As someone who grew up in the Vancouver suburbs and now lives just outside downtown, I’ve always enjoyed exploring the city.
Here are seven of my best recommendations to experience Vancouver like a local, from enjoying nature and catching a show to dining at some of the best restaurants.
Granville Island is a must-visit hub for arts and culture.
Granville Island isn’t actually an island (it’s a peninsula). But it is a vibrant arts and culture hub in the city, home to a variety of art galleries, live theatre, a comedy club, a bustling food market, and street performers.
I recommend spending an afternoon in the neighborhood, wandering through the market before grabbing dinner at either Alimentaria Mexicana or Granville Island Brewing, and then heading to The Improv Centre for a laugh.
Get outside year-round to hike, bike, ski, or snowshoe.
Vancouver is one of the few cities where you can hike a mountain in the morning and hit the beach in the afternoon.
So, do as the locals do and get outside — regardless of the season.
In the summer, stop by Spanish Banks Beach, or go cycling, rollerblading, or walking around the seawall at Stanley Park. Then, in the winter, escape to the mountains for snowshoeing and skiing.
The city’s mild weather also means many low-elevation hiking trails are open year-round. One of my favorites is the Dog Mountain trail at Mount Seymour Provincial Park — it has epic views.
The university campuses are worth a visit — even if you’re not a student.
The city’s two major universities — the University of British Columbia (UBC) and Simon Fraser University (SFU) — both have interesting campuses worth visiting.
My alma mater is SFU, and the main campus sits atop Burnaby Mountain, with hiking trails, beautiful views of Greater Vancouver, and eye-catching modernist architecture.
Meanwhile, UBC is larger and has gorgeous campus grounds complete with trails, beaches, rose gardens, and even the Museum of Anthropology.
For the perfect rainy-day activity, head to the Vancouver Art Gallery.
The Vancouver Art Gallery is nearly 100 years old and has rotating exhibits year-round.
Featuring over 13,000 works of art, the gallery showcases pieces from Indigenous artists, as well as those from British Columbia, Asia, and beyond.
It’s a good rainy-day activity in the city — spend some time wandering and then grab a bite to eat at the on-site bistro or one of the many nearby cafés and restaurants.
Don’t miss out on the city’s seasonal festivals.
No matter when you visit Vancouver, there’s likely a festival or seasonal event happening.
Every year, I stop by Dine Out Vancouver, where restaurants across the city curate fixed-price menus. I’ve also been participating in the city’s Polar Bear Swim for the last few years, ringing in the new year with a dip in the ocean.
Other fun festivals I’ve enjoyed are the PNE Fair, the Hot Chocolate Festival, Bard on the Beach, and the Richmond Night Market.
Vancouver’s food scene is incredibly diverse.
As a port city, Vancouver is an international hub that offers a diverse range of global cuisines — from classic Italian to Mexican street food.
A few of my favorite restaurants include Anh and Chi (Vietnamese), Zarak (Afghan), Nuba (Lebanese), or ChongQing (Chinese).
If you’re up for leaving Vancouver proper, the surrounding suburbs are hubs of international flavors in their own right.
I’ve found that Richmond has the best Chinese food, Surrey has the best Indian restaurants, and Coquitlam is full of amazing Korean spots.
Catch a concert at a local venue.
Whenever possible, I think it’s a great idea to make memories in Vancouver by attending a live event.
Stadium tours are held at BC Place (where Taylor Swift finished her Eras Tour) and Rogers Arena. These venues also host professional hockey, football, and soccer games.
For smaller venues, the Commodore Ballroom and Vogue Theatre are my favorites, as they host amazing artists in a cozy, intimate setting.
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