Vancouver is routinely named one of the Canada's most expensive cities. But budget-conscious travelers shouldn't be put off because there are many ways to enjoy the city for free.
The best free things to do in Vancouver
Stanley Park
The magnificent 998-acre (404-hectare) Stanley Park combines excellent free attractions with a mystical natural aura.
The best free things to do in Vancouver
Don’t miss a stroll around the 5.5 mile (8.8km) seawall, fringed by a 150,000-tree temperate rainforest. It’ll take you past the park’s popular totem poles and alongside its shimmering oceanfront.
The best free things to do in Vancouver
Stanley Park's admission-free Nature House is also great for the lowdown on the region’s plants and animals. Aside from its wildlife exhibits, the facility also hosts low-cost guided park walks.
The best free things to do in Vancouver
Rooftop garden at Vancouver Public Library
The dramatic, Colosseum-like Vancouver Public Library building must be a temple to the great god of libraries. If not, it's certainly one of the world's most magnificent book-lending facilities.
The best free things to do in Vancouver
Designed by Moshe Safdie and opened in 1995, its collections are arranged over several floors. Head to floor nine for the Rooftop Garden, a tree-lined outdoor plaza lined with tables and chairs.
The best free things to do in Vancouver
Dr Sun Yat-Sen Park
Chinatown's Dr Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden charges admission, but right next door is the free-entry Dr Sun Yat-Sen Park that echoes the same ancient horticultural ideals.
The best free things to do in Vancouver
The paid attraction is more ornate and has guided tours, but its freebie sibling includes a similar turtle-rippled lily pond and terracotta-topped perimeter walls.
The best free things to do in Vancouver
Kitsilano Beach
Kitsilano Beach is one of Vancouver's favorite summertime hangouts. The wide, sandy expanse attracts Frisbee tossers, volleyball players and those who just like to preen while catching the rays.
The best free things to do in Vancouver
The ocean is fine for a dip. Perch on a log on a summer afternoon and catch the breathtaking view of one of the region's signature panoramas.
The best free things to do in Vancouver
You'll be treated to shimmering seafront backed by the twinkling glass towers of downtown and the North Shore mountains beyond.