City guide: The best things to do in Vancouver

Rainforest canopy walks, flame-seared sushi and private thermal bathing: our Vancouver city guide takes in its celebrated sights, Indigenous art and standout restaurants, with two elegant hotels to call home

Nestled between the Pacific Ocean and the Coast Mountains, Vancouver is a city where urban sophistication meets untamed nature in the most unexpected ways. Where else can you kayak to work, ski on Grouse Mountain (just 20 minutes from downtown) during your lunch break, and sip cocktails at a swanky waterfront venue while watching the sun sink into the horizon? This west coast Canadian gem delivers the cosmopolitan energy of a world-class city while keeping the great outdoors always within reach. A thriving culinary scene that rivals any global food capital, a deep Indigenous cultural heritage, and that impossibly beautiful backdrop of mountains and sea make Vancouver utterly irresistible.

Stanley Park

At roughly 400 hectares, Stanley Park is the lush, green heart of Vancouver’s downtown peninsula – the largest urban park in the city and one of North America’s great inner-city forests. The land was home to Indigenous peoples – including the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil‑Waututh Nations – for thousands of years, and today the park’s famous totem poles at Brockton Point celebrate the rich cultural traditions of First Nations peoples in the region. The Stanley Park Seawall curves around the space’s perimeter for about nine kilometres, offering walkers, runners and cyclists uninterrupted views of the North Shore mountains, the downtown skyline and the waters of English Bay. Ancient cedars and Douglas firs tower overhead while the ocean laps gently at the shoreline – nature on a scale that feels both intimate and grand.

Capilano Suspension Bridge Park

Suspended some 70 metres above the Capilano River and stretching 137 metres across the canyon, the Capilano Suspension Bridge has thrilled visitors since its original build in 1889 and stands today as one of Vancouver’s most iconic attractions. Beyond the bridge, the Treetops Adventure carries you up into the rainforest canopy across seven elevated walkways among towering Douglas fir trees, giving you a true sense of the forest’s scale. For an even bigger adrenaline rush, the Cliffwalk clings to the granite rock face in a labyrinth of narrow walkways and viewing platforms high above the canyon, offering spectacular views of the river and forest below. In winter, the park comes alive with its Canyon Lights display, when more than a million LED lights illuminate the suspension bridge, Treetops Adventure and Cliffwalk, transforming the rainforest into a magical twilight spectacle.

Forbidden Vancouver Walking Tours

Vancouver’s glossy surface hides a deliciously dark past, and these expert-led walking tours peel back the layers to reveal the city’s seedier history. From illegal opium dens and prohibition-era speakeasies to unsolved murders and political scandal, your guide navigates you along alleyways and historic streets while serving up stories – some that never made it into the official history books. The tours transform familiar downtown blocks into a stage set for Vancouver’s most colourful characters and controversial moments. Book the ‘Holiday History and Hot Chocolate’ tour in winter, or try the ‘Lost Souls of Gastown’ or ‘Dark Secrets of Stanley Park’ for year-round intrigue.

Bill Reid Gallery of Northwest Coast Art

Housed in a heritage building in the heart of downtown, this intimate gallery is dedicated to Bill Reid, one of Canada’s most celebrated Haida artists and a key figure in the renaissance of Northwest Coast Indigenous art. Reid’s masterful gold and silver jewellery, monumental sculptures, and intricate carvings demonstrate the sophistication and beauty of Haida artistic traditions. The gallery rotates contemporary works by Indigenous artists alongside Reid’s pieces, creating a dialogue between generations and showing how these ancient art forms continue to evolve and inspire.

Miku Waterfront

Perched on the edge of Coal Harbour with floor-to-ceiling windows framing the North Shore mountains, Miku pioneered Aburi-style sushi in Vancouver – a technique where flame-seared fish is finished with carefully crafted sauces that intensify every bite. The oshi sushi arrives as edible art, each piece a study in balance and precision. Don’t miss the salmon oshi, where torched sockeye practically melts on the tongue. The Sumiyaki charcoal-grilled dishes and desserts by a Kyoto-trained pastry team round out a menu that’s as cutting-edge as it is refined.

¿CóMO? Taperia

Step into this Mount Pleasant hotspot and you’re instantly transported to a bustling Spanish tapas bar – all energy, chatter, and the intoxicating smell of garlic and sherry. Michelin Guide – recommended, ¿CóMO? does small plates with big personality. Snag a spot at the stand-up bar or settle into a table and work your way through jamón Ibérico, perfectly fried croquetas, Spanish conservas, and plates that change with whatever’s exceptional that day. The gin-and-tonic menu alone is worth the visit, and the wine list leans heavily Spanish with excellent sherries and Cava.

Anh and Chi

Vietnamese cuisine gets a contemporary makeover at this award-winning Main Street restaurant where fresh, local ingredients meet bold Southeast Asian flavours. The menu reimagines traditional dishes with creativity and respect – think inventive takes on pho, banh mi, and rice- paper rolls alongside craft cocktails that incorporate Vietnamese ingredients like lemongrass and fish sauce caramel. The space itself buzzes with energy – bright, airy and modern – while maintaining the warmth of a neighbourhood gathering spot.

Nature doesn’t just surround Vancouver – it’s woven into the city’s DNA. Green spaces abound and they’re astonishingly accessible; the North Shore mountains loom so close you can be hiking rainforest trails within 20 minutes of downtown. Enjoy gentle forest walks along the Capilano River or follow the Seawall, which stretches 28 kilometres around the waterfront, connecting parks and beaches in an unbroken ribbon. Ocean, mountains and temperate rainforest aren’t weekend escapes here – they’re part of daily life.

Circle Wellness

For a uniquely Vancouver wellness ritual, Circle Wellness on Granville Island offers the world’s first private, self‑guided thermal spa circuit. Book a 90‑minute session and you’ll have the full experience to yourself: hot and cold plunge pools, saunas, steam rooms and relaxation spaces modelled on Scandinavian bathing traditions. Moving between heat and cold invigorates body and mind, and the clothing‑optional private setting feels like an urban sanctuary world away from the city outside.

The Westin Bayshore, Vancouver

Location doesn’t get better than this: perched on the edge of Coal Harbour with Stanley Park literally at your doorstep and panoramic views of the North Shore mountains. This 499-room urban resort feels like a getaway despite being minutes from downtown. Year-round heated indoor and outdoor pools, cedar barrel saunas and a full-service spa create a wellness-focused retreat vibe. H2 Kitchen + Bar serves Southern-style smokehouse cuisine with knockout views from the garden terrace, while H Tasting Lounge channels art deco glamour with craft cocktails and Pacific Northwest small plates. In winter, reserve one of their waterfront domes for an intimate dining experience. It’s the ideal base for exploring Vancouver while feeling utterly pampered.

Rosewood Hotel Georgia

If you prefer to be in the thick of downtown’s action, this 1927 heritage hotel delivers old-world glamour with contemporary luxury. The restored building exudes jazz-age sophistication, from the lobby’s soaring ceilings to the 156 guest rooms where heritage details meet modern comfort. Hawksworth Restaurant has earned its reputation as one of Canada’s finest dining rooms, while Sense Spa provides urban sanctuary. The location on Georgia Street puts you steps from shopping, galleries and the city’s theatre district.

Vancouver earns high marks for walkability, with most downtown attractions easily reached on foot. The city’s bike-share program makes two-wheeled exploring simple, while the SkyTrain and bus network efficiently connect neighbourhoods. For a quintessentially Vancouver experience, hop the SeaBus across Burrard Inlet to North Vancouver – the 12-minute crossing offers spectacular harbour and mountain views. Ride-sharing services fill any gaps, though you’ll likely find yourself walking more than you expect in this pedestrian-friendly city.

For more information on Vancouver visit Destination Canada.