Here's How To Spend A Perfect Weekend In Vancouver, Canada

With gorgeous scenery and world-class eats, this is Canada's Pacific Northwest at its finest.

Vancouver is British Columbia's largest city, and while there's definitely a ton to see and do, you can still cover a lot of ground in just 48 hours.

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With epic views of Mother Nature plus a cosmopolitan feel, Vancouver packs a powerful punch. What other city is home to both beaches and mountains as well as world-class cuisine and shopping? Bonus: The mild weather makes it a very walkable city, which is helpful when you've got only a limited time to bask in its beauty. But if you do find yourself tuckered out, there are buses and boats (!) to help you get where you need to go.

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Double-double, anyone?

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Everyone needs to start off their morning with coffee, and nothing's more Canadian than grabbing a coffee to go from Tim Hortons, a popular Canadian coffee chain. While it's definitely not a hidden gem — like Starbucks, Tim Hortons locations are ubiquitous and can be found on basically every street corner throughout the city — it's still a super-Canadian thing to do. Wanna really earn your Canadian maple leaf? Order a "double-double," a uniquely Canadian term for a coffee with two creams and two sugars.

Cost: $1.99

Wander around Coal Harbour seawall.

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Now that you're Canadian caffeinated, it's time to walk around and take in those Vancouver views. The Coal Harbour seawall walk, a 3.5-mile (5.77-kilometer) circular route, is a must. Located on the Burrard Inlet waterfront, this was a favorite spot of mine to stroll and take in the majesty of the city, with gorgeous views of Stanley Park, North Vancouver, and the North Shore mountains. The walk starts and finishes at Canada Place, which is not only another cool place to admire but also a great place to rest your legs.

Cost: Free

Cross the Capilano Suspension Bridge.

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If you have the time, it's worth squeezing in a visit to Capilano Suspension Bridge Park, which offers a free shuttle service from downtown Vancouver to its location in North Vancouver. The 27-acre (11-hectare) park is home to the famous Capilano Suspension Bridge, which was built in 1889 and stretches 450 feet (137 meters) across and 230 feet (70 meters) above Capilano River. There's also Cliffwalk, a cantilevered walkway clinging to the granite cliff high above Capilano Canyon, and Treetops Adventure, which is made of seven suspension bridges through the evergreens taking you up to 100 feet (30 meters) above the forest floor. Yes, you probably should like heights if you dare to come here!

Cost: $53.95

Fuel up with some sushi.

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By now you're famished, so it's a good thing the award-winning Miku Sushi is within walking distance. If NYC is a city for pizza lovers and LA is known for its tacos, then Vancouver is a sushi town. Its Japanese influence is evident throughout the city, so sushi is a definite must. Miku Sushi serves up delicious premium and sustainable seafood along with vegetarian and gluten-free options like this yummy garden roll, not to mention you can dine with a view of the beautiful waterfront.

Cost: $16 at the bar

Breathe in culture at the Vancouver Art Gallery.

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If you're one who likes to add a little bit of arts and culture to your trip (which is always an excellent way of gaining insight into a new city, IMO), then you must stop at the Vancouver Art Gallery. Founded in 1931, the gallery hosts numerous exhibits and events, and it's home to historical and contemporary works of art from Canada and around the world, including a focused area of the work of First Nations artists and the art of the Asia-Pacific region. ­

Cost: $24 for one adult ticket

Chill at Dude Chilling Park.

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What was first meant as a prank art installation has now turned into the second-most-visited park in Vancouver. Located in Mount Pleasant, a community mostly of artists, Dude Chilling Park has all the amenities of any regular park — picnic tables, tennis courts, trees — with the exception of the Dude Chilling Art Exchange where you can take some art and leave some art, which could make for a nice souvenir, eh?

Cost: Free

Check out Chinatown and the world's skinniest building.

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Established back in the late 1880s, Vancouver's Chinatown, the largest Chinatown in Canada, is a must-see. In the midst of boutiques and restaurants sits the tranquil Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden, which is home to a free public park as well as a garden with an admission fee. You'll also want to check out the nearby Sam Kee (Jack Chow) Building, named the world's "shallowest commercial building" by Guinness World Records. And you think your office space is small!

Cost: Free

Time for a lesson in sustainable dining.

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The West Coast passion for local sustainable dining and community is alive and well in Vancouver's food-and-drink scene. Forage, located on Robson Street, exemplifies this fact with its locally sourced ingredients, from fish to farming to wine and beer, in addition to its emphasis on building community through shared plates.

Cost: B.C. wine flight, $18; entrée, approx. $22

Cap off your night with a cocktail.

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Vancouver is a world-class city, so why wouldn't you want to sip on a cocktail crafted by the World Class Bartender of the Year? Kaitlyn Stewart took the title back in 2017 and now she's the bar manager at the award-winning Royal Dinette, a diner reminiscent of a bygone era that serves up handcrafted cocktails and farm-to-table eats. It's a chill place to cap off your night.

Cost: $13–$15 for a cocktail

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Kick off the day by exploring Stanley Park.

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No visit to Vancouver is complete without a visit to Stanley Park, a stunning 1,000-acre (405-hectare) urban public park that borders the downtown area and is mostly surrounded by the waters of Burrard Inlet and English Bay. Besides walking, there are countless ways to explore the park, including biking, Rollerblading, and, yes, even riding the Stanley Park train. Explore the more than 17 miles (27 kilometers) of forest trails, or take in the sights from its famous seawall. Feeling hungry? You can even grab a bite at one of its four restaurants.

Cost: Free

Brunch it up!

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Head on over to Yaletown, the city's former warehouse district turned chic 'hood, and brunch it up at OEB Breakfast Co., a trendy franchise that serves all-day breakfast and brunch, including everything from traditional fare like pancakes, crepes, and eggs and bacon to unique breakfast foods like wild boar spalla and duck leg and waffle.

Cost: Approx. $20 with coffee

Hitch a ride to Granville Island.

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Next stop: Granville Island, which was once home to factories, plants, and sawmills in the 1900s and is now one of Vancouver's most important cultural districts with theaters, artisan workshops, and craft studios. Part of the fun of visiting Granville is the journey over there. While you can access it via walking, car, or bus, taking an Aquabus is by far the most enjoyable. It's easy to pick up at Yaletown and makes stops up and down False Creek every 15 minutes or less. Buy a day pass or a single or round-trip ticket.

Cost: $4.25 for round trip

Grab some food to go at Granville Island Public Market...

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Head straight to the Public Market to check out endless stalls of fresh produce, gourmet foods, baked goods, and seafood. The small island is also home to a spirits distillery and two breweries. This is a great way to spend an afternoon or a few hours in the morning or at night. If you're here for the morning like I was, grab some yummy food from the market and treat yourself to a picnic later, either off or on the island.

Cost: Varies depending on what you're hungry for

...and then admire the natural beauty of the VanDusen Botanical Garden.

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With your picnic in tow, take a bus, take a cab, or walk from Granville Island up to the VanDusen Botanical Garden. The 55-acre (22-hectare) outdoor oasis is open year-round, has more than 7,500 plant species and varieties, and is the perfect place to photograph local wildlife while strolling amidst the gorgeous greenery. There's also a fun Elizabethan hedge maze to get lost in (there are only six of its kind in North America). Pop a squat and enjoy your treats from Granville or splurge on a glass of wine and snacks at the Garden's café, which also has a patio, another prime spot for bird- and people-watching. Bonus: There's a bus stop directly across from the gardens to take you back to where you're staying.

Cost: $8.20 per adult in off-season, $11.50 for spring/summer

Roam Gastown.

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After a brief stop at your hotel for a quick nap and change of clothes, head out to Gastown, one of Vancouver's oldest neighborhoods, along the north of the downtown Vancouver peninsula. The district is still filled with old-world charm thanks to its Victorian architecture, cobblestoned streets, vintage lampposts, and famed steam clock. With tons of boutiques, plenty of galleries, and some of the city's hottest restaurants, there's a lot to see and do here.

Also, if you're into quirky serial killer stuff (and who isn't?), you might want to check out the nearby Vancouver Police Museum, which is housed in the city's former morgue and boasts a collection of 20,000 items, various exhibits on crime, and creepy but fascinating walking tours of the neighborhood during which you'll learn all about the city's history of bootlegging, prostitution, and murder.

Cost: $12 for one adult ticket

Time to Eat MeeT (or Meat).

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I'm plant-based and gluten-free, which can be a bit of a challenge while traveling. However, that's not the case in Vancouver, which has many vegan options and restaurants, such as MeeT. The vegan restaurant chain, which has several locations in Vancouver, including one in Gastown, serves up tasty veggie-friendly comfort food. (Meat lover? Then you'll want to check out the award-winning L'Abattoir, which is — coincidentally? — right next door to MeeT in Gastown.)

Cost: $11–$14 for poutine

Get your tiki on!

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It's your last night in the city! Looking for a late-night hot spot for a fun cocktail? Then whisk away to the dimly lit Shameful Tiki Room, where the sounds of the tropics, not to mention an array of exotic drinks — including the Mystery Bowl, a shareable concoction of secret booze and spices — will make you feel like you're on a vacation within your vacation.

Cost: $24 for Mystery Bowl (meant for two or more people)

And there you have it! That's Vancouver in a weekend!

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