FREE THINGS TO DO IN Vancouver

Vancouver Art Gallery is one of the largest galleries in the whole of Canada and is the perfect place in the city for art lovers to visit.

You’ll find hundreds of contemporary, modern and antique works of art inside the gallery, as well as paintings, sculptures and models made by some of the world’s most famous artists.

There are new exhibitions and collections added every few months, so if you visit Vancouver regularly, you need to make sure you tick off this top tourist spot!

Donations are welcomed at the Vancouver Art Gallery, so if you can spare a little change then it would really go a long way. However, if you’re on a strict budget, then you can enjoy wandering around the 9,100+ collections for free!

Address: 750 Hornby St, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2H7, Canada

English Bay Beach is an incredibly popular beach in the West End for both locals and tourists alike.

You can enjoy a relaxing afternoon on the sand where you can sunbathe, read a book or take a refreshing dip in the sea.

There’s also plenty of activities for kids and teens to enjoy at English Bay Beach such as volleyball, cycling or swimming and it’s a sure-fire way to get everyone together for the day.

Enjoy this free activity in Vancouver and pack a picnic for everyone, or head to the Cactus Club Café for some lunch as a break in between sunbathing or swimming!

English Bay Beach is also the perfect place to watch sunset if you still happen to be around the area when the sun goes down.

Address: Beach Ave, Vancouver, BC V6C 3C1, Canada

Grouse Mountain is an incredibly popular 1,200-metre high mountain that’s open all year round.

In the winter, you can enjoy the fantastic ski resort that takes you all the way down the mountainside.

Whereas during the summer, you’ll get to enjoy numerous hiking opportunities such as the Grouse Grind.

The Grouse Grind certainly isn’t for the faint-hearted as it’s an incredibly steep trek to the very top, but it’s well worth the arduous hike for the spectacular views from the top.

Hiking the Grouse Grind is completely free of charge, but you can also pay to take a Gondola up and down the mountain; although we’d always recommend the hike instead!

Whether you visit Grouse Mountain during the summer or the winter, the whole family is sure to enjoy the excursion!

Address: 6400 Nancy Greene Way, North Vancouver, BC V7R 4K9, Canada

Built for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, the Olympic Village in Vancouver is now a thriving community and is said to be one of the greenest communities in the world.

Of course, the main attraction within the village is to simply just wander around and admire the home of many athletes during the 2010 Winter Games.

However, you can also find plenty of bars and cafes to enjoy an afternoon snack, as well as beautiful public art installations that commemorate the Olympic Winter Games.

The Olympic Village is also located right next to the Science Museum so you can tick off two attractions during one visit and it also offers beautiful waterfront views.

Address: Cambie St Bridge, Vancouver, BC, Canada

Known as one of the most popular beaches in Vancouver, Kitsilano Beach is an absolute must-visit if you’re looking for the best free attractions in Vancouver.

It’s a great place to relax on the beach with a refreshingly cold beverage in one hand and a good book in the other.

If you’re not a particularly big fan of relaxing on the beach, then you can enjoy a friendly game of tennis or volleyball instead to keep you on your toes!

There’s also a park that overlooks the beach and plenty of shops and cafes, which means it really is the perfect place in Vancouver to visit with the entire family, regardless of how young or old they are!

Address: Cornwall Avenue, Vancouver, British Columbia

The Seawall stretches for a total of 17.5 miles around the city’s waterfront and was constructed as a means of preventing erosion of Stanley Park’s foreshore.

While it was originally built for constructive purposes, the Seawall is also one of the very best free attractions in Vancouver.

You can cycle, walk, rollerblade, scooter, skate or run around the entire circumference of the Seawall and whichever way you decide to see it, it’ll sure to be a memorable adventure!

If you don’t think you could quite make it all the way around, make sure you do at least the 5.5 mile stretch around Stanley Park as it’s the perfect place to relax and enjoy some quality family time with the kids.

Address: Vancouver, BC V6G 3E2, Canada

The peninsula and shopping district of Granville Island in Vancouver is one of the top free things to do in the city, simply because there really is something for everyone.

You’ll find dozens of shops, stalls, tour offices, a brewery and even an art gallery in Granville Island so you certainly won’t run out of things to see or do.

There’s even a waterpark on Granville Island, although of course this isn’t a free activity and you will have to pay to play!

For the best free things to do on Granville Island, spend some time in the Public Market where you can soak up some of the city’s best culture and enjoy the delectable smells of all the fresh produce.

Address: False Creek, Vancouver, British Columbia

Lynn Canyon Park is a spectacularly lush rainforest right in the heart of Vancouver and is absolutely teeming with so many incredible adventures and things to do.

You can swim in the natural pools, pay a visit to the ecology center or walk along the Suspension Bridge.

Lynn Canyon Park is a very popular place amongst locals so you will likely meet many local Vancouver residents who have been frequenting the park for generations and enjoying its wondrous scenery.

Don’t forget to pack plenty of water and your swimming clothes; you’re sure to be doing a lot of frolicking in the waters at Lynn Canyon Park; just make sure you watch out for strong currents in certain areas!

Address: 3690 Park Rd, North Vancouver, BC V7J 3K2, Canada

One of the most popular National Historic Sites of Canada, the Lighthouse Park is a must-visit free attraction in Vancouver.

It’s open all year round and is an idyllic place to visit away from Downtown Vancouver if you’re wanting to get away from the busy city life.

Lighthouse Park is a great place to take the whole family as you can embark on various hikes along many different trails.

Of course, if you’re travelling with young children, then you’ll definitely want to take an easy route, but the hike to the top of the Lighthouse viewpoint is a great route to take if you’re a more experienced hiker and want to catch a glimpse of those incredible views.

Address: 4902 Beacon Ln, West Vancouver, BC V7W 1K5, Canada

Yet another awesome park to visit in Vancouver is Stanley Park; an impressive 405-hectare park that’s surrounded by the waters of English Bay and Burrard Inlet.

Inside the park, you’ll find over half a million trees, as well as an aquarium, the famous Malkin Bowl, beaches, monuments and plenty of hiking trails to enjoy!

It really is one of the best free attractions in the whole of Vancouver and is a place that’s suited to family members of all ages thanks to its eclectic offering of fun-filled attractions and activities!

Even though it’s just a stone’s throw away from Downtown Vancouver, you’ll feel a million miles away from the city; which is definitely a good thing if you want to escape the bustling streets for a while.

Address: Vancouver, BC V6G 1Z4, Canada