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Vancouver
Photo: Mfield, Matthew Field, http://www.photography.matt · CC BY-SA 3.0

7 Days · in Vancouver

Seven Days in Vancouver: The Complete City Itinerary

A full week lets you experience Vancouver the way residents do, blending marquee sights with slower neighbourhood days. The first five days cover the downtown waterfront, the Vanier Park museums, the creative East Side around Main Street, the University of British Columbia, and the Stanley Park lakeshore. Days six and seven then reach the Italian cafés of Commercial Drive, the gardens and conservatories, Yaletown's dining scene, and the history of Chinatown. You'll eat across the city's signature traditions, sushi, Pacific salmon, dim sum, and Italian espresso, and see its art, architecture, and green spaces. Each day stays geographically tight, so a week feels immersive rather than exhausting.

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Day 01

Downtown, the Harbour & Skyline

Downtown waterfront, the Art Gallery, a harbour cruise, and the Vancouver Lookout.

  1. Morning

    Canada Place & Coal Harbour

    Start along the waterfront at Canada Place and the Coal Harbour seawall before crowds gather, the perfect orientation to downtown Vancouver.

  2. Late Morning

    Vancouver Art Gallery

    Spend two hours with the Emily Carr collection, Indigenous art, and rotating exhibitions inside the former courthouse, right beside Robson Square.

  3. Lunch

    Coal Harbour waterfront

    Lunch along Coal Harbour with floatplanes and yachts beside you, moments from the afternoon cruise dock.

  4. Afternoon

    Burrard Inlet Cruise

    Take a Burrard Inlet sightseeing cruise from Coal Harbour for the city's best skyline and North Shore mountain views, narrated by the crew.

  5. Late Afternoon

    Vancouver Lookout

    Ride the glass elevator to the Vancouver Lookout atop Harbour Centre for a dizzying 360-degree panorama over the harbour, mountains, and city.

  6. Evening

    Sushi dinner

    Close with fresh Vancouver sushi, an easy celebration of the city's renowned Japanese dining, and toast your first day.

Day 02

Vanier Park & Kitsilano

The Museum of Vancouver, Space Centre, and Maritime Museum plus Kits Beach along English Bay.

  1. Morning

    Museum of Vancouver

    Trace the city's story from its Indigenous roots to the counterculture 1960s and its neon signs; arrive early to beat the groups.

  2. Late Morning

    H.R. MacMillan Space Centre

    In the same building, catch a planetarium show and hands-on space exhibits; a timed ticket minimizes the wait.

  3. Lunch

    Vanier Park lawns

    Picnic or grab a casual lunch on the greens between English Bay and the downtown skyline.

  4. Afternoon

    Vancouver Maritime Museum

    Walk over to board the St. Roch, the historic Arctic patrol schooner, and see the model ships and Kits Point skyline vantage.

  5. Late Afternoon

    Kitsilano Beach

    Stroll west to Kits Beach, whose heated saltwater pool and sand draw crowds through the warmer months.

  6. Evening

    Kitsilano dinner

    Dine along West 4th Avenue, with options from sushi to modern Pacific Northwest cuisine.

Day 03

Main Street & Mount Pleasant

Seawall, murals, boutiques, and acclaimed independent dining on the East Side.

  1. Morning

    False Creek Seawall

    Walk or bike the False Creek seawall past Science World and Olympic Village amid public art and waterfront gardens.

  2. Late Morning

    Main Street boutiques

    Browse independent shops and record stores along Main between Broadway and King Edward, and spot murals on the side streets.

  3. Lunch

    Main Street tacos

    Grab tacos at Tacofino or choose from the neighbourhood's many well-loved casual spots.

  4. Afternoon

    Mount Pleasant murals

    Wander Mount Pleasant's design shops, cafés, and Vancouver Mural Festival artworks for a stylish, unhurried afternoon.

  5. Evening

    Main Street dinner

    Dine along Main Street among some of the city's best independent restaurants.

  6. Evening

    Brewery nightcap

    End with a pint at one of Brewery Creek's craft breweries and the area's laid-back creative energy.

Day 04

UBC & Point Grey

A landmark anthropology museum, a university campus, and Japanese garden design.

  1. Morning

    Museum of Anthropology

    Explore the Great Hall's towering totem poles, Bill Reid's Raven and the First Men, and the Northwest Coast art at this Arthur Erickson landmark.

  2. Lunch

    UBC Village cafés

    Lunch near the University of British Columbia among student cafés and international spots at Wesbrook Village and the University Village.

  3. Afternoon

    UBC campus & Rose Garden

    Wander the campus and its Rose Garden with North Shore mountain views, then head to the nearby Nitobe Memorial Garden.

  4. Late Afternoon

    Nitobe Memorial Garden

    Tour this authentic Japanese tea and stroll garden, among the finest in North America; check seasonal hours ahead.

  5. Evening

    Spanish Banks

    Walk down to Spanish Banks for a serene oceanfront skyline view across the water at low tide.

  6. Evening

    Point Grey dinner

    Enjoy West Point Grey dining or fresh seafood before heading back downtown.

Day 05

Stanley Park & the West End

Seawall history, an aquarium, beaches, and Robson Street shopping.

  1. Morning

    Stanley Park Seawall

    Walk or cycle the seawall to Brockton Point's totem poles and the Girl in a Wetsuit statue, circling the forested peninsula.

  2. Lunch

    West End eats

    Lunch in the lively blocks around Denman and Davie Streets, packed with cafés and patios.

  3. Afternoon

    Vancouver Aquarium

    Visit the Vancouver Aquarium in Stanley Park to see sea otters, jellies, and Pacific marine life.

  4. Late Afternoon

    Second Beach & English Bay

    Relax on the sand and walk the seawall to English Bay for sunset over the water.

  5. Evening

    Robson Street

    Shop along Robson Street past flagship stores and international eateries near downtown's core.

  6. Evening

    Downtown dinner

    Dine in Coal Harbour or downtown's restaurant-dense blocks; reserve ahead for the city's top tables.

Day 06

Commercial Drive, Gardens & Yaletown

Italian heritage and gardens, a domed conservatory, and Yaletown dining.

  1. Morning

    Il Museo

    Start on the East Side at Il Museo inside the Italian Cultural Centre, showcasing Italian-Canadian heritage and art across the generations.

  2. Late Morning

    Commercial Drive murals

    Walk The Drive's celebrated murals and Italian cafés along Commercial between Venables and Broadway, a vivid, lived-in stretch of the East Side.

  3. Lunch

    Commercial Drive lunch

    Enjoy tacos, pasta, or a hearty lunch at one of the Drive's many family-run restaurants.

  4. Afternoon

    Bloedel Conservatory

    Head to this domed conservatory atop Queen Elizabeth Park, the city's highest point, filled with tropical plants and free-flying birds under glass.

  5. Evening

    Yaletown

    Return toward downtown to Yaletown, a former warehouse and rail district now packed with celebrated restaurants.

  6. Evening

    Mainland Street dinner

    Book dinner along Yaletown's Mainland and Hamilton Streets, home to some of Vancouver's most ambitious dining.

Day 07

Chinatown, Downtown & Farewell

Dumplings and history in Chinatown, plus flexible time for favourites.

  1. Morning

    Chinatown & Millennium Gate

    Explore Chinatown's Millennium Gate, the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden, and its quiet courtyards on the edge of downtown.

  2. Late Morning

    Chinatown shops

    Browse the herbal shops, bakeries, and tea stores along Pender and Keefer Streets at your own pace.

  3. Lunch

    Dim sum or dumplings

    Feast on dim sum or hand-pulled noodles at one of Chinatown's many acclaimed restaurants.

  4. Afternoon

    Marine Building

    Return downtown to admire the Marine Building, one of the world's finest Art Deco towers, and step into its lavishly decorated lobby, free to visit.

  5. Late Afternoon

    Robson Square & the seawall

    Revisit the downtown core for a final leisurely walk, with seasonal ice skating at Robson Square's rink or a stroll along the Coal Harbour seawall.

  6. Evening

    Farewell dinner downtown

    End the week with a favourite Vancouver meal, fresh sushi, wild Pacific salmon, or a steakhouse, before departing.