Things to do in Vancouver: local guide

The story

Understanding Vancouver

ancouver stands on the unceded traditional territories of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh Nations. Its history begins long before the port and glass towers that shape today’s skyline.

Around Gastown and the Downtown Eastside, historic buildings tell the story of a port city shaped by industry and migration. Alternate downtown with neighbourhood visits: a garden in Chinatown, the shops of Commercial Drive, then a walk beside False Creek. The city changes pace within a few blocks.

10 spots

The Ugos

UGO’s signature experiences in Vancouver.

Ugo

Découvrir le Museum of Anthropology à UBC

Le Museum of Anthropology se trouve sur le campus de l’Université de la Colombie-Britannique. Ses collections présentent…

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Ugo · Fairview

Explorer le marché public de Granville Island

Le marché public de Granville Island rassemble des commerces alimentaires, des produits frais et des spécialités locales. La…

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Ugo · Downtown Vancouver

Explorer le quartier historique de Gastown

Gastown est un quartier historique de Vancouver dont la découverte se fait à pied, entre bâtiments commerciaux et façades…

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Ugo

Monter à Grouse Mountain et admirer le panorama

Grouse Mountain se situe à North Vancouver. La remontée Skyride permet de rejoindre la montagne et ses points de vue. Les…

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Ugo

Naviguer sur False Creek en Aquabus

Les petits traversiers colorés d’Aquabus naviguent sur False Creek et relient différents quais du front de mer. La traversée…

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Ugo

Observer la faune au Vancouver Aquarium

Le Vancouver Aquarium se trouve dans Stanley Park et présente la faune marine, notamment les loutres de mer. Ses expositions…

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Ugo

Parcourir le Seawall de Stanley Park à vélo

Le Seawall de Stanley Park propose une découverte du littoral à vélo, entre bord de mer, plages et forêt côtière. Le parcours…

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Ugo · West End

Se détendre sur la plage d’English Bay

La plage d’English Bay, aussi appelée First Beach, se situe dans le West End, au bord du Seawall. Elle permet de faire une pause…

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Ugo · Shaughnessy

Se promener au jardin botanique VanDusen

Le jardin botanique VanDusen propose une promenade consacrée à la découverte des végétaux et de l’horticulture. Les chemins…

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Ugo

Traverser le pont suspendu de Capilano

Le pont suspendu de Capilano traverse un canyon au-dessus de la rivière Capilano, à North Vancouver. Le site propose aussi…

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10 spots

The best of

Our top 10 places in Vancouver.

Unique · Downtown Vancouver

Canada Place

Canada Place se reconnaît à ses voiles blanches sur le front de mer de Vancouver. Le site est lié aux activités portuaires et aux…

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Culture

Museum of Anthropology — MOA

Le Museum of Anthropology se trouve sur le campus de l’Université de la Colombie-Britannique et présente des collections…

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Culture · Downtown Vancouver

Vancouver Art Gallery

La Vancouver Art Gallery est consacrée aux arts visuels, notamment à la peinture, à la photographie et à l’art contemporain. Ses…

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Culture · Strathcona

Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden

Le Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden présente un jardin classique chinois dont l’architecture s’inspire du style Ming.…

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Culture

Mâts sculptés de Brockton Point

Les mâts sculptés de Brockton Point sont présentés en plein air dans Stanley Park. Cette exposition rassemble des œuvres de…

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Culture · Kitsilano

Museum of Vancouver — MOV

Le Museum of Vancouver présente l’histoire de Vancouver et les liens entre la ville et ses communautés. Ses expositions mettent…

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Culture · Downtown Vancouver

Vancouver Public Library — Central Library

La Central Library de la Vancouver Public Library se situe à Library Square, au centre-ville. Le bâtiment, associé à l’architecte…

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Restaurant · Riley Park

Published on Main

Institution gastronomique de Main Street, Published on Main propose une cuisine contemporaine profondément ancrée dans le terroir…

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Bar · Downtown Vancouver

The Keefer Bar

Dans le quartier chinois de Vancouver, The Keefer Bar développe un concept inspiré des anciennes apothicaireries. Les cocktails…

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Café · Downtown Vancouver

Revolver — Gastown

Revolver est un café de spécialité situé sur Cambie Street, dans Gastown. Sa sélection met en avant des cafés de différents…

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Find your bearings

A neighbourhood for every mood

West End & Coal Harbour

For a first visit on foot: waterfront access, Stanley Park and Denman Street restaurants. Choose your exact accommodation location with noise and transit distance in mind.

Kitsilano

For beaches, cafés and a residential feel. A good base for slowing down, with more bus journeys to reach downtown.

Mount Pleasant & Main Street

For independent cafés, shops and casual evenings out. Explore in the afternoon and stay for dinner.

Gastown & Chinatown

For architecture and heritage. Proximity to the Downtown Eastside calls for planning your routes, particularly at night; read the safety section before booking accommodation.

Explore the neighbourhood guides

A first visit

Two days to get a feel for the city

A starting point to adapt to the weather, your energy and opening hours.

Day 1 · The waterfront city
Morning: Coal Harbour and a section of Stanley Park. Lunch in the West End. Afternoon: beach time or a walk, depending on the weather. Finish at English Bay for sunset and dinner nearby.
Day 2 · Market & neighbourhoods
Spend the morning and lunch at Granville Island, then head to Mount Pleasant for cafés and shops. For a heritage-focused day, swap that stop for Gastown in daylight. Save the North Shore for another day.

Plan my stay with UGO

Conditions vary by street, time and situation. Use these pointers to plan your journeys.

Downtown Eastside · plan your route

The area around Main Street and East Hastings faces documented challenges involving drugs, housing and crime. For a first visit, we recommend busy routes in daylight and avoiding isolated shortcuts at night. Check the exact location of a hotel: conditions can change quickly between streets.

City of Vancouver — Downtown Eastside

Gastown, Chinatown & late-night journeys

People experiencing hardship are not inherently dangerous. Keep a respectful distance, avoid filming distressing situations and change route if you feel uncomfortable. After an evening out, use a well-lit street to reach a busy stop or arrange a taxi.

Vancouver Police — International student safety

Opportunistic theft

Leave no bags or devices visible in a car. Keep belongings close at the beach or in cafés. Lock your bike to a suitable rack; even a short absence is enough for theft.

Vancouver Police — Property theft

Parks, trails & darkness

In Stanley Park, favour busy routes and avoid isolated wooded trails after dark. Mountain hikes require separate preparation: weather, equipment and a return before nightfall. For immediate danger, call 911.

Vancouver Police — Personal safety

Combine walking, SkyTrain, buses and SeaBus. With Compass or a contactless bank card, tap in and out on SkyTrain and SeaBus; on buses, tap in only. Check TransLink schedules, fare zones and alerts before leaving.

UGO tip: Take your chosen card out of your wallet to avoid tapping a different one. For the North Shore, SeaBus combines a crossing with a view; check the last return departure.

TransLink — Visiting Vancouver

Winters are often wet; summer is better suited to beaches and long walks. Pack removable layers and a waterproof jacket. Mountain conditions can be very different from downtown.

UGO tip: Save the Seawall and viewpoints for a clear spell. If rain sets in, swap them for a museum or gallery. Check the forecast for your exact destination, not just Vancouver.

Destination Vancouver — Climate & weather

Back to Vancouver

Understanding Vancouver

The Ugos

Découvrir le Museum of Anthropology à UBC

Explorer le marché public de Granville Island

Explorer le quartier historique de Gastown

Monter à Grouse Mountain et admirer le panorama

Naviguer sur False Creek en Aquabus

Observer la faune au Vancouver Aquarium

Parcourir le Seawall de Stanley Park à vélo

Se détendre sur la plage d’English Bay

Se promener au jardin botanique VanDusen

Traverser le pont suspendu de Capilano

The best of

Canada Place

Museum of Anthropology — MOA

Vancouver Art Gallery

Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden

Mâts sculptés de Brockton Point

Museum of Vancouver — MOV

Vancouver Public Library — Central Library

Published on Main

The Keefer Bar

Revolver — Gastown

A neighbourhood for every mood

West End & Coal Harbour

Kitsilano

Mount Pleasant & Main Street

Gastown & Chinatown

Two days to get a feel for the city

Day 1 · The waterfront city

Day 2 · Market & neighbourhoods

Good to know