12 Best Things to do in Vancouver Downtown

The oldest neighborhood of Vancouver Downtown, Gastown is not only a national historic site but also a bustling urban center filled with young professionals attracted by the charm of its nightlife, great shopping, and promising opportunities. The neighborhood derives its name after John ‘Gassy Jack’ Deighton, a steamboat captain who opened the first saloon in Gastown in 1867. Gastown was also an important seaport and the Canadian Pacific Railway’s termination point making it an industrial hub and a local spot for bars and brothels. The Diamond cocktail bar is located in one of those famous old brothels today.

Gastown is most popular for its nightlife, bars, and restaurants which include the Pourhouse, Chill Winston and The Irish Heather. When it comes to shopping for men’s wear and interior design, Gastown is the place to go in Vancouver with its many local designers and boutiques. The neighborhood’s historic buildings and cobbled streets are best explored by foot as it’s a magnet for stylish locals. Some popular landmarks include Maple Tree Square with a statue of “Gassy” Jack Deighton and the Steam Clock at the corner of Cambie Street which puffs steam-powered chimes periodically. The area also features some fine First Nations art galleries for you to take some souvenirs with you.

While Yaletown like much of Vancouver Downtown started as an industrial area, it slowly began its migration to the chic, high-end neighborhood that it is today in the later ’80s. The warehouses and rail yards have made ways to condos, expensive penthouses and real estate for its growing population of settlers. Being small and dense, Yaletown is ideal for people watching, nightlife, food and checking out some unique boutiques endemic to the area. The Mainland Street and Hamilton Street are where the crowds are in the night thanks to its range of great bars and restaurants. Some of the most popular include Bar None Nightclub, Cactus Club, the Opus Hotel bar, Blue Water Cafe Raw Bar and Glowbal Grill and Satay Bar. The Yaletown Brewing Company is a must-visit where you get a seasonal beer and amazing pub food.

While you’re here, you must visit the neighborhood’s infamous Roundhouse Community Centre which is a historic landmark and community arts and learning center. The place also displays a really cool steam locomotive engine from 1887. For some open space and green, head to Cooper’s Park for a grassy stretch or the Helmcken Park for some shade, flowers, and benches.

Being one of Vancouver’s top 10 attractions, Granville Island may mostly look touristy at first glance, however, this little island south of Vancouver Downtown is among the most loved places by the locals for everything it has to offer as well. It’s where the city’s residents go to kill some time, indulge in some great foods or buy fresh fruits, vegetables, just-caught seafood, meats and much more. While the public market with fresh produce is the main attraction, there are also a number of shops that sell clothing, jewelry, crafts, pottery and artisan sake which makes it a popular shopping area for the tourists. The kids market will keep the little ones entertained while the adults go around shopping.

When it comes to food, there are plenty of places for you to grab everything from a casual bite to a full course meal. The public market’s food hall is a great place to find Mexican food, sandwiches, pizzas, soups, salads, sushi, and other snacks. Bridges is a fantastic place with a view if you wish to sit and have a full meal. Edible Canada has everything authentic Canadian and Go Fish has amazing fish tacos and soups.

Situated adjacent to the West End of Vancouver Downtown, Stanley Park is one of the most beautiful urban parks in the world which spans an area of 1000 acres as a peninsula just north of the city. A major tourist attraction in the area, the park draws 8 million visitors who come here for the well-maintained dirt trails, lovely beaches and the 8.8 km sea wall which is the highlight of all the experiences you can have here. While there are a lot of activities for the adults, there’s plenty for the kids as well including a water park, pool, miniature railways, and playgrounds. The park’s pristine expanse features 500,000 cedar trees along with hemlock and fir trees with stretches of grass that make it a perfect green destination for anyone looking to spend some time away from the city.

The park’s most popular attractions include the Seawall which is a favorite place for jogging, rollerblading and bicycling, the scenic drive which goes through all the popular tourist spots, the Vancouver Aquarium, Third Beach and Beaver Lake. The Staley Park Miniature train is the top attraction for children as it traverses through a 2km track through the forest.

Stretching all the way from the BC Place Stadium at the south to Stanley Park in the north, Robson Street is the premier shopping and dining destination in Vancouver Downtown. Whether you prefer to shop at fancy boutiques or a mid-range store, you will find it all on this stretch. The same goes for dining and drinking with its range of chain restaurants and elegant cocktail bars. Robson Street is also the place to go for sports fans and enjoy a visit to the BC Place Stadium and check out the BC Sports Hall of Fame.

The top places to visit include Robson Square which is one of Vancouver’s most important landmarks host to a number of cultural events, parades and street food. Vancouver ArtGallery on the way is also a popular tourist destination. If you’re looking for shopping get to Granville Street where the main shopping retailers start and head to the Pacific Centre Shopping Mall to buy a variety of luxury goods and souvenirs. The North-East end of the city is where all the eateries, restaurants and pubs you would like are concentrated.

Canada Place is a national landmark located on the Vancouver Downtown harbourfront and is a multi-use facility which is also a popular tourist destination thanks to its picture-perfect contribution to the city’s skyline. The while billowing sails of the structure is a highly futuristic-looking design that blends well with the cruise ships that dock here, it is stunningly beautiful when lit from the inside with seasonal lights. Canada Place is a focal point to festivals and celebrations while also being a cruise ship terminal and hosting attractions such as FlyOver Canada.

There are plenty of things to do at the Canada Place starting with a stroll around the facility to check out the high sails, the port, the Canadian Trail and a photo op. Also visit FlyOver Canada attraction which is a state-of-the-art flight simulation ride that takes flies you across the country complete with the wind, mist and even the scent! Since the place is located close to the Waterfront Station, you can arrive here both by Seabus and SkyTrain.

Spanning across the Burrard Inlet, the Lions Gate Bridge which connects the western part of the city to Vancouver Downtown is one of the most photographed structures in the city while also being a designated National Historic Site of Canada. The 1.5km bridge is an important thoroughfare that takes you through the heart of Stanley Park which makes it a popular drive with both the locals and the tourists. The Bridge can be seen from multiple points in the surrounding area and is an especially stunning sight at nights in the fog as it is thoroughly lit with lights.

The bridge is best explored on foot or bicycles and can be taken as part of the tour through Stanley Park. As you cross the bridge the views from it are equally appealing as it is 61m above the water and offers excellent panoramic views of the skyline and waterways. It’s ideal to visit the bridge early mornings when the traffic is low as it’s a major thoroughfare for the city’s commuters. The best way to get to the bridge is through Stanley Park where there are multiple access points.

The Science World is quite a fascinating attraction not only for the geeky kids but also for adults and tourists to experience some of the most interesting things in science hands-on and learn something from it. This museum located at the heart of False Creek in Vancouver Downtown can be easily recognized thanks to its geodesic dome which looks more like a super-sized golf ball. This science center has inspired over 13 million visitors since it opened in 1989 being one of the best museums to grasp science by everyone. There are a number of hands-on exhibits such as the Eureka! Physics gallery, Our World: BMO Sustainability Gallery and Kidspace to getting the budding scientists going.

Its top attractions also include the OMNIMAXTheatre with a 27-meter dome and five stories making it the biggest in the world.

Science World is open every day from 10 am to 5 pm Monday through Friday and 10 am to 6 pm on weekends. During summers, it’s open every day from 10 am to 6 pm. The tickets cost $27.15 (adults), $21.70 (seniors and students), $18.10 (children 3-12) and free for children under 3. The Main Street Skytrain is right across the road from Science World where you can also catch busses.

The Vancouver Lookout offers a unique perspective of the Vancouver Downtown and the rest of the city. Being a 360-degree lookout point at a height of 167m, it offers incredible panoramas of not just the city but also the North Shore Mountains and maybe even the Vancouver Islands on clear days. There’s nothing like a panoramic bird’s eye view of all the places you’ve visited in the city at the end of your trip! What’s more? The ride to the observation is just as much fun with the glass elevator which quickly takes you up to the 40^th floor in no time. Guided tours and kids programs are also available for an in-depth experience.

The observation deck is open from 9 am to 9 pm (October to May) and 8:30 am to 10:30 pm (May to October). The tickets which are valid all day cost $18.25 (adults), $15.25 (seniors), $13.25 (for youth between 13-18 and students with a valid ID), $9.50 (children 6-12) and free for children under 5 accompanied by a paying adult. City bus stops are located at both the front and back of the building for those arriving by us. The Waterfront Station is right across the station from where you can get the SkyTrain.

The Steam Clock located in Gastown is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Vancouver Downtown. It’s a 16ft tall clock that displays time on all four faces and features its main attraction; steam-powered whistles which chimes every 15 minutes. Although it is said to be steam-powered, the clockwork is mostly run by electric motors and the chimes are powered by underground steam pipelines that are meant to heat the downtown core. The 2-ton clock was built in 1877 and is one of the very few steam clocks that remain in the world.

Being located in the heart of the neighborhood, the clock is just east of the Waterfront Station and a 5-minute walk on Water Street. Since the clock is on the sidewalk it is open to visitors throughout the day. On the way to the clock from the station, there are a number of chain restaurants and eateries serving different kinds of cuisines starting from Canadian to Chinese.

Rated as one of the top 10 attractions in the city, the Capilano Suspension Bridge Park is a 20-minute drive north of Vancouver Downtown. The park has several adventure activities such as clifftop and tree climbing with its suspension bridge being the top attraction. Built in 1889, the bridge has wowed millions have visitors who have crossed it. The suspension bridge which lets you cross the Capilano river spans 137 meters long and is 70 meters off the water giving incredible views of the canyon below and the green cover around. What’s more exciting is that the bridge sways in the wind making it so much more fun and terrifying for those with a fear of heights! The park also features other exciting attractions such as the Cliffwalk which is a 213m long walkway anchored to the canyon face 91m off the canyon floor.

The cost of admissions are $53.95 (adult), $48.95(senior), $39.95 (students), $29.95 (youth 13-16), $16.95 (child 6-12) and free for children under 6. There are a number of free shuttles that take you to the park from Canada Place and even the hotels surrounding the park.

Timings: January 27 - March 13 (9:00 AM - 5:00 PM), March 14 – April 10 (9:00 AM - 6:00 PM), April 11 – May 15 (9:00 AM - 7:00 PM), May 16 – September 7 (8:00 AM - 8:00 PM), September 8 - September 20 (9:00am - 7:00pm), September 21 – October 12 (9:00 AM - 6:00 PM), October 12 – November 21 (9:00 AM - 5:00 PM), November 22 - January 26 (11:00am - 9:00pm) Closed on Dec 25^th.

The Harbor Centre is one of the tallest buildings in Vancouver Downtown which along with being an iconic landmark is also a business center and tourist attraction. The building’s top attraction in the revolving restaurant; Top of Vancouver located at a height of 167m offering an unobstructed 360-degree view of the city and the surroundings. The windows are angled specifically for the best views of the building and surroundings and the restaurant completes one revolution every 60 minutes! The restaurant serves brunch, lunch, snacks and dessert and dinner.

Hours of operation include: Lunch 11:30am – 3:00pm (Monday to Saturday), Brunch: 11:00am – 3:00pm (Sunday), Snacks & Dessert: 3:00pm – 5:00pm (Monday to Saturday), Dinner: 5:00pm – 10:00pm (Sunday to Thursday), 5:00pm – 11:00pm (Friday- Saturday)

It’s ideal to make a reservation before visiting. If you only have enough time for the aerial view of the building, then it’s best to skip the revolving restaurant and buy a ticket to the Vancouver Lookout point.

Whether you are traveling during the summer or the fall, Vancouver always has something wonderful to offer to every visitor throughout the year. Although most attractions look their best just after spring with clear skies, the whole city takes on a new personality with the changing seasons. On your next visit to Vancouver, be sure to book your flight tickets to the city along with the best accommodation at all the great spots in the city to get a cheap deal on your travel. Book your trip in advance for big savings on travel and hotels at any time is a great time to go to Vancouver.