Hello Vancouverites and Vancouver-lovers! I’m here today as your very own guide to the city, sharing all of my personal favourite spots in Vancouver. I lived in Vancouver for about two years, from 2018-2020, so you’re getting the very best from a local 😉 Plus, you can steal a sample 3-day itinerary at the end of this post! Read on for your Vancouver city guide.
Part 1: My Favourite Food + Drink Options
- Italian food: Di Beppe – their pasta is to die for 🍝
- Vietnamese food: Anh + Chi – the cutest spot on Main🍴
- Mexican food: Tacofino – you can never have too many tacos 🌮
- Cafe: 49th Parallel – the best local spot ☕
- Brunch: Jam Cafe – worth the wait in long lines! 🥐
- Sweets: Cartems Donuts – a Vancouver favourite 🍩
- Brewery: Sing Sing – unique spot with great eats and brews 🍻
Part 2: My Favourite Activities + Entertainment
- Shopping: West 4th Ave. – the perfect mix of local boutiques, cafes, and more 👜
- Parks: Kitsilano Beach and Stanley Park, depending on if you want beaches or forests 🏞
- Museum/Gallery: Museum of Vancouver (at the edge of Kitsilano) and Vancouver Art Gallery (located downtown) 🖼
- Event/Festival: Van Mural Fest – the festival happens every summer and features murals painted by local artists 🎨
- Experience: Granville Island – a market featuring local produce set along the water, it’s one of my favourite areas to visit that you gotta see at least once! 🚤
- Fitness spot: Harbour Dance Centre – time to bust a move 👯♂️
- Best time of year: Spring cherry blossoms! 🌸
Sample itinerary
I’ve compiled some of my favourites listed above into an easy, 3-day sample itinerary for you to steal. Day 1 will explore downtown Vancouver and Stanley Park. On Day 2, you’ll be exploring Kitsilano and Granville Island. You’ll wrap up your exploring on day 3 along Main. See the full itinerary below!
Day 1:
Start off your day at the Vancouver Art Gallery downtown. Grab some lunch at Tacofino, then take an excursion to nearby Stanley Park, surrounded by trees and the ocean. Head back over to downtown for a class at Harbour Dance Centre, and end the day with some Italian food at Di Beppe!
Day 2:
Begin your morning with brunch at Jam Cafe. I promise it’s worth the wait! Afterwards, explore the shops along West 4th, including 49th Parallel Cafe. Venture further into Kitsilano to visit the Museum of Vancouver, before heading to Granville Island. Check out the market and restaurants, grab some food, and then head to Kits beach to take in the sunset.
Day 3:
Get your sweet fix at Cartems donuts before checking out the many murals created as a part of Van Mural Fest. Most are located along Main and in the Mount Pleasant area. When you get thirsty, stop by Sing Sing for some brews. Once you’ve explored Main to your hearts content, grab dinner at Anh + Chi.
Feel free to steal the above itinerary for your next adventure in Vancouver! Or, pick and choose the areas that you want to test out if you’re a local. Enjoy your time exploring Vancouver!! Tell me what you think in the comments and let me know if I missed any of YOUR favourite Vancouver spots. ♥