5 Sights You Must Not Miss in Vancouver

Lights inside Vancouver's downtown buildings glow at dusk with the North Shore Mountains dark behind them. — Eco-innovative Vancouver sparkles at twilight against the backdrop of the North Shore Mountains.

From its frontier beginnings as a sawmill and saloon town, Vancouver has grown into British Columbia's largest city and one of the most liveable places in the world. With its glorious, natural setting and glittering downtown, Vancouver is also a sensational travel destination. Here are five things you must not miss when you visit:

Capilano Suspension Bridge

Channel your inner Indiana Jones while crossing this 460-foot bridge perched high above the evergreens in North Vancouver. Or find yourself on edge as you follow Cliffwalk, a sky-high, cliff-hugging walkway overlooking an ancient rainforest. Still seeking unforgettable adventure and views? Treetops Adventure's seven suspended footbridges (built with no nails or bolts) sit 110 feet over centuries-old Douglas Fir Tree growth.

Granville Public Market

Aerial view over Granville Island Public Market and surrounding harbor, which is full of boats. — Granville Island Public Market is open seven days a week and is an indoor venue, which you can visit year-round.

Widely hailed as a must-visit, this gourmet paradise is home to 50+ vendors selling charcuterie, bread, cheese, seafood, and fresh produce. Hungry visitors will also find dozens of prepared food options, from tacos to pierogies. Make your visit extra memorable by catching a mini-tugboat ferry from one of 9 dock locations on False Creek.

Vancouver Chinatown

Tabletop display of items with signage in both Chinese and English line the front of the photo. Glass jars and bags of products line the wall. — This herbal shop full of interesting items in Vancouver's Chinatown is one of many stores, restaurants and fruit stands you will find there.

Named a National Historic Site in 2011, Vancouver's vibrant, historic Chinatown is one of North America's oldest and largest. Murals and window art tell the story of this 19th-century neighborhood and its early Chinese pioneers.

The first of three Chinese opera theaters was built in the 1890s, and the area has since served as a center of trade, cultural, and political activities. Make time for Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden with its graceful pavilions, 150-year-old miniature trees, and tranquil lily ponds.

Visit Gastown & Captain John "Gassy Jack" Deighton

Steam pours out of the top of the steam-powered clock in Gastown. — The steam-powered clock, Gastown's most famous landmark, was built to cover a steam grate.

Fraser River pilot turned Captain John "Gassy Jack" Deighton is said to be the first settler in Vancouver. He established a makeshift saloon near Stamp's Mill called the Globe Saloon after his former saloon in New Westminister.

Today, Gassy Jack's statue stands on Water Street, honoring the early settler. After you pay your respects, head to Gastown Steam Clock, one of the world's few functioning steam-powered clocks.

Kitsilano Beach

On warm, sunny days, follow the locals to Vancouver's most popular swim spot, Kitsilano Beach. Located on the shores of English Bay in the fashionable Kitsilano neighborhood, "Kits" Beach is a great place to take a dip in the Pacific waters, play some volleyball, or just enjoy views of Stanley Park and the Vancouver skyline.

Beach access is free, but there is a fee for parking. Several concession stands offer standard beach fare or head to The Boathouse Restaurant for seafood and steaks overlooking the beach.

Where to Eat in Vancouver

A portion of the exterior of the TacoFino's food truck is decorated with a painting of our Lady of Guadalupe and numerous small stickers. — Vancouver's 100+ trucks, including TacoFino (pictured), have created a food truck scene unrivaled in Canada.

After walking along English Bay or biking the seawall portion of Vancouver's almost 200-mile cycling network (rent a Mobi public bike from stations across the city), refuel at an array of food trucks (Tacofino's fish tacos are legendary) or bánh mì and ramen spots throughout downtown and the West End.

Go hyperlocal at Forage with a bowl of its famous barbecued-duck chowder and B.C.-produced wine and beer, or an earthy Forage Negroni made with locally distilled amaro from The Woods Spirit Co.

A few blocks away, near the Coal Harbour side of downtown, farm-to-table favorite Nightingale incorporates locally sourced ingredients, such as wild pine mushrooms.

What to Drink in Vancouver

Black and white of bearded man pouring a beverage from one of a long line of taps. Barrels line the wall behind him. — Vancouver's Tap & Barrel serves lots of craft brews, including beer made at BREWHALL, its award-winning brewery.

A boom in Vancouver's brewery and distillery scene has brought about inventive concoctions at tasting rooms and cocktail bars, from rice wine at Artisan Sake Maker on Granville Island, just a short Aquabus ride from the West End, to salal gin at Odd Society Spirits, in the so-called Yeast Van district of craft breweries east of downtown.

Sip a Gastown Gimlet at Pourhouse or try the Treebeard, with essences of cedar, birch, alder, fir, and oak, at Botanist.

There's also a profusion of great coffee joints, such as the Greenhorn Café, a West End hideaway that serves Vietnamese coffee and has a record collection with a listening booth (which will reopen post-pandemic).

Where to Stay in Vancouver

Fairmont Pacific Rim

Hotel room living area with coach and seating overlooks mountains and the harbor, where a cruise ship is entering the port. — Located on the waterfront, Fairmont Pacific Rim offers expansive views of the North Shore Mountains, Stanley Park, and Coal Harbor.

The lobby bar at the 367-room Fairmont Pacific Rim is a gathering place for locals and visitors (try the omakase sushi and cherry blossom syrup-infused Sakura Sour cocktail to celebrate Vancouver's effusive spring blooms). Rooms come with stellar city or Coal Harbour views of seaplanes, sailboats, and ski runs on the mountains across the water. Virtuoso travelers receive breakfast daily and a $100 spa or dining credit.