Canada · 5-day itinerary
5 days in Vancouver
Mountains, ocean and dim sum within one day. Here's a 5-day plan that clusters each day by neighbourhood, with real times, so you walk less and see more.
Day 1
Arrive & settle into Vancouver
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Arrive in Vancouver
Check in at your stay in Downtown / Yaletown.
- 12:15 p.m. Lunch
1:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. · Granville Island · ~$28
Granville Island
Public market, artisan studios and the Aquabus.
6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. · Mount Pleasant · ~$57
Brewery Creek tasting crawl
Craft breweries in Mount Pleasant.
Day 2
Art & design
- 12:00 p.m. Lunch
1:15 p.m. – 3:45 p.m. · Gastown · ~$21
Gastown and Chinatown
Steam clock, cobblestones and the Sun Yat-Sen garden.
- 6:00 p.m. Dinner · Japadog from a street cart
7:30 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. · Richmond · ~$36
Richmond Night Market
Summer weekend Asian street food extravaganza.
Runs weekends from spring to early autumn.
Day 3
Into the green
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. · Stanley Park · ~$36
Stanley Park seawall by bike
A 10 km ride past totem poles and beaches.
- 12:15 p.m. Lunch
- 6:00 p.m. Dinner · Sushi (Vancouver's is world-class)
Day 4
Into the green
- 12:15 p.m. Lunch
6:10 p.m. – 8:10 p.m.
Evening at leisure
Dinner somewhere that catches your eye, then a stroll or an early night.
Day 5
Farewell, Vancouver
- 12:15 p.m. Lunch
1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Depart Vancouver
Check out and head to the airport or station, allowing plenty of time.
- 7:00 p.m. Dinner · Spot prawns in season (May–June)
Where to stay in Vancouver
Shoestring
Mount Pleasant
Breweries, cafés and fair prices on Main Street.
Hotels in Mount PleasantComfort
Downtown / Yaletown
Walk to the seawall, Stanley Park and Gastown.
Hotels in Downtown / YaletownLuxury
Coal Harbour
Waterfront hotels with mountain views.
Hotels in Coal Harbour
What to eat in Vancouver
Pacific salmon
Wild sockeye or chinook, grilled, smoked or candied.
BC spot prawns
Sweet local prawns, in season in May and June.
Aburi sushi
Flame-seared sushi, a Vancouver favourite.
Dim sum
Some of North America's best, especially in Richmond.
Japadog
Hot dogs with Japanese toppings like seaweed and teriyaki.
Nanaimo bar
No-bake bar of crumb base, custard icing and chocolate.
Where locals send visitors
Granville Island Public Market $
Market · Granville Island · Best for lunch
Graze smoked salmon, chowder and pastries by False Creek.
ReviewsMiku $$$
Aburi sushi · Coal Harbour · Best for dinner · Reserve ahead
The restaurant that made flame-seared aburi sushi famous here.
ReviewsPhnom Penh $$
Cambodian-Vietnamese · Chinatown · Best for dinner
Famous butter beef and chicken wings. Expect a wait.
ReviewsJapadog $
Street food · Downtown · Best for lunch
The cult hot-dog cart turned local chain.
ReviewsVij's $$$
Indian · Cambie · Best for dinner
Inventive Indian cooking; the lamb popsicles are legendary.
ReviewsMedina Café $$
Brunch · Downtown · Best for breakfast
Belgian waffles and North African brunch dishes.
Reviews
Heads-up: what to steer clear of
- Safety: Car break-ins are common. Never leave anything visible in a parked car, especially at trailheads and viewpoints.
- Safety: Around East Hastings Street, open drug use and street disorder are visible. Stick to main routes, especially at night, and use transit or a cab between neighbourhoods.
- Safety: On North Shore hikes, carry water and a light, and start early. Rescues are frequent when hikers underestimate the trails.
Giro's notes, reviewed October 2026. Things change, so check current advice before you go.
Good to know
- Compass Card or contactless works across SkyTrain, buses and SeaBus.
- Layers are essential; mountain weather changes quickly.
- Book Grouse Mountain and the Capilano bridge early in summer.
Daily budget per person
| Shoestring | ~$175 |
| Comfort | ~$323 |
| Luxury | ~$754 |
A shared double room, meals and local transport. Flights and tickets not included.
Make this Vancouver trip yours
Giro rebuilds this plan for your dates, your group and your budget. Swap stops, drag them between days, add your flights and hotel, and share it with everyone coming.
Plan this tripTimes and prices are estimates (prices in CAD at the latest ECB rate). Check opening hours before you go. Place descriptions and photos from Wikipedia and Wikimedia Commons, credited on each photo. Giro may earn a commission on bookings, at no extra cost to you.