Things to do in Vancouver in Summer

The Ultimate Vancouver Summer Bucket List

Summer in Vancouver is magical and I just know you are going to love it! The list of things to do can be a little overwhelming so hopefully this broken-down list of the top 11 things to do will help you decide. If you are still struggling on planning your trip to Vancouver, you can use my 1 day Vancouver Itinerary or 2 day Vancouver Itinerary to get yourself started.

My Top Pick for First-Time Summer Visitors

Ride to the top of Grouse Mountain

• See the Lumberjack show, Birds in Motion demonstration, and the Grizzly Bears
• Ride the gondola up and down the mountain
• Take in sweeping views of Vancouver from the sunset deck

Book Grouse Mountain tickets

Visit Grouse Mountain

Grouse Mountain is one of my favourite summer spots to hang out at because there is so much to do up there and the views are to die for! You can hike one of the trails, watch the bird show which is actually SO good, see the resident Grizzley Bears or even watch the sunset from the Peak Sunset Deck.

To get to the top of Grouse Mountain, you can either hike up the infamous Grouse Grind (this is a great option if you are looking to get a good workout in at the same time – beware.. you WILL be sweaty), or you can get a return gondola ticket.

You can also go with a tour to Grouse Mountain but personally I think it is best seen by yourself so that you can spend as long as you want at each activity / show.

Go hiking

Ah, the reason I moved to Vancouver in the first place. The trails in and around Vancouver are SO good! I swear our list gets longer every year. There are loads of hiking trails to choose from ranging from easy to super hard. I don’t think I can choose my favourite day hike in Vancouver but one of my favourites is Saint Marks Summit up on Cypress Mountain.

Chill out with friends at a Patio

Patios are HUGE during summer in Vancouver. If the restaurant or bar has the space for it they WILL have a patio. Oh and if you are not from Vancouver and wondering what the heck a patio even is (when I moved here I thought everyone was talking about going to sit in someone’s personal garden at their home lol), it is a bar, restaurant or brewery which has a seated outdoor area so that you can soak up some much needed sun.

Some of my favourite patios in Vancouver are:

• North Point Brewing
• Windfall Sider and Co
• Cardaro’s Vancouver

Bike around Stanley Park

Bike riding or walking around Stanley Park is a great way to get a feel of the “real” Vancouver. You are technically in the city but also in nature so it’s the best of both worlds! If you don’t have your own bike, you can rent one from Spokes for a few hours for $8.50 per hour.

Stanley Park has some great views of North Vancouver and the North Shore Mountains, Lions Gate Bridge and more so make sure you bring your camera! In the Spring, there are a few places in Stanley Park that get absolutely covered in Cherry Blossoms which then turn orange and red in the Fall.

Explore Granville Island and get a famous bagel from Siegel’s Bagels

It took us almost 3 years of living in Vancouver before we got over to Granville Island and now we are wondering why it took us so long. It’s a lovely spot to go for a walk, eat yummy food and go shopping.

There are the Granville Island Markets that you can visit to get food and fresh produce from. Dave and I were given a recommendation to get a bagel for breakfast from Siegel’s Bagels and then walk around the water and eat out bagels with a view which we did and it was lovely.

Take a day trip to Bowen Island

If you have seen enough of Vancouver itself and want to explore some of the other islands, Bowen Island is a great place to start with a day trip! You can easily head over to Bowen Island on the ferry, either with a car or without.

Dave surprised me with a day trip to Bowen Island for our 10th anniversary and we left out car at the ferry terminal and decided to be foot passengers. We were able to do a couple of hikes and find a great place for lunch (Doc Morgan’s) all without a car.

Go to a movie night at the Grouse outdoor Cinema

Grouse Mountain does not only have things to do during the day, but on specific nights in the summer, they hold a movie night. They usually show classics like Harry Potter which is one that I have watched up there. It’s a great thing to do because you can watch the sunset while the movie begins and then rug up with a hot chocolate or beer to enjoy the movie with friends.

There are some seats but I recommend bringing your own camp chair if you have one for comfort. Tickets are included in a normal gondola ticket or $25 sunset ride ticket.

Visit the Vancouver Aquarium

I love the Vancouver Aquarium! It is the first and only place I have ever seen a sloth! (or a part of a sloth because they are quite hard to see when hiding up in the trees). They also have lots of interesting local sea life that you can learn about while you are there and the aquarium also acts as a marine mammal rescue and rehabilitation centre.

This is an easy half day activity in Stanley Park, and during summer it’s worth booking tickets in advance, especially on weekends and rainy days.

Join a whale watching cruise

Whale watching is one of Vancouver’s most popular summer experiences, with peak season running from May to October. During the tour, you will be looking for orcas, humpback whales, and grey whales, along with seals, sea lions, and porpoises.

While I personally haven’t done a whale watching tour yet, it’s something I’ve researched a lot and is consistently recommended by both locals and visitors. It’s next up on my bucket list for this summer!

Vancouver’s location on the coast means sightings are common during summer, and tours are run by licensed operators who follow strict wildlife viewing guidelines.

Because summer dates can book out quickly, especially during peak travel season, it’s worth reserving your spot in advance if this is high on your list.