May

Best places for a view of Vancouver

Vancouver is a city of great views…in fact, the spectacular combination of ocean-meets-skyline-meets-mountains is among the major reasons most Vancouverites live here. There are tons of great places to see Vancouver – for the best views of the city, here are my favorites:

A seaplane (float plane) ride. These charming little planes are a crucial part of the transportation network in the Pacific Northwest, moving business travelers between many destinations. For visitors, scenic seaplane rides whisk you from Canada Place at the city core straight to the sky. A variety of sightseeing tours are available. The major seaplane operator is Harbour Air, and I’ve done both their Extended Panorama and Alpine Lakes & Glaciers tours. If you can swing the nearly $300, the lakes and glaciers is among my all-time top travel experiences. Both will give you an excellent overview of the Vancouver region from above.
Floatplanes are a great way to see Vancouver (c) Randall Shirley
Grouse Mountain. The view from atop the Grouse Mountain Tram (4,039 feet above sea level) is a stunner – literally the whole Vancouver region spreads out below you. There are loads of activities to do at the top, but really it’s all about the view.
Center of Lion’s Gate Bridge. Very few visitors do this walk, and that’s probably because no business makes any money off you doing it! But the views from the center of the Lion’s Gate Bridge are gorgeous—you can see the city skyline, the Shore Mountains, and on a clear day Mount Baker in Washington State plus Vancouver Island. It’s especially enjoyable to be out there on a summer evening as the cruise ships sail under. Here’s how to get there:
- Walk. From downtown it’s about four miles straight up Georgia Street, through Stanley Park and onto the Bridge, but you could veer onto the trails of Stanley Park coming and going and make a really beautiful half-day hike of it all.
- Walk from the parking lot at Stanley Park’s Prospect Point (either drive there, or take the Stanley Park horse-drawn trolley). Directions are here.
  Vancouver cruise ship and skyline, from Lions Gate Bridge. © Randall Shirley
Spanish Banks Beach. This is one of the great “money shots” Vancouver photo locations – a place where professional photographers get those postcard and calendar views. And it’s not a bad beach to hang out on, either. Here’s how to get there using public transit from the intersection of Robson and Burrard streets in downtown Vancouver.
Vancouver skyline and mountains from Spanish Banks. © Randall Shirley
Cloud 9 at the Empire Landmark Hotel. Vancouver has two towers with views…the Vancouver Lookout, and this lesser-known spot. The thing I like about Cloud 9 is the highrise it tops is quite exposed from all sides, so you get dazzling views in all directions. The service is ungrateful and the drinks generally overpriced, but go, enjoy a glass of wine or sparkling water, and spend an hour seeing Vancouver rotate below you. Note that it’s only open in the evenings.
Empire Landmark Hotel Vancouver, Tower may not look like much from below, but the view from up there is AMAZING. © Randall Shirley