125 Things to Do in Vancouver

In recognition of Vancouver’s 125th birthday, we asked you to provide your suggestions for things to do in Vancouver. Below are 125 suggestions we received from our reader comments – in no particular order.

Although the list is long, the reality is this just scratches the surface. Feel free to add your own suggestions in the comments box below.

1. Ski in the morning and spend the afternoon on the water
2. Hike the Grouse Grind on Grouse Mountain
3. Walk along the sea wall at Stanley Park
4. Eat at all the amazing restaurants
5. Shop on Robson Street
6. Visit Granville Island
7. Mountain bike on world-renowned trails surrounding Vancouver
8. Yoga at Vanier Park
9. The breakfast buffet atop the revolving restaurant at the Empire Landmark Hotel
10. Visit Crab Park, the downtown secret
11. Early evening BBQ picnic on Third Beach
12. Sip Wine at a Yaletown Patio
13. Go to the Vancouver Aquarium
14. Run in the Vancouver Sun Run
15. Watch the fishers and crabbers at Jericho Beach
16. Ride a bike through Stanley Park
17. Stroll around Steveston
18. People watch on Granville street downtown
19. Take the Seabus over to Lonsdale Quay for lunch
20. Ice cream cones at Prospect Point (Stanley Park)
21. Take the Aquabus to stop, shop and eat along the way: Granville Island, Hornby Street, Stamps Landing, Yaletown
22. Kayak in Deep Cove in North Vancouver
23. Take a hike on the Baden Powell trail
24. Explore the Museum of Anthropology at UBC
25. Explore the Pacific Spirit Regional Park
26. Have an espresso on Commercial Drive
27. Catch the improv show with Vancouver Theatre Sports (Granville Island)
28. Skim board at Spanish Banks
29. Relax at English Bay
30. Take your dog for a walk in Vanier Park and watch the boats
31. Take the ferry from Horseshoe Bay to Bowen Island
32. Sit on the patio or inside by the window at Carderos Restaurant
33. Walk through the Nitobe Garden on a nice sunny day
34. Watch the buskers at Granville Island
35. Bright Nights train ride at Stanley Park
36. Van Dusen Botanical Gardens for the annual Festival of Lights
37. Enjoy fresh sashimi and sushi
38. Walk across the Burrard Bridge on a sunny day
39. Run around Burnaby Lake
40. Watch the Celebration of Light fireworks at English Bay
41. Swim at Kits Pool in the summer
42. Have a picnic at Kits beach
43. Shop at the unique shops on Main Street
44. Pitch and Putt in Queen Elizabeth Park
45. Hike around Lynn Canyon
46. Hike Hollyburn Mountain at Mount Cypress
47. Walk on the West Vancouver Seawalk
48. Sit by a log at English Bay and watch the sunset
49. See the animals at Maple Wood Farms in North Vancouver
50. Check out the Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival
51. Spend a sunny afternoon at Ambleside Park
52. Rent a cruiser (bike) in Yaletown and go cycling around False Creek
53. Grab some take out fish n’ chips in White Rock. Stroll the sandy beach in your barefeet and take in the scenery
54. Dine Out Vancouver annual restaurant festival
55. Walk around Lost Lagoon and feed all the birds
56. Beach volleyball at Kits beach and Spanish Banks
57. Dine on the patio at Bridges Restaurant
58. Salmon Festival at Steveston Village
59. Explore the Chinatown Night Market
60. Soak up the sun at Wreck Beach
61. The Mountain Ziplines on Grouse Mountain
62. Listen to jazz at Granville Island during the Jazz Festival
63. Visit the breweries and do some sampling. Granville Island Brewery… Yaletown Brewery… Howe Sound…
64. Stand up paddling! Cheap rentals in Deep cove or Jericho beach
65. Double features and Saturday matinees at the Hollywood Theatre on West Broadway in Kitsilano
66. Skate at Robson Square
67. Go for dim sum in Chinatown
68. Science World
69. Go for ice cream at La Casa Gelato
70. Step into the tranquil Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden
71. Fly over the snow-capped peaks of the North Shore
72. Skate at the Richmond Olympic Oval
73. Tour the International Buddhist Temple in Richmond
74. Dance in the streets of Gastown during Jazz Fest
75. Walk around downtown after a Canucks win
76. Shop at Metrotown
77. Whale-watching out on the water
78. Get fresh food at the Farmers Markets in the summer
79. Hike up to Quarry Rocks in Deep Cove
80. Spend an afternoon relaxing at David Lam Park
81. Take the Rocky Mountaineer train through West Vancouver and along Howe Sound on the way up to Whistler
82. Walk along Acadia beach between Spanish Banks Extension and Wreck beach. Quiet, walkable, rugged, beautiful
83. Spend the day walking around Coal Harbour
84. Watch a Canucks game at Rogers Arena
85. Climb the giant rock and explore the shoreline of Whytecliff Park West Vancouver
86. Have the Beluga Experience at the Aquarium.
87. Explore the many unique galleries and antique stores on South Granville’s famous Gallery Row
88. Take your kids to the huge waterpark on Granville Island right outside the Kids Market
89. Explore the Steamclock and the funky restaurants in Gastown
90. Bike the Seawall from Coal Harbour all the way to Granville Island
91. Explore the Punjabi Market
92. Taste all the great food at the Richmond Summer Night Market
93. Watch the various film crews around town
94. Watch a live concert at the Commodore Ballroom
95. Bike downtown in the new bike lanes
96. Wine tasting during the International Wine Festival
97. Watch the streets come alive during the Pride Parade
98. Catch a movie during the Vancouver International Film Festival
99. See a unique show during the Vancouver Fringe Festival
100. Visit the 2010 Olympic Cauldron at Jack Poole Plaza
101. Take a day trip to Whistler along the Sea-to-Sky highway
102. Watch the sea planes and cruise ships come and go from Coal Harbour
103. Take in a Vancouver Whitecaps soccer game
104. Take in BC Lions football game
105. Check out all the cherry blossoms in the springtime
106. Ice skate atop Grouse Mountain
107. Explore the new Athlete’s Village neighbourhood along False Creek
108. The Pink Floyd Laser show at the H.R. MacMillan Space Centre
109. Explore the city on the Vancouver Trolley
110. Scuba dive at Whytecliff Park
111. Explore Horseshoe Bay by boat
112. Snowshoe + Fondue tour up at Grouse or Cypress Mountain
113. Hang out in the huge glass bubble at Bloedel Floral Conservatory – one of the largest domed greenhouses in the world and home to hundreds of exotic plants and birds
114. Have a picnic at Lighthouse Park amongst Douglas firs and eagles’ nests
115. Find out the darker side of the city’s history at the Vancouver Police Museum or do their Sin City tour around Gastown/Chinatown
116. Be out in the street and be a part of the summer festivals! Italian Day, Caribbean Days, Commercial Drive Car Free Day.. the list goes on
117. Cheer on the Vancouver Canadians at a game of baseball at Nat Bailey Stadium
118. Watch the Super Dogs show, gorg on carnival food, go on rides and experience the atmosphere of the PNE
119. Take a culinary walking tour of Granville Island
120. Go for dim sum brunch at a huge array of great Chinese restaurants in Richmond
121. Eat poutine at La Belle Patate and wash it down at a bar with a spicy Caesar
122. Finish work and be night boarding up on Grouse Mountain in less than 30 minutes after quitting time
123. Hang out with the racoons in Stanley Park (if you find their secret place, you could be there for hours!)
124. Head to Main Street for dinner and drinks
125. Take a day trip on BC Ferries over to the island to visit Victoria