DeirdreVancouver is a city with lots of contrast. Visitors can enjoy the bustling city, inner city parks and waterfront, or the seek the quiet solitude of the western mountains. This three day Vancouver itinerary is designed to hit all the popular areas and some hidden gems are well.
How to Get Around Vancouver
Walking: The main attractions in Vancouver are located in the downtown core, making it a fairly easy and walkable city to navigate. If you are able to centrally locate yourself, most of the biggest sites and tourists areas are within 2km of each other.
SkyTrain: The SkyTrain provide transit routes from downtown Vancouver to Surrey, Richmond, Burnaby and Coquitlam. The most popular route is the Canada Line, which runs from the airport to the Waterfront and to Richmond.
Uber/Taxi: Public transit is lacking when it comes to servicing the northern and western region of Vancouver. Ubers or taxis are recommended if you wish to visit the outskirts of the city, especially towards the national parks and forested areas in the north.
While a car is another option, having to deal with the hassles and prices of finding parking in a major city can be quite the challenge.
How to Get to Downtown Vancouver
The easiest, cost efficient and quickest way to get From the Vancouver International Airport (YVR) to downtown Vancouver is to take the SkyTrain. Trains run frequently to the waterfront and take around 30 minutes.
After arrivals, follow the signs towards SkyTrain line. Signs are posted regularly so there is a slim chance of missing them or getting lost.
Tickets can be purchased by cash or contactless card at the station.
The price for the tickets depends on which zone you travel to. A typical fare from the airport to downtown is Zone 2 and costs around $4.45 CAD. However, there is an additional service fee leaving the airport, which cost $5 CAD. The total fare will cost $9.45 CAD/person.
Where to Stay in Vancouver
Davie Village is a colourful, vibrant street in downtown Vancouver. This LGBTQ+ district is a perfect area to stay while visiting the city. The street is filled with a variety of shops, bars, grocery stores, restaurants and everything in between.
The Sandman Suites is located in the middle of the street and conveniently situated seconds from farmers markets, bakeries and trendy stores. This hotel is also within walking distance to popular attractions including Stanley Park and Granville Island.
- Train: Canada Line at YVR towards Vancouver Waterfront
- Stop: Yaletown-Roundhouse Station (approx. 25 minutes)
- Hotel Distance from station: Turn right out of the station and walk 900m
- Address: 1160 Davie St, Vancouver, BC V6E 1N1
Day One
ACTIVITY: CAPILANO SUSPENSION BRIDGE
Capilano Suspension Bridge Park was founded in Northern Vancouver in 1889. The park boasts cedar filled canopies and is divided into three main areas to explore.
The first main area past the entrance is the suspension bridge that leads into the park. The bridge is 70m high above the ground and 137m in length. The other two areas to walk through include the Treetops Adventure and Cliff Walk. Both areas have boardwalks suspended in the tree tops or along the cliff side and provide exceptional views of the park and surrounding areas.
How to get there: From the Sandman Suites, walk 1.8km (20 minutes) to Canada Place to catch the shuttle bus to Capilano Suspension Bridge Park. Buses park near the Canada Place Welcome Centre and are free to those who purchased their park tickets online. The buses run every 15 minutes from 10:30 am to 6:30pm and the trip usually takes around 15-20 minutes.
- Suggested Duration: approx. 1-1.5 hours
- Entrance Price: $66 CAD/person
- Directions to Shuttle here
ACTIVITY: STANLEY PARK
Stanley Park is an urban park with over 1000 acres of land to explore. One of the popular routes to walk is the Seawall Trail. This 9.3km trail circles the entire park and provides beautiful views of the city, English Bay and Vancouver Harbour. If you only have a short period of time, fear not, as there are hundreds of trails to choose from.
Some of the interior trails are prone to coyote sightings, so use caution when in those areas. Check out some more trails here.
How to get there: From Canada Place, walk or Uber 2.0km (25 minutes) to Stanley Park. For a longer, but more scenic route, opt to walk along the Coal Harbour waterfront to the park.
- Suggested Duration: approx. 1-2 hours
- Entrance Price: free
- Directions to park here
OPTIONAL ACTIVITY : VANCOUVER AQUARIUM
- Conveniently located in Stanley Park
- Duration: 1.5 hours
- Price: $41.45 CAD/person
ACTIVITY: RICHMOND NIGHT MARKET
The Richmond Night Market is a blending pot of cuisine and adventure and is the largest night market in all of North America. The market is filled with food stalls, exhibits, games and live entertainment.
It operates between late April until mid October and is opened from 7pm -12am on Friday-Sunday.
The entrance fee is $7 CAD (seniors are free) however the line ups are tremendously long (sometimes hours!). I would recommend buying the Zoom Pass, which allows you to bypass the line and enter immediately into the market. The pass costs $35 CAD and allows for 6 visits. This works great, especially with larger groups. Tickets can only be purchased on site, right before the main gate.
Some vendors won’t accept debit/credit cards, so remember to bring lots of cash before entry.
How to get there: At Yaletown-Roundhouse train station, take the Canada Line to Bridgeport Station (20 minute ride). Single train tickets cost $3.10 CAD/person. Exit the station and walk towards Charles St. Turn left onto River Rd and follow the signs and bright lights to the market.
- Suggested Duration: approx. 1-2 hours
- Entrance Price: $7 CAD or $35 CAD for 6 visits (or people)
- Directions to market here
Day Two
ACTIVITY: HARBOUR CRUISE
This fully narrated, sightseeing tour with Harbour Cruises runs from April to September. Daily sailings along the waterfront pass by popular landmarks including the harbour, Stanley Park and North Shore Mountains.
It is recommended to arrive 15 minutes prior to sailing and bring anti-nausea medication if you are prone to sea sickness.
There are four daily sailings: 11:00 am, 12:15 pm, 1:30 pm and 2:45 pm.
How to get there: From the Sandman Suites, walk (25 minutes) or Uber (8 mins) towards the waterfront at Denman Street. Tickets can be purchased online and picked up at the booth at the harbour.
- Suggested Duration: 1 hour
- Entrance Price: $50.33 CAD/person
- Address: Harbour Cruises Ltd, 501 Denman Street
- Directions to harbour here
ACTIVITY: GRANVILLE ISLAND
Granville Island is a public market with food vendors, entertainment, artisan crafts, and boutiques. The 115km² peninsula is filled with delicious food options, fresh produce, breweries and bakery fresh items to enjoy year long.
How to get there: From Sandman Suites, walk down Thurlow St towards the Sunset Beach. Follow the signs to the Aquatic Centre Ferry Dock. A one way ferry ticket to Granville Island costs $3.50 CAD/person. Cash, credit or debit is accepted as payment and can be made on the boat during transit. The ferry takes less than 5 minutes to reach the island.
Other options of making your way on site can be found here.
- Suggested Duration: 1-2 hours
- Entrance Price: Free
- Hours of Operation: 9am-6pm
- Directions to Granville Island here
OPTIONAL ACTIVITY: HIKE SAINT MARK’S SUMMIT
Explore the beauty of Western Vancouver by hiking Saint Mark’s Summit in Cypress Mountain. This hike provides excellent panoramic views of the bays and neighbouring islands. Check out my complete hiking guide here for more information on planning your route.
- Duration: 4-5 hours
- Distance: 13km
- Elevation Gain: 587m
Day Three
ACTIVITY: AFTERNOON TEA
Before catching your flight back, celebrate the end of the trip with a unique tea experience at La Petite Cuillère. This location may be small, but it packs quite the punch. The decor itself is beautiful and the presentation is exquisite. Half bird cages are used as tiers and various sandwiches and desserts are on display. There are almost 30 teas to select and vegetarian options are also available.
A typical tea sitting lasts 2 hours. Tiers are shared among the table, but each guests can order and select their own tea. I highly recommend checking out this place. Walk ins are welcomed but it’s encouraged to make a reservation via text or calling.
They are opened from Tuesday-Friday from 12pm-6pm and the weekend from 11am-6pm.
How to get there: From the Sandman Suites take an Uber to 55 Kingsway. Prices for an Uber range from $14-15 CAD/car per way.
- Suggested Duration: 2 hours
- Entrance Price: $58 CAD/person
- Address: 55 Kingsway, Vancouver, BC V5T 1R9
- Directions to tea here
Vancouver is a great mix of chaos and peace, but it’s not for everyone. If Vancouver is a bit too hectic for your liking or you want to escape the noise, check out my guide on the small ski town of Fernie, BC.
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Looks like a great place for a vacation!
Thanks for sharing your experience with us.
This looks a fantastic itinerary, a little bit of everything so every one is content…thank you will keep this for our North America
We had to cancel a trip to Vancouver two years ago, but will definitely visit when we can. And this time we’ll add in the tea! I love a great tea spot.
Looks like such a great place for quick escape.
I really want to visit Vancouver. The Capilano Suspension Bridge looks such a fun activity and the all food at the Richmond Night Market look so delicious
I’ve never been to Vancouver, not even Canada but this looks like such a perfect 3-day itinerary! I would totally love to cross the suspension bridge and enjoying an afternoon tea is always nice. Thanks for sharing 🙂
I’m not much of a city person, but I have to say that I absolutely LOVE Vancouver! I’ve done everything mentioned in this post with the exception of the afternoon tea. It looks fabulous and it’s something I’ve always wanted to do so I’ll be sure to check it out next time I visit Vancouver.
A fab itinerary. I look forward to visting Vancouver. The suspension bridge looks fun and the afternoon tea a beautiful venue for it!
This is great! Im in Seattle, its so close! I will definitely have check this out!
Oh I really want to visit. Thank you so much for sharing!
Great post! I’d love to visit Vancouver and this has given me some great ideas to start planning my trip. Hopefully I’ll be able to go next year!
This looks like a great itinerary! I love how you can go for a hike so close to the city. I visited Vancouver as a kid, but I remember very little of it and I’d love to go back.
I’ll be in Vancouver this December, so this post gave me lots of ideas / things to think about. Thanks for sharing!
Would you have any winter-specific recommendations by any chance? Any alternatives to Richmond Night Market perhaps?
Hi Goya. Alot of the food markets are seasonal and close in the winter time. That being said, winter means the Christmas markets begin to pop up.Staring November 18-Dec 24th, the Vancouver Christmas Market takes place at Jack Pole Plaza.
If you enjoy outdoor winter activities such as skiing, there are plenty of hills in and around Vancouver to choose from. Visiting Whistler is even an option, as it’s a short day trip from the city.
We booked a little trip to Whistler just before Christmas, and are soo looking forward to it! We will also keep an eye out for Christmas Markets. Thank you so much for your reply! 🙂
Ive been to Vancouver a long time ago, but would love to return. Your itinerary looks great. Wound enjoy the awesome suspension bridge.
This looks like the most dreamy place to visit!
What a great guide – short, sweet, informative and to the point! Vancouver is still on my list, so this will definitely come in handy whenever I’m able to visit. Thanks for sharing! Xx Sara
I was in Vancouver in 1988 and barely remember a thing! Thanks for bringing back some childhood memories, I’d love to go back someday.
I’ve wanted to visit Vancouver for the longest time. And I’m going to have to time my trip around The Richmond Night Market lol, sounds awesome. Thanks for sharing, I’ll save this guide for future travels
The suspension bridge seems like such a nice escape into the cedar trees! Definitely will be my first stop when I visit Vancouver. Thanks for sharing!
Vancouver is so long on my bucket list! Saving this post for future planning 😍
Vancouver is on the top of my travel bucket list! Hope to walk the Capilano Suspension Bridge and check the trails of Stanley Park next year
Vancouver has been on my bucket list for a while, and the Richmond Night Market looks like an amazing place! And the Saint Mark’s Summit looks like a great hike. Thank you for the recommendations!
Vancouver is totally awesome!
Cool! I’m heading to Vancouver for 4 days mid-October. Love that place so much. Looking at the Saint Marks Summit from your post as a possible do while there!
If you have a car it’s alot easier to get to and from Saint Mark’s Summit. But it is worth it, as the views are amazing
This is my city and I think you’ve created a great plan here! One thing I might add is that the Lynn Canyon suspension bridge is a free alternative to the Capilano one 🙂
Thanks for the tip. I’ve heard good things about Lynn Canyon as well
I planned a family trip to Vancouver just to walk on this bridge LOL!! Thanks for all this great information, we hope to return.
We visit Vancouver quite regularly. But each trip we like to discover new treats. So it was fun to check out your suggestions for a 3 day visit to Vancouver. Even with many visits we have not explored the Capilano Narrows Bridge or the Vancouver Aquarium. Must get this on our next visit!
I’ve never been to Vancouver, but I’m thinking of going this summer! This guide is great!