Updated October 8, 2026. Transit service, attraction hours and seasonal events can change; check the operators for your travel date.
For a three-day Vancouver visit, plan by area: downtown and the waterfront, the North Shore, then either Richmond or Vancouver’s west side. If you arrive or depart partway through a day, keep that day near your accommodation; flight delays, luggage storage and check-in times can change the usable window. This is a flexible example, not a promise that every stop fits or that travel times will stay fixed. The area-based plan limits backtracking; shorten the waterfront walk if the day runs long, and check timed entries and last departures first so meals and breaks remain flexible instead of rushing to fill every stop.
Arrange the days by area
Keep day one downtown and along the water. Start around Gastown and Canada Place, then walk or cycle part of the Stanley Park Seawall if time and conditions allow. The City’s Stanley Park guide and its Seawall details describe the park loop at about 9 km and estimates two to three hours on foot or about an hour by bicycle. The Seawall separates walking and cycling paths, so follow the signs. You do not need to complete the whole loop on a short visit; choose a section and allow time for stops, weather and bike arrangements.
Use day two for the North Shore and choose either Capilano Suspension Bridge Park or Lynn Canyon Park. Capilano uses timed-entry tickets; check its current ticket page for prices, seasonal hours and what is open. Its suspension bridge, Treetops Adventure and Cliffwalk are not wheelchair accessible. Lynn Canyon is a free public park, but parking can be seasonal and many canyon trails have stairs or steep slopes. Compare the terrain and access needs before choosing. From downtown, the SeaBus connects Waterfront with Lonsdale Quay; use TransLink’s trip planner for the onward route and current service.
On day three, choose Richmond or Vancouver’s west side rather than trying to cover both. Richmond’s city visitor guide describes dining and the Golden Village, while Steveston offers historic fishing-village sites. The Canada Line serves YVR–Airport and Richmond–Brighouse; check the route from your exact address and date. If you stay in Vancouver, UBC or Kitsilano can make a separate west-side day. Opening hours and transit service determine what fits.
Check transit and opening details
Order nearby stops using full addresses, walking distance and transfers rather than straight-line distance on a map. Check the day’s routing before taking the SeaBus or travelling to Richmond. If you have a timed booking, confirm the connection first and keep flexible walking stops around it. TransLink fares depend on mode, payment method, zones and time. Buses are always a one-zone fare; SkyTrain and SeaBus follow the published zone rules. Compass or contactless fares have transfer rules and time limits; confirm the current terms on TransLink’s transfer and AddFare page. This guide avoids fixed fare tables because prices change. Some trips that start at YVR, Sea Island Centre or Templeton and end at Bridgeport or farther east incur the current $6.50 YVR Airport AddFare. Trips to the airport do not; exemptions apply to some fare products and riders. Weekend and holiday zone rules can differ from weekday rules, and transfer terms vary by fare type. Enter your stops, date and time in the TransLink Trip Planner and check the payment method you will use instead of estimating from the calendar alone.
Before leaving each day, check TransLink’s trip planner, service alerts and last departures. Check City notices for Seawall maintenance, and the attraction’s own page for hours, access and parking. For a longer ride in Stanley Park, see our Stanley Park cycling guide. If rain or mobility needs call for a slower day, shorten the waterfront section and avoid adding another cross-city trip.
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