Things to do in  British Columbia

Vancouver’s Stanley Park is beloved for its stunning natural setting, surrounded on three sides by the Pacific Ocean and set against the backdrop of the snow-capped North Shore Mountains. At nearly 1,000 acres (405 hectares), it offers a combination of coastal rainforest, lakes and lagoons, and scenic meadows. A walk or cycle along the public park’s seawall is an essential Vancouver experience.

Butchart Gardens, established in 1904, treat visitors to an enchanting floral show that changes with the seasons. Covering 55 acres (22 hectares) on Vancouver Island in British Columbia, the botanical space is intricately laid out into separate themed gardens with landscaping that impresses and inspires gardeners and nature lovers alike.

Surrounded by water on three sides, downtown Vancouver is the place to go for sea views, bright lights, and action. As the city’s commercial core, it encompasses several distinct areas including shop-lined Robson Street, the green expanse of Stanley Park, historic Gastown, and one of the largest Chinatowns in North America. The wide, tree-lined streets offer shade and greenery, so you never feel too overwhelmed by the city.

Admire Vancouver’s natural beauty at Capilano Suspension Bridge Park, one of the city’s most popular attractions. Its highlight experience is walking out onto the 450-foot (137-meter) suspension bridge, over the rushing Capilano River and amid temperate rainforest scenery. With plenty more to see and do besides, the park is a must for adventurous visitors in Vancouver.

One of Vancouver’s oldest and buzziest districts, Gastown is packed with Victorian architecture and cobbled streets. Named after John “Gassy Jack” Deighton, an English mariner who opened a saloon in the area in the 19th century, the district is filled with heritage buildings now hosting boutiques, coffee shops, hip restaurants, and bars.

The impressive Lions Gate Bridge spans the Burrard Inlet, connecting North and West Vancouver with the downtown area. This suspension bridge originally opened in 1938, and is designated as a National Historic Site of Canada. At the bridge’s south end is leafy Stanley Park, another major attraction in Vancouver.

A cultural and culinary hub of Vancouver, Granville Island is a colorful collection of artists’ studios, specialty grocers, excellent restaurants, and performance venues. Here, you’ll see kayakers paddling in False Creek and buskers charming the crowds. You'll also get to try plenty of classic Canadian favorites, including candied smoked salmon, Nanaimo bars, and poutine. It’s the ideal spot to spend a leisurely afternoon, or to take in a play, comedy show, or concert.

Vancouver Cruise Port serves as the home port for Alaska-bound cruise ships, as well as for vessels traveling south to locations along the Pacific Coast and Hawaii. Located on the Vancouver Harbour waterfront, the Canada Place Cruise Terminal is right in the heart of the city, providing easy access to downtown and to the North Shore Mountains.

This simulated ride takes participants on an exhilarating virtual journey across the country’s most majestic landscapes, from the remote Arctic north to the Rocky Mountains, Niagara Falls, and Canada’s Eastern Seaboard. FlyOver Canada also uses wind, mist, and scents to enhance the sensation of flight.

Established in the 1890s by migrant workers, this Vancouver neighborhood is now among the biggest and most vibrant Chinatowns in North America. It’s packed with Asian grocers, Chinese herbalists, dim sum restaurants, trinket stores, and meat shops filled with tempting displays of hanging char siu and roast ducks.

Located just outside Squamish within Stawamus Chief Provincial Park, the Sea to Sky Gondola soars high above the trees, taking travelers up to the top of Mount Habrich while offering brilliant views of Howe Sound, the surrounding North Shore Mountains, and the deep green forest below. The floor-to-ceiling windows mean there are no bad views, while the network of trails at the summit lets you immerse yourself in the natural beauty of the mountain.

Opened in 1986, Canada Place is hard to miss: The complex was built to look like a ship, and its five large fiberglass “sails” are visible above the Vancouver waterfront. This is the city’s main cruise ship terminal, and the complex is also home to a convention center, a hotel, and FlyOver Canada, a flight-simulation ride.

Perched atop a downtown high-rise, this circular observation platform yields panoramic views of glassy skyscrapers, Vancouver Harbour, and the magnificent peaks of the North Shore and Olympic ranges. A glass-enclosed elevator zooms up to the platform so that street scenes seem to shrink before visitors’ very eyes.

Situated between Kistilano and Stanley Park, English Bay is one of Vancouver’s best spots for water sports, such as swimming, kayaking, and fishing. Two popular beaches—Kitsilano Beach and English Bay—face out onto the bay, as does part of the Stanley Park seawall, a waterside promenade used by cyclists and walkers.

Locals and visitors alike flock to Robson Street for shopping, dining, and people watching. It’s the biggest retail street in the city with department stores, chain stores, and high-end shops, plus a variety of eateries, all located near downtown Vancouver’s attractions and waterfront.