The Canadian city of Vancouver is world renowned for dining, culture, and outdoor adventure. A coastal city set in the shadows of the North Shore Mountains, Vancouver is also widely considered one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Keep reading to discover the Ultimate Guide for an Epic 2 Days in Vancouver!
DAY 1:
Bike the Seawall at Stanley Park
Your first day in Vancouver should be spent exploring this awesome city. Start your day by taking an Uber down to Stanley Park for a bike ride along the famed Seawall. I recommend creating a Mobi Bike Share account and downloading the app. You can use the app to find available bikes as well as return stations all throughout the park and the city itself. Several other bike rental facilities are located just outside the park as well, however, the ease and availability of the Mobi Bike rentals make it my number 1 choice.
The seawall itself is a scenic concrete path running the 6.2 mile (10km) perimeter of Stanley Park. This one way bike path provides picturesque views of North Vancouver and the Lions Gate Bridge, access to several popular beaches, and numerous other smaller attractions of the park as well. I’d particularly recommend grabbing some pictures at the totem poles as you start your ride. After your ride (and possibly swim if you’re so inclined) I’d recommend lunch at the Stanley Park Brewery. The brewery is spacious, has a large food menu, and of course excellent beer.
Explore Granville Island
After your lunch, hop back on your bike and make your way to Granville Island, one of the top attractions in the city. I recommend that you ride your bikes along the scenic Beach Ave to Hornby Street and take the Aquabus across the water to Granville Island from there. The Aquabus is just a quick water taxi going a very short distance and costs $4. You can also simply ride the entire distance (about 3.5 miles from Stanley Park) to Granville Island as well. The large and lively public market is Granville Island’s main attraction. Here you will find eclectic dining options, some of the finest and freshest food and produce stores, and countless unique boutique shops to explore at your leisure. Make sure to treat yourself to a snack at the famed “Lee’s Donuts” before leaving the island. Consider visiting the spacious and inviting Granville Island Brewery during your trip as well.
Sporting Match and Casino
If you happen to be in Vancouver when the Whitecaps are in town, this is a great way to start your night. The Whitecaps are the Major League Soccer Team in Vancouver. The games are relatively cheap (we got our tickets for around $20 pp), lively, and a unique experience for us North Americans not as engrossed in the soccer culture of the wider world. Regardless of where you choose to sit during the match, I’d recommend at some point walking over to enjoy the general admission section of the stadium. This area houses the well imbibed and lively “cheer leaders” of the Whitecaps. Waving flags, coordinated chants, and rowdy people with megaphones characterize this section. If this is not your vibe, I would still recommend visiting this section for at least part of the game.
Other great sporting options include viewing the Vancouver Canucks (Hockey, NHL) or Vancouver Warriors (Lacrosse, NLL), at the Rogers Arena right next door. Having been to many NLL games, I can say first hand that they punch well above their weight and are a rowdy and fun time. You don’t need to be a lacrosse fan to enjoy the synchronized cheers, continuous dj music, and energy NLL games offer. After enjoying some sport, consider ending your night with lady luck at the Parq Vancouver Casino Resort. The casino is right next to the sporting arenas, makes for an easy walk, and is a great way to end your first night in Vancouver. One quick note is that the Aquabus also has a longer, more scenic ride from Granville Island to right near the sports complexes should you choose.
DAY 2:
Capilano Suspension Bridge Park
The obvious first step to any morning is coffee. If you have never been, I’d recommend a quick coffee and breakfast to go at Tim Hortons, the staple chain coffee shop of Canada. With this necessity out of the way, I’d recommend making your way to Capilano Suspension Bridge Park($63 CAD), just north of the city. Capilano is widely considered one of the top attractions in the area, typically takes 2-3 hours to enjoy, and is a great adrenaline rush to start your day. The park is made up of three main attractions, the Capilano Suspension Bridge, the Cliffwalk, and the Treetops Adventure. Several other smaller activities such as raptor talks, fish feeding, and informative placards with the history of the park are available to peruse as well.
The suspension bridge is the main draw and connects the two sections of the park via a 460 ft (140m) long wire cable bridge, 230 ft (70m) above the river below. The bridge can get very crowded during peak times and sways quite a bit with shifting weight. The views however are awesome and you can feel free to cross as many times as you want.
The Cliffwalk was my favorite attraction and consists of narrow cantilevered bridges and platforms overhanging the Capilano River far below. Stretching 700 ft (213m) along the Capilano Canyon, the Cliffwalk proudly boasts the ability to hold 100,000 lbs, or 35 adult orca whales. Treetops Adventure is a series of 7 smaller suspension bridges taking guests from one massive Douglas Fir tree to another. At its greatest height, the Treetops Adventure provides picturesque views of the surrounding forest from 110 ft (33m) above the forest floor.
Before leaving the park, make sure to stop by the Bridge House Cafe, for some well deserved Ice Cream and “Beaver Balls” (basically small delectable dessert pancakes). Pro tip, mix them together for a truly fantastic snack!
Grouse Mountain
After leaving Capilano, continue 10 minutes north to Grouse Mountain. This four season adventure filled attraction is the alpine playground of Vancouver. Rising 4,100ft (1,250m) above the city, Grouse Mountain offers panoramic views of Vancouver, the Georgia Straits, and surrounding mountains like nowhere else. During winter months, the mountain is dominated by skiers and snowboarders, but the summer is equally as inviting. After paying for your mountain access ticket ($69 CAD), make your way up the mountain with the Skyride, North America’s largest aerial tramway system.
The Skyride will drop you off right into the sprawling attractions of Grouse Mountain. I’d recommend minding your timing to catch the Birds in Motion demonstration and World Famous Lumberjack show, both included in your ticket. Make sure to take some time to enjoy viewing the mountain’s resident grizzly bears, Grinder and Coola, as well. Other attractions at an additional charge include mountain ziplines, ropes courses (for both adults and kids), disc golf and helicopter tours. For a full list of Grouse Mountain attractions click here. An included chairlift ride to the mountain’s summit is a great way to end your experience!
At some point on the mountain, make sure to make a reservation and grab some lunch at Altitudes Bistro. This fine restaurant provides spectacular views of Vancouver and the surrounding scenery, some 3,700ft above the mainland below. Last but not least, for those looking to truly punish their friends and family, look no further than the Grouse Grind. This famed 1.55 mile (2.5km) trail takes you from base to summit, and covers 2,624 ft (800m) of gain over 2,830 steps. It sounds like a horrendously fun activity should you choose to accept the challenge. Sadly, my friends and fiance adamantly refused. Quick notes: The trail is one way by law and you will need a mountain access ticket or pay $20 to ride the Skyride back down. Secondly, the average time to complete is 2-2.5 hours; the record is 23 minutes!
Explore Gastown for Dinner and Drinks
After freshening up following your adventurous day outdoors, make your way to Gastown for the final stop of your perfect 2 days in Vancouver. Gastown is the oldest section of the city. It is made up of trendy bars and eateries, fascinating shops and art studios, as well as enough cobblestone streets and chic Victorian buildings to make any Instagrammer salivate.
The streets are well lit, often with overhanging fairy lights setting up an enchanting aesthetic. Although the food and drink offerings in Gastown are both eclectic and endless, I’d recommend Guu with Otokomae. This Japanese restaurant provides a diverse and well priced menu with happy hour specials and a fun late night vibe. They also open the massive upper windows for views of the bustling street below.
Before heading back for the night, make sure to walk down and appreciate the Gastown Steam Clock. One of only a few in the world, this clock was placed over a vent in the sidewalk to help mask the steam coming from the city’s heating system below. Producing a puff of steam from the top every hour, the stream clock is one of the most photographed parts of Gastown and is a must see prior to leaving Vancouver!
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