What to know
- Vancouver offers much more than mountains and parks, with vibrant neighbourhoods full of unique shops, cafés, art, festivals, and attractions.
- Mount Pleasant and Kitsilano are ideal for brewery hopping, beaches, annual festivals, and family-friendly attractions like Science World.
- The Heights and Lower Lonsdale offer charming local businesses, markets, galleries, waterfront views, and year-round community events.
- Fairview is home to major attractions including Granville Island, South Granville’s Gallery Row, and False Creek.
While Vancouver is known for its parks, mountains, and proximity to the Pacific Ocean, the city has plenty of fun to experience, if you know where to look.
From clown themed vintage stores to the world’s most diverse gelataria, Vancouver isn’t a city that encourages boredom. Whether you’re looking for delicious coffee, elegant art museums, or bustling shopping destinations, there is no shortage of fun and interesting neighbourhoods to explore. Tourist or local, these neighbourhoods are worth exploring for the first time, or the tenth time.
Here are five Vancouver neighbourhoods that offer endless fun and excitement.
Mount Pleasant
A vibrant and eclectic area that borders Cambie Street on its West side and Clark Drive on its East, Mount Pleasant is full of boutique shops, cafes, breweries, and restaurants. One of the neighbourhood’s main attractions is Science World, Vancouver’s interactive science museum. The area hosts a slew of annual events and block parties, including Music on Main, Pleasant Day Festival, and Car Free Day. The Heritage Hall, an art deco historic building on East 15th Avenue, also often hosts free arts markets.
Kitsilano
Although Kitsilano has an unwelcome reputation for being quite expensive, there are tons of affordable and free things to do. The neighbourhood has several beaches, the most visited being Kitsilano Beach. However, nearby are: Jericho Beach, Maritime Beach, and Lorcano Beach. After toweling off, head over to West 4th Avenue for a delicious meal at one of the area’s award winning restaurants. Each summer, Kitsilano also hosts Khatsahlano, a gigantic street festival with live music, food trucks, and vendors.
The Heights
The Heights is a charming and relatively quiet area in North Burnaby with rows of mom and pop shops – perfect for a day of snacking and window shopping. Go to Glenburn Soda Fountain and Confectionary for an old-fashioned root beer float or banana split. If competitive eating is more up your alley, grab a few hungry friends and attempt to finish a plate of pasta at Anton’s Pasta Bar. The neighbourhood also boasts an indoor pool with a water slide and a cute public library with a park attached.
Lower Lonsdale
Looking to explore the other side of Vancouver? Take the Seabus from Waterfront Station to the Lonsdale Quay in North Vancouver. There you’ll find the Lonsdale Quay Market, which houses a food hall and boutique clothing shops. Other attractions include The Polygon Gallery, a contemporary visual art museum that focuses on photography, and The Shipyards, a public space with shops and year-round family friendly activities. Lonsdale Quay hosts its own Car Free Day in June.
Fairview
Exploring the Fairview neighbourhood is not for the weak, as the area encompasses Granville Island, South Granville’s gallery row, False Creek, and City Square Shopping Centre. Granville Island is one of Vancouver’s most popular tourist destinations, with a public market, art supply stores, a brewery, handmade boutique goods, and a two-storey toy store. Gallery row on Granville Street offers nine art galleries to wander around, including the Bau-Xi Gallery and Kurbatoff Gallery. Tired of shopping and looking at art? Go for a stroll around False Creek and take in the marina views.
