Perfect Vancouver 3 Day Itinerary

Vancouver is one of the world’s most beautiful cities, surrounded by a sparkling harbour and framed by soaring mountains. The perfect Vancouver itinerary takes in Vancouver’s city, nature and neighbourhoods. While you should stay for longer if you have the time (ain’t that always the case!), three days in Vancouver is an ideal time to experience the best things to do in Vancouver.

This Vancouver 3 day itinerary is pretty active, and is packed with biking, city walks, hiking, and even snowshoeing in winter. My second trip to Vancouver was on a lovely early spring long weekend, and I managed to cover these Vancouver activities in 3 days without rushing.

If you prefer a slower pace, you can easily replace some of the walking and biking with public transport and taxis, and can cut out a few activities. If you’re traveling to Vancouver in summer, add some time to chill out at one of the harbour beaches.

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3 Day Vancouver Canada Itinerary: Overview

So how we gonna break this down? If you just wanna know what to do and don’t need the deets:

Day 1: Explore Stanley Park and Vancouver city.

Day 2: Take a trip to Capilano Suspension Bridge and Grouse Mountain.

Day 3: Meander through Queen Elizabeth Park and the trendy suburbs of Vancouver south.

Where to Stay: Downtown Vancouver is the perfect place to base yourself in Vancouver, as it’s close to the main Vancouver city attractions. Vancouver hotels can get pricey in the peak summer season, but I got a good deal on the gorgeous L’Hermitage Hotel Vancouver. L’Hermitage is a stylish luxury hotel, with an excellent breakfast and gorgeous rooms and is only a block from the closest train station.

Paradox Hotel Vancouver is also an excellent inner-city choice. Alternatively, check out Times Square Suites Hotel near Stanley Park for something mid-range, or Best Western Plus Sands if you’re on more of a budget but still prefer to stay in a reasonably central hotel. 

Read on for a step-by-step guide to your Vancouver 3 day itinerary.

Vancouver Itinerary Day 1: Discover Vancouver City

One your first day in Van, get to know the city. The central Vancouver city area is surprisingly compact and can be easily explored on foot or on bike. I made the most of my first day in Vancouver with an awesome 5 hour cycling tour which covered Stanley Park and the city.

Morning: Stanley Park

A cycle or stroll around Stanley Park is one of the highlights of a Vancouver itinerary. While Stanley Park may not be the biggest urban park in North America (or even in Canada, contrary to popular belief), it’s gotta be one of the prettiest.

Stanley Park is at the north end of Vancouver city next to the West End district. The park covers almost as much land as the downtown area, and is surrounded by a 9km seawall.

Allow one hour to bike around the Stanley Park seawall, 2+ hours to walk, or longer to detour via one (or more!) of the forest paths through the park. From the seawall, you’ll be treated to endless epic views of the harbour and city from every angle.

On the internal trails, gaze up at the centuries old cedar trees, hop inside a hollow stump, and check out the beavers’ handy work at Beaver Lake. (Unfortunately, beavers are nocturnal so chances of spotting one are low. Boo!)

Don’t miss the brightly coloured totem pole collection in Brockton Point (eastern point of Stanley Park), which richly convey stories of First Nations history and culture.

You could easily spend an entire day in Stanley Park, especially during summer. On the warmer days, leave time to relax at one of the beaches, including the imaginatively named First Beach, Second Beach and Third Beach.

Fancy a bite to eat? Dine at The Teahouse Stanley Park for a fancy meal, eat at Prospect Point for a laidback meal with killer views, or grab a snack from one of the concession stands around the park and eat in nature.

Another Stanley Park favourite is the Vancouver Aquarium. While I haven’t visited the aquarium , I do get kicks out of watching the aquarium’s otter cam for a pick up when the post travel blues kick in. Totes adorbs.

Stanley Park – The Boring But Essential Stuff

Getting There: Stanley Park is at next to West End in downtown Vancouver, and is easily accessible by foot, bike or public transport. Check out the Vancouver City website for Stanley Park directions and downloadable and printable maps.

Cost: Stanley Park is free, whoop whoop! Bike hire varies depending on the type of bike and number of hours, but expect to pay around $30 for a few hours. Bikes are available for hire at several city locations, including Spokes Bike Hire at the entrance of Stanley Park or Cycle City Tours in the city. I took a 5 hour ‘Grand Tour’ with Cycle City Tours, which covered Stanley Park and the city, and it was absolutely top notch.

Afternoon: Downtown Vancouver

In the afternoon, check out downtown Vancouver. Like Stanley Park, the city is friendly for walkers and bikers, with a number of cycle paths traversing the city.

Vancouver Harbour

From Stanley Park, walk or bike along Coal Harbour with its modern high rises and continue along the waterfront to the iconic Canada Place Building. For a whistle stop tour of Canada, ride the Flyover Canada flight simulator in Canada Place.

Downtown Vancouver

Once you’ve soaked in the waterfront views, meander through downtown Vancouver. Like many CBDs, downtown is bustling during the week and is fairly quiet on weekends.

Depending on your tastes, do a spot of shopping or simply check out the architecture. My fav downtown building is the art deco style Marine Building (open weekdays) on Burrad St with its gorgeous intricate door.

Vancouver Chinatown

If you still have time to kill, skip across the city to Chinatown which was settled from the late 19th century. Look out for the Jack Chow Building, said to be the narrowest building in the world at just over 6 feet, and the tiny second floor mezzanine levels in the buildings.

Take a stroll through pretty Dr Sun-Yat Sen Garden. These traditional Chinese style gardens were sadly the sight of a koi (aka very expensive fish) massacre at the hands of a hungry otter.

If you prefer to keep your days action packed, you may also have time for lunch or a drink at Granville Island (see Day 3 below).

Evening: Gastown

In the evening, head to Vancouver’s oldest neighbourhood, Gastown. Stroll along Water Street which is lined with old buildings, strings of lights, and is home to the famous (but not so old) Steam Clock at one end and Gassy Jack statue at the other end.

Gastown is packed with vibrant and trendy bars and restaurants. I loved Tacofino Taco Bar for tasty cheap tacos, good margaritas and its bustling vibe. Tacofino is a little on the busy and noisy side.

If you prefer something more laidback, try Six Acres for pub style tapas. Tapas is possibly not the best meal for dining alone but, hey, I’m up for a challenge.

Vancouver Itinerary Day 2: Explore Vancouver Nature

Now that you’ve been introduced to the best things to do in Vancouver city, why not spend the day in Vancouver’s nature. Capilano Suspension Bridge and Grouse Mountain combine well in a day trip, as they are both north of the city and are connected by readily available public transport.

Morning: Capilano Suspension Bridge Park

As the name would suggest, Capilano Suspension Bridge Park is home to a 137m long suspension bridge that sways precariously in the breeze 70m above the river. Those with vertigo need not apply.

The bridge is impressive, but the surrounding nature is even more so. Capilano Park is tucked inside dense forest filled with towering trees and overlooks a river with a mountain backdrop. (Actually, I take it back. That’s just a pretty regular old view in Canada.)

While the namesake is the highlight, there’s several other short trails and boardwalks winding their way through the forest, totalling around 2km. Take the Treetops Adventure walk through (you guessed it!) the top of the trees for a birdseye view of the forest, wander along the Nature’s Edge boardwalk through the forest, and walk along the Cliffwalk that juts out from the side of the cliff with sweeping views.

Be warned: Capilano Suspension Bridge Park is one of the most popular attractions in Vancouver, so it can get very busy, especially in summer. I visited on a beautiful early spring weekend, and it was busy but not crowded.

If you’re peckish, grab a coffee and snack before getting onto the road for your next stop. If you’re starvasish, there’s a few cafe and lunch options at Capilano Suspension Bridge.

Capilano Suspension Bridge – The Boring But Essential Stuff

Getting There: The Capilano Suspension Bridge is in North Vancouver, around 20 minutes from downtown Vancouver. There is a free shuttle bus from downtown Vancouver to Capilano Suspension Bridge Park. (Ok, free but not free since you’ll pay an arm and a leg to go into the park!)

Time Required: Allow 2 hours to walk all the trails in Capilano Suspension Bridge Park at a leisurely pace and have a coffee break. The trails are short, around a few hundred metres each or 2km in total. The trails can be conquered in 1 hour if you’re short on time, or stretched out into 3 hours if you want to enjoy the serenity or have a leisurely meal.

Cost: Entry to the Capilano Suspension Bridge is over $65 / adult. Yup, that’s eyewateringly expensive for a suspension bridge and nature trails! Canada is filled with natural beauty, so you may want to give this a miss if you’re on a budget. 

Free Alternative: Lucky for you, there’s a free alternative if you’re tight on pennies, prefer a wilder experience, or want to avoid the crowds. Lynn Canyon Park has a suspension bridge and hiking trails, and is completely free (small donation suggested). Lynn Canyon probably would have been more up my street than Capilano, but I chose Capilano as it was easier to combine with Grouse Mountain.

Midday and Afternoon: Grouse Mountain

Grouse Mountain has some of the most spectacular views over Vancouver, and is a year round destination. I’ve visited in summer and winter. (Okay, it was technically spring, but the ski trails were still open so whateves.)

In summer at Grouse Mountain, hike the trails, visit the resident bear and watch the bird show. In winter, go skiing, snowboarding, ice skating or snowshoeing. Year round, dine with a view at one of the restaurants overlooking Vancouver.

If you haven’t been snowshoeing and aren’t really the adventurous type, I’d encourage you to give snowshoeing a go. I’m up there with the ‘ungst-beasts’ of the world (not sure about the spelling, but that’s my husband’s way of saying I’m totes uncoordinated) and I managed just fine.* (*Code for I fell on my face once and tripped over my feet several times. Several weeks later, I was still sporting a lovely blue bruise.)

Alternatively, pull on some ice cleats which are easier to manage and will give you excellent grip. I used ice cleats for winter hiking in Banff a couple of weeks earlier and, buoyed by my success, decided to strap on some snowshoes and give it a go.

There’s a map of the Grouse Mountain snowshoe trails online and at the mountain. In my excitement over snowshoeing for the first time, I set off somewhat aimlessly without so much as a glance at the map.

I wandered down part of the 500m Light Walk trail, got distracted by a pretty blue lake in the distance and veered onto the 1.5km Blue Grouse Trail, and then followed some others and found myself on the appropriately named Snowshoe Grind Trail. Not that I knew any of this at the time, since I didn’t read the map. I later realised that the trails are clearly marked with coloured sticks.

I didn’t entirely intend on walking the Snowshoe Grind Trail, but soon realised I was on it so rolled with it. The trail is 4.3km return, which really doesn’t sound that long does it? The first part of the walk lulls you into a false sense of security with nice wide trails, a soft incline and some lovely views after around 1km.

The unprepared are then in for a rather rude awakening when the Showshoe Grind Trail suddenly turns narrow and VERY steep halfway. I slowed to a snails’ pace and kept on trucking, one foot in front of the other.

That said, the trail is good fun with beautiful views, and hopefully you’ll be so distracted that you’ll barely notice the burning sensation in your legs. Allow a couple of hours for the Snowshoe Grind, or more if you’re new to showshoeing or your fitness is questionable.

I’m a bit of a late luncher, so was absolutely famished after my snowshoeing misadventure, and enjoyed a meal and sneaky vino at Altitudes Bistro.

Grouse Mountain – The Boring But Essential Stuff

Getting There: It’s super easy to get to Grouse Mountain from Capilano Suspension Bridge. Jump on Bus #236 that stops right outside Capilano and takes you to Grouse Mountain’s door for around a few dollars. Grab a Vancouver transport day pass for around $11 in town if you plan on taking a few trips during the day. If you’re coming from downtown Vancouver, in the summer take the free Grouse Mountain shuttle bus from Canada Place. Alternatively, take the Seabus from Waterfront Station to Lonsdale Quay and then ride Bus #236 to Grouse Mountain. You can get back to downtown Vancouver the same way you came. Hurrah!

Time Required: Allow 3-4 hours for Grouse Mountain, less if you’re not interested in hiking, more if you wanna hike all day or ski. I spent 2 hours or so snowshoeing and an hour or so also had lunch up the top.

Cost: The Grouse Mountain Skyride gondola costs around $75 return. In winter, if you want to ski or snowboard, it’s not much morefor a lift pass including the Skyride. Snowshoe hire is around $25 / day.

Free Alternative: If you can’t stomach forking out $75 for a gondola ride or are just generally one of those crazy fitness types, you can hike up Grouse Mountain. The best things in life may be free, but they’re not always easy. The trail up Grouse Mountain is affectionately known as the ‘Grouse Grind’, which is not surprising given that it involves a 2.9km ascent, 853 metres elevation and 2,830 steps. Phew! If you’re reasonably fit, the ascent should take around an hour or so.

Evening: Yaletown

If you’re anything like me (i.e. a bit of a nanna when it comes to staying up late), you’ll be pretty pooped by now after a long day of walking. If you’re staying in downtown Vancouver, it’s not the most happening place after dark, even for the nannas amongst us.

Instead, take a short stroll to nearby Yaletown for a well deserved drink and bite to eat. Yaletown’s a bit of a mishmash of old and new, with historic warehouse buildings tucked in amongst modern waterfront high rises. As with many historic downtown areas, the warehouse buildings are now gentrified and home to trendy bars, restaurants and boutiques.

Walk down Hamilton St and see what takes your fancy for dinner. I was traveling solo and liked The Flying Pig, where you can park up at the bar and not feel like a noob for dining alone. If you dine at the nanna-like time of early evening, you can take advantage of the great happy hour food and drink deals across Vancouver. Cha-ching!

Vancouver Itinerary Day 3: Walking Tour of Vancouver’s Neighbourhoods

Just in case you haven’t done enough exercise yet, today is a leisurely walking tour of Vancouver’s trendiest neighbourhoods (link to map).

Disclaimer: Total walking distance is around 13-15km. This is a big day, so amend the itinerary according to your likes. I did this Vancouver walking route all in one day (around 7 hours). I love walking, don’t loiter, but do stop for eats or drinks every now and then (on this day, brunch and two snack/vino stops). I was also traveling solo which tends to speed things up.

Alternatives: If you want to visit all the stops but give your legs a rest, skip between sites by taxi or public transport. If you prefer to take it slowly and focus on  the more touristy sites, stick to Queen Elizabeth Park, Fairview and Granville. If you love once-gritty-now-trendy neighbourhoods, focus on Mount Pleasant and Kitsilano.

Morning: Queen Elizabeth Park

If you’re staying downtown, take the Canada Line to King Edward Station. From here, it’s a short walk up Cambie St to Queen Elizabeth Park for some of the best views over Vancouver.

Queen Elizabeth Park is the highest point in Vancouver city – but don’t worry, it’s only around 150 metres high! Follow the signs to Bloedel Conservatory for panoramic views over the city and mountains.

If you’ve had a late start to the day, have brunch at Seasons in the Park (open from 10:30am on weekends, 11:30am weekdays) with equally epic views. I gorged on indulgent French toast, in preparation for a big day’s walking. A girl’s gotta keep up her energy you know.

Midday: Mount Pleasant, Olympic Village and Fairview

From Queen Elizabeth Park, head east and make your way down Main Street through South Main and Mount Pleasant Neighbourhoods. Main Street is filled with hipster cafes, bars and shops, and is a good spot to stop for coffee.

Turn left once you reach East Broadway, wander for a few blocks, and then head down towards the waterfront suburb of Fairview. If you prefer the waterfront over neighbourhoods, instead of going down East Broadway, keep heading straight down Main Street and then turn left to reach Olympic Village on the waterfront. Keep walking west along the waterfront towards Fairview.

Fairview is a harbourfront suburb with 1970s lowrise apartments and panoramic views towards the city and mountains. Join the local walkers, runners, cyclists and super cute dogs for a walk along the water in front of Charleston Park.

Early Afternoon: Granville Island

A bit tuckered out and in need of a rest? Take a slight detour to Granville Island. Granville Island is a bit of a misnomer. It’s not technically an island, and is certainly not of the tropical variety. (Plain misleading dat if ya ask me.) Rather, Granville Island is a peninsula which was once home to factories, and has now been converted into a foodie, cultural and artistic haven.

Granville Island is one of those places that seems purpose built for tourists, but is equally popular with locals. The highlight is the Granville Island Public Market, which houses food stalls, craft shops and fresh produce. Grab some lunch here and mosey around the stalls.

If you have longer to linger, check out Granville Island Brewing or The Liberty Distillery. As strange as it may sound, I’m not a big beer drinker, but love breweries for the casual vibe. Granville Island Brewing was the prefect spot to rest my tired legs with a vino and snack.

Granville Island – The Boring But Essential Stuff

Getting There: Check out the Granville Island website for options on how to get to Granville Island. My fav way is to take the cute little Aquabus boat which only takes a few minutes to jump across the water. You can even put your bike on the boat.

Cost: Granville Island is free. Public transport to Granville Island costs a few dollars. You’ll want some coin for lunch or a snack at the Granville Island Public Market, and maybe even a cheeky midday beer or vino. (Or whiskey, no judging here).

Late Afternoon: Kitsilano, aka ‘Kits’

Depending on how early you start and your pace, Queen Elizabeth Park, Mount Pleasant, Fairview and Granville Island could easily take up an entire day of your Vancouver itinerary. Spesh if those leggies get sore and you get cemented to a bar stool in Granville Island.

If you still have the time and energy, wander down West 4th Ave through the equally trendy suburb Kitsilano, aka ‘Kits’. West 4th is lined with cafes and boutiques.

Check out the gorgeous eagle wings mural (known as Kitswings) at the corner of West 4th and Burrad St. Pretty sure these things must be Insta-famous. Cut down one of the side streets on the right (I went down Arbutus) and walk along pretty Kits Beach with views back to Vancouver.

Late afternoon is the perfect time for a stop at The Boathouse Restaurant in Kitsilano. Like many places in Vancouver, the Boathouse Restaurant does a good happy hour with specials on drinks and nibbles. The restaurant has glass frontage for making the most of the lovely ocean views.

By this point, my legs were well and truly done so I jumped back on a bus up to downtown Vancouver, with plenty of time to make my evening flight.

Vancouver is one of my fav cities in North America, and I can’t wait to return for another adventure soon!

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