We arrived in Vancouver having taken a 7-day cruise through the Inside Passage. With just one day in Vancouver we got an early start, as there was much to do!

We rented a car from Hertz, located in the car park under the Fairmont Pacific Rim Hotel – a few minutes walk from the cruise terminal. 

A quick stop at the nearby Tourism Vancouver Visitor Centre gave us some invaluable tips on how to spend our day.

Vancouver

Top 3 things to do in Vancouver if you have one day:

  1. Hop On Hop Off Bus Tour – there are two routes: a green and a blue route. The green route was our favourite – through Robson, Stanley Park, West End, Kitsilano, Granville Island, China Town and Gastown. The blue route is through the downtown area and also includes Yaletown, China Town, Gastown.
  2. Grouse Mountain (free shuttle from downtown): take a gondola to the top of the mountain – views, shows, two grizzly bears, a lumberjack show, bird shows, three restaurants, gift shops, zip line, parachuting. Open all year round.
  3. Capilano – Suspension Bridge Park – cliff walk, tree top walk.

Grouse Mountain and Capilano Suspension Bridge Park are located on the same highway – so easy to do.

If you have more time in Vancouver, we would also recommend:

  1. Cycle in Stanley Park
  2. Day trip to Whistler
  3. Day trip to Victoria on Vancouver Island

The day trips can be booked at the Visitor Information Centre.

Our favourite places in Vancouver:

  • Stanley Park – there is a one-way road around Stanley Park with many stops along the way for photos of the city, Totem Poles, etc.
  • The West End – an attractive beachfront area
  • Kitsilano – charming houses in tree lined streets
  • Granville Island –an area of theatres, art galleries, gift shops and the wonderful Public Market – with fruit, vegetables, meat, delicatessens, etc. We had a delicious lunch at Sprig in the food hall.
  • China Town and Gastown

AccommodationGuru.com
26 May 2018