Vancouver routinely lands on lists of the most expensive cities in Canada, but that shouldn’t put budget-conscious travelers off. Here are many ways to enjoy Western Canada’s biggest metropolis for no cost at all.
Take a spin around Stanley Park
The magnificent 404-hectare (998-acre) Stanley Park combines excellent free attractions with the powerful, almost mystical, draw of nature. Don’t miss a stroll around the 8.8km (5.5-mile) seawall – fringed by a 150,000-tree temperate rainforest, the route will take you past the park’s popular totem poles and alongside the coast of the shimmering Pacific Ocean.
We also recommend Stanley Park’s admission-free Nature House for the lowdown on the region’s plants and animals. Aside from its wildlife exhibits, the facility also hosts low-cost guided park walks, often illuminating resident critters, from herons to raccoons.
Take some sun at Kitsilano Beach
Kitsilano Beach is one of Vancouver’s favorite summertime hangouts. The wide, sandy expanse attracts buff Frisbee tossers, giggling volleyball players and preening sunbathers, with the ocean offering choice opportunities for a dip.
Perch on a log on a summer afternoon to see one of the region’s signature panoramas: the shimmering seafront backed by the twinkling glass towers of downtown and the North Shore mountains beyond. It’s one of those vistas that might leave you considering your emigration options.
Stop and listen to the Steam Clock
Halfway along Water St, the oddly popular Steam Clock is a tourist magnet with a tooting whistle that sounds every 15 minutes, and which marks each hour with little whistling symphonies. Built in 1977, the clock has a mechanism that is actually driven by electricity; only the pipes on top are steam-fueled (reveal that to those patiently waiting, though, and you might cause a riot.)
Once you’ve taken the requisite photo, spend time exploring the rest of brick-cobbled Water St. One of Vancouver’s most historic, the thoroughfare features well-preserved heritage buildings containing shops, galleries and resto-bars. Be sure to cast your gaze above the entrance level for cool architectural features, including statuary faces.
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