Explore Vancouver in a Day (1-Day Vancouver Itinerary)
Do you only have one day in Vancouver? Wondering if that is enough time to have some fun? Guess what!? Vanvouver in a day is possible!
My family just visited, and I am excited to share with you a complete 1-day itinerary for Vancouver!
In this post, we will give you a few itinerary options so that you can tailor your trip to what you like! We will list the most popular sites depending on what your interest are.
Let’s get started on your 1-day in Vancouver itinerary!
If you would like to save this information for later, be sure to pin this to Pinterest.
This post may contain affiliate links that will give me a commission at no additional charge to you.
Option 1 - Granville Island/ Shopping and Eating Vancouver Itinerary
We are going to make the most of your one day in Vancouver!
This itinerary is designed for those who love to shop and eat! It is perfect if you are going on a Vancouver girls’ trip.
This itinerary will include Granville Island, Yaletown, and the CF Pacific shopping district.
Vancouver is known for its brunch locations. We decided to try Cafe Medina. It was so good. I would highly recommend you start your day with brunch! I would recommend getting a reservation.
1 Day Vancouver Itinerary: Shopping and Eating
- Brunch at Cafe Medina
- Shop at CF Pacific Center
- Explore Robinson Street (More Stores)
- Jump on the Ferry to Granville Island
- Shop and Snack at the Vendors at Granville Island
- Explore Yale Town and eat at Parlour Pizza Place
- Get Ice Cream at Earnest Ice Cream
Cafe Medina and CF Pacific Center
Cafe Medina and the shopping district are within walking distance. We didn’t make a reservation but were able to put our name on the list and shop while we waited.
If you are die-hard shoppers, you can plan to spend most of your morning at this mall. The stores are awesome!
Granville Island
In the afternoon, jump on the Ferry to Granville Island.
You can take a food tour or just purchase some delicious food a la carte.
There are lots of things to do on Granville Island, but mostly eating is the highlight.
It will probably take about 1-2 hours to complete the ferry ride and Grandville Island.
If you feel up to it, there are whale watching tours on Granville Island. This activity will take 3 hours so if you feel like you have the time, it could be the highlight of your day!
Rest Recovery and Dinner
I would take some time to go back to your hotel and rest and recover. Then later in the evening, I would head to The Parlour for the best pizza ever! It is seriously so good!
This would be the perfect 1-day in Vancouver itinerary for shopping and eating!
Option 2 Vanvouer Itinerary Outdoor Lovers
Vancouver is a beautiful city with some fun outdoor adventures.
This itinerary is active and outdoors. If you are looking to have an itinerary that gets you moving and enjoying nature, this 1-day Vancouver itinerary is for you!
Stanley Park is a great place to ride bikes, go on a carriage ride, hike, and, if you want, visit an aquarium.
Vancouver 1-Day Itinerary: Active and Outdoors
- Stanley Park
- Suspension Bridge
- Musuems
Stanley Park
- Ride Bikes
- Electric Scooter Rides
- Visit Totem Poles
- Carriage Ride
- Aquarium
- Playground (if you have kids)
- Picnic
- Trails/Gardens (Walking Tour)
- Lighthouse/ Beaches
Stanley Park is mostly free, minus a parking fee, or if you choose to go to the Aquarium, take a carriage ride, or book a bike tour or other tour.
I would plan to spend 2-3 hours at Stanley Park. Pack a picnic lunch and enjoy all the sites within the park.
There is an aquarium located in the park if you want to include that in your itinerary.
Capilano Suspension Bridge
If you still have energy and you want to keep going. Head over to the Capilano Suspension Bridge.
The Capilano Suspension Bridge itself will only take you about 15-20 minutes to explore, but you can spend another few hours exploring the park.
The Capilano Suspension Bridge tickets range from $24 -$72 for admission.
The Capilano Suspension Bridge closes at 6:00 pm. You will want to make sure you give yourself enough time to explore the area.
Dinner and Ice Cream
After the park, grab some ice cream. Earnest Ice Cream has about 4 locations in Vancouver and is worth a visit.
Grab some dinner in downtown Vancouver. There are so many amazing restaurants in the area. We only had the chance to try The Parlour. It is amazing, I am sure there are lots of great options!
This would be a great day enjoying the outdoors and the beauty of Vancouver.
Option 3 - Museum Day Itinerary
Vancouver has a lot of great museums. You can try to do them all in one day, or you could mix it up with a few other activities.
The museums are only open from 10:00 am – 5:00 pm daily. Some have later hours during the summer months.
Top Museums in Vancouver
- Science World
- Museum of Anthropology
- Aquarium
- Bloedel Conservatory
- Museum of Vancouver
- Vancouver Art Gallery
- Beaty Biodiversity Museum
- Vancouver Maritime Museum
- Vancouver Police Museum and Archives
- Bill Reid Museum of Northwest Art
- H.R. MacMillian Space Center
- VanDusen Botanical Garden
Most of the museums take about 1-2 hours to explore. As you can see, there are lots of museums in Vancouver. Pick one or two that interest you the most and enjoy your day in Vancouver!
If you want to do one museum and an outdoor activity, that would make for a great one-day experience in Vancouver.
Option 4 - One Day Tours in Vancouver
If you are on a tight schedule and just want everything arranged and taken care of, a full-day tour of Vancouver is an option.
There are lots of Vancouver Tour guides in the area.
Tour Options for a Full Day in Vancouver
- Full Day Nature and Photography Tour
- 20 Attractions all in One day in Vancouver Tour
- Full Day Kayaking Tour
- Half Day Tour
- Private Vancouver Tours
- Vancouver City Tour with Stanley Park and Granville Island
Booking a tour is a great way to get a local guide and have a unique experience you probably couldn’t get on your own.
I use Viator all the time, and they are a great company to work with!
1- Day Vancouver Itinerary
These four options for Vancouver 1-Day itineraries will get you started on planning your perfect day.
If you want something a little less stressful, I would suggest booking a full-day tour!
Personally, I thought touring Vancouver was pretty easy. The traffic isn’t too bad, and it is a great walking city.
You are going to love your time visiting Vancouver!
Have so much fun!
Facebook Group
If you have any questions, be sure to join my Planningaway Travel Community on Facebook. This is a place where I post travel deals, and you can ask any questions about your upcoming trips!
