UPDATED MARCH 2024! 24hours isn’t really enough time to see any city. Especially a city as vibrant and laid back as Vancouver! On my most recent work trip to Canada to visit the Canadian Rockies, I had just 24 hours (one full day) to explore Vancouver. This was definitely not enough time! I would recommend a minimum of three full days in Vancouver to really experience everything it has to offer. But if you’re short on time like me, here you go: how to spend 24 hours in Vancouver!

Gastown

Vancouver’s oldest and (arguably) most charming neighborhood is Gastown. Due to the beautiful buildings, it’s been used as a stand-in for New York City for quite a few movie locations! Make sure to see the statue of Gassy Jack, the founder of the original settlement.

Also, don’t miss the Steam Clock! The Steam Clock is one of Gastown’s (and Vancouver’s) icons, as it’s one of just six working steam clocks in the world! Every 15 minutes the clock marks the quarter of the hour and shoots off a bit of steam with some whistles. This is also a great place to come for dinner and drinks in the evening.

Vancouver Lookout

The Vancouver Lookout is definitely one of the best views of the city. You can see the full panorama – one of my favorite parts was that the elevator has clear glass doors, so you can see the city going past you as you go up or down! The ticket is valid all day here. I really recommend visiting in the morning, and then coming back around sunset to see the city glow, and then light up with the city lights in the evening! Book your ticket below.

Capilano Suspension Bridge

The Capilano Suspension Bridge is definitely one of the most popular attractions in Vancouver. It’s actually located just outside the city center, so a shuttle bus is provided to get you there. The suspension bridge is scary cool, and the views of the green forest are amazing. The bridge is the main highlight (of course), but make sure to do the Tree Tops walk, and (if you’re feeling brave) the Cliff Edge walk!

Getting to Capilano Suspension Bridge from downtown Vancouver is actually really easy. There is a shuttle bus that leaves about every 15 minutes from Canada Place. This is free of charge so you don’t have to pay anything extra! The journey takes about 25-30 minutes each way. Keep in mind when you’re leaving that there might be a bit of a line, and you might not get on the next bus in busy season! I spent about 1.5 hours at the actual Capilano Suspension Bridge itself. If you want to avoid the crowds, get on the first shuttle and plan to be there when it opens! You can book your ticket below.

Stanley Park

The biggest park in Vancouver is Stanley Park, an oasis of greenery next to the modernity of the big city. Definitely give yourself some time to walk a bit of the Seawall Walk – it’s the world’s longest uninterrupted waterfront path. The entire walk is 5.5 miles (9 km) and can take anywhere from 2-3 hours. Since I was so short on time I only did about one-third of the walk – but I absolutely loved it! It’s so nice to be outside and next to the water, and escape from the city for a bit. Don’t miss the totem poles in the first mile or two.

Granville Island

One of the things I really wanted to do was visit Granville Island and explore Granville Market! Unfortunately, I just ran out of time due to evening plans. Granville Island is home to a big market and lots of local artisanal shops – I think it would be a great option for good quality souvenir shopping.

Planning Your Trip to Vancouver

Vancouver is the main city in the Canadian province of British Columbia. The main airport is Vancouver airport – I always use Skyscanner to get the best flight deals. Considering travel insurance for your trip? World Nomads offers coverage for more than 150 adventure activities as well as emergency medical, lost luggage, trip cancellation and more. Vancouver is a very residential city, and extremely walkable. To walk all the way across downtown is about a 45-minute walk, maximum. That being said, there are plenty of city buses to get you around, and also an underground Metro system to get you from place to place quick. If you’re staying in downtown Vancouver, chances are you won’t need to use public transportation (only the shuttle to the suspension bridge).

Interested in a tour of Vancouver to make the most of your short stay? Check out the tour options below!

Where to Stay in Vancouver

I stayed at the Sheraton Wall Center for my two nights in Vancouver. As this was part of a work trip, everything was arranged for me in advance and I didn’t have to look at accommodation options myself. It is a very nice hotel, with absolutely phenomenal views from the event space on the 35th floor! The elevators can take a while, but all in all I was quite impressed. You can use the map below to find more places to stay in Vancouver!

Booking.com

In all likelihood, you won’t have much time left in Vancouver with only 24 hours if you visit everywhere in this post. Vancouver has so much more to see and I’m seriously bummed I had such a short time.

If I’d had had more time, I would have looked into visiting Grouse Mountain (on the same day as the Capilano Suspension Bridge, as they’re so close), doing a whale watching tour, and exploring a few more of Vancouver’s neighborhoods. I would also love to explore more museums and more of the green areas: Queen Elizabeth Park, Dr. Sun Yat Sen Chinese Garden, and the Nitobe Memorial Garden (in the Botanical Gardens at the University of British Columbia) to name a few.

But if you’re planning a flying visit, this post is certainly a good place to start if you only have one day in Vancouver! I hope this helps planning your visit to Vancouver, Canada.

This trip was sponsored by the Rocky Mountaineer, and made possible through my job as a Tour Advisor – all opinions and photos remain my own.

Have you ever been to Vancouver before? What did you prioritize to see in the city?!

Check out my other Canada posts from this trip:

Photoessay: Vancouver to Calgary Through the Canadian Rockies

All Aboard the Rocky Mountaineer: Vancouver to Banff!

Highlights From Banff and the Surrounding Canadian Rockies

Find my other Canada posts here!

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