10 FREE THINGS TO DO IN VANCOUVER
1. Take a stroll through Stanley Park
One of our favourite places in Vancouver is Stanley Park. This 1,001-acre public park borders the downtown of Vancouver and is almost entirely surrounded by water. Such a beautiful place to go for a lovely afternoon stroll or a cheeky picnic.
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2. Hike the Grouse Grind
This very popular hiking trail located at Grouse Mountain is 2.9 km (1.3 mi) long with 2,830 stairs. The trail has been nicknamed Mother Nature's Stairmaster and we must warn you is not the easiest of hikes. If you think you are up for the challenge then we recommend you spend a morning hiking the Grouse Grind as the views from the top are incredible.
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3. North Shore Shipyards Night Markets
During the summer months the Shipyards Night Market opens, featuring products from local farmers, artisans, foods from around the globe, plus live entertainment. Entry is of course free and is held at 15 Wallace Mews Road in North Vancouver, very easy to get to by transit.
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4. Stargaze at the Gordon MacMillan Southam Observatory
Skip the entrance fees at the H.R MacMillan Space Center, and instead head to the Gordon MacMillan Southam Observatory. The admission is by donation only and guests can observe the night sky through a Cassegrain telescope and learn about what they're seeing from helpful staff. The observatory holds public viewing sessions on Friday and Saturday evenings when the sky is clear.
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5. Visit Granville Island
Granville Island is a located across False Creek from Downtown Vancouver and is a hotspot for entertainment, shopping and good food. You could easily spend a day exploring the Public Market featuring farmers' market, day vendors and artists offering local Vancouver goods. There are over one-hundred day vendors in stalls throughout the markets giving it a lively atmosphere, making it a great place to spend a day of window shopping.
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6. Take a City Tour with Tour Guys
Yes the tours by Tour Guys are free, however tips are highly recommended. The tours will teach you about the buildings and different Vancouver neighbourhoods. There are tours for Downtown & Waterfront, Granville Street & Gastown, and Chinatown & Strathcona. You just simply need to take your pick.
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7. Outdoor Movies at Stanley Park
If you are travelling to Vancouver from July to September then you need to spend your Tuesday night at Stanley Park. In the Park After Dark is a free outdoor movie event with a four storey inflatable movie screen and all! For more info and movie times click here.
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8. Spend a day at the beach (and even go skinny dipping)
Vancouver has some amazing beaches that you could easily spend an entire day at. Many beaches have views of forests and mountains which allow for quite a unique experience. Our top five beaches we recommend you check out are English Bay Beach, Kitsilano Beach, Spanish Banks, Jericho Beach, and the infamous Wreck beach. Wreck beach is Vancouver's clothing-optional beach, so if you are looking for a place to skinny dip then Wreck Beach is the beach for you.
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9. Visit Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge
Want to visit the Capilano Suspension Bridge, but don't have the money for the entrance free? Why not spend the day at Lynn Canyon. There are amazing hiking trails, epic views and you can walk across the Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge for FREE!
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10. Vancouver Art Gallery on Tuesday nights
If you are an art lover then why not head down to the Vancouver Art Gallery on a Tuesday night from 5pm to 9pm. You can spend your evening admiring pieces by Jeff Wall, Emily Carr and Marc Chagall.
