A Local’s Guide to the City We Love
Vancouver is a city where the ocean meets forest, where every neighbourhood has its own rhythm, and where food connects it all. As locals who spend our days exploring and tasting this city, we’re thrilled to share our insider guide to the best things to do in Vancouver in 2025.
This isn’t just a checklist of tourist stops — it’s the city as we experience it every day. From early-morning seawall walks to hidden dumpling shops and cultural gems, here’s how to explore Vancouver like a local.
Stroll the Stanley Park Seawall
The Stanley Park Seawall is Vancouver’s crown jewel. Stretching 9 km around the park (or 22 km if you loop all the way through False Creek to Kits Beach), it’s the world’s longest uninterrupted waterfront path.
Local tip: go early in the morning or close to sunset to avoid the crowds and see the city at its most peaceful. Along the way, duck into the Beaver Lake Trail — a forested pocket with lily-pad ponds and birdsong that even many Vancouverites forget about.
Discover the Layers of Granville Island
Yes, the Granville Island Public Market is a must — but Granville Island has so much more if you know where to look. Behind the bustle, you’ll find the Railspur District, home to artisan studios, a hidden distillery, and the island’s very artisan sake maker.
Local tip: wander into Off the Tracks Bistro, a cozy café tucked behind the market. It’s where many island workers grab their morning coffee, and the patio is a hidden gem in summer.
👉 Want to taste Granville Island like a local? Join our Granville Island Foodie Tour. We’ll take you straight to our favorite vendors and share the behind-the-scenes stories you won’t find on your own.
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Gastown & Chinatown — History, Bites & Hidden Sips
Gastown’s steam clock and cobblestones make it Vancouver’s most photographed neighbourhood, but insiders know the real treasures are tucked into its side streets: hidden cocktail bars, laneway murals, and family-run eateries.
A short walk away, Chinatown is a cultural anchor. Pop into herbal medicine shops, sip tea at Ten Ren Tea, or find peace in the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden — a tranquil retreat in the middle of the city.
Vancouver Foodie Tours’ founder, Michelle Ng, shares that her favourite restaurant in the city right now is The Mackenzie Room, just east of Gastown. She highly recommends trying the tasting menu for a true chef-driven experience.
👉 On our Gastronomic Gastown Tour you’ll stroll Gastown’s cobblestones with local foodie experts, indulging in a seated, gourmet progressive meal at three premium restaurants — plus an exclusive mocktail or cocktail-making experience you won’t find anywhere else.
Kitsilano Vibes — Sun, Salt & Stories
Known simply as “Kits,” this neighbourhood is where Vancouver slows down. Kits Beach is a local favourite for swimming, volleyball, and watching the mountains glow at sunset. Just behind the beach, you’ll find streets lined with independent cafés, yoga studios, and laid-back restaurants.
Local tip: Pack a picnic or grab takeout from a Kits staple like The Naam (a vegetarian institution since the ’60s) or AnnaLena (modern Canadian cuisine with a creative twist). In the summer, locals spread out on the grass above the beach with snacks and watch the sun dip into the ocean.
Historical note: the surrounding area has deep Indigenous roots — once home to the Squamish village of Sen̓áḵw, whose presence continues to shape conversations about land and community here today.
North Shore Escapes — Deep Cove & Lynn Canyon
When you’re ready to trade downtown energy for forest quiet, head across Burrard Inlet to Vancouver’s North Shore.
- Deep Cove: Rent a kayak, paddle out into the calm cove, and finish with a world-famous Honey’s Donut.
- Lynn Canyon Park: Walk the suspension bridge for sweeping views — it has all the thrills of Capilano but is free (and far less crowded).
Local tip: go mid-week in the morning. You’ll often feel like you have the trails all to yourself.
Culture & Creativity Beyond Downtown
Vancouver’s culture stretches well past downtown, from world-class museums on the University of British Columbia (UBC) campus to neighbourhoods where art and history live in the streets.
UBC Cultural Highlights
- Museum of Anthropology: Fully reopened in June 2024, MOA is a must-visit for Indigenous art and heritage. Go on a Thursday evening for half-price admission and the glow of the Great Hall at twilight.
- UBC Rose Garden: Cliffside blooms with stunning ocean and mountain views — a favourite spot for locals to picnic or watch the sunset.
- Nitobe Memorial Garden: A peaceful Japanese garden with koi ponds and arched bridges — a hidden gem steps away from the museum.
Urban Creativity & Heritage
- Mount Pleasant Murals: Every alley tells a story. Each summer, fresh murals brighten the neighbourhood — best paired with a stop at one of its many micro-breweries.
- Hogan’s Alley Memorial: A small but important site honouring Vancouver’s historic Black community. Quiet, powerful, and worth the detour.
Richmond’s Food Adventures
Just south of Vancouver, Richmond is a food lover’s paradise — especially if you’re craving authentic Asian eats.
- Richmond Night Market (May–October): endless stalls of dumplings, skewers, bubble waffles, and neon-lit fun.
- Dumpling Trail: a self-guided route to the best dumpling spots in the city — from pan-fried pork to delicate soup dumplings.
Local tip: bring cash and come hungry. Sharing dishes is the best way to try it all.
👉 Want to explore authentic Asian eats beyond Richmond? Join our Authentic Asian Eats Tour in downtown Vancouver — featuring tastings like Siu Mai dumplings, sticky rice wrapped in lotus leaf, and Japchae noodles, guided by a local expert.
Indigenous-Led Walks & Storytelling
To truly understand Vancouver, explore it through the lens of its first peoples. Indigenous-led tours (like Talaysay’s Talking Trees Tour) share cultural knowledge of local plants, the history of this land, and the stories passed down for generations.
It’s a moving, memorable way to connect more deeply with the city.
Local Tips for Living Like a Vancouverite
- Transit Hack: Buy a DayPass for unlimited SkyTrain, bus, and Seabus travel.
- Weather Wisdom: Always carry a light rain jacket — even in September. Locals call it “Vancouver sunshine.”
- Coffee Culture: Skip the chains. Try Revolver in Gastown or Elysian on 5th Avenue for beans roasted to perfection.
- Hidden Café Pick: The Ovaltine Café on Hastings — an old-school diner that feels like stepping back in time.
There are endless things to do in Vancouver in 2025 — from mountain-backed beaches to hidden dumpling shops and Indigenous-led walks. But the heart of the city is in its food and its people.
Hungry for more? Join us at Vancouver Foodie Tours to skip the guesswork, taste the stories behind the flavors, and experience the Vancouver we proudly call home.
