Vancouver, Canada is a popular starting or ending point for Alaskan cruises. Here are some ideas on how to have an amazing pre- or post-cruise day in the city!
Staying In Town
Forbidden Vancouver Tour
Learn about Vancouver’s darker past from Forbidden Vancouver Tours. They offer a variety of walking tours including ones focused on the city during Prohibition, Vancouver’s LGBTQ+ past, and dark secrets of Stanley Park.
Stanley Park
Bike around the seawall…hike forest paths…wander through colorful gardens…visit the aquarium…take a train or carriage ride…and more! Stanley Park offers a variety of activities sure to keep everyone in the family occupied.
Richmond Night Market
Food, music, and fun! The summertime Richmond Night Market is the largest Asian-style night market in North America.
Granville Island
Full of food markets, art galleries, and shops, Granville Island is a popular place for dining and shopping!
Enjoy a botanical garden
Vancouver offers two popular botanical gardens: the VanDusen Botanical Gardens and the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Chinese Garden.
Bill Reid Gallery of Northwest Coast Art
As the only public gallery dedicated to contemporary indigenous art, the Bill Reid Gallery of Northwest Coast Art offers a collection of artwork from the region by modern artists in a variety of different mediums.
Museum of Anthropology
Part of the University of British Columbia, the Museum of Anthropology highlights the cultures and artwork of indigenous tribes of the area. Unfortunately, the museum is temporarily closed in 2023 for structural upgrades.
Eat and Drink
Vancouver offers a variety of excellent food and drink choices to satisfy all types of tastes. Be adventurous and try some indigenous cuisine at Salmon n’Bannock. The restaurant is a little off the main tourist path, but well worth the trip! Just be sure to make a reservation…the place is small, but the food is excellent. (You can now also try Salmon n’Bannock at the Vancouver airport!) Or focus on seasonal local and foraged ingredients at Forage.
Go foraging
The forests of British Columbia are full of tasty, edible plants. Take a foraging class with Swallow Tail while you’re in town and learn how to bring the wild to your plate.
Catch a Hockey game
If you have an early season cruise, you might be lucky enough to visit during hockey season. Catch a game by the Canucks or one of the many amateur leagues in the city.
Headed Out of Town
Capilano Suspension Bridge Park
Just fifteen minutes outside of Vancouver, the Capilano Suspension Bridge Park offers incredible treetop views of the forest, raptor encounters, lectures on indigenous culture, and a special Rainforest Explorers Program for kids. You can catch a free shuttle to the park from Canada Place (and some downtown hotels).
Go whale watching
If you don’t have a whale watching trip planned on your cruise, Vancouver can be an excellent option!
Victoria
It’s possible to visit Victoria as a day trip from Vancouver. While reachable by bus and ferry, the fastest way (around 40 minutes) is actually by seaplane! While in Victoria, visit the beautiful Butchart gardens, tour Craigdarroch Castle–a Victorian era mansion, have high tea, go sea kayaking, climb the Malahat Skywalk, and more!
Whistler
It’s also possible to visit Whistler, Canada as a day trip from Vancouver. Approximately 2 hours by bus, the trip is much faster by floatplane or helicopter (around 40 minutes)! Once the location of the winter Olympics, Whistler offers a plethora of choices for active outdoors types–including skiing, biking, hiking, and ziplining.
Other Port Towns
For port day ideas for other common stops in Alaska, check out:
Ideas for an Amazing Port Day in Ketchikan
Ideas for an Amazing Port Day in Juneau
Ideas for an Amazing Port Day in Skagway
Ideas for an Amazing Pre- or Post- Cruise Day in Seward
