Vancouver is a city drawn in bold strokes: snow-dusted mountains, evergreen rainforest, and deep-blue ocean, all wrapped around a gleaming downtown. Once home to sawmills and canneries, it’s now one of North America’s most livable cities and a gateway to British Columbia’s wild coast and alpine playgrounds.

Expect a deeply international food scene (Japanese, Cantonese, Vietnamese, Indigenous-inspired cuisine), world-class city parks, and neighborhoods with distinct personalities—from heritage brick in Gastown to beachy Kitsilano and brewery-rich Mount Pleasant. Vancouver rewards slow travel: walk, bike, ferry, and graze your way through it.

Practical notes: weather shifts quickly—pack layers and a light rain shell year-round. Summer brings festivals and long golden evenings; winter delivers great skiing within 30–120 minutes. Tap-to-pay transit is easy, and reservations are wise for popular restaurants and experiences.

Vancouver

Why two weeks here? Vancouver is both destination and base camp. You’ll savor the city’s culture and cuisine, then leap to the Sea-to-Sky corridor and across the Salish Sea to Victoria. This itinerary groups highlights in blocks so you can linger where it feels best.

Getting there & around

• Fly into YVR (Vancouver International). Typical nonstop flight times: Seattle 1h, San Francisco 2h, Los Angeles 2.5h–3h, Denver 3h, Toronto 5h, New York 5.5h–6h, Honolulu 6h, Tokyo 9–10h, Sydney 14–15h. Search fares on Trip.com or Kiwi.com. Good roundtrip benchmarks: US West Coast $150–300, East Coast $350–650, Europe $700–1,000 (often via Toronto), Asia $700–1,200.
• From YVR, the Canada Line SkyTrain reaches downtown in ~25 minutes (~CAD $3–10 depending on time/zone). A DayPass is ~CAD $11–12 for unlimited travel. The SeaBus to North Vancouver takes 12 minutes across the harbor; buses and SkyTrain accept contactless cards.

Where to stay

• Browse vacation rentals: VRBO Vancouver.
• Compare hotels: Hotels.com Vancouver.
• Standout picks: Fairmont Pacific Rim (harbor views, stellar bar Botanist), The Westin Bayshore, Vancouver (Seawall at your doorstep), Residence Inn by Marriott Vancouver Downtown (suite-style, great for longer stays), and value-social Samesun Vancouver Hostel (Granville Street).

Days 1–3: Orientation, Stanley Park, and Historic Gastown

Start with the Seawall, a 17-mile waterfront path ringed by cedars and distant peaks. Biking the Stanley Park loop (6 miles) is a rite of passage—pause for the Totem Poles at Brockton Point and sea-sculpted Siwash Rock.

In Gastown, Victorian brick lanes, indie boutiques, and serious coffee culture set the tone. Explore Water Street’s galleries, then drift south to Chinatown’s apothecaries and the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden for a pocket of stillness.

• Signature experience: Vancouver Tour: Stanley Park, Granville Island & Capilano Bridge (5–6 hours, typically CAD $130–160). Ideal first-day orientation covering the big hits, plus a guided walk at Capilano.

  

• Other musts: Vancouver Aquarium (conservation-focused exhibits), Prospect Point lookout, and a sunset stroll at English Bay Beach.

Eat & drink

• Coffee/breakfast: Revolver (Gastown; curated pour-overs), Nemesis GNW (modern roastery; inventive pastries), Café Medina (famed waffles with lavender latte—go early or off-peak).
• Lunch: Tacofino Taco Bar (Baja-style fish tacos), Marutama Ramen (rich toripaitan broth), Nuba (Lebanese plates; cauliflower and mjadra are local staples).
• Dinner: Miku (aburi sushi; order the salmon oshi), Nightingale (wood-fired, share plates), Kissa Tanto (Italian–Japanese; silky tajarin and carpaccio—reserve well ahead).
• Nightcaps: The Keefer Bar (apothecary-inspired cocktails), Botanist Bar (meticulous, garden-driven drinks at the Fairmont Pacific Rim).

Days 4–6: North Shore Rainforests, Granville Island, and Beaches

Cross the harbor by SeaBus to Lonsdale Quay’s market, then head for cedar-scented trails. Lynn Canyon offers a free suspension bridge and emerald pools; Grouse Mountain adds panoramas and seasonal activities (gondola up, hike down if you’re keen).

Granville Island’s Public Market is culinary theater: watch artisans at work, taste your way through stalls, then kayak or ferry along False Creek. In the afternoon, laze at Kitsilano or Jericho Beach with mountain views for days.

• Island flavors to try: Oyama Sausage Co. (charcuterie), Lee’s Donuts (honey dip classic), The Stock Market (soup bar), and Go Fish (seafood shack near Fisherman’s Wharf; salmon tacones).
• Art & gardens: Vancouver Art Gallery downtown; in spring and summer, visit VanDusen Botanical Garden and Bloedel Conservatory, or the tranquil Nitobe Memorial Garden at UBC.

Eat & drink

• Coffee/breakfast: 49th Parallel (house-roasted coffee, Lucky’s donuts), Matchstick (toasts and baking), Purebread (sweet-and-savory bake heaven).
• Lunch: Their There (elevated sandwiches, crullers), Anh and Chi (modern Vietnamese), Maruhachi (tonkotsu ramen) or Siam Square for Thai comfort.
• Dinner: St. Lawrence (Québécois—with warmth and butter), Maenam (refined Thai tasting menus), Blue Water Cafe (seafood temple; sustainable sashimi).
• Breweries: Brassneck, 33 Acres, and Superflux (beer + snacky comfort food) along the Mount Pleasant “yeast van” corridor.

Days 7–9: Neighborhoods, Culture, and a Scenic Flight

Wander Commercial Drive for Italian delis, Ethiopian cafes, and record shops; then explore Mount Pleasant’s murals and boutiques. The UBC peninsula rewards a full day—beaches at Spanish Banks, plus campus museums and gardens.

Back in Coal Harbour, consider an unforgettable aerial tour: a classic seaplane flight that stitches skyline, forest, and fjord into one sweeping view.

• Iconic experience: Vancouver Panorama Scenic Seaplane Tour (~20 minutes in the air; usually CAD $170–190). Smooth takeoffs/landings right from Coal Harbour; aim for golden hour.

  

• Local gems: Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden (guided tours illuminate design principles), Queen Elizabeth Park (city’s highest point, quarry gardens), and a sunset picnic at Spanish Banks.

Eat & drink

• Coffee/breakfast: Prado (Brightside roast, good toasts), Nelson the Seagull (sourdough and soft-boiled eggs), BAGEL-e (hand-rolled Montreal-style).
• Lunch: Kin Kao (northern Thai punchy flavors), Vij’s Railway Express vibe at Vij’s sister concept menus appears across seasons—if not, head to Vij’s for dinner (legendary Indian). For casual, Savio Volpe’s sister concept—Pepino’s—does hearty red-sauce Italian.
• Dinner: Published on Main (seasonal Canadian tasting; book early), Elisa (steakhouse with wood fire), Phnom Penh (Cambo-Viet—order the chicken wings and butter beef).
• Dessert: Earnest Ice Cream or Rain or Shine (rotating seasonal scoops).

Days 10–12: Sea-to-Sky Adventure — Whistler Day Trip

Trace Howe Sound’s fjords along the Sea-to-Sky Highway, bracketed by waterfalls and granite domes. In summer: alpine hiking, lakes, and the Peak 2 Peak Gondola; in winter: one of North America’s premier ski destinations with lively après in the Village.

• All-in-one tour: From Vancouver: Whistler & Sea to Sky Gondola with Shannon Falls (10 hours; often CAD $160–190). Includes viewpoints and free time in Whistler Village. Note: Sea to Sky Gondola typically undergoes maintenance in late fall; in 2025 it’s listed as closed Nov 12–28.

  

• DIY option: Drive Highway 99 (2–2.5 hours each way) with stops at Britannia Mine Museum (family favorite), Shannon Falls, and Squamish viewpoints. In winter, carry snow-rated tires; start early.
• Whistler eats: Purebread (pastries), Peaked Pies (savory Aussie pies), Araxi (upscale local seafood), and Il Caminetto (Italian mountain fare).

Days 13: Across the Salish Sea — Victoria & Butchart Gardens

Trade glass towers for parliament domes and tea rooms. Victoria blends colonial architecture with flourishing gardens and a harbor alive with seaplanes and kayaks.

• Easy day trip: Victoria & Butchart Gardens Tour with Ferry from Vancouver (12–13 hours; commonly CAD $210–250). Scenic 90-minute ferry each way, ample time to wander the 55-acre floral displays and the Inner Harbour.

  

• Time-saver alternative: Fly out by seaplane, return by bus/ferry to maximize gardens and city time (browse options on Viator if you prefer a fly-and-ferry combo on other dates).
• Victoria bites: Fishhook (Indo-Pacific seafood), Red Fish Blue Fish (harborside tacones, seasonal), and tea service in town for a classic finish.

Day 14: Lazy Vancouver Farewell

Sleep in, then stroll Yaletown’s boutiques or the Olympic Village waterfront. If you missed it earlier, loop a final Seawall segment from False Creek to Coal Harbour for mountain-framed goodbyes.

Brunch & last tastes: Jam Cafe (comfort plates), Honey Salt (farm-to-table brunch downtown), or a light bite at Small Victory (buttery croissants). Pick up local beans at 49th Parallel or a sweet box from Purebread for the trip home.

Optional add-ons and practical tips

• Whale watching: Best April–October from downtown or Steveston; sightings can include orcas, humpbacks, seals, and eagles.
• Weather: Summer highs 68–77°F (20–25°C). Winter is mild but damp; mountain conditions change rapidly—check forecasts if heading to Grouse/Cypress/Whistler.
• Transit & payments: Contactless credit/debit works on transit and most shops; tipping 18–20% is standard in restaurants.

One more iconic urban thrill: Flyover in Vancouver is a short, soaring simulated flight over Canada—great for families or rainy days.

With two weeks, you’ll feel the rhythm of Vancouver—morning fog lifting off cedar crowns, afternoons on ocean paths, nights at tables that reflect the whole Pacific Rim. Keep this guide handy, and return to the spots that spoke to you; Vancouver rewards second helpings.