on display in the beautiful pavilion as you stroll through the covered walkways.
Young urban professionals and modern families enjoy the laid-back lifestyle of beachfront living in the Kitsilano neighborhood.
You can swim in the sea, play beach volleyball, or simply sit and relax at the grassy park at Kits Beach, which is the most popular beach in the city. The Kitsilano Pool is ideal for cooling off. The saltwater swimming pool has two slides, a cafe, and amazing views of the beach from its position on the bay. Due to storm damage, it was temporarily closed in 2022.
West 4th Avenue is close to the beach and is home to some of the city's best boutiques. It is a great place to test the limits of your budget. You can get a bite to eat from one of the many ice-cream shops, sushi joints and cafes that line the eight block stretch of shops.
The article was first published in June of 2021.
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