Cruise Guide to Vancouver, Canada

As one of the world’s most beautiful cities, Vancouver is every cruise-goers dream stopover or departure city. With its picturesque rolling hills, super-tall glass high-rises and abundance of nature, it’s a visually diverse city with so much to do!

You’ll have access to plenty of green spaces here, gleaming shopping neighbourhoods as well as all of the seafood delicacies you could ever dream of. Vancouver’s inner-city is easily walkable, cool all year round and about as welcoming as is possible for a big city. Vancouver is a popular tourist destination for Aussie cruise travellers from Sydney and other states alike. There are museums galore here, plenty of ancient history too and some of the most photogenic scenes both within the city limits and just outside them.

If you’re making Vancouver your home for the next few days before your cruise, or have your cruise terminating here, we’re happy to say that there are still fun times ahead!  Hello BC is the official tourism authority for British Columbia and Vancouver, it has some great ideas for travellers and is well worth checking out. Here are our favourites for must see things to see and do in Vancouver:

Kitsilano Beach

Although stepping off your cruise and right on to the beach might not be the first thing on your Vancouver itinerary, we have two put Kitsilano Beach on top of our list thanks to its incredible view of the city skyline. You’ll also be surrounded by beautiful parklands and happy locals jogging by the water, adding to the cheerful atmosphere you’ll find in Vancouver.

Aside from the view of the water and the city, you’ll also find several cafes and stores here where a bite to eat, great coffee and souvenir shopping is entirely effortless.

Museum of Anthropology

Arguably one of the best museums in all of Canada is the famous Museum of Anthropology. It stands tall on the University of British Columbia campus, and the design of the museum is an attraction in itself.

You’ll be able to take a peek deep into Canada’s rich indigenous culture as well as get a close-up and personal view of thousands of different artefacts that have been found in the country since its discovery. The botanical gardens are also the short few minutes walk from the museum, so getting your fix of culture and education is easy.

Keep in mind that the museum closes at 5 pm and entry fees are $16.75.

Grouse Mountain

This attraction is only ideal if you’re staying in Vancouver for a few days. The mountain is a short drive outside of the city and offers some of the best views you can find a Vancouver. If you find yourself in the town during winter, there are snowboarding and skiing trails that will be packed with people, and you’ll have unrestricted access to the slopes.

Be sure to remember that admission to the mountain is $42 and it closes at 10 pm on the dot.

Granville Island

For a first-hand look into Vancouver’s incredible relaxed lifestyle, you must go to Granville Island. The area is filled with bars and restaurants as well as plenty of market stalls and happy locals heading down to relax. The area is straightforward to get to as there are plenty of roads and footbridges that connect the island to the rest of the city.

If you’re staying in the CBD, there is a ferry you can take to get from the Downtown peninsula to Granville Island.

Stanley Park

For those with a sporty side, or for anyone who’d like to unwind with a stroll in the park, the world-renowned Stanley Park is our top choice for you. The park is gigantic and sits just across the water from Vancouver CBD, so it’s close but also offers a brilliant view of the glistening all-glass high-rises.

You’ll find totem poles here, museum connections and so much more, so hire a bike or just walk the park and you’ll soon see that you have yourself busy for the whole day.

Gastown

If you’re in Vancouver for the history and the architecture, then Gastown should be your first stop! It’s the oldest part of the city and is kept as similar as possible to its original state. That means you’re going to see endless streets of old Victorian-era buildings, traditional pubs, and restaurants. The area was built in the 1860s and has retained a lot of its original buildings and cobbled roadways.

A must-see site here is the Steam Clock which goes off with a chime and steam puff every 15 minutes.

Robson Street

All cruise-goers staying in the city will be happy to know that you don’t need to leave the Downtown area to get a glimpse of the local flora. There’s plenty of small parkways, benches to sit and relax on and also a whole number of galleries and museums! Find the Vancouver Art Gallery and the Square outside, and you’re all set for an exciting, insightful day in the CBD.

There’s also ice skating in the area during winter, so hot chocolate, a skate and a relaxing nighttime stroll back to the towering skyscrapers is definitely a must.

Museum of Vancouver

Just outside the Downtown area is the Museum of Vancouver, the city’s premier cultural and educational space for visitors. It’s gigantic,  famous in Canada and home to Egyptian antiquities, ancient Asian artefacts, and Canadian indigenous tools and paintings.

A short moment’s walk will also have you at the HR MacMillan Space Centre! There’s a planetarium here and the star theatre. You’ll even find the history of human space flight and so much more, so have your thinking caps on and get ready to have fun!

Queen Elizabeth Park

If you’re after spectacular views, a relaxed atmosphere, and a space to relax after a hectic day taking in all of Vancouver’s sites, then come sit at Queen Elizabeth Park. It stands at the highest point in the city, overlooks Downtown Vancouver and is home to golf, great dining options and a tropical botanic-garden-like space called the Bloedel Conservatory.

The area is incredible at night, though a few awesome daytime shots for Instagram won’t be hard to get either.

Science World

We’ve saved what’s arguably best for last! If you’re someone who loves futurism, science, and all things technology, then Vancouver’s Science World on the CBD’s waterfront is going to be your favourite place in the entire city. There are themed spaces that focus on water, air, innovation, and more, so there’s time to immerse yourself in one category before moving to another.

Look out for the IMAX theatre as well as limited-time exhibits and themed events that might have you being the first to see them in the world! The science centre’s building is also a marvel on its own, standing tall above the water in all of its glass sphere glory!

Admission here is $25 for adults and $21 for kids, so be sure to keep this in mind when coming to visit.


Author: Sophie Anderson

Post Date: 2nd July 2019


Categories: Ports

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