by Joe Mabel [format changed] / CC BY-SA 3.0

A. About Vancouver

Nickname:Raincouver

Located at the southwestern corner of Canada, surrounded on three sides by the ocean with a mountainous backdrop, Vancouver is well known for its majestic natural beauty.

The eighth-largest Canadian city offers visitors and residents a splendid lifestyle that is ethnically diverse, highly cosmopolitan, and yet never far from nature. Founded in 1862 on the Fraser River, even by North American standards, Vancouver is a noticeably young city.

Despite its frequent inclusion among the esteemed list of "best cities to live in," we hold genuine apprehensions about its future standing due to the persistent drug-abuse and homelessness crisis in Canada.


The Good: 

Vancouver is generally considered a safe and clean city, although this may be true only in certain designated areas. It benefits from its exceptional location, friendly locals, and decent ratings in categories like shopping, nightlife, climate, and tourist attractions.

The Not-So-Good: 

The price level in Vancouver is remarkably high (especially to book a hotel), and there are hardly any pedestrian zones.

In addition, do not expect any major checklist attractions.

⚠️ Although Vancouver is still predominantly considered a safe city, it is strongly advised to avoid most parts of Gastown and entirely Chinatown and Downtown Eastside due to a significant deterioration in safety conditions over the past three years. These areas have experienced a noticeable increase in crime and drug-related issues, making them potentially hazardous and shocking for visitors. Also note that Gastown and Chinatown are just a few blocks away from the main tourist areas.


B. Best Things to Do in Vancouver in 2023 (Detailed List with Photos and Information)

In total, we count more than sixty-five sights in Vancouver. The following sights contribute to a score of 6.75/10 in this most important category:

# Stanley Park 7 3.6 out of 5 stars

Adjacent to Downtown Vancouver this extraordinarily beautiful and extensive park is surrounded on three sides by water.

The park features a rainforest with giant treesmountains, scenic coastlines with beaches, the famous park’s Seawall, and a collection of totem poles at Brockton Point.

Park Land Area: 4.05 km2 / 1,001 acres

by Craig Nagy / CC BY-SA 2.0

# Granville Island 6 3.1 out of 5 stars

The highlight of lively Granville Island is its public market, one of the best in North America.

Island

by Joe Mabel / CC BY-SA 3.0

# UBC Museum of Anthropology (⚠️closed, reopens in late 2023) 6 3.1 out of 5 stars

Housed in an iconic building concrete building this museum focuses on Native American artifacts and artwork such as ornately decorated canoes, ritual masks, and totem poles. Furthermore, it is home to an impressive collection of global art and artifacts.

Museum Completed: 1976

Best Things to do in Vancouver | Best Cities | Vancouver | UBC Museum of Anthropology

by Xicotencatl / CC BY-SA 4.0

# VanDusen Botanical Garden 5.5 2.7 out of 5 stars

This beautiful public botanical garden features a hexagonal Korean Pavilion, a lovely pond, a stone garden, large stone sculptures, totem poles, and an award-winning modern Visitor Center inspired by the form of a native orchid leaf. 

Botanical Garden Surface: 55 acres / 22 hectares | Opened: 1975

by Stan Shebs / CC BY-SA 3.0

# Harbour Centre with Lookout 5.5 2.7 out of 5 stars

This skyscraper in the central business district features a 360-degree viewing deck on the 55th floor.

Skyscraper Observation Deck: 147 m / 482 ft

by Kelam / CC BY-SA 3.0

# Science World 5.5 2.7 out of 5 stars

Housed in a futuristic silver dome, this family-friendly interactive museum features live science shows and a giant-screen OMNIMAX Theatre.

Science Museum Established: 1977

by Differense / CC BY-SA 3.0

# Vancouver Aquarium 5 2.7 out of 5 stars

Located on the eastern edge of Stanley Park this aquarium features sea otters, and African penguins. Even though it is not ranked among the thirty best aquariums in the world, it is still worth a visit.

Aquarium Biggest Tank: 260,000 liters | Tunnel: None | Established: 2013 | Rank in Our List of the Best 30 Aquariums in the World: Unranked

by GoToVan / CC BY-SA 2.0

# Library Square with Public Library 5 2.5 out of 5 stars

Library Square, located in Vancouver, showcases an impressive architectural design that seamlessly combines contemporary elements with classic charm, featuring the renowned Public Library that entices book enthusiasts and inquisitive individuals to explore its vast collection of knowledge.

City District

by Worldcitiesranking.com

# Canada Place 5 2.5 out of 5 stars

Designed in the form of a giant sailing ship with five white sails this architecturally remarkable convention center along the shoreline is home to the cruise ship terminal, the FlyOver Canada film experience, as well as various stores and restaurants. 

Modern building Opened: 1986

by ericnvntr / CC BY-SA 2.0

# Vancouver Art Gallery 5 2.5 out of 5 stars

Housed in a former provincial courthouse, Vancouver Art Gallery is one of Canada’s most significant art galleries. It displays international artworks as well as paintings by Canadian artists (such as Emily Carr).

Museum Most famous painting: "Night Ferry Vancouver" by Frederick H. Varley (1937)

by bynyalcin / CC BY-SA 3.0

Scoring and Icons Legend (Click here for detailed information)

10 = top-10 sight in the world

9 = world-class  

8 = outstanding

7 = excellent 

6 = impressive

5 = interesting

4 = decent

3 = mediocre

2 = bad

1 = abysmal

= World Heritage Site

= Excursion


C. Other Notable Sights and Attractions in Vancouver

    • Queen Elizabeth Park 5
    • Vancouver Seawall 5
    • City Hall 5
    • Vancouver Maritime Museum 5
    • Museum of Vancouver 5

D. Best Day Trips and Excursions from Vancouver

Butchart Gardens (102 km from Vancouver) 6 

Victoria (city, 114 km from Vancouver) 5.5

Grouse Mountain 5.5

Capilano Suspension Bridge 5


E. Top 10 List of the Best Things to Do in Vancouver (including close-by excursions)

To sum things up, these are the ten best sights we recommend to you when visiting Vancouver for at least three entire days:

Stanley Park 7

Granville Island 6

UBC Museum of Anthropology (⚠️closed, reopens in late 2023) 6

VanDusen Botanical Garden 5.5

Vancouver Lookout (observation deck) 5.5

Science World 5.5

Vancouver Aquarium 5

Library Square with Public Library 5

Canada Place (modern building) 5

Vancouver Art Gallery 5