4 days in Vancouver
Sea, forest and mountains, all within a bus ride. A 4-day plan.
Vancouver is a city where you can kayak in the morning, eat superb Asian food at lunch and ski by night in winter, all framed by the North Shore Mountains.
Day by day
Day 1: Stanley Park and Gastown
Cycle the seawall around Stanley Park, explore Gastown and have aburi sushi for dinner.
Day 2: Granville Island and the beach
Graze the public market, kayak False Creek and watch sunset at Kitsilano Beach.
Day 3: The North Shore
Cross the Capilano Suspension Bridge and take the gondola up Grouse Mountain.
Day 4: Sea-to-Sky
Drive the Sea-to-Sky Highway towards Whistler, or visit the Museum of Anthropology.
Make it work
- Best months: May–Sep. See the season calendar.
- Book ahead: the most popular sights and restaurants, especially in peak season.
- Where to eat along the way: Granville Island Public Market, Miku, Vij's.
- Getting around: SkyTrain, buses and SeaBus use contactless or a Compass card.
Short on time, or staying longer?
With less time, keep the first days and skip the day trip. With more, add a slower day for a neighbourhood from our best areas to stay, or choose more from the full list of things to do.
Opening days and times change, and some sights close one day a week. Check before you go. Last reviewed October 2026.