10 Amazing Day Trips from Vancouver

There’s so much to explore in Vancouver that you may overlook the attractions in the surrounding areas.

Don’t make that mistake. With convenient access to the rest of British Columbia, Vancouver serves as a perfect base for day trips for food lovers, history enthusiasts, outdoor explorers, and more.

Here are our top 10 favorite getaways from the city.

1. Enjoy the Port Moody Beer Train

Travel Duration: 1 hour

British Columbia’s craft beer scene has exploded in recent years, and while Vancouver boasts numerous delightful tasting rooms, you can also embark on an unofficial “beer train” to the suburbs for a fun afternoon with the locals. Along the street—much like... a lineup of beer taps—you’ll discover several fascinating breweries, each offering its own cozy tasting rooms and welcoming bars.

Getting to Port Moody from Vancouver: Take the SkyTrain from downtown Vancouver to Moody Centre Station (around 45 minutes), then stroll across the bridge to Murray St, located in the historic heart of Port Moody.

2. Vancouver Harbour Cruise

Travel Duration: Varies

If the allure of the water beckons you, there are numerous ways to venture from the shore and explore the waves that surround Vancouver. Harbour Cruises offers a one-hour tour that glides along the city’s waterfront. For a more immersive experience, try the half-day Indian Arm cruise, where the urban landscape fades away and you are gradually embraced by a breathtaking, forested wonderland reminiscent of a Norwegian fjord.

Keep an eye out for the charming community of Deep Cove during your cruise, and think about coming back for a kayaking or stand-up paddleboarding experience. The Deep Cove Kayak Centre provides serene guided tours that transport you to a place where it feels like civilization never existed.

Getting to Vancouver Harbour from downtown: There are plenty of options to access the water in this coastal city. Harbour Cruises can be found near Devonian Harbour Park, with additional choices available as you venture into Stanley Park.

3. Experience food, art, and beer in North Vancouver

Travel Duration: 15 minutes

This seaside city boasts the food stalls and artisan shops of Lonsdale Quay Public Market, along with a once-rough shipyard that has been revitalized with boardwalks, eateries, and shops, many located in refurbished factory buildings. The star attraction is the Polygon Gallery, a striking contemporary art venue that draws culture enthusiasts from afar. North Vancouver's craft beer scene is also appealing, with several microbreweries just a 10-minute walk down East Esplanade. Further inland lies one of the area's top destinations, the Capilano Suspension Bridge Park, easily accessible by shuttle or bus from downtown.

Getting to North Vancouver from downtown: Take the 12-minute SeaBus ferry from Waterfront Station to Lonsdale Quay, and you'll arrive in North Van.

4. Discover Bowen Island

Travel Duration: 1½ hours

Hop on a ferry and glide past majestic mountains and lush islands to the breathtaking Bowen Island. Arrive in Snug Cove, where you can wander along wooden boardwalks, vibrant storefronts, and forested trails, often catching glimpses of bald eagles and the island’s deer. If you're up for more, hike to Opa, an enormous ancient Douglas fir that many visitors rave about.

Getting to Bowen Island from Vancouver: One of the best boat journeys in this area is the BC Ferries service from Horseshoe Bay in West Vancouver to Bowen Island. The 250 express bus from downtown Vancouver takes you straight to the ferry terminal; from there, it's just a 20-minute ride to Bowen.

5. Savor global flavors in Richmond

Travel time: 20 minutes

Richmond’s diverse Asian culture showcases a community with roots in China, Korea, Vietnam, and more, making it a renowned destination for perhaps the finest Asian dining in North America.

Begin your culinary journey at Parker Place, a Hong Kong-style mall featuring a food court reminiscent of a bustling hawker market, serving everything from succulent pork buns to crispy Vietnamese sandwiches. Next, explore the nearby Aberdeen Centre, filled with culturally rich shops offering items from Chinese teas to unique Japanese dollar-store finds. (Don’t forget to treat yourself to Taiwanese shaved ice in the upper-floor food court.)

Take your food adventure further at the lively Richmond Night Market. Open Fridays to Sundays from May through October, it boasts over 100 food stalls shrouded in steam. Arrive with an appetite and an adventurous spirit, ready to try everything from stinky tofu to dragon’s-beard candy and nori-topped Japanese fries.

Getting to Richmond from Vancouver: You can easily reach Richmond from Vancouver via the Canada Line to Bridgeport Station.

6. Reach the summit in just 10 minutes in Squamish

Travel time: 1 hour

The renowned Sea to Sky Gondola offers a picturesque cable car journey that takes visitors up a forested mountainside. Other attractions in the Squamish area include the family-friendly Britannia Mine Museum—be sure to take the underground train ride—and the Railway Museum of British Columbia, showcasing a charming collection of vintage trains. Don't forget to visit Shannon Falls Provincial Park, home to one of the tallest waterfalls in BC.

How to reach Squamish from Vancouver: Rent a car for a scenic one-hour drive north of the city. This stunning cliffside route is one of BC’s most beautiful and features several attractions near Squamish. If you prefer not to drive, shuttle services like BC Connector, Skylynx, and Squamish Connector can take you there.

7. Birdwatching at Iona Beach

Travel time: 45 minutes

If you've been wanting to try birdwatching—a hobby that has gained popularity recently—BC's Lower Mainland offers fantastic opportunities. While places like Ladner’s Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary, Delta’s Boundary Bay Regional Park, and North Vancouver’s Maplewood Flats Conservation Area are well-loved, Richmond’s Iona Beach Regional Park might be the best of them all.

This relatively small green area stretches along the Fraser River's shoreline and is typically bustling with a wide variety of local and migratory birds. Bring your binoculars and watch for eagles, hawks, red-winged blackbirds, Anna’s hummingbirds, and many more. It’s a peaceful retreat that feels worlds away from the busy streets of downtown Vancouver.

Getting to Iona Beach from Vancouver: Visitors can drive to the park, conveniently located near Vancouver International Airport, or take the Canada Line SkyTrain to the airport and then catch a taxi from there.

8. Savor fish, chips, and history in Steveston

Travel time: 1 hour 15 minutes

This delightful fishing village borders the expansive Fraser River. Its bustling harbor, filled with bobbing boats, offers more than just wooden-sided shops and excellent fish and chips (we recommend Pajo’s); it’s steeped in history as well. In the late 1800s, shipbuilding and fish processing established this area as one of BC’s busiest hubs, and its two National Historic Sites beautifully narrate that story. The Gulf of Georgia Cannery provides insight into life as a ‘slimer’ in a fish plant, while the Britannia Heritage Shipyard showcases tales from prohibition-era rum-running to the internment of Japanese Canadians during WWII.

How to reach Steveston from Vancouver: Take the Canada Line SkyTrain to Richmond-Brighouse Station, then catch the 407 bus.

9. Explore the “Royal City” of New Westminster

Travel time: 25 minutes

New Westminster, known as the “Royal City,” was the primary settlement in the area until Victoria claimed that title in 1866. Begin your visit by browsing the shops along historic Columbia St. The iconic Anvil Centre features two free attractions: the well-loved New Westminster Museum and the New Media Gallery, showcasing cutting-edge contemporary art.

Just a short walk away, cross the train tracks to find a restored linear park that hugs the Fraser River like a verdant boardwalk. Here, you'll encounter public art installations and stunning views of the shoreline, with opportunities to spot herons and cormorants. Feeling hungry? Visit the food stands at the nearby indoor River Market.

How to reach New Westminster from Vancouver: A quick 25-minute SkyTrain ride takes you directly from downtown to New West.

10. Hit the slopes in Whistler

Travel time: 2 hours

About an hour past Squamish, the Sea to Sky Highway leads you to Whistler. This renowned winter destination attracts ski and snowboard enthusiasts from around the globe, but it also welcomes a large number of summer visitors to its picturesque, icicle-laden alpine village. While in town, be sure to visit the impressive Audain Art Museum and take time to explore the stunning outdoors.

With hiking and biking trails suited for all skill levels (rentals available), plus thrilling activities like zip-lining and river rafting, there’s something for everyone. Don’t miss the breathtaking ride on the Peak 2 Peak Gondola (opt for the glass-bottomed car if you can), and make your way across the stunning Cloudraker Skybridge, a transparent-deck suspension bridge high above.

Getting to Whistler from Vancouver: Similar to Squamish, several shuttle services like Epic Rides and Skylynx can take you there. However, for those who prefer the freedom of travel, renting a car for the nearly two-hour drive is the best option.