Vancouver is a seaport city on the west coast of Canada in the British Columbia province. Many movies and TV shows are filmed here. Vancouver is often part of Alaskan cruises. It makes for a nice extension of the cruise or an entertaining weekend trip. I recommend spending 2 days in Vancouver.
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Where to Stay in for 2 Days in Vancouver
TripAdvisor is a great place to start your hotel search. Search for the best Vancouver hotels here!
The best area to stay in is the Downtown/Gastown area. All the main places to see are near the Downtown area. North Vancouver is a more budget-friendly option. Airbnb has a ton of good apartment options if the hotels are too expensive.
Transportation for 2 Days in Vancouver
Vancouver has a decent transportation system. I felt there was no need for a rental car. To get to and from the airport, take the Skytrain Canada Line into the Downtown area. The Skytrain also goes through many of the main areas in Vancouver. The Seabus Ferry connects the Downtown area and the North Shore. The bus is also another option to get around Vancouver. For Skytrain and bus rides within the main areas of Vancouver, it costs $2.25 a ride or $1.50 if you use a reloadable Compass Card. The Seabus Ferry costs $3 for a ride or $2.50 with a Compass Card.
Day 1
Grouse Mountain
Cost: $44 General Admission (Book online for 10% off)
Hours: Mon-Fri: 8:45am-10pm, Sat-Sun: 8:15am-10pm
How to get there: Take the public bus #236 if coming from Downtown
Start out your first day of 2 days in Vancouver with a trip up Grouse Mountain. This 4,000-foot mountain was the site of many broadcasts from the 2010 Winter Olympic Games. In the winter (November-April), the general admission ticket includes the Skyride, access to the skating pond, snowshoe trails, and several other activities. There are many courses to ski and snowboard during the wintertime. During the summer season (May-October), the admission ticket includes the Skyride, a lumberjack show, a visit to the grizzly habitat and more. Grouse Mountain hosts many other adventurous activities such as zip-lining and paragliding. On a clear day, the mountain also offers gorgeous views of Vancouver. If you get hungry, there is also a restaurant.
Capilano Suspension Bridge Park
Cost: $40 General Admission
Hours: Generally 9am-5pm, but during the summer season it stays open until 8pm
How to get there: Take the free shuttle or take the public bus #246 if coming from Downtown
After Grouse Mountain, head over to the Capilano Suspension Bridge Park. This park offers various suspension bridges and treetop platforms with views of the trees below. The main bridge was originally built in 1889 and completely rebuilt in 1956. It spans 460 feet and is 230 feet off the ground. In the evenings, they also light up the bridges.
Granville Island Public Market
Cost: $-$$
Hours: 9am-7pm
How to get there: Take bus 12, 16, or 50.
In the evening, head down to Granville Island Public Market to walk around and grab some dinner. This public market consists of various food stalls and boutiques. It also has several breweries in the area.
Grab Dessert
At some point throughout the day, make sure to grab a donut from Tim Hortons or a Beaver Tails. Tim Hortons is the major donut chain throughout Canada. Make sure to try a maple donut. Beaver Tails are a flat pastry that comes in a ton of different flavors. Bananarama is my favorite flavor.
Day 2
Stanley Park
Cost: Free to walk around, bikes start at $7/hour.
Hours: 9am-5pm
How to get there: Take bus 19
Start off day 2 by walking or renting bikes in Stanley Park. This 1,000-acre park has gorgeous views of the ocean and contains a 5.5-mile seawall path. Biking is a great way to see a good portion of the park. If aquariums are more your thing, the Vancouver Aquarium is also located inside the park.
Vancouver Art Gallery
Cost: $18 General Admission, Tuesdays from 5pm-9pm by donation.
Hours: Wed-Mon: 10am-5pm, Tues: 10am-9pm
How to get there: Take the Canada Line to Vancouver City Centre Station
From Stanley Park, head to the Vancouver Art Gallery. This art gallery first opened in 1931. It contains over 11,000 pieces of art and has a substantial photo collection. Most of the work is by Canadian and European artists. They also host a variety of visiting exhibits. Guided gallery tours are offered on Tuesdays, Saturdays, and the first Friday of every month.
Chinatown and the Treasure Green Tea Company
Cost: $-$$
Hours: Wed-Sat & Mon: 11am-6pm, Sun: 12pm-6pm, Closed Tues
How to get there: Take the Expo Line to Stadium-Chinatown
Grab some lunch and a cup of tea in Chinatown. Chinatown contains various dim sum restaurants, bakeries, and tons of shops. It is a great place to walk around for a bit.
The Treasure Green Tea Company is one of the best tea shops I have ever been to. The owner is originally from China and she goes back to visit a couple of times a year. Inside the shop is a variety of teas available for purchase as well as tea accessories. In the summer months, make sure to try one of the iced teas!
Canada Place
Cost: Free
How to get there: Take the Expo Line to Waterfront Station
Before catching a flight home after 2 days in Vancouver, head out to Canada Place. This is the area where the cruise ships dock. It is built to look like a ship. This is a nice area to walk around and see the architecture. If you visit during the warm season you may even see a cruise ship docked or heading out to sea.
2 days in Vancouver make for a fantastic weekend trip or a great addition to an Alaskan Cruise. I felt that 2 days was just the right amount of time to spend in Vancouver and get a good sampling of what this city has to offer.
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