What to do in Vancouver?

Hi everyone! I’m planning to spend about a week in Vancouver in September. I’d love all your tips for exploring the city to the fullest, plus recommendations for well-located hotels that are safe and not too expensive—since I’m traveling solo, it’s frustrating that rooms often cost the same whether it’s for one or two people...

Also, what are some great things to do outside Vancouver once I’m there?

Thanks for your suggestions!

Hey there, the thing is Vancouver’s a pretty expensive city. There are backpacker hostels on Granville Street, but they’re not great—they’re really for tight budgets and tend to get noisy on summer weekends. As for neighborhoods to avoid, don’t go past Gastown—basically, steer clear of East Hastings, especially at night. It’s full of junkies. Avoid Main Street too. For things to do around Vancouver, there’s Capilano Bridge and Stanley Park. If you can book a hotel on Robson Street, that’s nice, but the nightly rate will probably be steep. Oh, and I know the city a bit—I lived there for over 5 months, including in Burnaby :)

Thanks so much, Matthews, for all this info! Otherwise, is Vancouver a pretty safe city for a woman traveling alone? I’m also thinking of heading to Vancouver Island, especially Victoria. By ferry. Exploring the city and going whale watching. I’d like to do everything on foot or by bike during my stay—no car rental. What do you think?

hi Marie, no problem for a woman traveling alone. To get to Vancouver Island it's easy—go to the bus station, then there's a bus to Tsawwassen followed by a ferry. Yeah, it's a great idea to get around by bike; you should be able to rent one there.

Thanks so much! 😊

I live in Vancouver, so I know the area really well.

It’s a very safe city, a world away from what most French cities are like... No problem walking around alone, anywhere. Even in East Hastings, the hub for fentanyl addicts , it’s not necessarily dangerous; it’s just a concentrated version of the worst North America has to offer, and it’s right next to some of the city’s wealthiest neighborhoods.

Vancouver is one of, if not *the* most expensive city on the continent, so be warned. Everything—absolutely everything—is pricey here.

Without a car, and within Vancouver itself, you can visit Stanley Park, the beaches on either side of English Bay, Gastown, Olympic Village, Yaletown, and Granville Island. Further west, Jericho and Spanish Banks are nice, as is the UBC area (Wreck Beach—naturist; Botanical Garden, Pacific Spirit Regional Park, etc.).

You can also take the Seabus to North Vancouver. Avoid Capilano Suspension Bridge—it’s extremely expensive and basically a tourist trap. Instead, go to Lynn Canyon: it’s pretty much the same thing, and it’s free.

As for Victoria, it’s a city I really like. It’s super easy to get there without a car. The ferry takes you to North Saanich (Swartz Bay), and from there, you take a city bus (4 $ and 45 min) that goes downtown.

I'm surprised the "Museum of Anthropology" isn't mentioned as a must-visit—it blew me away. But that was back in 2011. Has it lost some of its magic since then?

Hi there. And thank you so much, Ivert, for all these details and tips—they’ll be really helpful, reassuring, and will add to what I’ve already noted. If you have any accommodation addresses, that’d be great! I’m also planning to visit Vancouver Island—Victoria, specifically—and will probably spend two nights there, especially to observe marine wildlife. Do you think other spots on the island are accessible without a car? Are there buses or ferries connecting the towns? And if so, which places should I prioritize? (Tofino, Nanaimo?...?) Have a lovely summer, everyone! Marie

Hi there, Greyhound used to operate on the island, but the company has since stopped its services in Canada. I used them to travel from Victoria to Campbell River via Nanaimo. Now, there's Islandlink bus.

Alternatively, you could take a quick flight to Campbell River, head over to Quadra Island (the crossing only takes a few minutes), and then return to Victoria by bus. Or start from Port Hardy and make your way back down to Victoria. Pacific Coastal Airline offers some great deals on flights from Vancouver. I wrote a travel journal about this—check out my profile! I almost suggested extending your trip to Prince Rupert via the Inside Passage, but that would take more time. With only 8 days, it’d be too tight anyway.

Thanks Matthews—I was on vacation, and now I’m back. I’ll need to start planning my trip to Vancouver, even though I still have some time. I’ll jot down all your new tips and check out your travel journal. I don’t usually look at profiles, so this’ll be a good opportunity.

Thanks caussat for your interest in my post. That could be an idea—I’ll note it down and see if it interests me. I’ll have to make some choices since I don’t have much time.

Just read your travel journal—bravo! I wouldn’t have dared such an adventure alone, camping in those forests with bears around. Lucky you got to see them, plus whales during your crossing!

hi Marie, happy to help and have a great trip to Canada!