Perfect 3 Day Vancouver Weekend Itinerary

This perfect 3 day Vancouver weekend itinerary is perfect for first time or seasoned travelers to Canadas beautiful west coast city. Featuring day trips to incredible rainforests, fun ferry boat rides and different shopping districts. This Vancouver winter itinerary will keep your days full of culture, laughter and incredible experiences.

3 days is all you need to explore the best parts of Vancouver, we easily spent a week in the city filling our time with plenty of food, inner city activities with a healthy mix of nature escapes, allow this Vancouver weekend itinerary to take you on a tour from gorgeous rainforests, to great shopping districts with a bit of education mixed in between.

Trip Length: 3 Days
Best for: City lovers, outdoor explorers and shoppers
Main areas covered: Granville Island, Gastown, Stanley Park, North Vancouver.
Transport: Walking, ferry and/or hire car.

Accommodation in Vancouver

If you’re looking for places to stay in Vancouver then I can highly recommend the Best Western Plus Sands on Davie Street. This was in an awesome location a short distance from Stanley Park, and walking distance to any public transport and shopping districts. Otherwise I suggest checking out Booking.com for the best deals on any hotels in Vancouver.

Day 1: English Bay Beach, Granville Island, Museum of Vancouver

Let the first day of your Vancouver weekend itinerary be an easy going one, wake up early and explore the location streets, get a feel for the new city you’re in and just take your time taking in all the new experiences you’re about to have. I always treat the first day in a new location as a slow, easy going exploration day which is why the first activities on this itinerary are to walk from English Bay Beach which will then take you on to a great shopping district on Granville Island.

English Bay Beach

If you’re visiting during summer or you just want to visit the ocean, English Bay Beach (also known as First Beach) is a great location to add to your Vancouver weekend itinerary. This is one of Vancouver’s most popular and picturesque waterfront spots located along Beach Avenue between Gilford and Bidwell Streets and is the most visited beach in downtown Vancouver. Favoured for it’s picturesque sunsets, swimming, paddle boarding, and its lively yet relaxed atmosphere.

English Bay Beach is central, scenic and full of energy, perfect for those short walks from downtown Vancouver for a last minute decision to watch the sunset in Vancouver.

Granville Island

A Vancouver weekend itinerary isn’t complete without mentioning a trip to Granville Island. Granville Island is Vancouvers creative, culinary and cultural waterfront hub. Filled with artisan studios, markets, theatres, restaurants, and galleries and a lively atmosphere throughout the year. Accessible via ferry or car, Granville Island is actually a peninsula tucked under the Granville Street Bridge, just across from downtown Vancouver. It draws over 10.5 million visitors a year making it one of the most visited places in British Columbia.

A visit to Granville Island is where you can discover amazing creativity and food which brings communities closer together; a colourful, walkable neighbourhood that feels like a small village in the heart of the city.

Things to see at Granville Island

• Craft breweries and waterfront restaurants
• The Arts Club Theatre Company
• Improv comedy
• Outdoor entertainment during summer
• Galleries and art studios
• Handmade crafts stores and jewelry
• Fresh vegetables, seafood and artisan breads

Museum of Vancouver

The Museum of Vancouver, founded in 1894 is the oldest museum in Vancouver. Located in Vanier Park right beside the H.R. MacMillan Space Centre, and is dedicated to telling the story of Vancouver; from its deep Indigenous roots to its modern cultural evolution. Family-friendly and perfect as a wet weather day activity, the Museum of Vancouver is a great idea to add to your Vancouver weekend itinerary. Focusing on Vancouver‑centric exhibitions; the exhibits use stories, objects, and interactive displays to help visitors understand the city’s past, present, and future.

Day 2: Stanley Park, Gastown

Day 2 of this Vancouver weekend itinerary is where you will get your blood pumping and explore a little bit more of the natural beauty of Vancouver before heading to the oldest neighbourhood in Vancouver.

Stanley Park

Stanley Park is Vancouver’s largest and most loved urban park, which means I couldn’t possibly leave it off the perfect Vancouver weekend itinerary. Encompassing over 400+ hectares of West Coast rainforest, beaches, gardens, scenic viewpoints and other various tourist attractions, Stanley Park is an incredibly popular location to visit for a range of relaxing outdoor activities. Sitting on the northwestern edge of downtown Vancouver and bordered by Burrard Inlet and English Bay. Stanley Park attracts around 8 million visitors a year making it one of the world’s best urban parks. Explore Stanley Park and all the wonderful activities and scenic sites it has to offer:

Top Things to do in Stanley Park

• Cycle or walk the Stanley Park Seawall
• Visit the Vancouver Aquarium
• Explore the forest trails
• Relax on Second or Third beach in Stanley Park
• See the Totem Poles at Brockton Point
• Visit Lost Lagoon
• Ride the Stanley Park train

Gastown

Gastown is Vancouvers oldest neighbourhood founded in 1867, being the original settlement that grew into the Vancouver we know today. Officially designated a national historic site. Gastowns boundaries follow the 1870 townsite survey, covering the area around Water Street, Carrall Street, Hastings Street, and Cambie Street.

Today Gastown blends historic charm with modern culture; Victorian brick buildings line the streets making homes for trendy cafes, boutique shopping outlets and some of Vancouvers best nightlife. It’s often compared to New York’s Lower East Side or London’s Shoreditch for its mix of grit, creativity, and cool vibes.

Cool Things to do in Gastown

• Visit the Gastown Steam Clock
• Wander through Water Street
• Join a walking tour – Lost Souls of Gastown, Vancouver Mysteries

Day 3: Robson Street Shopping, Lynn Canyon Park

The last day of this Vancouver weekend itinerary has to end in a bang. Get some great shopping deals on Robson Street and explore brands and shops that you probably don’t get at home, before making your way across to North Vancouver to explore the incredible Lynn Canyon Park.

Robson Street Shopping

Robson Street is Vancouver’s busiest and most popular shopping street and has been a commercial hub since the late 1800’s. Featuring the most international shops, Robson Street blends big brand names with local boutiques stretching roughly between Burrard Street and Jervis Street. It’s home to more than 150 shops including major fashion brands, athletic retailers, beauty stores, and unique local boutiques.

Robson Street is lively throughout the day and into the night with cafe’s, restaurants and a few bars woven between the stores. Centrally located in downtown Vancouver, Robson Street sits close to many hotels and transit centers making it an extremely accessible shopping district in Vancouver.

Lynn Canyon Park

Lynn Canyon Park is a 250 hectare municipal park in the District of North Vancouver, officially opened in 1912 and now one of the region’s most popular outdoor destinations. Lynn Canyon Park is known for its dramatic canyon scenery, forest trails, waterfalls, and the iconic Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge which hangs 50 meters above the canyon floor providing a dramatic view to the waterfall below.

This Vancouver is a favourite among locals and visitors so it couldn’t be missed from a Vancouver weekend itinerary; offering a true West Coast rainforest experience. and unlike Capilano Suspension Bridge, Lynn Canyon is free to visit.

Best Things to do at Lynn Canyon Park

• Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge
• Twin Falls
• 30-foot pool
• Various hiking trails
• Lynn Canyon Ecology Center

The Shipyards

The Shipyards is a lively waterfront district in Lower Lonsdale in North Vancouver and is one of North Vancouver’s oldest neighbourhoods. Getting its name from historically being a major shipbuilding hub, the Shipyards has been transformed into a modern public space filled with restaurants, cafés, boutique shops, markets, art, and community events; all with stunning views of the Vancouver skyline and the North Shore mountains. Hosting a range of community events like outdoor concerts, cultural festivals and seasonal celebrations, you will come to love the Shipyards for its family friendly activities and lively atmosphere.

Easily accessible from downtown Vancouver via the SeaBus or other forms of public transport, making it one of the most convenient and enjoyable places to explore on the North Shore of North Vancouver.

Seasonal activities at the Shipyards

As well as various live acts throughout the year, during winter at the Shipyards you may come across a large outdoor ice skating arena. And summer welcomes a large splash park perfect for families with young children.

Other Things for your Vancouver Weekend Itinerary

Whether my Vancouver weekend itinerary doesn’t float your boat, or if you simply can’t squeeze this many activities into your already full itinerary; I have listed a few more things to do in Vancouver that might just catch your eye. Everything from more day trips out of the city to indoor activities if the weather isn’t great, if you’re looking for a list of the best things to do in Vancouver then be sure to check out my other articles.

• Capilano Suspension Bridge
• The Butchart Gardens
• Vancouver Island
• VanDusen Botanical Gardens
• Queen Elizabeth Park