Kitsilano Beach
#6 in Best Things To Do in Vancouver, Canada
1 of 3
2 of 3Price & Hours
Details
Scorecard
- Value 5.0
- Facilities 4.0
- Atmosphere 4.5
When the weather's nice, follow Vancouverites down to the shores of English Bay to Kitsilano "Kits" Beach. Often compared to L.A.'s Venice Beach, this shoreline along the northern edge of Kitsilano is the city's most popular swim spot, especially for the city's 20-something crowd. Kits is an accessible beach with a beach mat on-site and free water wheelchairs are available to borrow (on a first-come, first-served basis and you must make reservations in advance). When you're not relaxing on the sand or admiring the skyline views, you'll find areas for in-line skating and volleyball, along with tennis courts and a playground. Visitors do warn that the beach can get quite busy in summer, but it is clean and always has "good vibes." If you're in the mood for swim but the bay water is just a little too chilly for your liking, try the area's heated, saltwater Kitsilano Pool (open May to mid-September). Fido will be happy here, too, as there's dog parks and off-leash areas. You can also visit the nearby Vancouver Maritime Museum, which offers an educational respite from the summer sun. When you need to grab a refreshment, you'll find several concession stands as well as a more formal dining room at The Boathouse Restaurant.
You don't have to pay to access the beach, but you will have to pay for parking. Parking from April 1 to Sept. 30 will cost you CA$4 (about $3) hourly and CA$17 (about $13) daily. From Oct. 1 to March 31 hourly parking rates decrease to CA$3 (about $2.25); daily rates decrease to CA$9 (about $7). If you're traveling via public transportation, the No. 2 bus offers service between downtown and Kits Beach. Entrance to the pool will also cost you. Single-day admission for adults costs about CA$7 (about $5.25); youths ages 13 to 18 years old get in for around CA$5 (about $3.75) and children ages 5 to 12 enter for about CA$3 (about $2.25). Check out the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation website for more information on Kits Beach.
More Best Things To Do in Vancouver, Canada
#1 Stanley Park
U.S. News Insider Tip: If you're walking along the north side of the Stanley Park Seawall, keep your eyes peeled for the Girl in a Wetsuit sculpture that sits on a rock in the water. It's a Vancouver landmark. – Ann Henson, Assistant Managing Editor
This nearly 1,000-acre park on the tip of Vancouver's "thumb" (just north of the West End) is home to some of the city's favorite, most-visited attractions. In fact, you could easily spend more than a day here and still not see everything this urban oasis has to offer. If you want to experience the park the way the locals do, walk, cycle or jog around the nearly 20-mile seawall that hugs Vancouver's waterfront. The path starts at the Vancouver Convention Centre and ends at Spanish Banks Beach Park. If you're not up for the walk, you'll find several bike rental companies near the park. With your bike, you'll be able to explore the more than 17 miles of forest trails that are much less crowded than the rest of the park. Travelers recommend biking the South Creek Trail, which leads to the lily pad-covered Beaver Lake. If you're not up for all that exercise, you can ride in a horse-drawn carriage or hop on the train for a 15-minute ride through the forest. Recent visitors said the park offers a great escape from the city and has one of the prettiest seawall walks around.
U.S. News Insider Tip: If you're walking along the north side of the Stanley Park Seawall, keep your eyes peeled for the Girl in a Wetsuit sculpture that sits on a rock in the water. It's a Vancouver landmark. – Ann Henson, Assistant Managing Editor
This nearly 1,000-acre park on the tip of Vancouver's "thumb" (just north of the West End) is home to some of the city's favorite, most-visited attractions. In fact, you could easily spend more than a day here and still not see everything this urban oasis has to offer. If you want to experience the park the way the locals do, walk, cycle or jog around the nearly 20-mile seawall that hugs Vancouver's waterfront. The path starts at the Vancouver Convention Centre and ends at Spanish Banks Beach Park. If you're not up for the walk, you'll find several bike rental companies near the park. With your bike, you'll be able to explore the more than 17 miles of forest trails that are much less crowded than the rest of the park. Travelers recommend biking the South Creek Trail, which leads to the lily pad-covered Beaver Lake. If you're not up for all that exercise, you can ride in a horse-drawn carriage or hop on the train for a 15-minute ride through the forest. Recent visitors said the park offers a great escape from the city and has one of the prettiest seawall walks around.
Explore More of Vancouver, Canada
If you make a purchase from our site, we may earn a commission. This does not affect the quality or independence of our editorial content.
Recommended
