10 amazing things to do in Vancouver

Canada's big-hitting city has international flavours, left-field culture and incredible scenery. Here's our essential guide to the west-coast wonderland

By Tamara Micner

21 February 2017

The Seawall in Vancouver, CanadaiStock

1. Walk all along the waterfront

Winding for 13 miles along Vancouver's waterfront, the Seawall creates a natural walking tour of the city. The path passes beaches such as Jericho (chilled out), Kits (sporty) and English Bay (lively), as well as Granville Island, with its food stalls and street performers, and the former Olympic Village, where good pit stops include Earnest Ice Cream and Terra Breads. There's also the chance to lose yourself amidst the 400-year-old trees of Stanley Park (designed by Central Park's architect), and take in views of the mighty North Shore Mountains from Coal Harbour.

Find it: tourismvancouver.com

2. Go back to the drawing board

Art class meets comedy at the monthly Come Draw With Me nights at the Hot Art Wet City gallery. Participants are encouraged to draw with marker pens, and the results judged by funnywoman Alicia Tobin. It's silly, intimate and a magnet for the city's creative crowd.

Find it: hotartwetcity.com

Drinks at 33 Acres brewery

3. Bike-hop around the breweries

With its recent boom in microbreweries, Vancouver is fast becoming known as the Portland of the north. Take advantage of the city's new bikeshare scheme to tour the craft brewers on wheels. Create your own artisan-ale route with this handy map, stopping by 33 Acres, Doan's, Off the Rail, Parallel 49, Powell Street and Strange Fellows.

Find it: mobibikes.ca

TreeWalk at UBC Botanical GardenShelley Iwata

4. Walk through a forest in mid-air

Although many visitors find their way to the Capilano Suspension Bridge, few know the quieter, equally stunning alternative. The 60ft-high TreeWalk winds between century-old cedars, firs and pines, and is next door to 800 hectares of old-growth forest in Pacific Spirit Park. The pure air smells of fallen rain and moss, and you could spend hours combing the 20-odd trails.

Find it: botanicalgarden.ubc.ca (Open March through October).

Houseboats in VancouverTourism Vancouver

5. Sleep on the water in a hip houseboat

Wake up to mountains on one side and ocean on the other by staying in one of North Vancouver's spacious and modern floating homes. The area also has the best Persian restaurants in town; and your commute to the city is a 10-minute Seabus across the harbour.

6. Do naked yoga on the beach

A Vancouver institution, the clothing-optional Wreck Beach combines a freewheeling hippie vibe with dramatic natural scenery. To get there you'll need to navigate 400-plus steps on the edge of the University of British Columbia campus; down below is a lively, constantly evolving scene of food and clothing stalls, drum circles, nude yoga and skinny-dippers. Take your own towel.

Find it: wreckbeach.org

Wreck Beach in Vancouver, CanadaFlickr.com/Kyle Pearce

Bookshops on Commercial DriveTourism Vancouver/Nelson Mouëllic

7. Chill out on one of Canada's coolest streets

Once the city's Little Italy, Commercial Drive has become its hippest street, with chock-a-block indie outposts. Start at the top of The Drive with Mexican brunch at Bandidas, then make your way down to browse the counter-cultural racks at the People's Co-op Bookstore, try the craft brews at St Augustine's (the website has live updates of everything on tap) and catch a new play at The Cultch.

Find it: thedrive.ca

Canadian art at Bill Reid GalleryFacebook.com/billreidgalley

8. Get face to face with a totem pole

Experiencing First Nations cultures is a crucial part of any visit to Vancouver. The downtown Bill Reid Gallery showcases finely handcrafted jewellery and sculptures by an acclaimed Haida artist, who died in 1998, plus totem poles, painted masks and other works from west-coast First Nations artists. When you're passing through the airport, look out for Reid's famed 'Jade Canoe', which featured on the Canadian $20 note.

Find it: billreidgallery.ca

Ask For Luigi restaurant in RailtownTourism Vancouver/Nelson Mouëllic

Meet on Main

9. Hang out with the creative crowd

Spend a day meandering through Main Street's 30 blocks of hip eateries, bars and shops, the pulsing heart of Vancouver's artistic community. The drip coffee and inventive doughnuts at 49th Parallel are second-to-none, as is the vegan comfort food at Meet on Main (try the deep-fried apple pie if you dare, and prepare to queue). Head to Front and Company for its quirky collection of household designs and gifts (from denim patches to cookie cutters) and, if you're lucky, catch an evening gig at Red Cat Records.

Find it: frontandcompany.com and redcat.ca

10. Catch the hottest tuna in town

Sushi is the must-eat food on Canada's west coast right now, and the hottest restaurants are currently the oceanfront Miku and its sister restaurant Minami in Yaletown. The two have made aburi sushi a hit, serving it part flame-seared, part raw. Try the salmon oshi and the daily goma-ae, a kale and sesame dish.

Find it: mikurestaurant.com and minamirestaurant.com