14 of Vancouver's best viewpoints to visit this summer
A Vancouver summer calls for beach volleyball, day-long hikes, and all activities that make the most out of our notoriously elusive sun…
But sometimes it’s nice to take a break from all of that doing and spend some laid back time simply viewing all that Vancouver has to offer.
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Grab your binoculars, DSLR camera, and a bottle of wine—or sparkling apple juice, if anyone asks—and take a trip to any and all of these great Vancouver viewpoints.
You may just see something worth remembering.
Grouse Mountain
Where: 6400 Nancy Greene Way, North Vancouver
While a snow-covered Vancouver does look absolutely stunning from atop the mountain in the winter, Grouse still offers a breathtaking view during the summer months. Take the gondola up for a fee, or—if you’re ignoring our advice on avoiding those day-long hikes for once—take on the Grouse Grind to really feel deserving of that beautiful view.
Queen Elizabeth Park
Where: 4600 Cambie St, Vancouver
A popular destination for all those high school grad pictures that have been showing up on your Facebook feeds recently, Queen Elizabeth Park is no stranger to visitors looking for an amazing landscape picture.
Burnaby Mountain Park
Where: 800 Burnaby Mountain Pkwy, Burnaby
Big surprise, mountains tend to offer some of the prettiest views; who would have guessed it? An easy drive from downtown, Burnaby Mountain offers a quieter place to sit against a grassy slope and stare down at the city below. A fantastic place for that sparkling apple juice.
Harbour Centre — Vancouver Lookout
Where: 555 W Hastings St, Vancouver
You don’t get the name “Vancouver Lookout” for nothing, so of course the Harbour Centre skyscraper finds a place on this list. Though tickets are $17.50 for adults, the Vancouver Lookout is a perfect place for tourists in the city to start their visit. It may even save you from getting lost later in the day!
Quarry Rock
Where: Baden Powell Trail, North Vancouver
This one isn’t going to cost you anything financially, though you may have to pay for it with some sore legs the next day. One of Vancouver’s favourite—and most accessible—viewpoints, you will need to hike roughly 1.5 hours to make it to the infamous stone terrace. Hiking shoes and preparation are recommended.
Top of Vancouver Revolving Restaurant
Where: 555 W Hastings St, Vancouver
You’re not just paying for the view with this one, though it is in the same building as the Vancouver Lookout. The Revolving Restaurant in Vancouver is a great place to take a date you want to impress, as you get both dinner and a 360 degree view of the city. A heads up – this location will be closing for good on September 29, so enjoy it while it lasts.
Lonsdale Quay Market
Where: 123 Carrie Cates Ct, North Vancouver
A great place to catch a sunset, the Lonsdale Quay Market is only a short seabus ride away from Waterfront Station, and makes for a fun evening of browsing shops, watching the waves, and viewing the Vancouver skyline in all its glory.
Seaplane Tours
Where: 1055 Canada Pl #1, Vancouver
Though it is probably the priciest thing on this list, the sights you’ll see from the gigantic windows of a seaplane will be—dare I say it—priceless. Nothing quite compares to staring down at the city from above, and you definitely won’t have to worry about anyone else having the same pictures—these will be one of a kind.
Lions Gate Bridge
Where: Stanley Park, Vancouver
You may not want to try navigating the Lion’s Gate traffic jam in a car, but the bridge makes for a great view if you go by foot. Of course, you could save yourself the sweat and drive across, but the beautiful views would most definitely be fleeting—unless you’re really stuck in traffic… which isn’t the most unlikely thing to happen.
Flights out of YVR
Where: 3211 Grant McConachie Way, Richmond
We were mistaken… this is probably the most expensive way to get a great view of Vancouver, but you’ll get a trip out of it, at least! The sky-high view of the city is usually the cherry on top of any vacation—if you’re awake to see it.
Sunset Beach
Where: 1204 Beach Ave, Vancouver
What kind of a list would this be if it didn’t include Sunset Beach? The name says it all—you’ve got your sunsets, you’ve got your beach… that’s a winning combination if we ever saw one.
UBC
Where: Along Marine Drive, near UBC
There’s a few great spots to take in a sunset around UBC. Most only require that you pull over on Marine Drive, though if you’re feeling really adventurous—and okay with a few a hell of a lot of steps—you can join the nudists at Wreck Beach to see the sun go down.
Brockton Point Lighthouse
Where: 2157 Stanley Park Drive, Vancouver
An easy one to drive up to, the Brockton Point Lighthouse offers a glimpse of the views along the Stanley Park Seawall—all from the comfort of your own car! If you look closely, you may just see some people at the Lonsdale Quay Market enjoying some sights as well.
Cypress Viewpoint
Where: Cypress Bowl Rd, Bowen Island
Last but not least on our list, the Cypress Viewpoint is the perfect place to get an eyeful of all of Vancouver. You’ll spy the green trees of Stanley Park, the traffic on the Lion’s Gate Bridge, the city’s glowing towers, and the planes taking off into the sky from YVR.
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