City: Downtown
Top Things to do in Downtown
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The 10 Best Things to do in Downtown, Canada
Vancouver was founded as “Gastown” by an Englishman with a penchant for beer and storytelling. Today Gastown is a historic section of the Canadian metropolis, and the lively pubs still reflect the area’s former status as a sort of community drinking center. The city’s forests, grand parks, and impressive suspension bridge beckon travelers to explore them, as do the city’s shops and museums. Relive the glory of the 2010 Winter Games with visits to Olympic venues and the marvelous Olympic Cauldron.
Restaurants in Vancouver
1. Vancouver Public Library (Central Library Branch)
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,283 reviews
A striking modern building contains over 130 photo albums on the history of the city.
Reviewed By PookyCake - Victoria, Canada
The Vancouver Public Library (Central Branch) is an architectural marvel. Completed in 1995, this snazzy postmodern structure represents everything a good book emporium should be: It is stylish yet practical in design and execution; it is well maintained by the on-site staff; it is well stocked in books and reference materials (1.3 million texts and counting); it is multi purpose; and it is pleasing to both the eye and the soul. Moshe Safdie’s unique design is surely the first thing that catches everybody’s eye. Designed to resemble the Colosseum in Rome, the Vancouver Public Library (VPL) is able to bring together classical and contemporary elements into a beautiful architectural gestalt. The building’s exterior harkens back to the ancients while its interior – part of Library Square – looks towards the moderns and the future. In this way, the VPL is able to function as an important emporium of knowledge while always being cognizant of the fact that the future is fluid, always moving. The VPL’s internal glass façade exemplifies this in a very apt way. It is lively, yes, but it also allows for vita contemplativa. It is only once you enter the actual library that you realize the leviathan you’ve stepped into. At 9 levels and well over a million books and resources, the VPL is a definite monolith of knowledge. It is also one that I’ve made use of a fair amount over the years. When I was doing my Masters Degree research, the VPL infrequently figured into my research time. I’d use the computer room, access the library stacks, sit, read and take notes. Later, even after I’d finished my degree, I’d still visit the VPL to calm and relax my mind. There’s been more than one occasion where I’ve come in during late morning, found a classic book (Robertson Davies’ “Question Time” or Robin Mathews’ “Air 7,” for example), and read it from cover to cover before leaving. I’ve just found the VPL to be an oasis of calm in the heart of our bustling City of Glass. Of course, the VPL is much more than just a library. It is a multi-purpose venue. Here, you can hold meetings, chat with friends, browse the web, borrow musical instruments, partake in artistic modes of expression in Library Square, dine and, yes, even enjoy the cityscape of Vancouver amongst the plants on the VPL’s rooftop garden (opened in 2018). While I’ve only visited the garden once, it proved to be a serene space that offered beautiful contrasts: Urban and rural; traditional and postmodern. Taken together, each of these elements make for an experience just as unique as the city itself. Architecture, history, technology, and the arts combine to show us why the Vancouver Public Library (Central Branch) is more than the sum of its parts. It also demonstrates why I, and many others, return time and again.
2. Canada Place
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,706 reviews
Waterfront complex containing hotels, a cruise ship terminal and an IMAX theater.
Reviewed By diannes40
We came into this area from our cruise ship and found it to be huge but not crowded despite the number of people moving about. We were delighted that we didn't even need to go outside with our luggage since we were staying at the Pan Pacific in part of the complex. There are great views and lots of activity and restaurants and it is close to the convention center (with its grass on top of the roof) and the waterfront walkway.
3. Cathedral of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 193 reviews
This downtown gothic-style cathedral is known for its beautiful set of bells.
Reviewed By almeidaalex - Sao Paulo, Brazil
The church is near of Granville Station, a beautiful building and a peaceful place to connect with God!
4. Christ Church Cathedral
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 124 reviews
This gothic-style cathedral has 29 beautiful stained glass windows.
Reviewed By ian_dempster - Wigan, United Kingdom
This cathedral was built by shipbuilders and the roof inside looks like the hull of a ship. Cathedral as some beautiful stained glass windows.
5. Tourism Vancouver Visitor Centre
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 340 reviews
The Visitor Centre is your one stop shop. Our professional, multilingual, highly trained staff can help you make the most of your Vancouver experience and plan your journeys into British Columbia and beyond. We are open year-round via email, live chat, and over the phone.
Reviewed By beegal - Iowa City, United States
The staff is incredibly helpful with supplying maps, brochures, suggestions, transportation hints and more (discount tickets to various sites, including the Vancouver Lookout). We spent at least 45 minutes getting the information we needed for our 6-day visit. Highly recommend stopping here!
6. B.C. Place Stadium
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 564 reviews
BC Place is the largest sports, exhibition and entertainment venue of its kind in British Columbia, hosting the province’s most notable events including the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games. An all-new BC Place reopened in September 2011 after completing a major revitalization that included the installation of the largest cable-supported retractable roof of its kind in the world. BC Place has a seating capacity of 54,500. Today, BC Place is home to Vancouver Whitecaps FC, the BC Lions Football Club and the BC Sports Hall of Fame. BC Place is an important generator of economic activity in British Columbia, hosting world-class entertainment events, professional and amateur sport, community gatherings and exhibitions.
Reviewed By KeithR75 - Greendale, United States
We were fortunate enough to attend the HSBC World Series of Rugby at the BC Place Stadium. The event was outstanding and a pleasant mixture of sport and festival. It was like attending the World Cup and Mardi Gras in one weekend.
7. Vancouver Lookout
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,335 reviews
Your Vancouver sightseeing experience starts at the Vancouver Lookout!!! Where else can you enjoy a 360-degree aerial view of Vancouver, "the most beautiful city in the world"? Your adventure starts with a 40-second glass elevator ride, whisking you 170metres (450ft) skyward to our panoramic observation deck. Enjoy views of cosmopolitan Vancouver, historic Gastown and bustling Coal Harbour. Past. Present. Future. Our multi-lingual team provide complimentary guided tours with fascinating facts about Vancouver's history, infrastructure, local community, current trends and future expansion. Our iconic Vancouver attraction tops the Harbour Centre complex, a recognizable landmark in the heart of downtown.
Reviewed By Sami473 - Kuwait, null
Vancouver look out is almost 550 ft high observation tower right in the heart of the Downtown. Ists location is fantastic as it is near coal harbour in the old Gas town. The humming sound of downtown you can feel while coming from Robson street to port side. The journey starts from the elevator and you go up to observe a 360 degree view of the city. More you can enjoy to go more up in the revolving restaurant and enjoy meal revolving and seeing the beautiful city.
8. Orpheum Theatre
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 298 reviews
Best known as the home of internationally renowned Vancouver Symphony Orchestra – the largest performing arts organization in Western Canada – the Orpheum also features regular performances by some of the city’s finest choirs, as well as performing artists visiting from around the world.
Reviewed By GayanLovesToTravel - Vancouver, Canada
As far as I know, this is one of the oldest and most ornate theatres in Vancouver. Being a young city, we are eclipsed by the historic buildings of much older cities, but the Orpheum takes you back to a time of grandeur that you won’t see in its contemporary counterparts.. As the home of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra (VSO), there are events taking place at the Orpheum year-round. If you’re a lover of the orchestra, stop by the box office to try your luck at scoring rush tickets to an event happening on the same day. If you prefer to make plans, book your tickets online or join the VSO mailing list to find out what they have coming up.
9. False Creek
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,062 reviews
Peaceful harbor and dock, perfect for boating.
Reviewed By PookyCake - Victoria, Canada
The area now known as False Creek had been in use by First Nations for thousands of years before George Richards stumbled across it and gave it its false name. Like most things colonial settlers had done in the days of exploration (“error”), Richards mistook the south side of Burrard Inlet for a creek and, upon realizing his blunder, gave it the name “False Creek.” I love how, in history, those who make “discoveries” often do it by error and then receive much praise and gold stars for their efforts. Columbus gets lost at sea and “discovers” a new continent; George Richards mistakes an inlet for a creek and influences much of Vancouver. The irony! Ah, well. Such is life, I suppose. In any event, False Creek is a lovely area of Vancouver and is a far cry from what it was even 20 years ago. From the 1950s and throughout the 1990s, this area of the city was very much an industrial heartland. Sawmills, cement mixing silos and commercial boat operations were very much the orders of the day. As time progressed, and the city of Vancouver began diversifying its economy – shifting from the primary to the tertiary sector – False Creek entered a state of physical decline and, in general, wasn’t an area you’d be keen on visiting. Memory informs me that the 1980s and 1990s were particularly poignant in this regard despite the brief interlude of Expo ‘86. Come the new millennium, however, city Council saw an opportunity for urban development and the forthcoming Winter Olympics accelerated this process. Now, False Creek is one of Vancouver’s most prized urban areas renowned for its spatial planning, picturesque waterway, parks, trendy eateries and pubs. In short, it is now a place you should want to visit. Nowadays “Beautiful part of Vancouver” is a common sentiment. Because much of False Creek is still relatively new, with most buildings having gone up in the last ten years, the area exudes a sense of vitality, youth and life. I think part of this is a result of the rather eclectic group of neighbourhoods that call False Creek home. Because of the various and varying times in which they went up, they use different architectural styles, which speak to both time of construction and economic/social focus. Consider Olympic Village Square, for example, and the Plaza of Nations – both very different but both of False Creek. I think it’s wonderful and it gives this area of Vancouver a very distinct character from that of, say, downtown, or the West End (see my earlier review of the latter on this site). For those visiting the area, there are a few key attractions sure to please: Granville Island, Science World, the Parq Casino, and the False Creek Seawall come to mind. I’ve written at length on most of these attractions, so will keep my comments here somewhat brief. First, Granville Island is a truly amazing place and very much represents some of the best of Vancouver with its mix of the arts, fresh produce, seafood, live performances and trendy (but delicious) restaurants. As you walk around this major area of False Creek, you’ll even see evidence of its past as an industrial heartland: Ocean Concrete still operates here and their painted silos – GIANTS – command some attention! Second, Science World, which was opened in celebration of Expo ’86, is a great place for kids and adults alike. Children are sure to enjoy the ever-changing exhibits while all members of the family will be amazed at the OMNIMAX screen. Third, the Parq casino . . . well, who doesn’t enjoy a bit of light gambling now and then? The Parq is also home to Honey Salt and the Victor, both of which are pretty fantastic restaurants. Finally, the False Creek Seawall represents some of the best walking, jogging and cycling space in all of Vancouver. With picturesque views of False Creek along much of this route, you can get in many a selfie and enjoy the city’s natural beauty. Interestingly, social convention has lumped this seawall in with the larger “Vancouver Seawall” even though they’re technically different. False Creek, then, is a fairly large area. While those with a lot of time on their hands may be able to walk both south and north ends, most of us lack the luxury of time. No worries, though, because you can traverse the “creek” via the Aquabus or False Creek Ferries, both of which provide exceptional and timely service to various points of interest along False Creek (see my earlier review of Aquabus on this site). For me, the ferries are the only way to go because they allow you to travel the calm waters at an economic and fair price; plus, they afford unique views of the cityscape. I’d be remiss if I failed to mention some of the coveted greenspace of False Creek. The area is home to a number of parks. The David Lam Park, Sutcliffe Park and Hinge Park immediately come to mind. The latter is especially noteworthy because it nods to history and functions as a sort of art project. In short, the Hinge Park is about a 10-minute walk from the Olympic Village CanadaLine station and grabs your attention exactly because it looks so out of place: It is both wetland and industrial area. The old rusted pipes hint at False Creek’s past while concomitantly acknowledging the impact of urban development upon the environment. Talk about deep! Walk about 10 or so minutes more to Olympic Village Square and see more abstract art in the form of THE BIRDS (see my earlier review on this site). False Creek can be deep both literally and figuratively! Whether you’re looking for a good outdoor landscape to exercise, or just want to play tourist, False Creek is a nice neighbourhood to visit. It’s diverse just like the city that surrounds it, and this makes it all the more attractive. After you’ve finished exploring the area, have a bite to eat at Granville Island (The Keg and Tony’s Fish & Chips are both great), or check out the new Hon’s Wonton House at Olympic Village!
10. Vancouver Convention Centre
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 750 reviews
Located on the downtown waterfront with a dramatic mountain backdrop, the Vancouver Convention Centre’s two connected buildings feature 466,500 ft2 (43,340 m2) of flexible meeting, exhibition, ballroom and plenary space. As the world’s only LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Platinum certified convention centre, the facility is committed to environmental sustainability as well as unparalleled service, technology offerings and culinary excellence. Recognized globally in the industry, the Centre is the only two-time winner of the International Association of Congress Centres’ (AIPC) APEX award for “World’s Best Convention Centre”, and the recipient of the AIPC 2011Innovation Award and International Association of Venue Managers’ 2011 Venue Excellence Award.
Reviewed By linadouglas - Vancouver, Canada
It is always such a trill to go to the Vancouver Convention Center! Right in the middle of Downtown! Beautiful Building with Huge Windows and Amazing Scenery!!!
