Born and raised in Vancouver, I know the city inside and out. And I’m here to help you find the best free things to do in Vancouver.
Vancouver is a beautiful city on the West Coast of Canada, with some of the best weather in the country and many places to check out year-round, such as in the mountains, by the ocean, or in the city center; there’s always something for you to do.
While it’s true that not everything in life is truly free, some locations are technically free for public access. The only downside is you will have to pay for parking – but that’s almost everywhere in Vancouver.
Let’s dive into the free things to do in Vancouver.
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Free Things To Do In Vancouver
Here are some locations in the city that are free to experience. Keep in mind that there will most likely be more people during the weekends.
Granville Island
Granville Island is one of the top free tourist locations to visit in Vancouver. You can explore the area and find many local small businesses selling jewelry or baked goods, art galleries, street performers, live shows, and dining options.
One of the biggest reasons people visit is the Granville Island Market. Many local businesses inside sell produce, meats, pastries, and more.
Seafood is one of the most popular things to eat at Granville Island. The Sandbar Seafood Restaurant and The Vancouver Fish Company are fantastic choices if you’re interested in trying seafood.
While you don’t have to buy anything, you can walk around the area and take photos of False Creek and Granville Island. You can also walk from Granville Island to Science World from the South False Creek Seawall.
Stanley Park
Another top tourist location and many local’s favourite park in the city is Stanely Park. The largest park in Vancouver is one of the busiest locations daily. There are many attractions and things to do in Stanely Park, such as the Seawall, where you can walk along the uninterrupted greenway.
There’s also Second and Third Beach that is located on the West side of the park. There are also many trails within Stanley Park, such as the Lost Lagoon Loop.
You can also explore the beautiful gardens of Stanley Park, such as the Rose Garden and Ted and Mary Greig Rhododendron Garden, or take stunning photos from the Prospect Point Lookout.
Summer Cinema Stanley Park
In addition to Stanley Park, every Tuesday for July and August, you can sit outside and enjoy watching a movie in the park for free after sunset. The location is at Ceperly Meadow/Second Beach.
Suppose you’re planning on attending this free event in Vancouver. In that case, I recommend arriving early to secure a seat close to the screen.
Queen Elizabeth Park
In the heart of Vancouver is Queen Elizabeth Park, another popular beloved local park. It is a stunning park to walk around as you can find many squirrels and ducks at the duck pond.
You can also take pictures at the Quarry Gardens, where, during the spring, the gardeners clean and display beautiful arrangements of flowers.
On top of the park’s highest point, you will have stunning views of the Northshore Mountains and a partial view of Downtown Vancouver and surrounding neighbourhoods.
Lynn Canyon
A local gem in North Vancouver is Lynn Canyon. You will have to pay for parking, but it’s a free entrance to the area. You will be able to explore the famous 30-foot pool of fresh glacial water that, during the summer, is a popular local swimming hole.
But before that, you will walk across the Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge, much smaller than the Capilano Suspension Bridge. You can also check out the Lynn Canyon Ecology Centre near the entrance after the parking lot, where they have information about the local wildlife and plants inside.
Lonsdale Quay & Shipyards
Another location across Vancouver Harbour is Lonsdale Quay and the Shipyards. You can find the small Lonsdale Quay Market, where local businesses sell goods and food. Outside, you can take pictures of the Coal Harbour skyline, relax in the sun, and read a book.
The Shipyards is right beside Lonsdale and has all the restaurants. However, you can also walk along the Burrard Dry Dock Pier, which is beautiful on a sunny day.
During the summer, you can also attend the Shipyards Nightmarket, enjoy live entertainment and hang out with friends.
Getting to Lonsdale Quay is easy. You can take the SeaBus from Waterfront Station. The SeaBus comes every 10 minutes. It is a fun way of transportation for children.
Pacific Spirit Regional Park (UBC)
Many locals, including myself, like to call the area of the University of British Columbia “its own city.” It’s a large area that you can walk around the campus on its own, or you can walk around the Pacific Spirit Regional Park.
With 73 kilometres of trails inside, the park will surround you in a forest of old-growth trees and a bog with an interpretive boardwalk in the middle of a city. Some trails also cross West 16th Avenue and continue until you hit Spanish Banks Beach.
Khatsahlano Day (Kitsilano)
One of the most significant free events in the city during the summer for one day only in July is the Khatsahlano Day Street Party. It’s a massive block street party location on West 4th Avenue in Kitsilano.
The party spans ten blocks and has live band entertainment, beer gardens, tent stalls outside the stores selling items and sales you can only get on the day, games, and more as you continue down the street.
Steveston
Outside of Vancouver, Steveston is located in Richmond. Steveston Harbour is a touristy area with small businesses, restaurants, coffee shops, and souvenir shops.
On Bayview Street (near the Starbucks on the corner) is the start of a greenway where you can walk beside the water, and it ends at the Britannia Shipyards National Historic Site.
If you want to walk from Steveston Harbour, you can walk towards Garry Point Park, where a handful of viewpoints exist. And if you’re really in for a walk, you can walk along the West Dyke Trail, which will take an hour and 20 minutes one way.
Cypress Lookout
Something else free to do in Vancouver that’s excellent during the evening or day is driving to the Cypress Lookout. It’s one of the best places to take a beautiful overview of the city and beyond.
Hiking
One thing Vancouver has in abundance is hiking trails. While most trails require you to pay for a BC Parks Pass, there are some trails you don’t need, such as the Baden Powell Trail.
The trail spans all three Vancouver Mountains (Cypress, Grouse, Seymour), starting at Deep Cove and ending in Horseshoe Bay. However, because it can take two to four days to complete, there are sections on each mountain where you can end the trail and start again the next day.
There are less strenuous trails in or near Vancouver that can be done in a day, such as Quarry Rock Hike, Stawamus Chief, Brandywine Falls, Fraser River Trail, and Deer Lake.
Stawamus Chief located in Squamish has three summits. You can do all three in one day or hike to the first summit and back down.
Hangout at the Beach
Vancouver has eight public beaches where you can hang out for the day. They’re mainly located on the West Side of Vancouver. Two are in Stanley Park, which I mentioned earlier, Second and Third Beach.
There’s also English Bay Beach, Kitsilano Beach, Jericho Beach, Locarno Beach, and Spanish Banks Beach. Locarno and Spanish Banks share the same beach area but are separated by volleyball courts, or you will also see a small bank.
Lighthouse Park
One of my favorite locations in Vancouver is Lighthouse Park. It’s a beautiful peninsula in West Vancouver tucked away behind a neighborhood. The park has a handful of easy loop trails and lookout points. It’s also one of the best places to propose in Vancouver, especially during the sunset.
Deep Cove
I briefly mentioned Deep Cove and Quarry Rock, but Quarry Rock is a free and easy hike during the summer with a beautiful view of the cove below.
Deep Cove is among the most favorable places to kayak, canoe, speed boat, or stand-up paddle board in the Indian Arm. While it’s not technically free, you can rent kayaks at the Deep Cove Kayak Centre.
You can also picnic at Panorama Park or explore the small town if you’re looking for a free thing to do at Deep Cove.
Honda Celebration of Light
Another one of the city’s most significant events is the Honda Celebration of Light. It’s a three-day event during the summer where the city lights firework displays from the barges in the ocean for approximately 25 minutes.
Many gather to watch from English Bay Beach, as it’s the best view, but you can watch it from almost everywhere as long it has a view of the ocean.
Farmers Markets
All over the city, during the spring and summer, you can find farmers markets on weekends or weekdays. You can find fresh local produce and other artisan goods.
Here is a list of farmer’s markets available in Vancouver:
- West End
- Downtown
- Hastings Park
- Kitsilano
- False Creek
- Mount Pleasant
- Trout Lake
- Riley Park (open in Winter)
Driving The Sea To Sky Highway
One of the most beautiful scenic drives in British Columbia is the Sea To Sky Highway corridor (Highway 99 North). You have stunning views of Howe Sound, small islands, and a peak on the entrance to the Sunshine Coast. Further along the drive are stunning mountain range views.
Almost Free Things To Do In Vancouver
These are some popular things to do in Vancouver that are almost free but have a cost to them, such as an entry fee or a rental fee. I thought I would include them because people still consider them “free,” and they’re popular locations.
Grouse Grind
While yes, doing the Grouse Grind is free. Getting back down the mountain is not free. You can’t walk back down the mountain as it’s prohibited and steep, and you must pay for the $20.00 Skylift back down.
Suppose you’re planning to do the Grouse Grind. In that case, it’s a challenging hike with 2,830 steps and an elevation gain of 800 metres (2,624 feet), and it’s a recommendation that you’re in reasonably good physical shape.
VanDusen Botanical Gardens
VanDusen is a beautiful location if you’re a botanist. The garden covers 22 hectares (55 acres) of land with displays of plants from around the world and a collection of native species in British Columbia, also known as Northwest Coast plants. Other features to explore inside include the hedge maze, totem poles, rock garden, and more.
There’s an entrance fee of roughly $9.30 each for adults during the off-season and approximately $13.50 each during the high season. Prices may be subject to change.
Ice Skating
Ice skating is a nationwide hobby. You’re a true Canadian if you learned to skate as soon as you could walk.
Seasonally, from December to February, Robson Square Ice Rink has free skating for everyone of all ages, but there is a fee to rent skates for adults and children, $5.00. There are additional charges for skate sharpening or ice cleat rentals.
That also goes for the Shipyards Skate Plaza, which is seasonal from December to around March. Rental fees for adults are $7.00, and for children, they are $5.00 with limited rental skates available.
But if you own a pair of skates, you can skate for free at both locations!
Best Time To Visit Vancouver
Vancouver is a year-round destination, and it will all depend on what you’re doing when visiting the city.
Suppose you’re looking for many things to do, good weather, and a greater variety of things to do. In that case, I recommend visiting from May to early September. However, this will be considered the high season, so costs and prices will be much higher for many things.
Moreover, suppose you don’t mind the colder weather, rain, and fewer options for things to do or on a budget. In that case, I recommend visiting from October to April.
How Many Days Do You Need In Vancouver
Again, depending on what you plan to do in Vancouver, will also impact how long you stay. If you’re only looking to stay within the downtown area of Vancouver, then around three to five days.
However, if you’re planning on looking for things to do outside of Vancouver, such as a road trip to the wine country known as the Okanagan, or want to explore Vancouver Island, then seven days in Vancouver to two weeks or even longer will be an ideal amount of time.
Conclusion
As you can see, Vancouver provides a range of free things to do and explore. There’s something for everyone’s enjoyment, from parks to popular tourist locations. As I mentioned earlier, the saying “nothing in life is truly free” (parking fees). Despite this, I hope you enjoy exploring free things to do in Vancouver.
The post is contributed by Kelena a Canadian part-time travel blogger with dreams of becoming a full-time travel blogger and exploring more than my backyard. Growing up, she always wanted to travel around the world, exploring, experiencing new things, and learning.
