Vancouver is an easy city in which to pause before an Alaskan cruise or a Rocky Mountaineer journey. Two days can’t capture its full breadth, but they will introduce you to its enthusiasm for local produce and the great outdoors.
Read on to cram the best bites and sights that 48 hours in Vancouver allows.
Saturday: bike, brunch and bridge
If you’re lucky enough to wake to a sunny Saturday morning in Vancouver, don’t hesitate in leaping out of bed and making the most of the day.
A morning pedal around Stanley Park is a good antidote to a long travel day. Ask your hotel concierge about bike hire or use the Mobi app to find a nearby station; pay-per-ride fares are charged by the minute, so check the latest rate before you set off.
A two-hour ride along the seawall loop brings reward for effort, passing forest, shoreline and small beach stops with plenty of places to pause. Along the way, you’ll ride under the Lions Gate Bridge and past the 32-million-year-old, Siwash Rock, stopping for a coffee and pastry at Prospect Point Café if you need a little boost.
Heading back into town, return your bike and wander down Canada Place past groups of bubbling cruise passengers and find the world’s original FlyOver attraction. This flying theatre suspends visitors in front of a curved 19-metre-wide screen and deploys wind, mist and scents to create the exhilarating illusion of flying above the vast Canadian landscape. From the arctic wilderness of the far-north to the cosy, snow-dusted streets of Quebec, you’ll smell mulled wine through quaint villages and dive off towering waterfalls – all from the safety of your seat. This is as good an introduction to Canadian life as any.
If flying over Canada has you a little peckish, head to Five Sails at Pan Pacific Vancouver for a seafood lunch framed by harbour and mountain views. For something more relaxed, Coal Harbour Bar serves seasonal west coast dishes and cocktails on the lobby level – an easy choice after a walk along the waterfront.
For those with more time and appetite, Fairmont Waterfront offers a well-placed bottomless brunch. The hotel’s ARC Restaurant sits opposite Canada Place, and its lively dining room gives you a front-row seat to people watch passing cruise passengers across the road.
From the smoked salmon rösti to the Ooey Gooey Skillet, each plate is hearty yet considered, providing the fuel for this afternoon’s outing.
Crossing the road, find the free shuttle bus to Capilano Suspension Bridge parked nearby. Check the nature park’s current shuttle timetable and book a timed entry before you leave downtown, as both can vary by season.
The suspension bridge stretches 137 metres across and 70 metres above the Capilano River, and its story dates back to 1889. The feeling of stepping onto its swaying planks is an immediate thrill, well worth an ounce of courage to reach the treetop walk on the other side. Give yourself two to three hours at the park, exploring said Treetops Adventure and Cliffwalk, and settle into the surrounding temperate rainforest.
Kia’palano, one of the park’s interpretive areas named for its Indigenous community, shares the site’s history through displays and artefacts. Consider the signage as you move between the bridge and the forest walkways to give the experience more context than the views alone.
The park has both casual and sit-down options for dinner. Cliff House Restaurant serves West Coast-inspired plates by the canyon, while Loggers’ Grill is the faster choice before you head back to the city for the evening.
Sunday: English Bay and Granville Island
Saturday involved plenty of movement, so Sunday slows the pace with breakfast by the water and an afternoon around Granville Island.
Head to the CBD’s western shores for breakfast at Sylvia’s Restaurant & Lounge, inside the historic Sylvia Hotel on English Bay. In summer, ivy climbs the hotel’s red-brick facade while the dining room and patio look over the beach. The eight-story building feels distinct from the newer towers around it; once the tallest in Vancouver.
The menu runs from the Jogger’s Breakfast to eggs on sourdough, with generous portions and a view that makes it easy to linger. Take your time, then head down towards the water for the day’s next adventure.
From English Bay, follow the waterfront towards Hornby Street Dock. The walk is just under two kilometres from the Sylvia Hotel (with a bus-bound alternative nearby), and the Aquabus crosses False Creek to Granville Island in minutes. The small, brightly coloured boats make the crossing feel like their own attraction rather than simply a way to get from A to B.
Arriving at Granville Island, carve out a couple of hours to browse the Public Market, artisan studios and galleries. This is where you’ll begin to understand Vancouver’s obsession with local produce and why you’ll be hard-pressed to find a local megamart.
Leave time for a slow loop around the edges of the island, too, where the bustle of the market gives way to boats, workshops and open water.
Beyond the market, Granville Island offers seven theatres and 11 bars and restaurants, as well as a few quaint galleries. Check the island’s events calendar before you visit – a performance, workshop or screening may be worth building into your afternoon.
The industrial surrounds may look familiar, having been the backdrop for multiple feature films like Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol and Good Luck Chuck. No wonder more than 10 million people visit every year.
From over the Granville Bridge, you have three choices: head west into the leafy streets of Kitsilano for hearty, understated dining; east to Elem where Vancouver Magazine’s Best New Restaurant serves Michelin-recommended international cuisine; or back across the bridge to BC Place or Rogers Arena where fabled matches of football and ice hockey play out.
If you need maps, ferry times or timed-entry bookings on the go, set up your Hubby eSIM before you leave the hotel – a reward enjoyed by Luxury Escapes’ Société members.
48 hours in Vancouver could never cover every corner of the city, but you will leave with a clearer sense of its rhythm. Choose the parts that suit you best – food, nature, history or a little of each – then leave a reason to return.
Discover Vancouver
Image credit: Mike Benna; Henry Ballard.
