# Three days in Vancouver

> I had the huge luck of discovering western Canada during a work trip to Vancouver in March.

Source: https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/en/blog/three-days-in-vancouver/
Published on 6 March 2018

I had the huge luck of discovering **western Canada** during a work trip to **Vancouver** in March. So I took the chance to take a few days off and spend three full days discovering this city at the end of the world with two of my colleagues and friends. I won't drag out the suspense any longer: I completely fell for Vancouver, for the atmosphere, for its incredible landscapes between city and nature… I fully intend to go back as a couple on a longer trip to western Canada.

The city is nicknamed “_**Raincouver**_” by its inhabitants, because it rains more there than in the other Canadian cities! I must have been enormously lucky, because it only rained for half a day during my stay and there was even radiant sunshine for a whole day.

Even if a three-day stay may seem short, it's enough to give yourself an overview of the city and of the main places in this **British Columbia** metropolis. So here are my favourite places to eat and a few must-sees not to be missed on a first visit to Vancouver!

## What to see in Vancouver

### Downtown Vancouver

Having come to Vancouver for a work event that was taking place in a hotel on the waterfront, I was able to make the most of a few breaks on the first day to discover, in the sunshine, the pretty views over **Vancouver Harbour** and over North Vancouver. It was the first time I'd seen a **water aerodrome** (_[Harbour Flight](https://www.google.com/maps/place/A%C3%A9roport+de+Vancouver+Harbour+Flight/@49.28928,-123.1221158,16.42z/data=!4m13!1m7!3m6!1s0x548673f143a94fb3:0xbb9196ea9b81f38b!2sVancouver,+BC,+Canada!3b1!8m2!3d49.2827291!4d-123.1207375!3m4!1s0x5486718483cd58ff:0xa0a6ce5a63e3bdc1!8m2!3d49.2905013!4d-123.1181936?hl=fr)_) and it has to be said that it's quite a change of scene and pretty impressive! I stayed a few minutes watching the ballet of planes gliding over the water, going back and forth between the city centre and the north shore. Nearby, there's a pier with the **Canada Place** convention centre, where I went back the following morning (in dreary weather), before starting my visit of central Vancouver.

![Glass towers lining the seaplane basin](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/trois-jours-a-vancouver-02-3130c560.webp)

![Seaplanes moored along the jetties of the harbour](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/trois-jours-a-vancouver-03-c29d871a.webp)

![Seaplane gliding in front of the snow-capped mountains of the north shore](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/trois-jours-a-vancouver-04-f4e72a8a.webp)

![Woman leaning on a railing facing the bay](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/trois-jours-a-vancouver-05-832bcf68.webp)

![Sculpture in the shape of a giant blue drop and onlookers](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/trois-jours-a-vancouver-06-2f8f1a7b.webp)

![Black and white pixelated orca standing on the esplanade](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/trois-jours-a-vancouver-07-17d848f9.webp)

![Olympic cauldron with its four crossed glass beams](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/trois-jours-a-vancouver-08-d8c22f57.webp)

![CANADA letters on the glass roof, silhouette with arms outstretched](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/trois-jours-a-vancouver-09-f38748fd.webp)

![White sails of the cruise terminal beside the harbour](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/trois-jours-a-vancouver-10-5b7b2bf3.webp)

With my friends, we then headed for the small historic and trendy district of **Gastown**, which lies between the port and the glass towers of Downtown Vancouver. Because of the bad weather, we didn't linger, but one of the attractions not to miss is the **steam clock** (_[Steam Clock](https://www.google.com/maps/place/Gastown+Steam+Clock/@49.2799731,-123.1106742,16.16z/data=!4m12!1m6!3m5!1s0x548673d9d96896b5:0x816560eff8405dcb!2sLocal+Gastown!8m2!3d49.2835732!4d-123.1040754!3m4!1s0x548673e7bde5acdf:0x83edcdd77145500!8m2!3d49.2844812!4d-123.1090017?hl=fr)_) on Water Street, which has become the emblem of the district. I had come by there the previous evening and Gastown was lit up with lots of fairy lights and big round street lamps that give a retro atmosphere to this old brick district.

> **Good to know**
>
> this is where you find plenty of restaurants and fairly trendy shops, if you want to stop there for an hour or two.

![Steam clock puffing out its plume between the brick façades](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/trois-jours-a-vancouver-11-16d135b9.webp)

![Cobbled street in Gastown at the foot of the steam clock](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/trois-jours-a-vancouver-12-fd31f27d.webp)

![Red brick corner building and yellow taxi](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/trois-jours-a-vancouver-13-14e1541b.webp)

![Black and white bar façade at nightfall](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/trois-jours-a-vancouver-14-e7ffa3cd.webp)

![Lamp post with amber globes in front of a brick façade](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/trois-jours-a-vancouver-15-c47853b1.webp)

![Lit lamp post and string lights after dark](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/trois-jours-a-vancouver-16-48269e2d.webp)

After quickly crossing a few streets where drug addicts were hanging about (unfortunately quite numerous in central Vancouver), we reached **Chinatown** to visit the **Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Chinese garden**, _entry to which is free_. The contrast between the traditional Chinese architecture of the temples and the modern towers is quite striking: the garden is worth a look. You should know that Chinatown in Vancouver is the largest Asian district in Canada!

![Chinatown street in the rain, traffic light and pennants](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/trois-jours-a-vancouver-17-902acfab.webp)

![Pavilion of the Chinese garden framed by foliage](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/trois-jours-a-vancouver-18-76452071.webp)

![Pavilion set on a green pond surrounded by willows](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/trois-jours-a-vancouver-19-9a07143d.webp)

![Silhouette at the edge of the pond, rocks and clipped trees](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/trois-jours-a-vancouver-20-57faf384.webp)

![Pavilion with curved tiles reflected in the turquoise water](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/trois-jours-a-vancouver-21-c4d6e811.webp)

![Chinese gate spanning the wet avenue](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/trois-jours-a-vancouver-22-060a18e3.webp)

### The Seawall

The **Seawall** is that path, both pedestrian and cycle, that goes round Vancouver, from Stanley Park through Downtown, carrying on towards Granville Island and continuing along the coast towards Kitsilano, Pacific Spirit Regional Park and UBC. This is where Vancouverites, who are known for having a rather healthy lifestyle, walk and meet: so I came across plenty of cyclists, walkers and joggers on this path.

For our last day in Vancouver, we had decided to set off **for the whole day on foot** and to take the **Seawall** from our Airbnb near Kitsilano (in front of Volunteer Park) to get to our final destination at the end of the day: Stanley Park. So we took a big loop through **Kitsilano Beach, Vanier Park, Burrard Marina** to arrive at **Granville Island** at lunchtime. After our meal taken at the central market, we took a boat to reach Downtown and **Sunset Beach Park**. We then walked towards **English Bay** to admire the **Inukshuk**, then towards **Second Beach** to head east, towards **Lost Lagoon, Bayhore West Marina** and finally the entrance to **Stanley Park** by the totems. As my friend had to catch her flight very early the next day, she went back to the Airbnb, so I carried on the route alone and set about walking round Stanley Park at a brisk pace, so as not to miss the sunset over the Pacific Ocean. Once back at English Bay after nightfall, and after a quick dinner, I took the chance to go to **Robson Street** to buy a few souvenirs and I took the bus back to Kitsilano. An exhausting but unforgettable day!

![Map of the Seawall and its route along the shoreline](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/trois-jours-a-vancouver-23-840c9b47.webp)

*Map available on the vancouver.ca website*

#### From Kitsilano to Burrard Marina

From our accommodation, before reaching Kitsilano beach, we passed by plenty of small parks that line the sea: **Volunteer Park, Margaret Piggot Park** and **Point Grey Park**. If you go closer, you can enjoy a magnificent view over the Vancouver skyline as well as over the mountains north of the city. The district is fairly upmarket and chic, so we were able to use this walk to admire the plush houses of **Kitsilano**. Even though the sky was very cloudy and grey, the walk to Vanier Park was very pleasant: as the path is 100% pedestrian, you aren't bothered by cars. In spring or in summer, I imagine it must be even prettier with leaves on the trees.  
As for **Vanier Park**, it's a vast lawn surrounded by the ocean, where several museums are located, including the Museum of Vancouver and the city's Maritime Museum. Several fairly monumental works of art punctuate the route. Before reaching Granville Island, we went along the **Island Park Walk**, in front of the marina, and were able to see luxurious residences facing Downtown…

![Large bare tree on a lawn overlooking the sea](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/trois-jours-a-vancouver-24-78138b62.webp)

![Ivy-covered houses along a pavement](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/trois-jours-a-vancouver-25-2f656449.webp)

![Double wooden door under an arch of ivy](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/trois-jours-a-vancouver-26-8c54c837.webp)

![Walker on the coastal path lined with stone blocks](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/trois-jours-a-vancouver-27-c5628005.webp)

![Slender conifer in front of a house overlooking the bay](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/trois-jours-a-vancouver-28-b9ed2986.webp)

![Weeping willow above the path running along the beach](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/trois-jours-a-vancouver-29-7eb2e6e3.webp)

![Curved beach facing the distant skyscrapers](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/trois-jours-a-vancouver-30-eed3f100.webp)

![Sailing boats at anchor under a sky of low clouds](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/trois-jours-a-vancouver-31-56082606.webp)

![Old rusty anchor set on a rock by the path](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/trois-jours-a-vancouver-32-f358bd12.webp)

![Marina pontoon and moored police launch](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/trois-jours-a-vancouver-33-e6dc0ccb.webp)

![Triangular building of the maritime museum and its flags](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/trois-jours-a-vancouver-34-d8818700.webp)

![Carved totem pole standing in front of a residential building](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/trois-jours-a-vancouver-35-00faa263.webp)

![Steel sculpture on the lawn facing the towers](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/trois-jours-a-vancouver-36-1d459f6e.webp)

![False Creek marina at the foot of the metal bridge](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/trois-jours-a-vancouver-37-bc9c151e.webp)

![Vast waterlogged lawn opening onto the city in the distance](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/trois-jours-a-vancouver-38-0cea19b6.webp)

![Brick buildings beside the basin and concrete quay](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/trois-jours-a-vancouver-39-90f44eb4.webp)

#### Granville Island

**Granville Island** is a renovated former industrial district, best known for its famous **market**, where you find all the local produce, craft work but also world cuisines. This is where we had lunch: you can choose your meal at whichever stall you like and settle down at the tables in the central aisle. The place is rather big, but despite the crowd, it stays quite friendly and authentic! The rest of the island is full of small workshops, shops and micro-breweries: it almost makes you think of a film set. From the island, we took a shuttle for a short trip to the “_Aquatic Center Ferry Dock_“ stop, which costs only a few dollars, to reach the other bank. We were lucky because the sky was starting to clear and turn blue!

![Road passing under the piers of the bridge towards Granville Island](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/trois-jours-a-vancouver-40-130b9b97.webp)

![Wooden esplanade, tree painted white and colourful stalls](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/trois-jours-a-vancouver-41-1465d179.webp)

![Crowd and stalls under the roof frame of the public market](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/trois-jours-a-vancouver-42-432de646.webp)

![Sign of the Granville Island public market](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/trois-jours-a-vancouver-43-5f744bcf.webp)

![Water taxi crossing in front of the bridge and the towers](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/trois-jours-a-vancouver-44-641d64e5.webp)

![Street on Granville Island, embedded rails and red warehouses](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/trois-jours-a-vancouver-45-3e58da2a.webp)

#### English Bay

We then followed the path past **Sunset Beach, English Bay Beach** and on to **Vancouver West End** and the entrance to Stanley Park. One of the major attractions of these beaches is the large Inuit sculpture, the **Inukshuk**, at English Bay, facing the Pacific Ocean. They were once used to indicate directions for navigators. A certain calm reigned here, between the sound of the waves, the sun's rays that were starting to warm up gently and the quiet of the surrounding nature. I warmly recommend this walk before starting your visit of Stanley Park!

![Pebble beach opening onto the buildings of the bay](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/trois-jours-a-vancouver-46-2b088ee8.webp)

![Inukshuk of stacked stones against the blue sky](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/trois-jours-a-vancouver-47-232597e5.webp)

![Curving coastal promenade running along the riprap](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/trois-jours-a-vancouver-48-ac54d1d0.webp)

![Palm tree planted on the lawn at the edge of the beach](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/trois-jours-a-vancouver-49-851755e0.webp)

![Inukshuk in the park in front of the residential towers](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/trois-jours-a-vancouver-50-ccecf195.webp)

![Pebbles and driftwood in front of the cargo ships at anchor](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/trois-jours-a-vancouver-51-a3182e23.webp)

![Woman leaning against a jetty pillar under the bridge](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/trois-jours-a-vancouver-52-5807aafb.webp)

![Tree leaning over the promenade at the water's edge](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/trois-jours-a-vancouver-53-13271ace.webp)

#### Stanley Park

**Stanley Park** is a bit of a compulsory stop when you come to Vancouver. This huge nature park of **404 hectares** lies north of the city centre. It's easy to reach **on foot or by bike**: an 8-kilometre panoramic route (_Stanley Park Seawall Path_) goes round it, and that's the one I decided to take, from east to west, to discover the park at **sunset**. Visiting this park with the view over the Pacific at sundown was one of the most beautiful moments of my stay… the colours were sublime, I almost had the park to myself as it was a Sunday at the end of the day. A magical moment!

We first went past **Bayshore West Marina**, a **marina** that lies between the West Vancouver district and Stanley Park, at the edge of the Seawall. So I passed by there on my way to the Totems, when I was walking along the Stanley Park path: it's a fairly quiet place where nature and the city are in perfect harmony.

![Sailing boats lined up in front of the yacht club](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/trois-jours-a-vancouver-54-cc2f904b.webp)

![Rocky shore of the park facing the skyscrapers](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/trois-jours-a-vancouver-55-8a6a5ac5.webp)

![Waterfront and forest of masts seen from the shore](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/trois-jours-a-vancouver-56-277c64fd.webp)

![Rocky foreshore at low tide in front of the city](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/trois-jours-a-vancouver-57-731936be.webp)

![Golden reflections on the backlit marina](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/trois-jours-a-vancouver-58-db9eb718.webp)

_Bayshore West Marina_

![Totem poles standing in a clearing among the conifers](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/trois-jours-a-vancouver-59-e3509ba4.webp)

![Colourful totem pole with stacked faces seen close up](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/trois-jours-a-vancouver-60-ff891899.webp)

![Row of painted totem poles in front of the fir trees](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/trois-jours-a-vancouver-61-d3bcda7f.webp)

![Low-angle view of totem poles, carved eagle at the top](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/trois-jours-a-vancouver-62-cb1831ae.webp)

![Statue set on a rock in front of the suspension bridge](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/trois-jours-a-vancouver-63-8a3799f0.webp)

![Deck of the suspension bridge sweeping across the strait](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/trois-jours-a-vancouver-64-e049ec73.webp)

![White lighthouse with a red band at the end of the point](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/trois-jours-a-vancouver-65-8992690a.webp)

![Carved and painted canoe prow facing the water](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/trois-jours-a-vancouver-66-f938f397.webp)

![Path running along the water towards the lighthouse on the point](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/trois-jours-a-vancouver-67-94d2565b.webp)

![Two empty benches facing the strait and the bridge](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/trois-jours-a-vancouver-68-0bb85fb4.webp)

![Steel pier of the bridge rising above the water](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/trois-jours-a-vancouver-69-cf79688b.webp)

_Totem poles, Brockton Point, “Girl in a Wetsuit” and “S.S. Empress of Japan Figurehead Replica”, Lions Gate Bridge_

![Coastal road of the park at sunset](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/trois-jours-a-vancouver-70-0f61b9ad.webp)

![Russet cliff and curving road under an orange sky](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/trois-jours-a-vancouver-71-17ac59f9.webp)

![Strollers in silhouette in front of the low sun](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/trois-jours-a-vancouver-72-547fa9f7.webp)

![Sun setting over the bay dotted with rocks](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/trois-jours-a-vancouver-73-5f7fdf65.webp)

![Rock topped by a tree in silhouette at dusk](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/trois-jours-a-vancouver-74-ae7078ee.webp)

![Sand and large pebbles at dusk facing the cargo ships](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/trois-jours-a-vancouver-75-ad943f58.webp)

_Sunset over Siwash Rock_

#### The beaches from Jericho Beach to Spanish Banks Beach

A short chronological step back to tell you about the third day of my stay in Vancouver. I spent the day on my own cycling along the coastal path **from Kitsilano to the western tip of Vancouver**, towards the University of British Columbia (UBC). Weather-wise, it couldn't have been better, because the sky was very clear and a pure blue, without clouds, and temperatures were around 10 degrees. The ride on the cycle path is really very pleasant because it runs close to the beaches and offers magnificent views over the mountains of North Vancouver and over the Pacific.  
I made a first stop at **Jericho beach** (deserted at that time of year), which was strewn with tree trunks. One of my favourite spots was without doubt the viewpoint over the city centre towers: incredible! A bit further on is **Jericho Pier**, a jetty that reaches out into the Ocean: a pretty spot for taking photos! On the other side of the pier is **Locarno Beach**, smaller and wilder than its neighbour, and finally **Spanish Banks Beach**, where the waterside cycle path ends.

![Houses clinging to the hillside above the foreshore](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/trois-jours-a-vancouver-76-6e1117b5.webp)

![White house and benches on the lawn facing the sea](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/trois-jours-a-vancouver-77-c4d7603f.webp)

![Cargo ship at anchor in front of the mountains of the north shore](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/trois-jours-a-vancouver-78-f03a8bb8.webp)

![Gnarled trunk framing the city on the other side of the bay](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/trois-jours-a-vancouver-79-a824de7e.webp)

![Lone seated silhouette under a vast beach sky](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/trois-jours-a-vancouver-80-ed3015e9.webp)

![Driftwood trunks washed up on the sand](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/trois-jours-a-vancouver-81-a92e02ca.webp)

![Arms raised on the beach under a sky of cirrus clouds](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/trois-jours-a-vancouver-82-00ddaba9.webp)

![Pebble breakwater curving in front of the city](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/trois-jours-a-vancouver-83-437107e2.webp)

![Inflatable dinghy pulled up onto the pebbles of the shore](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/trois-jours-a-vancouver-84-705e85f0.webp)

![Photographer and his tripod facing the bay](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/trois-jours-a-vancouver-85-e2399fe9.webp)

![Wooden jetty reaching out towards the calm water](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/trois-jours-a-vancouver-86-5f33f872.webp)

![Brown sand and blue sea all the way to the mountains](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/trois-jours-a-vancouver-87-cf02e9cc.webp)

![Gull perched on a post in front of the skyscrapers](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/trois-jours-a-vancouver-88-e3229c24.webp)

![Young woman leaning over the railing of a wooden platform](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/trois-jours-a-vancouver-89-e1bc47ce.webp)

![Wooden shelter at the end of the jetty and a prohibition sign](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/trois-jours-a-vancouver-90-1187a301.webp)

![Paddleboarder in front of a wooded mountain](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/trois-jours-a-vancouver-91-8bfabcb4.webp)

![Long empty sandy beach lined with dry grasses](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/trois-jours-a-vancouver-92-f2b91bd9.webp)

![Bald eagle perched on the rocks of the shore](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/trois-jours-a-vancouver-93-4dd38b79.webp)

![Bare trees and pebbles at the edge of the turquoise water](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/trois-jours-a-vancouver-94-be199465.webp)

![Dirt path reaching the beach between the bare trees](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/trois-jours-a-vancouver-95-aa0c64e5.webp)

#### From Pacific Regional Park to UBC

I then rode along the side of the road and through **Pacific Spirit Regional Park** to reach the **Museum of Anthropology**, which I only admired from the outside. In front of the building stand numerous totems that recall the culture of the First Nations in this region of western Canada.

![Straight road lined with forest and a wooded bank](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/trois-jours-a-vancouver-96-6ddc9886.webp)

![Scrubby cliff overlooking the strait and an island](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/trois-jours-a-vancouver-97-9863fa9b.webp)

![Totem poles and wooden frames in front of the campus museum](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/trois-jours-a-vancouver-98-30ad01c3.webp)

![Carved and painted beam resting on a wooden post](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/trois-jours-a-vancouver-99-cbc0735a.webp)

![Carved wooden gateway and red painted façade](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/trois-jours-a-vancouver-100-4ffef54e.webp)

![Concrete and glass building reflected in a pool](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/trois-jours-a-vancouver-101-736e56e3.webp)

The museum is near the huge campus of the **University of British Columbia** (UBC), so I took the chance to cycle around it, to discover the countless teaching and residential buildings this university has. I got the impression it was a city within the city, the size of the campus is so impressive. UBC was the last stop of this day on a bike, which was full of discoveries: I can only advise you to do this ride on the Seawall path, by bike… unforgettable!

![Campus crossroads marked by the West Mall sign](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/trois-jours-a-vancouver-102-e0d8503f.webp)

![Glass campus building and a passer-by on the pavement](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/trois-jours-a-vancouver-103-32f304aa.webp)

![Campus pennants along a deserted avenue](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/trois-jours-a-vancouver-104-f000d659.webp)

![Sloping lawn and lamp post opening onto the sea](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/trois-jours-a-vancouver-105-af4f268b.webp)

![Campus avenue and colourful mural on the ground floor](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/trois-jours-a-vancouver-106-7a119e4e.webp)

![Road running downhill between the fir trees towards the sea](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/trois-jours-a-vancouver-107-fe329079.webp)

## My accommodation in Vancouver

If this trip was so perfect in my eyes, it's partly thanks to the place unearthed on [Airbnb](https://www.airbnb.fr/rooms/11941603?source_impression_id=p3_1587462487_BS3cZTwC0CjuNzn7&guests=1&adults=1). With my friends, we had booked a private room in a charming house with a garden in the trendy district of Kitsilano, for **223€ for 3 nights for 3** people. The host was adorable (chocolates and a thank-you card were waiting for us in the room) and away all the time because of his work, so we had the house all to ourselves! The interior was cosy and very well decorated, with a fireplace and a welcoming living room for Netflix evenings. The house is ideally located for visiting Vancouver, by bike (lent by the host!), on foot or by bus (just a few metres from the house). I recommend it!

## My favourite places to eat in Vancouver

- [Thomas Haas](https://www.tripadvisor.fr/Restaurant_Review-g154943-d2471599-Reviews-Thomas_Haas-Vancouver_British_Columbia.html): a very good, fairly upmarket pâtisserie in the Kitsilano district. The prices are quite high but the desserts are delicious!
- [Naam Restaurant](https://www.tripadvisor.fr/Restaurant_Review-g154943-d778096-Reviews-Naam_Restaurant-Vancouver_British_Columbia.html): a delicious vegetarian restaurant that offers generous, not too expensive dishes, in the Kitsilano district.
- [D'oro Gelato e Caffe](https://www.tripadvisor.fr/Restaurant_Review-g154943-d7181188-Reviews-D_oro_Gelato_e_Caffe-Vancouver_British_Columbia.html): a good place near English Bay Beach that offers ice creams, desserts but also homemade Italian sandwiches.

![Chocolate dessert plated in front of a lit fireplace](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/trois-jours-a-vancouver-108-c6b8a9eb.webp)

![Bowl of raw vegetables with sprouts, grated carrot and beetroot](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/trois-jours-a-vancouver-109-f9eeedad.webp)

![Toasted sandwich, crisps and a red flower on the table](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/trois-jours-a-vancouver-110-fabe857b.webp)

## What we thought of Vancouver

Vancouver is one of my most beautiful discoveries during my eight-month stay in Canada. Even though my trip was short, it will stay etched in my memory, the city won me over and moved me at times. I was charmed by this big city with its many landscapes and its exceptional setting, nestled between the Pacific Ocean and the mountains of North Vancouver. While the city centre isn't the place I liked best, the wide open natural spaces (like Stanley Park), the coasts and the beaches have that little something that leaves you full of admiration for their immensity. One thing is certain: I'll go back!  
**I can only recommend that you stay in the quiet districts outside the centre, like Kitsilano, to get a taste of the city's calm. From there, you can do everything by bike or on foot (_if you have the energy!_) to enjoy the magnificent landscapes Vancouver offers at your own pace.**

Planning a trip to Canada? Read all [our articles about the country](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/en/destinations/canada/)!

![Arms raised on a rock facing the bay, Vancouver title](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/trois-jours-a-vancouver-111-66797d4c.webp)
## 6 comments

- **Lina DEMATHIEUX**, 26 April 2020
  Merci pour cet article, j’espère également avoir la chance de découvrir cette ville et cette région du Canada un jour, et pourquoi pas, de suivre ton parcours pour profiter au mieux de cette ville du bout du monde 🙂
  - **Marie** (Voyage sur la comète), 26 April 2020
    Tu ne le regretteras pas ! Vancouver est une ville sublime, qui mérite un petit stop au cours d’un roadtrip dans les Rocheuses par exemple 🙂
- **Paola**, 5 May 2020
  TOP ! Ca donne envie d’y (re)tourner ! 😀
  - **Marie** (Voyage sur la comète), 10 May 2020
    Tu ne regretteras pas d’y retourner je t’assure – à l’occasion d’un roadtrip dans l’Ouest canadien ! 😀
- **Noémie - Les 2 petits globetrotteurs**, 12 September 2021
  Une ville que nous avions adoré après plus d’un mois en van à sillonner le pays !
  - **Marie** (Voyage sur la comète), 14 September 2021
    Le rêve canadien ! Je me souviens encore de vos aventures de tour du monde sur Instagram 🥰