Should I spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Vancouver?
Should you spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Vancouver?
Many visitors spend at least 3 or as many as 5 days in Vancouver during their trip. If you're not sure how much time you might need here, we have the answers because your journey calls for making the most of every moment. The city offers the chance to spend time at the museums, get out into nature, discover the big city activities, and find the best deals at the shops.
Vancouver is a popular Canadian city on the west coast. It has a spectacular setting between the Pacific Ocean and the mountains. It's also a diverse city with a vibrant Asian population and many great restaurants. Visitors enjoy the cultural opportunities that the city offers, but also appreciate the opportunities to get out into nature in the surrounding areas.
Do you have one or two days to visit Vancouver? Here's our comprehensive breakdown of how much time you might need for your trip along with some suggestions for things to do.
Is one day enough time in Vancouver?
With its wealth of sights and attractions, Vancouver is a top choice for tourists. One day is probably not enough time here. You might feel rushed to see the main attractions of Vancouver such as the famous sights and museums, the hiking, the big city activities, and shopping. To thoroughly enjoy all that the city has to offer, you'll probably want more time. Most travelers schedule at least 3 or as many as 5 days to fully experience the diverse city. Nevertheless, if time is of the essence, we have some nice suggestions for your visit.
How to spend a day in Vancouver
Vancouver is known for it's world-class museums and famous landmarks, so make sure you spend at least a day exploring at one or more of the most appealing. There are tons of museums and sights around town such as the Vancouver Aquarium, the Museum of Anthropology, the Museum of Vancouver, and Science World. Also make sure you take a walk over the Capilano Suspension Bridge.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Half-day Vancouver City Tour & Lookout Tower ($75)
You'll absolutely want to spend some time enjoying the food scene in this city, so make sure you spend time at one of the local restaurants where you can taste the delicious cuisine for a meal or two. You'll find diverse restaurants and fresh ingredients. Local seafood is a staple in many restaurants so make sure you try the prawns, salmon, and even sea urchin. Asian food is also excellent around town. Sushi, Japanese hot dogs, and dim sum are all worth sampling.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Granville Island Market VIP Walking Food Tour ($115)
- A Wok Around Food Tour of the Granville Island Public Market ($83)
- Gastown Historic Walking Food Tour ($99)
Vancouver is a very walkable city. With only a day in the city, you'll have no trouble exploring the local sights. The downtown area is very compact and fun to explore on foot.
Is a weekend (two to three days) enough time in Vancouver?
Since it's a large city, you'll probably need more than a weekend to take advantage of everything to do in Vancouver. Two or three days still gives you a good amount of time to explore, though, as you'll have a chance to experience at least some of the major attractions. In addition to the great museums and landmarks and fun hiking, visitors can enjoy the shopping, food, and nightlife by staying for a weekend.
Vancouver Skyline at Night
How to spend 2 days in Vancouver
If you have more than a weekend (two to three days) in Vancouver, you'll appreciate the added time for everything the city has to offer.
Known for it's hiking, Vancouver sees plenty of visitors looking to get outdoors. Spend a day exploring the natural beauty and scenery on a nearby hike. The city is surrounded by water and mountains, making it one of the best hiking cities in the world. You don't have to go far to enjoy spectacular vistas, serene rainforests, and rugged coastline. The trails range from casual strolls to more strenuous day long hikes.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Vancouver Rainforest Hike with Waterfalls, Suspension Bridge, Old Growth Forest ($58)
- Quarry Rock Hike and Deep Cove Photography ($85)
- Full-Day Panorama Ridge Hike in Garibaldi Provincial Park ($133)
This city is very popular for nightlife. After the sun goes down, head out to one of the many popular venues around town. The city has a vibrant nightlife scene. Most of the activity is centered around The Granville Entertainment District in the downtown area. It runs along Granville Street between Robson Street and Davie Street. In the area you'll find a high concentration of bars and nightclubs.
Public transit in Vancouver is easy and efficient. In just a few days, you should be able to get around the city quite easily. Public transit is efficient and comfortable. The Translink system includes buses, the SeaBus ferry, and the SkyTrain light rail system.
More Info
If you're looking for more information about Vancouver, we have even more advice to help you plan your journey.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.
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