Activities to Enjoy Alone in Vancouver

Exploring Vancouver
Exploring Vancouver | © Hayley Simpson

Vancouver is a city that has not only many attractions and cool neighborhoods but also a gorgeous coastline and snowy mountains. It’s a great Canadian city to explore solo. Here are just some activities you can enjoy alone.

Adventure around Stanley Park

Aquarium, Forest, Park

Stanley Park is one of Vancouver’s biggest attractions and is a place where you can spend many hours exploring alone. Firstly, take a walk or ride a bike around the Seawall, which is the world’s longest uninterrupted waterfront path—don’t forget to stop and take a photo of the Girl in a Wetsuit statue. Then there’s the option to visit the Vancouver Aquarium inside Stanley Park. You can also spend some time relaxing on its beaches or outdoor pool in the summertime or head deep into the urban park and explore the forest.
Stanley Park, Vancouver, BC, Canada, +1 604 681 6728

What’s waiting in Stanley Park | © Hayley Simpson

Shop til you drop at Metrotown

Cinema, Shop

Shopping is a perfect activity to enjoy alone in Vancouver. Although Robson Street in downtown Vancouver is known as the city’s shopping street, locals tend to head to Metropolis at Metrotown in the Greater Vancouver Area instead. Less than 30 minutes by Skytrain from the city center, Metropolis is the largest mall in British Columbia and the third largest in Canada. There are over 450 shops and services, including big names such as Hudson’s Bay, H&M, Forever 21, Chapters, and Winners. You can also visit the cinema!
Metropolis at Metrotown, 4700 Kingsway, Burnaby, BC, Canada, +1 604 438 4715

Visit Granville Island

Visit Granville Island
© Hayley Simpson

Granville Island is a very popular attraction for tourists and residents alike. The inlet sits just south of downtown Vancouver. Its biggest drawcard is the Granville Island Public Market, which is open every day and only features handcrafted products and the freshest food. It’s a great place to pick up supplies for a picnic, or you can simply choose a meal in the food court. From Granville Island, you can walk east towards False Creek and Olympic Village, or west around the headland to Kits Beach. Alternatively, you can enjoy a unique experience in the form of the Aquabus Ferry.
Granville Island, Vancouver, BC, Canada

Enjoying Granville Island | © Hayley Simpson

Browse the stores on Main Street

Real estate firm Cushman & Wakefield named Main Street one of North America’s top 15 coolest streets last year. Spend some time wandering the neighborhood, from approximately 6th Avenue to 33rd Avenue. There are many restaurants, breweries, consignment stores, and independent boutiques to enjoy. Favorite clothing stores include 8th & Main and Front & Company. For street art appreciators, there are some fantastic murals around the Main and Broadway intersection too. For more, head down to Main Street and Industrial Avenue.
Main Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada

Catch the Seabus to North Vancouver

Market

One of the more underrated things to do in Vancouver is, in fact, heading to North Vancouver. The Seabus is a ferry, which is conveniently part of the public transit system; it takes guests from Waterfront Station in Vancouver to Lonsdale Quay in North Vancouver in about 20 minutes. Time your visit for sunset so that you can witness it over Vancouver’s skyline—stick to Lonsdale Quay or walk over to Waterfront Park. The Shipyards Night Market also happens every Friday night from May to October at Lonsdale Quay. It features live music, market stalls, a beer garden, and a lot of local food trucks.
Seabus at Waterfront Station, 601 W Cordova Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada

The Seabus and Vancouver views | © Kenny Louie / Flickr

Eat ice cream

In the summertime, Vancouver locals love to eat ice cream. Fortunately, it’s an activity you can definitely enjoy solo. Make it an adventure and visit Earnest Ice Cream and then check out Science World and Olympic Village. Or you can head out to Port Moody and enjoy Rocky Point Ice Cream at picturesque Rocky Point Park. Explore Vancouver’s historical neighborhood Gastown, and visit either Soft Peaks or Twisted Ice Cream. Finally, if you don’t mind waiting, award-winning Bella Gelateria is one of the most popular options in downtown Vancouver.

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Uncover my top 3 recommended places from each continent on the map.
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CentralAmerica

GORGEOUS GUATEMALA

Gorgeous Guatemala

5 days . Mini
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1. Guatemala

An express adventure for those with limited time off. Prepare yourself incredible experiences. You will hike a volcano, visit mayan temples and witness a ceremony and take in beautiful colonial Antigua.

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CentralAmerica

BEACHY BELIZE

Beachy Belize

5 days . Mini
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2. Belize

A quick trip not too far away for those seeking a relaxing mini break. You will have plenty of free time to relax but also some awesome activities to experience the rainforest and the caribbean sea.
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CentralAmerica

COLONIAL MEXICO

Colonial Mexico

5 days . Mini
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3. Mexico

An exciting mini trip exploring the lesser known colonial towns of central Mexico. This is hte perfect trip for someone with limited time off and still wants to turn on explorer mode and do something different.
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SouthAmerica

ADVENTUROUS ECUADOR

Adventurous Ecuador

8 days . Epic
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1. Ecuador

A remarkable 8 days adventure through the Andes and the Amazon rainforest. The best choice for adventure seekers wishing to visit the 2 most iconic areas of South America, in only 1 week and no flights.

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SouthAmerica

ANCIENT PERU

Ancient Peru

9 days . Epic
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2. Peru

An alternative itinerary to classic Peru, from Cusco to Arequipa. This itinerary is great combination of highlights Cusco and Machu Picchu with the lesser known Arequipa and Colca Canyon.
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Europe

SEDUCTIVE SOUTHERN ITALY

Seductive Southern Italy

10 days . Epic
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1. Italy

The ultimate Italian experience from the vibrant streets of Naples to the breathtaking sceneries of the Amalfi Coast followed by Matera and down to Puglia with its golden beaches, intense flavours and fascinating destinations.

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Europe

EDINBURGH AND THE SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS BY TRAIN

Edinburgh And The Scottish Highlands By Train

7 days . Culture
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2. Scotland

Embark on this great adventure starting from London all the way to Scotland with a true Scottish experience made of breathtaking sceneries, whisky tasting and ..lots of fun! Ideal for train lovers and explorers.
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Europe

COMPLETE PORTUGAL BY TRAIN

Complete Portugal By Train

8 days . Culture
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3. Portugal

A wonderful train journey around Portugal, from the romantic city of Porto to the Douro Valley, to the beautiful Aveiro all the way to Lisbon and Sintra. The perfect trip to train, culinary and culture lovers.
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Asia

SOULFUL SOUTH KOREA

Soulful South Korea

10 days . Epic
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1. South Korea

Discover incredible temples, mountains and modern cities on this 10 day adventure. This trip is perfect for those seeking immersion in the cuisine, culture and natural wonders of South Korea.

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Asia

THAILAND, CAMBODIA & VIETNAM

Thailand, Cambodia & Vietnam

11 days . Epic
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2. Thailand

From Bankgok to Angkor Wat to Ho Chi Minh City and everything in between - adventure through the heart of South-East Asia. Taste the delights, see history brought to life and unwind on a Mekong River cruise.
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Asia

SECRETS OF SRI LANKA BY TRAIN

Secrets Of Sri Lanka By Train

10 days . Culture
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3. Sri Lanka

A fantastic adventure that showcases Sri Lanka's fantastic landscapes, wildlife and flavours. With 3 epic rail journeys, 3 UNESCO heritage sites and time to relax, this trip has loads to offer at a great price
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Africa

EPIC MOROCCO

Epic Morocco

11 days . Epic
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1. Morocco

An epic journey across Morocco: from Casablanca to Marrakech, through the blue city of Chefchaouen to the wonders of the desert and deep to the High Atlas Mountains - this trip has it all! Ideal for true explorers!

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Africa

ULTIMATE EGYPT

Ultimate Egypt

9 days . Epic
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2. Egypt

From Cairo to Aswan, this trip brings the land of the pharaohs to life. You'll visit the Pyramids, Valley of the Kings and Luxor Temple and cruise down the Nile in style. This is the perfect way to explore Egypt.
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Africa

IMMERSIVE KENYA

Immersive Kenya

8 days . Epic
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3. Kenya

An immersive blend of culture and wildlife for first time travelers to Africa. Learn about Nairobi, sample local coffee in the Aberdares and finish up with a fantastic safari stay in the Masai Mara.
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Head to the beach

Vancouver hugs the West Coast, so there is an abundance of beautiful beaches. Some popular choices include First, Second, and Third Beaches around Stanley Park. Next is English Bay Beach, which can get very busy during lovely weekend days. Kits Beach is another popular option, and Kitsilano is a great neighborhood to explore following a day of sun and sea. Another option for some adventurous alone time is Wreck Beach, a clothing-optional beach and the largest naturist beach in North America.

Beaches galore in Vancouver

Relax in a coffee shop

A great solo activity in any city is relaxing in a coffee shop—no matter what the season—and either reading a book or people-watching. Because Vancouver has such a focus on local products, you can expect to find some fantastic independent coffee shops around the city. 49th Parallel Coffee Roasters is a favorite with locals, due to their coffee, perfect Main Street location, and delicious Lucky’s Doughnuts made on-site. For serious coffee lovers, Revolver selectively sources beans from across the world and has different coffee flights for sampling.

Visit Queen Elizabeth Park

Park

Bloedel Conservatory at Queen Elizabeth Park
© Hayley Simpson
“Queen Elizabeth Park is home to some of the most beautiful and well-maintained gardens in the world.” There are three big differences between this park and its counterpart in Stanley Park. Firstly, Queen Elizabeth Park stands at the highest elevation in Vancouver, which means stunning views of the city, backdropped by the snowy mountains of North Vancouver. Secondly, Stanley Park doesn’t have manicured gardens. Finally, Bloedel Conservatory is an indoor tropical paradise. Over 120 birds fly free inside the dome, and there are over 500 exotic plants and flowers thriving in the temperature-controlled environment.

Spend time in a museum

Visiting museums may be the best solo activity, and fortunately, Vancouver does have a few fascinating institutions. The H.R. MacMillan Space Centre is all about astronomy education. The Museum of Anthropology houses one of the world’s finest collections of Northwest Coast First Nations Art inside an award-winning building. Science World is a great hands-on museum, while Burnaby Village Museum will have you stepping back in time to the 1920s.

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Volcanic Iceland Epic Trip

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2 years.

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It's the personal contact, the personal experiences. I love meeting people from all over the world... I really like getting to know everyone and feeling like I'm traveling with a group of friends.

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I have so many places on my list, but I would really lobe to go to Africa. I consider myself an “adventure girl” and Africa feels like the ULTIMATE adventure!

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