Vancouver is located in the very west of Canada in the state of British Columbia directly on the Pacific coast – reason enough for many tourists to want to pay a visit to the city. Due to its location, Vancouver is a popular destination for Canada travelers and is a suitable starting point for round trips.
The cityscape is characterized by skyscrapers, an imposing harbor and the picturesque shore on the Pacific coast, so that the city has a lot of green and fresh climate to offer despite the skyscrapers. English is spoken in Vancouver, with many of the labels being in English and French due to the country’s bilingual nature.
Below we present you the most exciting tours, most beautiful attractions and best sights in Vancouver.
1. Canada Place
Canada Place is actually the name of a building that is located in the city’s harbor. These include the Vancouver Exhibition and Convention Center, the Pan Pacific Hotel and an IMAX cinema. Canada Place is worth seeing because all of the major cruise ships dock and depart from here.
The building was decorated with white sails, which are supposed to imitate an imposing ship. At Canada Place you can enjoy the fresh Pacific air, eat an ice cream in the sun and watch the often impressively large ships. Vancouver exudes a lot of maritime flair here!
2. Stanley Park – the green lung
A special attraction in Vancouver is the 405 hectare Stanley Park, also known as the city’s green lung. It is located on the northern tip of the Vancouver Peninsula, right next to the center. It offers visitors 200 kilometers of walking paths that can be used for walking, cycling, jogging or inline skating.
It is also extremely popular with local residents – as a highlight there is a bank wall that is almost 9 kilometers long and leads around the entire park with a walkway right along the water. Indian totem poles can also be admired at one point in the park, which are intended to remind of the original inhabitants of the park and provide great photo opportunities.
3. Robson Street is a shopping paradise
Robson Street is not only an extremely long, but also the liveliest street in Vancouver. It houses various shopping opportunities in the form of shops, restaurants and cafes. These include very exclusive shops – so if you want to go shopping in a really elegant way, you’ve come to the right place.
In addition to one or the other star who also goes shopping here, you can also marvel at great cars and motorcycles that are exhibited on Robson Street in the summer months.
4. Vancouver Gastown
As a historic district of Vancouver, Gastown is definitely worth a detour – because this district captivates with the charm of bygone centuries, when Gastown was still a financial and commercial center. Historic buildings and many beautiful cafés and restaurants await visitors here.
A highlight in the middle of Gastown is the famous “steam clock”, which is a steam clock that is unique in the world. It is operated with steam and, much to the delight of the audience, plays every hour on the hour. If you don’t want to wait that long, you can wait for the next full quarter of an hour – then the little pipes will play the Westminster chime.
5. The old spaghetti factory
In keeping with the rustic ambience in Gastown, Vancouver fans shouldn’t miss a visit to the Old Spaghetti Factory – the restaurant is affordable for all budgets and is definitely one of the gastronomic highlights of Vancouver. Not only is delicious food served here, but the interior design is absolutely worth seeing and inviting. Tiffany style lamps and colored window glass create a happy, colorful atmosphere.
In addition, there is a half-open, former railroad car in the middle of the restaurant, which is reminiscent of the pioneering days of the Wild West. The Spaghetti Factory company is a chain that offers a restaurant in every major Canadian city – but nowhere is the atmosphere as extraordinary and well met as in Vancouver. In keeping with the city’s coastal location, there are not only Italian dishes, but also pasta with seafood and fish.
6. Capilano Suspension Bridge
Adventure seekers will also get their money’s worth a little outside of the city – with the Capilano Suspension suspension bridge, which is located in the north of Vancouver. It was erected in 1889, swinging freely at a height of 70 meters and is 136 meters long over the Capilano River.
All around is an 11 hectare park, which is named after the bridge and impresses with its breathtaking vegetation. Due to the humid, rainy climate, there is a Nordic rainforest to marvel at, which makes the heart of every nature lover beat faster.
7. Vancouver Island
The offshore island can be easily reached by ship or ferry from the city and is worth seeing for its capital Victoria alone – here is the parliament building, which at night, thanks to beautiful lighting, is more reminiscent of a Disney castle than a political institution. The Trans Canada Highway also begins in Victoria, which is why “Mile Zero”, the milestone of the starting point, can be admired here.
Another attraction of the island is Butchart Gardens, which is a beautiful green area with numerous flower fields and exotic gardens. Those who prefer to see some wildlife can offer whale watching tours from the port cities and experience orcas up close in the Pacific.
8. Grouse Mountain
What would a Canadian city be without mountains? The city on the Pacific is located away from the Rocky Mountains, but still has a local mountain to offer. At 1230 meters, Grouse Mountain is a popular excursion and winter sports destination, as it has a fantastic view of the city as well as a snowboard and ski area, which offers winter sports enthusiasts ideal conditions.
But not only winter sports enthusiasts get their money’s worth here – the mountain can also be climbed in summer thanks to the Grouse Grind, a nearly 3 kilometer long path. In just 90 minutes, visitors can overcome the difference in altitude and enjoy a great view.
9. Vancouver Lookout
The Lookout Tower is located in the skyscraper Harbor Center, which is centrally located in the city’s business district. With its viewing platform, it offers a 360-degree all-round view, which is particularly attractive at night. The imposing Pacific metropolis with its skyline can be admired from a height of 120 meters.
You can dine at a height of 126 meters – in the restaurant, which is one floor above. An elevator takes visitors up. The tower also offers a beautiful view of neighboring Gastown.
10. Skytrain
A transport system might not be one of the most spectacular sights at first glance, but things are a little different in Vancouver. Because a ride on the driverless and railless train is like a little adventure. Both in the city and outside the sky train hovers over the earth with great panoramic views.
It is therefore a welcome change from the dark metro tunnels that one is otherwise used to in large cities. The Skytrain connects the city center with the airport with a length of 69 kilometers and is the first point of contact for all Vancouver visitors who do not want to take a taxi from the airport to downtown.
