Vancouver Day Tours: Vancouver in Two Days

Enjoy a self-guided two day Vancouver sightseeing tour by bus and SkyTrain

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If you only have two days in Vancouver, our self-guided two day tour will give you a great overview of the city. You can follow this suggested tour or use the many resources on this site to make changes based on your interests.

The best way to see more attractions is to plan ahead and follow a logical path from one location to another. By doing this you can cover a lot of area in a day using the transit system.

It is best to purchase a day pass at the start of each day because you can ride on public transit all day long without the expense of multiple fares and without worrying about fare zones.

For other possible two day tours you can simply choose any two days from the three day tour page. You can also add an additional day to any of our suggested tours with the BC Ferries Day Trip or the Fort Langley Day Trip which are a full day outing on their own.

Day One

Leg 1 - Take a walk through Gastown

Steam Clock in Vancouver's Historic Gastown Start your day by taking the SkyTrain to Waterfront Station. Exit the station and stroll east along the cobblestone pavement of Water Street into Gastown. Explore some of the unique shops and be sure to see the famous Steam Clock and the statue of 'Gassy Jack'; the enjoy a morning tea or coffee at one of the cafes before making your way back to Waterfront Station.

Time: 1 Hour

Leg 2 - Ride the SeaBus and visit Lonsdale Quay Public Market

Entrance to Lonsdale Quay Public Market Board the SeaBus for the 15 minute crossing over to Lonsdale Quay Public Market in North Vancouver. Spend some time exploring the many shops and services in the Public Market and grab quick lunch or snack before riding the SeaBus back to Waterfront Station.

photo by Arnold C

Time: 1½ Hours

Leg 3 - Head to Vanier Park and visit the H.R. MacMillan Space Center Planetarium, Museum of Vancouver and the Vancouver Maritime Museum

HR McMillan Space Center (Planetarium) and Vancouver Museum Waterfront Station take the Expo Line and ride one stop to Burrard Station. From Burrard SkyTrain Station take the Burrard Street Exit and board the #2 or #22 Macdonald bus southbound on Burrard Street from the stop right in front of the station. Take either bus to the Cypress Street Stop on Cornwall Avenue (less that 10 minutes). Walk back along Cornwall Ave. to Chestnut Street and go left. The park and Space Center are straight ahead. I'd suggest arriving by noon to give yourself ample time to see these attractions prior to the 5 pm closing. Note: the Space Centre and Museums are closed on Mondays.

Time: 5 Hours

Return Leg

Walk back to Cornwall Ave. and Cypress Street and catch the #22 Knight bus to Burrard Station. Navigate back to you hotel via SkyTrain and or Bus from there.

Time: 30 Minutes plus time to Hotel

Total Time: 8 Hours plus hotel connections

Day Two

Leg 1 - Explore Vancouver's Chinatown

Chinatown's Dr. Sun-Dat Chinese Gardens Make your way to Stadium - Chinatown Station on the Expo Line. From Stadium - Chinatown Station take the Expo Blvd. / Abbott Street exit. Walk to your left just one block north along Abbott to Keefer Street where the entrance to the International Market (Tinseltown) is located. One block farther north is Pender Street. Historic Chinatown including the Millennium Gate and the Dr. Sun-Yat Sen Classical Chinese Garden occupies the next 4 blocks to the east along these 2 streets. Explore this colourful neighbourhood on foot and perhaps try some authentic Chinese before heading onto the next leg. Note: the Chinese Gardens are subject to admission charges and are closed on Mondays. After spending some time in Chinatown make your way to a #19 Stanley Park bus stop westbound on Pender Street in Chinatown.

cc licensed photo by David Pul Ohmer

Time: 3 Hours

Leg 2 - Stroll along the seawall in Stanley Park

Stanley Park Seawall From Chinatown catch the #19 Stanley Park bus going west on Pender into Stanley Park. From the Stanley Park bus loop make your way toward Vancouver Aquarium and check out the free viewing area on the west side. Follow the path north from there to the seawall and go for a walk in either direction along the seawall for about 30 minutes then double back to the aquarium area and west back to the bus loop. Take the #19 Metrotown bus back to Pender and Burrard and walk south 1 block to Burrard Station.

Time: 2½ Hours

Leg 3 - See the City from SkyTrain

SkyTrain Bridge At Burrard Station catch an Expo Line Train heading east to Surrey King George and ride it all the way out to Scott Road Station. You will see good views over much of Metro Vancouver along the way as most of the track is elevated. Just before Scott Road Station you will cross the world's longest transit only bridge as you pass high above the Fraser River. Exit the train at Scott Road and follow the signs to make your way to the westbound platform and catch the next train going back to Columbia Station in historic New Westminster (once the capital of BC).

Time: < 1 Hour

Leg 4 - Explore Burnaby Mountain Conservation Area and Simon Fraser University

Simon Fraser University Academic Quadrangle At Columbia Station follow the signs to change platforms for a train heading to Production/University Station. From there, catch bus #145 SFU up to the Upper Bus Loop at Burnaby Mountain Conservation Area and Simon Fraser University. Note: the #145 bus can be very busy when University is in session, however it is only about 7 minutes between buses, so if you can't get on the first bus you won't have a long wait for the next one. Explore the interesting architecture of the campus and have a lunch or dinner at one of the numerous restaurants adjacent to the bus loop. If there is still at least an hour of daylight and the weather is good, take any bus from the upper bus loop or the transportation centre (just past the 'tunnel' your bus first passed through coming to the University) to the University residences stop (first stop past the 'tunnels') and follow the trail to the west that begins behind the bus stop for a 15 minute walk to the Burnaby Mountain Conservation Area. Enjoy the views of the city, mountains and Burrard Inlet along with totem poles, sculptures and the rose gardens before walking back to the University residence stop.

cc licensed photo by miss_curse10

Time: 3 Hours

Return Leg

If you are making your way back to downtown Vancouver catch bus R5 Burrard Station for the 50 minute ride back into downtown. If you are staying in North Burnaby, New Westminster or Surrey take the #145 bus back to Production Station and navigate back to your hotel, or if staying near Metrotown take bus #144 Metrotown.

Time: < 1 Hour
Total time: 9½ Hours plus hotel connections

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