An Epic 2 Day Vancouver Travel Itinerary: Breweries, Waterfalls, Sunsets

Read on to start planning your trip to Vancouver!

• Vancouver Lookout

Evening (5pm onwards):

• Enjoy the breweries
• Watch the sunset from Sunset Beach or Queen Elizabeth Park

Day 2

• Go hiking, paddle boarding or kayaking in Deep Cove
• Enjoy one of the North Vancouver breweries

Evening (5pm onwards):

• Head up Grouse Mountain for sunset and dinner with a view

Day 1 -Downtown Adventure + Craft Beer Vibes

For day 1, you will be staying primarily in Downtown Vancouver. The easiest way to get around on day 1 is to catch public transit, however, it is possible to drive and park as well. Parking can just be a little tricky sometimes depending on how busy it is.

Morning – Coffee

•  📍Getting there: Walk or bus depending on where you are staying and which café you choose.
• ⌚Time Needed: 30 minutes – 1 hour

If you’re anything like Dave and I, you won’t want to do anything without having your morning coffee! There are some great places for coffee downtown, or if you prefer to get straight to Stanley Park, you can pop into one of the Stanley Park cafes.

Café in Downtown Vancouver – my recommendations

• Giovane Caffe – located in the Fairmont Pacific Rim Hotel, they have Italian-inspired sandwiches and sweets, as well as pretty good coffee! This is one of my go-to coffee places in the city.
• Revolver (Gastown) – known for its rotating menu of beans
• Nemesis Coffee – near Canada Place – great coffee and in-house pastries – ideal if you are staying near waterfront or heading there.
• Breka Bakery & Café (multiple locations) – there are a few of these in Downtown Vancouver and we went there a lot for breakfast and a coffee when we first moved to Vancouver and were staying in the city. I love their ham and cheese croissants!

Café options in Stanley Park

In Stanley Park you have a few choices of cafes spread out around the park such as the Bicycle Bistro (near the Vancouver Aquarium), the Stanley Park Teahouse, Prospect Point Cafe, Stanley Park Brewpub & Restaurant and the Stanley Park Pavilion.

Morning – Walk or bike the Seawall

•  📍Getting there: If you have a rental car, there are a few paid parking lots throughout Stanley Park or alternatively, you can catch a bus to Spokes and ride into the park from there.
• ⌚Time Needed: 3 hours

Stanley Park is one of Vancouver’s most iconic spots, nestled right on the edge of downtown with stunning views of the North Shore Mountains and Burrard Inlet. Inside the park, you’ll find colourful gardens, cherry blossom trees in spring, the Vancouver Aquarium, and plenty of scenic lookouts. You won’t feel like you’re in the city anymore.

One of the best ways to explore the park is by tackling the 9-kilometre Seawall loop, either on foot or by bike. Biking is hands down the most fun and efficient way to take it all in. Walking will probably take you most of the day if you stop at the viewpoints.

You can rent a bike from places like Spokes near the park entrance or opt for a guided Stanley Park Bike Tour if you want some local insight as you ride.

👉 Book a Stanley Park Bike Tour here!

Viewpoints in Stanley Park not to be missed include Siwash Rock, Prospect Point and Hallelujah Point.

Lunch (in Yaletown or by the water)

•  📍Getting there: By car, Yaletown is about a 10 minute drive. There is metered street parking (although this can be extremely competitive, especially at lunch time) and a few paid parkade options like an EasyPark lot on Mainland Street.
  Alternatively, you can take the #240 or #5 bus from the edge of Stanley Park and get off near Granville or Davie Street, which is just a short walk into Yaletown.
• ⌚Time Needed: 1 hour

Some great lunch spots in Yaletown include:

• Tacofino Yaletown – Tacofino is a famous Taco shop which originated in Tofino on Vancouver Island. It has a casual vibe and is great if you want a quick lunch stop.
• The Flying Pig – a little more pricey but delicious and known for its West Coast comfort food with a creative twist.
• Little Saigon – This place is a hidden gem for Vietnamese food lovers! It is casual and affordable with amazing Pho and Banh Mi.

If you would prefer a waterfront lunch, you can head towards Coal Harbour, for a more laid back oceanfront vibe.

By public transit: From the Stanley Park Bus Loop, take Bus #19 Metrotown Station. Hop off at Georgia & Bute (about 10 mins), then walk 5–10 minutes toward the waterfront.

Some great lunch spots in Coal Harbour include:

• Cactus Club Café – located right on the water with views of Burrard Inlet and the North Shore Mountains. Here you can get burgers, pasta and cocktails.
• Cardero’s Restaurant – waterfront views, local beers, seafood and flatbread.
• Lift Bar Grill View – slightly more upscale but with a stunning rooftop patio, Lift Bar Grill serves sushi, seafood and West Coast Dishes.

Afternoon – See Vancouver from Vancouver Lookout

•  📍Getting there: From Coal Harbour, you can easily walk to Vancouver Lookout which is a 15 minute walk. You can do a lot of this walk by the water which is really nice.
• ⌚Time Needed: 45 minutes to 1 hour

Vancouver Lookout is a 553-foot-tall (169-metre) tower with insane views overlooking Gastown, Coal Harbour, Stanley Park and the North Shore Mountains. Tickets are around $19 per person and it is definitely a worthwhile experience.

Late afternoon – Enjoy the breweries

• ⌚Time Needed: 1.5 hours

Downtown Vancouver is full of cool little brewery spots. I have included a few of my favourites near Vancouver Lookout and Queen Elizabeth Park and Sunset Beach so that you won’t need to go out of your way depending on where you want to catch sunset.

🍻 Brewery near Vancouver Lookout

Steamworks Brewing Co. – This one is literally right next to the Lookout and also right by Waterfront Station. It’s a bit of a Vancouver classic with a big space, yummy pub-style food, and some great beers. Bonus: They’ve got a great patio for people-watching.

🍺 Breweries Near Queen Elizabeth Park (Mount Pleasant)

Queen Elizabeth Park is just past Mount Pleasant – aka Vancouver’s brewery district. This is a great place to hop between a few breweries. To get to Queen Elizabeth Park by transit from Mount Pleasant, you can catch bus #3 which will take you around 30 minutes.

Main Street Brewing – Located in an old warehouse with a super cool vibe and lots of rotating taps. I love the vibe here—it’s got character and some really creative beers.

33 Acres Brewing – This one is very minimalist and aesthetic (aka Instagrammable), with clean white walls, simple decor, and very tasty beer. They also have coffee and snacks.

Brassneck Brewery – This place is a staple in Vancouver’s beer scene and has yummy bar snacks.

🌅 Breweries Near Sunset Beach

There aren’t any breweries right on Sunset Beach, but nearby Yaletown and False Creek totally make up for it with some of the best patios in the city. If you have time and are not driving, you could definitely stop by one of these. Otherwise, I recommend heading straight to Sunset Beach to get a parking spot (the parking situation is CRAZY).

Yaletown Brewing Co. – This is a go-to in the area. It’s got a big patio, solid food, and their beer is brewed right on-site. Great spot for a casual afternoon in the sun.

CRAFT Beer Market (Olympic Village) – Okay, not technically a brewery, but with over 100 beers on tap and waterfront views, it’s kind of a must. They also have some really good happy hour deals if you time it right.

Sunset at Queen Elizabeth Park or Sunset Beach

If you choose Queen Elizabeth Park

If you choose Queen Elizabeth Park for sunset, you are going to want to head to the Bloedel Conservatory which is the best viewpoint in the park and at the top of Queen Elizabeth Park.

If you are driving, there is a paid parking lot right next to the Bloedel Conservatory which is just steps from the entrance so super convenient.

You need to purchase a ticket to enter the conservatory itself where you will feel like you have entered a tropical wonderland with beautiful plants and even tropical birds!

If you choose Sunset Beach

Sunset Beach isn’t called Sunset Beach for nothing! It is a great place for a beach picnic while watching the sunset. You could also walk along the waterfront to English Bay, which is another super popular and stunning sunset spot in Vancouver!

If you are driving, you can park in the Sunset Beach Parking Lot which is around $5 per hour. Parking does fill up quickly for sunset, so make sure you get there early.

⚠ If you park in the Sunset Beach Parking Lot, make sure you go back out the way you came in. I made the mistake of heading out the opposite end which actually has a no exit sign (which you can’t see because it’s hidden behind a tree). This exit is for bikes only and exits onto a bike only path. Once I was there it was too late. I had a pile up of about 3 other cars behind me honking. I don’t think any one else realised that it wasn’t an exit either.

Thinking the people behind me must know what the go was and it actually was a road, I turned right onto the bike lane and immediately had bike riders waving their hands at me. I reached the actual exit of the parking lot and had to go back in again to turn around and get out. A complete nightmare!

So yeah, don’t make my mistake and turn around and exit out the same way you came in. 😉

Day 2 – Waterfalls & Mountain Views

Day 2 is all about nature and a rental car would definitely make it easier to get around because you will be heading over to North Vancouver. You can also do it with just public transport. I have included the public transit options under each activity.

Morning – Explore Lynn Canyon or Capilano Suspension Bridge

•  📍Getting there: From Downtown Vancouver, it take around 30 minutes to get to Lynn Canyon if you drive. There’s a paid parking lot but it fills up quickly, especially on the weekends so I recommend getting there nice and early.
  By public transport, you can take the Seabus from Waterfront Station to Lonsdale Quay and then hop on the 228 or 229 bus towards Lynn Valley. Jump off the bus at Peters Road and from there it’s a short walk to the park entrance. It will take you around an hour on public transit.
• ⌚Time Needed: 1 – 1.5 hours

😉 Tip: If you decide to visit Capilano Suspension Bridge Park, they have their own shuttle bus included in the ticket which will pick you up from Downtown. If you have your own car, there is a paid parking lot just across the road from the park.

Both Lynn Canyon and Capilano each have their own suspension bridges but out of the two, Capilano Suspension Bridge Park is my favourite, especially in the festive season when the Canyon Lights are lighting up the forest. It’s a little pricey, but the epic views and tree-top adventures are totally worth it!

If you would prefer a free, local alternative, Lynn Canyon is a great choice. The Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge is smaller but still awesome and you will get to see a waterfall from the bridge.

Both spots take you through gorgeous, lush rainforest and either one is an amazing way to start your day in Vancouver.

👉 I recommend booking Capilano Suspension Bridge well ahead of time to ensure you don’t miss out. Check availability and book here!

Late morning / midday – Visit Deep Cove

•  📍Getting there: From Lynn Canyon, it’s only a 15 minute drive to Deep Cove. There’s free parking available near Panorama Park (though it fills up quickly so good luck!). From Capilano, it is a little further (about 25 minutes drive).
  To get to Deep Cove by public transit: Transit is a little more complicated and will take quite a bit longer. From Capilano, take the 246 or 236 bus to Lonsdale Quay, then hop on the 239 toward Phibbs Exchange and transfer to the 212 to Deep Cove.
  From Lynn Canyon, walk or bus to Phibbs Exchange and do the same 212 route. It’s totally doable if you’re not driving, just be sure to check Google Maps for live schedules.
• ⌚Time Needed: 1.5 – 2 hours

After exploring the forest, it’s time to chill out by the water. This is one of the things I LOVE about Vancouver! You can be by the sea, in a rainforest AND on top of a mountain all in one day!

Deep Cove is a little coastal village and an absolute gem! In Deep Cove, you can choose to chill out and explore the shops, or if you are up for another adventure, you can rent a kayak or paddle board from Deep Cove Kayak Centre and explore the calm waters of the Indian Arm.

If you feel more like chilling out, you can grab a snack and just take a wander along the shoreline and people watch from the beach.

OR if you feel like hiking, there is one of my favourite short hikes – Quarry Rock Lookout which starts from the Deep Cove beach area.

🍩 Top Tip: Don’t leave Deep Cove without stopping by Honey’s Doughnuts! They are famous for a reason!

Head up to Grouse Mountain for sunset and dinner

•  📍Getting there: 25 minute drive from Deep Cove or;
  by public transport, it’s a bit of a trek and takes about 1 hour 20 minutes on the #212 bus.
• ⌚Time Needed: 2-3 hours

You can’t visit Vancouver without heading up to one of the local mountains in my opinion. Grouse Mountain is a good choice because there is a gondola which takes you up to the top and then there are dining options at the top of the mountain with great views!

👉 Book your Grouse Mountain Skyride Gondola ticket here!

There are lots of things to do on top of Grouse Mountain:

1. Try the Grouse Grind – This is a 2.5km (2,830 steps) trail that starts from the bottom of Grouse Mountain and takes you all of the way to the top which locals do for fitness training. You can only hike up it, so if you choose to do this, you’ll need to catch the Skyride Gondola back down.
2. Meet Coola, Grouse Mountain’s resident rescue Grizzly Bear who lives in a large protected habitat. This is such a cool Canadian experience, especially if you haven’t seen a Grizzly up close before!
3. Hike Grouse Mountain’s trails – There are a few beautiful and easy trails up on Grouse Mountain such as the Eco Walk and the Blue Grouse Loop.
4. Watch the Lumberjack Show – I know I know, super touristy! But apparently it’s really good! Dave and I haven’t seen it yet but it’s on our list! Check the Grouse Mountain website for show times.

👉 Only got 24 hours in Vancouver? Read this guide!

My Thoughts

I think 2 days is the perfect amount of time to spend in Vancouver if you are passing through on your way to another location, however you could definitely spend more time here too.

Visiting Vancouver soon? You might also enjoy these guides:

• Is the Capilano Suspension Bridge Worth it?
• Incredible Waterfalls Near Vancouver That You Need to Visit
• Amazing Things to do in Vancouver BC in Winter
• Best Views in Vancouver
• Best Rainy Day Hikes Near Vancouver
• Best Sunset Hikes in Vancouver
• Beautiful Places To Go Paddle Boarding in Vancouver
• Is a Scenic Flight in Vancouver Worth it? A Local’s Perspective
• Beautiful and Easy Hikes Near Vancouver
• Amazing Things to do in Vancouver in Fall
• Things to do in Vancouver in Summer

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