Vancouver 🇨🇦 3 Day Itinerary
3 Days
-Canada
By Jackie Swayze
Sep 5, 2025
Vancouver may be Canada’s 3rd largest city, but it’s my favorite of all the ones I’ve visited. It’s compact enough to easily explore in a long weekend and has a little bit of everything - incredible food, outdoor adventures, and a vibrant multicultural atmosphere.
We did this trip without a car, as it’s easy enough to get around on public transit, ferries, buses, or on foot. However, renting a car can be helpful outside the city. If you’re looking to explore on your own, you can search for your rental car here: https://rentalcars.tpx.lt/1qNpn4Q3
For a more in-depth breakdown of visiting Vancouver, be sure to check out my blog post: https://maximizingmypto.com/3-days-in-vancouver/
Recommended Stays
HotelHotel BLU Vancouver
We stayed at the Hotel BLU in central Vancouver and it was the perfect home-base for our stay. We were even surprised with an upgrade to a loft room!
Book here: https://booking.tpx.lt/igszykXQ
Day 1
Skip breakfast at your hotel and head to Granville Island on an empty stomach. You can take a water ferry across False Creek to get there. Granville Island features 50+ merchants selling all sorts of food. I highly recommend a food tour to taste as many things as possible. Here’s the one we did: https://foodietours.ca/granville-island-market-tour/
In the afternoon, rent a bike and enjoy a beautiful ride around Stanley Park. You can stop along the way and enjoy the beaches, aquarium, gardens, and more.
Make a stop at the Vancouver Lookout for a great view of the city before dinner.
Granville Island
Granville Island, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Day 2
Yesterday was all about food, so today’s a bit more active. Start your day with a trip out to Capilano Suspension Bridge Park. There’s a free shuttle that runs between downtown Vancouver and the park. There’s one massive suspension bridge at the entrance to the park and several smaller ones throughout. It’s a great way to face your fears if you’re uneasy with heights.
Take the bus back to Vancouver and have lunch in Gastown. Make sure to stop by the iconic steam clock, which goes off every 15 minutes.
In the afternoon, you’ll head back out of town, taking another free shuttle to Grouse Mountain (note: if you have a rental car, you can drive between Capilano Suspension Bridge Park and Grouse Mountain easily). If you’re up for an endurance challenge, take on the infamous “Grouse Grind,” climbing 2,830 steps to the top of the mountain. If that’s too much or the weather isn’t on your side, you can always take the gondola to the top. At the top, you can see the mountain’s 2 grizzly bears that are kept in captivity or try the ropes course (which is what we did).
Capilano Suspension Bridge Park
3735 Capilano Rd, North Vancouver, BC V7R 4J1, Canada
Grouse Mountain
Grouse Mountain, North Vancouver, BC V7R 4P4, Canada
Day 3
If it’s your first time in Canada, you can’t leave the country without trying the iconic coffee/donut chain Tim Horton’s!
Be sure to check out Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden, which is the largest authentic Chinese garden outside of mainland China. Then head south toward Queen Elizabeth Park.
Finish your trip at Richmond Night Market, which is open until 12AM in the summer months. It’s also conveniently right near the airport.
Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden
578 Carrall St, Vancouver, BC V6B 5K2, Canada
