2-Day Vancouver Family Itinerary

Arrival day

Before Day 1. The city is easy to move around, so let the group arrive, rest and see the water.Details

From YVR airport: A train called the Canada Line runs from the airport straight into downtown, with no car needed and little to work out. It is a short ride with stairs or lifts at the end. A taxi or rideshare works too if you have heavy bags.
Getting around: A reloadable Compass card works on the SkyTrain, the buses and the SeaBus, which is the little ferry to the North Shore. Check ahead for how to buy one and for fares, which change. Bike share stations are common near the seawall.
The weather: Rain is common outside summer, and the mountains are often hidden in cloud, even on a mild day. Pack a light rain layer for everyone, and use sunscreen even when it is cloudy, because the sun still burns.
First evening: Walk out to the waterfront and look at the mountains across the harbour. Day 1 begins at Stanley Park, so a slow evening and an early night will help.

Day 1. Stanley Park and English Bay and the North Shore

7 stops · 43.6 km

Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.

1
MorningWorth the time
Stanley Park
A huge forested park on a peninsula beside downtown, ringed by a long paved seawall. Walk a stretch or rent bikes. The path is one way for bikes, so check the signs.
Go when Morning, when the paths are cool and quiet.
Local tip You do not need the whole loop. Walk or ride a stretch, turn back when the group has had enough, and stop at the viewpoints. Check the signs for the direction of travel.
Photo: popejon2, CC BY 2.0 on Wikimedia Commons
About 12 min by car or transit3.6 km
2
MorningWorth the time
Granville Island Public Market
A big covered market on an island under a bridge, full of fruit and vegetables, bread, fish, cheese and sweets. Walk once through, then go back to buy what looked best. Check ahead on opening days.
Go when Morning, before the aisles fill up.
Local tip Walk the whole market once before you buy. Berries in season, smoked salmon and a pastry for the walk are all easy choices. Check ahead on opening days.
Photo: Joe Mabel, CC BY-SA 3.0 on Wikimedia Commons
Lunch
A market lunch
Smoked salmon, fresh bread, cheese and berries from the stalls, assembled into a picnic on the harbour edge.
Local tip Buy a little from several stalls and share everything. The berries are best in season.
About 20 min by car or transit7.9 km
3
MorningWorth the time
Capilano Suspension Bridge Park
A long footbridge hung high over a river canyon, with walkways in the treetops. It sways a little as you walk, so hold the rail and take it slowly. Check ahead on tickets. Lynn Canyon, a free alternative, is in the extras.
Go when Morning, before the crowds and the heat of the day.
Local tip The bridge sways and it is high, so it is not for everyone. Hold the rail and go slowly. Lynn Canyon is a free alternative. Check ahead on tickets.
Photo: Markus Säynevirta, CC BY-SA 4.0 on Wikimedia Commons
About 19 min by car or transit7.8 km
4
MorningWorth the time
Science World
A hands-on science centre in a big silver dome at the end of False Creek. Plenty to touch, push and try, with room for both children and adults. Check ahead on tickets and what is on.
Go when Morning, when the exhibits are quiet.
Local tip Go straight to the hands-on rooms and leave the rest. Check ahead on tickets and on special shows. The seawall outside is a flat walk.
Photo: Differense, CC BY-SA 3.0 on Wikimedia Commons
About 12 min by car or transit3.6 km
5
MiddayWorth the time
Vancouver Aquarium
A real aquarium inside the park, with sea life from the Pacific coast and further afield. It needs a ticket, and hours and what is on view change, so check ahead before you plan the day around it.
Go when Midday, as a cool indoor break from the paths.
Local tip It is a real aquarium, so you need a ticket. Check ahead on hours and on which exhibits are open before you plan the day around it.
Photo: Iiii I I I, CC BY 4.0 on Wikimedia Commons
About 23 min by car or transit9.5 km
6
AfternoonWorth the time
Grouse Mountain
A mountain you reach by aerial tram, called the Skyride, with wide views of the city and the sea. The top can be in cloud when the city is clear, so check ahead on the view and the weather before you go up.
Go when Afternoon on a clear day, once you can see the top from town.
Local tip The top can sit in cloud when the city is bright, so look at the mountain from below before you buy a ticket. Bring a warm layer, because it is cooler up there. Check ahead.
Photo: Pburka at English Wikiped… on Wikimedia Commons
About 26 min by car or transit11.3 km
7
EveningA sunset beach
English Bay Beach
A city beach on a wide bay, with logs to sit on and ships waiting at anchor. Come for the sunset, and stay as the sky changes color over the water. Check conditions before swimming.
Go when Around sunset, on a log with a snack.
Local tip Sit with the ships waiting at anchor and watch the sky change. The water is cold, so check conditions before swimming.
Photo: No real name given, CC BY 2.0 on Wikimedia Commons
Dinner
Fish and chips at the beach
A simple supper of crisp fried fish and chips, eaten with the sand under your feet as the sun goes down.
Local tip Eat on the grass, and watch the gulls, which like chips too.
Photo: Matthias Meckel, CC BY-SA 4.0 on Wikimedia Commons

If it rains. Granville Island Public Market, Science World and Vancouver Aquarium are covered, so keep them. Move Stanley Park, Capilano Suspension Bridge Park, Grouse Mountain and English Bay Beach to a dry day if you can.

Day 2. Victoria and the ferry

1 stop · 83.6 km

Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.

Drive from English Bay BeachAbout 1 h 22 min by car83.6 km
Where Day 1 ended.
1
MiddayWorth the time
Butchart Gardens
A famous garden made in an old quarry, with flower beds, ponds and paths to wander. It is large, so take your time. Check ahead on tickets, on what is in bloom and on how late it stays open.
Go when Midday, once you are off the ferry.
Local tip It is large, so plan on a slow loop with benches. Check ahead on tickets, on what is in bloom and on how late it is open. A hat and sunscreen help.
Photo: w4nn3s, CC BY-SA 3.0 on Wikimedia Commons

If it rains. Everything today is outdoors, so swap this day with a drier one if you can.

Departure day

After the last day. The train makes the airport run simple, so keep the last morning slow.Details

Your last morning: Spend it by the water: a last walk on the seawall, a pastry and a coffee, and a look back at the mountains. Pack wet swimsuits and sandy shoes in a separate bag.
Back to the airport: The Canada Line train goes from downtown to the airport and avoids road traffic. Allow plenty of time with a group, and carry your Compass card for the ride if you have one.
Souvenirs: A tin of smoked salmon, some maple candy or a book of Pacific Northwest art are easy to carry home. Check the rules for bringing food across a border before you buy.

Questions people ask

How many days does this plan cover?

It covers 2 days in Vancouver, planned for late June. Each day is built around a small number of stops, with room to rest.

Who is this plan for?

It was planned for most travelers. The pace and the places reflect that, so check it fits how you travel.

Is anything on this plan booked?

No. Places marked "book ahead" need a reservation. Hours, prices and availability change, so confirm before you go.

Can I plan my own days like this?

Yes. Archie drafts a day by day plan for your dates and takes your pace, the weather and who is travelling into account. You can start one from the Archie app.

Can I change this plan?

Yes. It is a starting point you can change to fit your own trip: swap a place, add a day or move the pace.

How much walking is there?

Each day has about 43.6 kilometers between its stops, and 43.6 kilometers in all across 2 days. A short hop is a walk and a longer one a ride. Distances are straight-line estimates, so allow extra for the streets.