A Guide to Vancouver, Canada

10/12/2022

A few months ago we visited Vancouver not just once, but twice! We had planned on taking an Alaska Cruise out of Vancouver and because we wanted to also explore Vancouver, we stayed an extra 2 days in the city before and after our cruise! Below we've gathered our favorite stops in the city to eat, stay, and explore!

Other posts you might be interested in :

Where to Stay

Since we've just stayed in Vancouver twice so far, we can only personally recommend two places to stay :

The Burrard - centrally located in downtown Vancouver, a few blocks from the Cruise port
Seaside Hotel North Vancouver - located in North Vancouver, a little quieter location near many food options

However, there are many other places to stay in Vancouver that we've heard are supposed to be very nice, including :

Pan Pacific Vancouver - the closest you can get to the cruise port, with stunning waterfront views
Hilton Vancouver Downtown - next to the Yaletown neighborhood with close proximity to many bars, boutiques, and restaurants
Loden Hotel - a luxury boutique hotel within walking distance of Robson Street shopping
Fairmont Waterfront - a luxury hotel on the waterfront with stunning views from their outdoor pool
Paradox Hotel Vancouver - a boutique hotel with a pool and patio jacuzzi

Our Essential Travel Resources :
There are a lot of travel companies out there, but some are better than others. These are our favorite websites and resources to help you plan an incredible trip.

For flights, we recommend using WayAway or Hopper to compare the cheapest dates to travel to your destination.

Car rentals comparisons are best through Discover Cars - just make sure to bring your international driver's permit with you if you're heading somewhere international!

We always use AGODA for hotels. They have an easy-to-use platform where you can compare the best rates.

To keep cell phone service if you're traveling internationally, we always use Airalo’s easy to purchase eSIM’s (no installation required).

For fun things to do, we always recommend Viator to find the best tours in the area, otherwise Klook also does the trick, especially for tours in Asia.

Just in case, Safetywing is the insurance I always use for travel insurance.

Lastly, my packing list for your international or domestic travels.

Places to Eat

Vancouver has an incredible selection of amazing places to eat, no matter where you are I guarantee you'll be able to find a new favorite place. However, if you're looking for some recommendations our personal favorites were :

Steamworks Brewpub - their Poutine and Quinoa Power Salad were great!
Nero Waffle Bar - with a few locations around town, our favorites here were the Lavender London Fog, Brussels Benny, and Banella Brûlée
Lift Breakfast Bakery - this local bistro had a great Breakfast Croissant and Lonsdale Fog
Granville Island - our favorites at this public market were the The Lobster Man's Connecticut Lobster Roll, A La Mode's Clam Chowder Pot Pie, The Lemon Square's Lemon Square, Kaisereck Delicatessen's Cheese and Potato Perogies
Tap & Barrel - we loved the Green Goddess Bowl and Margarita Pizza
Budda-Full - they have fantastic smoothie bowls!
Welcome Parlour Ice Cream - natural ice cream!
Larry's Market - the only place we've found with kombucha slushies!

Things to Do

In addition to having so many great places to eat - there is seriously so much to do and explore in the Vancouver area! Our favorite things to do were :

Olympic Village - Once where the athletes of the 2010 olympics stayed, this area of Vancouver is now filled with residential buildings and parks. Try walking the 2.9 km False Creek walking route that takes you around the waterway and to sites like the opening ceremony site.
Rent a Bike and Explore - Included with many hotel stays downtown (like The Burrard) this is a great way to get around the city! Just be sure to grab a helmet and bike lock as it can be very busy on the streets of Downtown Vancouver.
Hop On Hop Off Bus Tour - We always think these are great way to see a new city and explore with ease. Plus, tickets are good for 24 hours so you can spend 2 days with free transportation around the city.
SeaBus - Speaking of transportation, we honestly loved using the $3 SeaBus to get to and from North Vancouver to Downtown Vancouver.
Granville Island - Our favorite spot in Vancouver, with all of the best food! Head here for a few hours or the whole day for shopping, drinks, great food and stunning views of the city!
Lynn Canyon Park & Suspension Bridge - Epic canyons and hiking trails, just be prepared for lots of crowds! Make sure to also check out Twin Falls and 30 Foot Pool. We've also heard great things about Capilano Suspension Bridge Park, which looks awesome but is quite a bit pricier.
Robson Street - Known for shopping, head further down the street towards the West End to explore Vancouver's Korea Town!
Skyride at Grouse Mountain - We didn't have the chance to ride this on our last visits, but we heard the views of Vancouver and the Gulf Islands are incredible!
Gastown Steam Clock - A small stop, but one that draws crowds. This steam powered clock is one of only a few in the world, and goes off every 15 minutes!

We also wanted to highlight some of our favorite, Vancouver based bloggers! Check them out for even more Vancouver based hikes, adventures, and things to do!

"We’re a couple of Canadian photographers with a passion for the outdoors, hiking, and road-tripping. The two of us have been travelling Canada for the past two years and we’re here to share the best views, the best hikes, and all of our tips & tricks along the way." - Jake & Marie

"We are photographers, content creators and weekend warriors originally from Sydney Australia and have recently relocated to Vancouver Canada! We both work 9-5 jobs but on the weekends we spend as much time as possible exploring the outdoors – hiking, camping, finding cute cabins and of course taking photos of all of our adventures!" - Oceanus Adventures

"We are Meagan & Andy - an adventure-loving couple who have been traveling for the past five years. Now full time travelers, we are fixed on seeing the world. Our passion is in outdoor travel while living a healthy and eco-friendly lifestyle. Join us for all things camping, hiking, backpacking and vanlife!"- Fuel for the Sole

Watch our Vancouver Adventures here!

Check out our other Canada blogs here!

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