Vancouver, Victoria and Whistler
Use Vancouver as your base. Take a ferry to Victoria for one night, then drive the Sea to Sky Highway for a day trip to Whistler.
Spend the first three days in Vancouver, visiting the harbour, Stanley Park and the North Shore. On day four, take the BC Ferry across the Strait of Georgia and visit Butchart Gardens, then spend the night in Victoria's Inner Harbour. On day five, see the Royal BC Museum and the Parliament Buildings, then take the late-evening ferry back to Vancouver. On day six, go to Whistler. For the last half day, visit Granville Island and the Museum of Anthropology. You can do the trip without a car. Ideal for a week-long holiday for travelers who want to see both the city and its surroundings.
Book summer ferries in advance. The Peak 2 Peak Gondola has off-season closures between spring and autumn.
Day by day
Day 1 · Arrival, Harbour and Gastown
Vancouver(Canada Place & Vancouver Harbour、Gastown、Robson Street)
Take the Canada Line from the airport to downtown, about 25 min. Walk around the harbour, Gastown and Robson Street.
Stay: West End
Day 2 · Stanley Park and Aquarium
Vancouver(Stanley Park、Vancouver Aquarium、English Bay Beach)
Walk into Stanley Park from the west end. Spend about half a day on the seawall and at the Vancouver Aquarium, then reach English Bay in the evening.
Stay: West End
Day 3 · North Shore Bridge and Grouse Mountain
Vancouver(Capilano Suspension Bridge Park、Grouse Mountain)
Take the free shuttle or a bus to the North Shore, about 30 min one way. Spend 2–3 hr at each site.
Stay: West End
Day 4 · Ferry Across the Strait and Butchart Gardens
Victoria (British Columbia)(Butchart Gardens, Victoria、Inner Harbour & Fairmont Empress)
Take the BC Ferry from Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay, about 1.5 hr. Then take a bus to the gardens and on into Victoria.
You can also take a connecting bus that goes directly from downtown Vancouver to Victoria.
Stay: Inner Harbour and downtown
Day 5 · Inner Harbour and Return
Victoria (British Columbia)(Royal BC Museum、British Columbia Parliament Buildings、Fisherman's Wharf)
Walk around the Inner Harbour in the morning. In the afternoon, take a ferry or seaplane back to Vancouver.
Check ferry schedules in advance and allow plenty of time before the last sailing.
Stay: West End
Day 6 · Sea to Sky Highway Day Trip to Whistler
Squamish(Shannon Falls、Sea to Sky Gondola) → Whistler(Whistler Village & Olympic Plaza、Peak 2 Peak Gondola、Brandywine Falls)
Drive or join a tour north on Highway 99 for about 2 hr. On the way back, stop at Brandywine Falls.
Stay: West End
Day 7 · Granville Island and UBC
Vancouver(Granville Island、Museum of Anthropology at UBC)
In the morning, browse the Granville Island market. Take a bus to UBC to see the Museum of Anthropology, then drive about 40 min to the airport.
The Museum of Anthropology is closed on Mondays.
Similar itineraries
- Vancouver Neighborhoods, Museums and Whistler
- BC & Canadian Rockies Grand Loop
- Sea to Sky Highway, Whistler & Joffre Lakes
- North Shore Hiking and The Chief
- Vancouver Island Island-Hopping & West Coast
- Pacific Northwest by Rail and Ferry, Car-Free
- Vancouver First-Timer's Classics
- Vancouver to the Rockies via Okanagan