The Ultimate Travel Guide to Vancouver, Canada
Updated: 4 days ago
Hi friends! As most of you will know, my partner Luke and I travelled to Canada (Victoria and Vancouver, BC) to meet my pen pal of 15+ years - my first proper big overseas trip. I kinda see now why Australia and New Zealand always get lumped into things because our culture is pretty similar (and yes, we are the weird ones LOL). This is my ultimate travel guide to Vancouver, BC, Canada. Hope ya'll enjoy!!
You can also check out my Victoria, BC Travel guide "here".
We flew from Melbourne > Sydney > Vancouver! The first 2 nights we stayed in a place called Steveston Village in Richmond, Vancouver, just to recharge after the long a$$ flight; then we obviously went to Victoria, BC for a week; then we went back to Vancouver for our last 7 nights! It was lots of fun. We missed out on a few things, so hopefully one day we get to go back, but what we did was so much fun nonetheless. I also talk about our experiences at Sydney Airport in my August 2026 Life Updates if you are interested in that!
I am also working on some YouTube videos, so I'll be sure to add those in when I've finished editing them too!
Here's the first vlog! Steveston Village.
The next vlog! Vancouver Part 1!
Vancouver Part 2 is here!
Vancouver Part 3 is here!
The final vlog!
Quick note: if I didn't say AUD, the price is in CAD.
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The Ultimate Travel Guide to Vancouver, Canada
I do have to say my favourite thing about Vancouver was the sheer amount of whimsy I found just by walking around. You never know what you're going to find. There were SO many cute community gardens, little gardens outside people's homes that were well maintained, fairy gardens, fairy lights, SO many little community libraries, and my favourite was the silly topiary we found near Queen Elizabeth Park - it looked like those potato gem things with the faces. I really think the best thing to do when travelling is SLOW down and see what you can find because I found so many cute whimsical things. It reinforced that I really want a fairy garden when we have a backyard. I feel like someone would steal it if I put one in our front yard.
General Information / Getting Around / Culture Shocks
Vancouver Airport (YVR) is a really cool airport! We missed a lot, as the assistance ladies told me I had to go on the golf cart buggy thing. It was quite funny; I was like, "I can walk", and the lady was like ", No". Anyway, lovely assistance at YVR. AND my favourite thing about going into Canada is that their declaration is on the passport machines - no more pen and paper like NZ/Aus do!!!
While we were at the airport, Luked swapped out some of his cash for Canadian cash, and omg, it's so pretty and very similar to NZ cash (IMO). We saw someone who was exchanging her American currency, and the paper money just looks like Monopoly money; it doesn't look real LOL.
We are lucky we had some cash, as when we went to the SkyTrain station, we found out the hard way that the Compass card vending machines don't take credit or debit that isn't Canadian, so we had to use cash. Some lovely people offered us their day passes, which was so kind, but we had already figured it out. I think that was also a big culture shock - people willing to help you without expecting anything in return. I think I am a bit like that, but then I also do appreciate when people do something for you too.
In general, getting around Vancouver was pretty easy. I liked the SkyTrain, but they also have the Expo Line and the SeaBus to North Vancouver (also, the SkyTrain is automated; there's no driver, which I was like, whoaaaaaaa). We were able to use PT in Vancouver to get wherever we needed; the only time we got an Uber was when we went from our first hotel to the ferry terminal. Other transport options are the Aquabus and the False Creek Ferries, which are little mini ferries that can take you around the water - it's pretty cool! There are also a lot of buses, but we only used the bus to get from the ferry terminal and also to get into the middle of Stanley Park. It's pretty easy to navigate. I do have to say Melbourne PT is way better, but I still thought PT in Vancouver was good.
I did already talk about tipping culture. It is weird because I am from NZ, where tipping is considered rude, so it felt weird doing it. And now Queenstown, NZ adds in a tipping option because so many tourists go there.
Some other weird stuff that happened was a person asked me if I was British (I am not sure whether I should be offended or not, and to be fair, I am from the most British city in NZ, BUT I also think I do sound more Australian now. The people asked me, "Are you from Cambridge or Manchester?" and I was like, LOL, I am from NZ. Usually I say Melbourne, but I thought NZ was best to say then hahahahahaha. I also stopped to take a break when I was walking with my suitcase to one of the hotels, and someone asked if I was lost, and I was like, "nah, just puffed". And people are more likely to talk to you as strangers - and compliment you!
This is probably a dumb culture shock, but the deodorants are different; I had to get one, and it's like a stick deodorant rather than a roll-on. I definitely prefer roll-on; it gets less dirty. BUT my friend also taught me that you can put it between your thighs to help with chafing, which just blew my mind as a life hack.
Vancouver definitely had a big city vibe like how Melbourne does in the CBD, but it wasn't the same feeling of "I can see myself living here" as I had when I first came to Melbourne (hope that makes sense). I loved it and can't wait to go back, but it's probably not a place I would call home. Now I feel like I sound like a b*tch because there are so many wonderful things in Vancouver.
I also talked about Wise and Saily in my Victoria BC blog, but that's what we used (and the same sorta budget for Vancouver, but I think Vancouver had a lot more free stuff to do, and I found it to be a very walkable city.
One last culture shock: You can LITERALLY eat the blackberries right off the bushes, and you won't die???????????????????????????????????? That was crazy to me.
Accommodation + Recs
Steveston Waterfront Hotel - This is where we stayed the first couple of nights, and I honestly just wanted to stay here because of the location next to the river. It is a great place to recharge. It was about $395 CAD per night. To get here, we took the SkyTrain from the airport to Bridgeport Station, then changed to bus 402, and then it was about a 10 min walk. I kinda wish we had an extra night here, ngl. I liked the accommodation, but the pipes on the ceiling were exposed, and that weirded me out a bit. It's also all digital key-based, so you get a code on your phone and don't have to talk to anyone! Although we did because we went to the wrong building, oops! We got there in the end.
The Sutton Place Hotel - This was a great hotel, except being on the 16th floor is kinda scary for someone with earthquake trauma, but I managed. I think we could have done it a bit cheaper if we got an Airbnb, but I did feel a lot safer being in a hotel and having a place that could store our bags on our last day. We got a deluxe room with 35% off, as that was the international offer when we booked, so for 7 nights, it was $3982 CAD (not including GST and all those other taxes Canada doesn't put on first). I definitely think it was worth the money; I was comfortable, we had a rain shower, they gave us robes and slippers, and housekeeping was great. And yes, I am going to complain about the toilet paper again because WHY IS IT ONLY 1 PLY AT THESE HOTELS? And we had to keep asking for more because they only gave you like 1 roll for 3 days, and that's not enough for me haha. The hotel also had a pool we used, a laundry where you can wash your clothes with coins, a cafe, a gym, a spa, a restaurant, and a cocktail bar. Luke also noticed that the hotel didn't have a floor 13, and I was like, "Yeah, a lot of hotels don't actually have a level 13 so I think he learned about a new conspiracy theory then.
For some other accommodation recs, I would say the Paradox if you're rich or if you have enough social media following to get a deal, the Fairmont Hotel if you're feeling fancy, or for some more mid-range options, somewhere like The Burrard or Le Soleil Hotel.
For even more recs, check out "Vancouver Tourism". You can even stay further out from Downtown if you want it WAY cheaper, but you'll need to find somewhere on the train lines to make sure you can get back into the city easily.
Nature Spots
Stanley Park + Seawall - OH MY GOSH, this was so pretty. We went here a few times and didn't even scratch the surface, but we did manage to walk the whole seawall at least once, and we saw seals, a bald eagle, a woodpecker, chickadees, a wood duck, herons, and oh my god, those great blue herons are HUGE! It's just a vibe; pictures don't do it justice. Loved the totem poles too; just excellent. You can also hire bikes/scooters from most stores around here if you don't want to walk. You could spend days exploring here, and I bet you'd see something different every time.
Queen Elizabeth Park - We didn't walk too much of this park as we mainly went to the VanDusen Gardens and Bloedel Conservatory, but it was great how much green there was and so many squirrels and birds. Loved it.
VanDusen Gardens - $15.81 entry fee per adult, and it's a big botanical garden to walk around. So beautiful, and they even have a Southern Hemisphere garden that includes Aus/NZ plants.
Grouse Mountain - Grouse Mountain was probably the most expensive thing we did (other than eating/hotel prices), and you do get a lot for what you pay. It cost $89 per adult, but that includes the gondolas, bird shows, the bear enclosure, going up the ski lift to the peak, the funny lumberjack shows, and a few more things. I think you do have to pay more to do the ziplining or roller coaster (but I was NOT doing those LOL). There are a few cafes up the top, but at some of them you are waiting ages for your food, and I ended up stealing Luke's burger because his food was better than mine haha sorry not sorry. If you do have a phobia of heights, just be aware of that when going up here, but it is worth it. Oh, and I believe if you do the Grouse Grind, you get a free ride down the mountain haha. I just looked at the stats, and the fastest someone has done it is 23 minutes- oh my gosh. There's also a free shuttle every day from Canada Place to get here, and it's first come, first served; we got the 10 AM one, I think and got on easily. You just have to buy your ticket online. I also saw a chipmunk here and was like, omg, it's so cute! It was way too fast for me to get a photo, though.
English Bay Beach - I LOVED this area; it was so pretty, and the laughing statues are so fun. This is where I will live out my Ken doll dream job of "beach".
Kitsilano Beach - This was a beach we just ran out of time to get to, but apparently it's a really good beach and great for sunset pics.
Capilano Suspension Bridge - In all the vlogs I've watched, this place is considered a tourist trap. It's a hefty $76.95 to get in. In saying that, I believe there's quite a lot to do here. Unfortunately, I was just too exhausted by the end of our trip to go here. They do have a free summer shuttle, as Grouse Mountain does.
Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge - If you're looking for a cheaper option, people recommend Lynn Canyon over Capilano as it's free; there's just not a lot of PT options to get here. But it's a similar sorta vibe. Pretty sure it's also down the road from Capilano, so you could probably do both on the same day if you really wanted to!
Deep Cove, North Vancouver - Another place we didn't get to, but it just looks so beautiful! I think North Vancouver would be a great place to explore more of next time.
UBC TreeWalk - I'm not sure if this counts as nature or cool things to do, but I'm putting it here for now, and yes, another thing someone told us to do but we didn't get a chance to. The University of British Columbia (UBC) has a TreeWalk where you do a treetop walk over the botanical gardens. It costs $29.50 per adult.
Cool Things To Do
Gulf of Georgia Cannery, Steveston Village - I believe Luke had a little looksie in here as it was free when we went (I can't remember why; someone did tell me about the museums being free during summer), but the normal cost to get in is $14.75 per adult. I believe this is a salmon cannery turned museum (not really my thing, but something to do).
Britannia Shipyards, Steveston Village - I honestly only wanted to go here because The X-Files was filmed here, but it was actually pretty cool. There's a lot of little museum houses, and it kinda reminded me of Ferrymead Heritage Park in CHCH. It's like a mix of shipyards, residences, and canneries all in one place. Very cool and worth a visit IMO.
Garry Point Park, Richmond - NOW, this is where the hummingbirds are at! It was a short walk from where our accommodation was in Steveston Village, and I loved walking along here. We even saw a Marmot when we were walking towards the park, and it was so funny because I didn't know what it was hehe.
Fisherman's Wharf, Steveston Village - A place with lots of great foodie options. It just felt like a beach town (even though it's the Fraser River).
Steveston Tram - We didn't actually get to this one, but I saw in a lot of vlogs that people visited this. I think it's like a little museum. Would be cool to go back and visit one day.
Vancouver Police Museum - This was SO cool! Although the walk to get here was a bit confronting through Chinatown. It costs $14 per adult entry fee, and you can take lots of photos in here, just not in the autopsy areas, as they have real human remains. It was very cool. Luke also did a puzzle to open a safe, and the lady who worked there was from Perth, so we made friends with her. The true crime area was pretty intense, and I am a true crime fan, so even for me, that was shocking. I highly recommend this place!
Dr Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden - So I think we got a bit confused here, but there's a free park and then an area that you have to go in to pay, which I didn't mind. When I was in here, I felt like I should take my shoes off (I didn't dw); that's just how I felt. I believe we paid $16 each, and I got some cute earrings from the gift shop (the cloud rainbow ones). I just learned that Melbourne has a statue of Dr Sun Yat-sen in our Chinatown- learning something new every day!
Chinatown - I think everyone who visits Vancouver should go to Chinatown. It's very big, but it also has a lot of homeless people, and it just makes you feel really sad.
Gastown - Going to Gastown, I was like, "Oh yeah, it's a clock", and then when I actually saw the Steam Clock, I was like ", Oh, now I get it; it's pretty cool". There's also lots of shopping down here and a lot of foodie spots too. I didn't realise that steam clocks aren't very common. It was built in 1977! Gastown itself was founded in 1867 by John "Gassy Jack" Deighton.
Bloedel Conservatory - Located in Queen Elizabeth Park, this is a very cool conservatory. I saw so many birds I had no idea about! I can't remember the price, but I know it wasn't too expensive for 3 people. Definitely worth the trip! Seeing a roul-rout partridge was pretty cool. I feel like the colouring of what we saw was different to its photos, but a very cool birdy.
Granville Island - Oh my gosh, this was VERY busy, but it was worth the trip. I don't think we came hungry enough. It's a BIG market, and there's food, shopping, and so much to do! The silo art is very cool too. It's a MUST-DO! We got stuff from Stuart's Bakery and an ice cream from somewhere, but I forgot what type of ice cream it was - I wanna say, Panna Cotta?
Vancouver Lookout - I feel like I am going to be a bit rude, but this was not as high as I was expecting? When you go up places like the Sky Tower in Auckland or the Eureka SkyDeck in Melbourne, they are way higher. Anyway, at Vancouver Lookout you can see a lot, and I think it would be cool to do at the start of the trip, rather than the end, as you get a real feel for where things are. I didn't like the glass lift; that was freaky, but it was just something to do. It cost around $24 CAD per adult to go up, but I think if you go to the restaurant you don't need to pay. I also thought it was weird how it was inside a mall haha.
Richmond Night Market - I am VERY sad that 2026 was the last year they are doing the Richmond Night Market. It was like a $7 entry fee, and we waited in line for a LONG time, but at least it was moving. Lots of great food stalls, but a lot of AI slop, which I hated; just pay a graphic designer or take crappy photos - come on. Other than that, the food we tried was good, and I didn't get too overwhelmed with the crowds. I believe it's on Fridays/Saturdays/Sundays in the summer months.
Lonsdale Quay, North Vancouver - This was a cool market, and we got the SeaBus over, and that was pretty fun! Lots of yummy food spots, and we even walked around the area, and I liked the vibe of North Vancouver - more places for us to explore if we ever go back! This is where I had that orange creamsicle ice cream. Oh, and we got a butter tart from here, but I was kinda disappointed in that (sorry, don't come for me, Canada).
Some other cool things to do (that we didn't get a chance to) are: Vancouver Aquarium, Science World, Museum of Anthropology, and Vancouver Public Library.
Foodie/Drinks Vibes
Stay tuned on Eats with Ash for a more in-depth food diary! I really need to post on there as I haven't in ages.
Pajo's Fish and Chips (Delicious)
Japadog - The weirdest food combo I've ever eaten? The takoyaki balls were yum though (and not spicy enough). If I am ordering wasabi, I want it spicy!!!! HAHAH.
No Bad Days - Loved this cafe.
Made By Mister - Liquid Nitrogen ice cream!!
Richmond Night Market (obvs)
The Spud Shack Fry Co. New Westminster - Where we tried poutine for the first time!
Trees Organic Coffee and Roasting House - I am kinda sad I never got a cheesecake from here to try.
Italian Kitchen - I think this has to be my favourite from downtown Vancouver. Everything was a flavour bomb, and people were watching me eat my doughnuts; it was very strange LOL. PLUS WE GOT 2 PIECES OF FREE BREAD, THAT NEVER HAPPENS HERE.
Ballyhoo - We went here for happy hour, and it was cheap as chips!
Tim Hortons & Starbucks
There were a few other places I've forgotten and heaps we missed, but definitely a foodie's dream!
Thank you for reading! Let me know in the comments if you've been to any of these places, and if you'd like to check out my prints, you can do so "here".
Oh yeah, the AI slop really annoyed me, and I am scared that it's going to continue around the world, so make sure you keep creating quality human-made art!!!
Much love,
Ash x
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Loved reading this. Vancouver is such a gem. Would love to visit the clock at Gastown. It’s so aesthetically pleasing