9 Best Things to Do in Vancouver, Canada, Before Your Alaska Cruise (Near the Port)

If it's your first time in Vancouver, choosing what to do can feel a bit overwhelming, especially if you're there on a tight schedule. Having visited Vancouver multiple times before and after an Alaska Cruise, I've quickly learned that some choices are better than others. Whether you're wanting to walk across the famous suspension bridges, explore Granville Island, or just walk around the port of Vancouver and grab some bites to eat, there really is something for every kind of traveler.

​My Essential Alaska Travel Resources :
There are plenty of travel companies out there, but these are my favorite websites and resources for planning an unforgettable trip to Alaska. This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Car rentals, arguably the best way to see Alaska, are best through Discover Cars!

I always use Expedia's to compare the best rates & stays in the state.
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If you're traveling internationally, I use Airalo’s easy to purchase eSIM’s (no installation required).

For fun things to do, I recommend Viator or Get Your Guide to find the best tours in the area.

Just in case, Safetywing is the insurance I always use for travel insurance.

Lastly, my packing list for your travels to the great state of Alaska.

Getting to Vancouver & Where to Stay

Getting to Vancouver is pretty easy and straightforward, and the most common way to get there is via a flight to the Vancouver International Airport (YVR). The airport is a bit spread out and might require a bit of walking, but it's clean and has plenty of Ubers and Taxis to help you make your way downtown & closer to the port. Every time I've ported it's been at the Vancouver Fraser Port, but there's a chance you could be ported somewhere else. If you do end up deciding to extend your stay in Vancouver before or after your cruise, I personally loved staying at The Burrard and at the Quality Inn and Suites on Granville Street. Both are within walking distance to the port, and a little cheaper than the ones right across from the Canada Place Cruise Terminal.

And if you're preparing to head out on an Alaska Cruise, you'll want to make sure you have everything you need with you. If you realize there's something you forgot to bring, you'll want to do your shopping here in Vancouver before boarding your ship. Most ports and cities you visit in Alaska will likely be small towns with limited shopping, generally gift shops, so if you're missing something you'll want to get it now. Plus, Vancouver will typically be quite a bit cheaper than stores in Southeast Alaska.

My Favorite Tours in Vancouver :
-> Capilano Suspension Bridge
-> Granville Island Food Market Tour
-> Vancouver Hop On Hop Off Trolley Tour

9 Best Things to Do in Vancouver

1. Rent a Bike and Explore
As long as you're staying near the Cruise Terminal there's plenty of places to explore within biking distance. Places like Granville Island and Kitsilano Beach to the South, Chinatown and Science World to the East, and Stanley Park to the Northwest. If you end up staying at The Burrard, bike rentals are included, otherwise there's plenty of places that offer e-bike rentals throughout the city. If you're not sure about leading yourself through the city, there's also some guided biking tours too.

2. Hop On Hop Off Tours
Vancouver has three different types of Hop On Hop Off tours. The most popular is the Hop On Hop Off Bus, the classic big red bus you see in most cities around the world. Personally, I love this one because I feel like I'm able to see a large part of the city without walking too much. Plus, tickets are good for 24 hours so if you time it right, you can actually spend 2 days with free transportation around the city seeing the top sights around Vancouver.If you want something more unique, Vancouver also has Hop On Hop Off Trolley Tours and a Hop On Hop Off Boat Tour! If you don't want to spend money on a tour but want to enjoy the skyline views of Vancouver from the river, try taking the $3-$5 SeaBus to go back and forth between the port area and North Vancouver!

3. Wander Granville Island's Food Market
Granville Island is my favorite area to explore in Vancouver, mainly because I love trying all the different things to eat. Similar to Pike's Place in Seattle, you can enjoy some great views and chow down on some delicious foods. Some of my go-to's are getting the lobster roll's, clam chowder pot pie, and some cheese and potato perogies. If you're not sure about wandering the market on your own, you can join this guided walking tour of the market.

4. Lynn Canyon & Suspension Bridges
​One of the most popular excursions in the Vancouver area is visiting Lynn Canyon or one of the few suspension bridges nearby. Whether you decide to visit the Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge or the famous Capilano Suspension Bridge, they'll both likely have lots of visitors, and are located about 30 minutes from downtown Vancouver. If you head to Lynn Canyon, there's a few other beautiful spots nearby, like Twin Falls and 30 Foot Pool.

5. Explore Chinatown + Gastown
​I'll be honest, visiting Chinatown in Vancouver can be hit or miss. The last few times I visited it was home to a very large, local homeless camp, making it hard to explore. However, there are quite a few delicious restaurants and beautiful traditional Chinese decor in the area. If you're not sure where to start, there's this great Chinatown Guided Tour + Dumpling Making Class you can join! Plus, the Gastown neighborhood is right next door, and you can see if the Steam Clock is really worth the hype. Personally, I thought it was cool to see once, and there's a great Brooklyn Pizza joint near by. And if you want to try some more local food spots in Gastown, I recommend joining this Gastown Food Walking Tour!

6. Grouse Mountain & Skyride
If you're looking for some more amazing views of Vancouver and the nearby Gulf Islands, you might want to make your way to Grouse Mountain. You can take their Skyride Gondola to the top, enjoy a bite to eat while taking in the views, and if you're really looking for a unique and adventurous activity - then try riding on the open air upper deck on the tram ride down.

7. Explore Stanley Park
This giant National Historic Site is famous for their long seawall and for being home to the Vancouver Aquarium. At 1,000 acres there's a lot to explore, so I recommend joining this guided Stanley Park walking tour. If you have good weather, it's a perfect spot to have a picnic and enjoy the skyline views across the water.

8. Go Whale Watching
​If you want to try some whale watching before heading to Alaska, Vancouver has an excellent success rate for whale spotting. Even though I would typically encourage you to wait until you're in Juneau to go whale watching, it's a great option if you have lots of other tours and activities planned for your port days in Alaska. Plus, it's said that Vancouver typically sees more Orcas than Alaska, so if you really want to see Killer Whales you might want to go whale watching here instead. And on top of that, Vancouver Whale Watching tours are sometimes about half the price of whale watching tours in Alaska.

9. Try Some Local Food Spots
If Granville Island wasn't enough, you can take the local Seabus for just $3-$5, depending on the day, from the cruise port area to North Vancouver. They have a popular area here right on the water called "The Shipyards" that house all kinds of local restaurants and breweries. When I visited, my husband and I went to the Shipyards a number of times to try a few of the restaurants there, and they were all delicious!

Watch my Alaska Cruise here!

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Other Alaska blog posts you might be interested in : 
-> Best Things to Do in Ketchikan
-> Best Things to Do in Sitka
-> Best Things to Do in Juneau

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