Granville Island in Vancouver is one of the best places to visit in Vancouver year-round. It’s primarily a market selling food but also artisan products, gifts, art, and more. However, there are so many things to do in Granville Island besides eating and shopping!
A short aqua bus ride away from downtown Vancouver, or a quick cycle along the beautiful Vancouver seawall and you’ll arrive at Granville Island; one of the best things to do in Vancouver.
Granville Island (pronounced a bit like Grandville Island) is half way between Kitsilano and Science World and was one of my favorite places to visit while living in Vancouver for 6 years.
It’s a must-do Vancouver attraction in the summer especially. And, whether you’re visiting or you’re local you’re sure to find some things to do in Granville Island on this list that you haven’t come across yet!
Looking for more things to do in Vancouver and nearby? Check out my Vancouver travel guides which are full of information on the best things to do in Vancouver, the best Vancouver restaurants, and detailed guides for each of the main neighborhoods.
Best Things to do on Granville Island, Vancouver
One of my favorite weekend activities (besides hiking) is to run or take the Aquabus over to Granville Island from our apartment in the West End.
It’s one of the great things to do when it rains in Vancouver, which it does a lot every winter, but also one of the top things to do in the summer in Vancouver as you can enjoy the parks and waterfront patios.
Every time I go to Granville Island, I discover something new! Here is my pick of what to do in Granville Island.
1. Get a Drink at Granville Island Brewing
There aren’t many pubs on Granville Island but there is a brewery which is pretty much the next best thing!
Granville Island Brewing does some delicious beer (my favorite is the Honey Lager!) and going to their bar and tasting room is a fun thing to do on Granville Island. While you can find their beers in liquor stores throughout the country, their taproom serves up special brews that you won’t find elsewhere.
2. Granville Island Public Market
For most people, The Granville Island Market is the reason they’re visiting Granville Island. It’s without a doubt one of the best things to do in Granville Island!
It’s an indoor market with stalls selling fresh produce including fruit, vegetables, meats, cheese, fish, flowers, and more. Basically, think of it as the Granville Island farmers market.
There are also stalls selling chocolates, candies, and soups! If I’m cooking a special meal, I always come to Granville Island to get the ingredients.
On top of this, there’s an area of the Granville Market where you can buy food to eat straight away indoors or outside while enjoying the views. These stalls in the Granville Island food court serve fancy salads, Mexican, Indian, and Japanese cuisine, and more.
If you’re a foodie, be sure to check out my recommendations for where to eat on Granville Island. You can take a Granville Island tours with a guide so that you can be sure you’re hitting the best areas and you’ll also get some food tastings too!
Granville Island market hours are 9 am – 6 pm every day.
3. Drinks at Tap & Barrel Bridges
The iconic yellow building known as Bridges was taken over by Tap and Barrel recently but they’ve kept it yellow instead of changing it to their own-brand red!
These days it’s one of the best Vancouver patios for a drink in the sun.
It’s hard to miss Bridges and it’s a fantastic spot to enjoy a drink and some ‘appies by the water. The place is huge but even still it fills up and you may need to put your name down for a table.
Waiting for a spot on the patio is definitely worth it.
4. Ride the Granville Island ferry
When it comes to how to get to Granville Island, this is the best way.
There are two boat companies that run a ferry to Granville Island. These passenger-only boats (some of the larger Aquabus boats accommodate bikes), run across False Creek with various stops and both companies stop off at Granville Island. Think of them like a Granville Island water taxi.
The two Granville Island ferry companies are:
- Aquabus (larger boats)
- False Creek Ferries (smaller boats, which can also be seen doing boat ballet on special occasions!)
There’s no real difference between the two but they have slightly different pick-up and drop-off stations. False Creek Ferries is my preference since there’s a port nearer to us and the boats are cuter!
Getting the boats across from the West End where we live to Granville Island with False Creek Ferries is my favorite mode of transport. A return is $6 from these locations, but prices vary depending on where you’re going.
It’s a relaxing mode of transport with great views and a few years ago a pod of Orcas was even spotted from the ferry!
5. Shop the Unique Granville Island Shops
Besides the food market, there are a tonne of other shops on Granville Island to explore. Some of them are super unique too, I can almost guarantee you haven’t come across stores like the Granville Island stores you can find.
When it comes to what to see in Granville Island these stores are one of my top recommendations.
The Net Loft area has some beautiful craft shops including Paper Ya!, there’s MAKE in their bright yellow building that can make just about anything personalized and they sell fun gift ideas there’s even a broom shop!
Take a walk around and see what you find.
6. Walk the Seawall by Granville Island British Columbia
Vancouver’s 22 km long seawall is the city’s top attraction and some of it runs straight past Granville Island. If you head south as if you’re leaving the island, and then bear either right or left you can walk along the sea wall for a bit and enjoy the views.
From Granville Island, I’d suggest going left and walking towards Charleson Park which has a playground, a dog park, and some ponds as well.
7. Get a Donut from Lee’s Donuts
Lee’s Donuts are famous across Vancouver and is made even more so by the fact that celebrities such as Seth Rogen frequent here.
There’s always a lineup for Lee’s Donuts but they’re 100% worth it (better than Honey’s in Deep Cove in my view!) and the line moves quickly too.
Their menu changes a lot so you’ll just have to go back multiple times throughout your trip which shouldn’t be an issue since there are so many things to do at Granville Island!
8. Go Paddle Boarding on False Creek (or kayaking!)
False Creek is a great place to paddle board or kayak – definitely one of the best places to kayak in Vancouver.
The waters are often fairly calm and you get to see the city in a whole new way.
We love taking our paddleboards out for sunset or just on sunny afternoons and going past the houseboats on Granville Island.
If you’re visiting, you can rent paddleboards from Vancouver Water Adventures or you can take a paddleboarding sightseeing tour too.
9. Hire a Seadoo / Jet Ski
Vancouver Water Adventures is the go-to place to rent a Seadoo on Granville Island. You can rent one for a few hours or all day or even book a tour!
We did this once for Thom’s birthday and even though the water was a bit too choppy to really go fast (for us anyway) we had such a fun time!
This morning jetski tour makes the most of the calm waters in the morning as you head out to Anvil Island and the seal colony!
10. Watch the Buskers
Granville Island has dedicated busking spots throughout where you can watch and listen to musicians and street performers. You can see who is busking, and where, in advance here.
11. Visit the Granville Island Kids Market
The Kids Market is a large, brightly colored building right near the entrance to Granville Island. Since we don’t have kids I hadn’t been inside until fairly recently and was surprised to see how much was in there!
Besides kids’ toy stores (and a very impressive magic store!) there are arcade machines, a virtual reality experience, bumper cars, and more. If you’re visiting Vancouver with kids, I’m sure they could easily be entertained for a few hours here!
12. Eat Fresh Sea Food
Being on the ocean, Vancouver has access to super fresh, super tasty seafood and Granville Island is the place to get it!
Besides the sea food vendors inside Granville Island Public Market, there’s also the Lobster Man who gets rave reviews for fish, shellfish, and lobster. There’s also The Vancouver Fish Company restaurant that has a lovely patio area. Go for Happy Hour (reserve if you can) and get great deals on their oysters and fish!
If you venture slightly west of Granville Island you’ll find the fish market and Fisherman’s Wharf where you can find Go Fish (known as some of the best fish and chips in Vancouver) as well as fresh-off-the-boat seafood.
Mitch’s Catch is one of the best if you need fresh fish for a recipe you’re making.
13. Grab a drink and enjoy the views from Sandbar Restaurant
The Sandbar Restaurant is another Granville Island restaurant that’s highly regarded for its seafood meals. Further, you get incredible views of False Creek and Granville Street Bridge. It’s a great restaurant for a special occasion and their seafood platters are great!
14. Ride a BBQ Boat
An unusual thing to do on Granville Island but incredibly fun! Get a group of friends together, pack a cooler of stuff to grill, and get out on Joe’s BBQ boats in False Creek.
The boats are electric and you’ll have to decide who’s going to be your captain to steer you around False Creek as someone else cooks up lunch or dinner on the BBQ in the middle of the boat.
We did this with a few friends one summer and had a great time
15. Granville Island Boat Rentals
From Granville Island, you can also rent a boat for a day with no boating license required. Boats vary in size and can be rented from a few hours to all day.
Prices start at $60 per hour for a boat that seats 4. You can head out towards Lighthouse Park, see the seal colony or take a leisurely cruise out towards UBC. The choice is yours!
16. Spot the Pirate Ship
Vancouver’s very own pirate ship goes from Granville Island and watching it come and go is great fun. Though they usually do kids’ birthday parties, I’ve definitely seen some adults partying on there too!
Sometimes you’ll catch the boat getting someone to walk the plank or see them arming the cannons (water cannons!) to spray unsuspecting people.
17. Take a Granville Island Food Tour
With so much tasty food on Granville Island, knowing where to go can be difficult. Taking a Granville Island food tour ensures you’re visiting the best places which is perfect if you’re just visiting and can’t spend months narrowing down your favorite places.
18. Take a Picnic in the Park
Ron Basford Park is a lovely spot on Granville Island to go and relax with a book, take a nap, or enjoy a picnic. You get great views of the water and out towards Olympic Village. And if you need picnic food, just head into the Granville Island public market!
19. Hit the Granville Island Splash Park
Though Vancouver has a fairly moderate climate it can still get hot and when it gets hot hitting up the splash park is super fun no matter how old you are (though mostly for kids!).
The Granville Island Splash Park is next to the Kids’ Market and is the perfect place for kids to cool off during summer weekends.
20. Ride a Water Bike
I’ve never seen this outside of Vancouver but they look fun! You can rent a waterbike or hydro bike from Vancouver Boat Rentals and then enjoy the sights of False Creek.
21. Go Whale Watching
There are a couple of whale-watching companies that leave Granville Island and head out in search of whales. They are Prince of Whales and Wild Whales. There’s not too much difference between the two. With Wild Whales you can choose from different boats, some offering more shelter with a bigger group and others less but with a smaller group.
While we did our whale watching tour from Campbell River, some friends have done a tour from here and saw some whales breaching plus if you don’t see any you get another free tour!
22. Attend a Comedy Show
The Granville Island Improv Centre does some of the best comedy shows in Vancouver and is a great thing to do on Granville Island.
They’ve been around since 1980 and everything is unscripted so you’ll never see the same show twice. Tickets range from $20-30 CAD.
If you’re visiting in early August, the Vancouver Just for Laughs festival will be in town with a range of comedy shows from comedians across the globe. Shows take place across the city with some on Granville Island. Checking out a show of two is definitely worth it!
23. Visit the Granville Island Galleries
Granville Island has a great arts scene and there are around 30 galleries! It’s not just painting, there’s photography, glass-blowing, sculpture, and more. There’s also art dotted around Granville Island (such as in the photo above!)
24. Watch a Play at The Arts Club
When it comes to what to do at Granville Island this might take you by surprise.
Granville Island is home to the largest theatre company in Western Canada, the Arts Club!
They put on a variety of plays including both newly written ones and some old classics. If you love arts and culture then you must visit The Arts Club during your staying Vancouver!
What to know before going to Granville Island
Here are some top tips from a local to help you have an enjoyable experience on Granville Island.
- Granville Island Parking: There is parking on Granville Island but it fills up quickly and can be costly. On summer afternoons you’ll likely sit in a line of traffic of people all trying to find somewhere to park. Save yourself the stress and get the bus, cycle or walk on the seawall, or take the Aquabus of False Creek Ferries over to the island from around the city. It’s a much more enjoyable way to enjoy these Granville Island attractions.
- The Granville Island Public Market closes early! We made the mistake of going to Granville Island after 6 pm in the hope of getting dinner from the market. Unfortunately, all the market food stalls close at, or before, 6 pm. There are some Granville Island restaurants, but don’t plan on getting dinner from the market – it’s more of a lunch destination and Granville Island at night is pretty quiet.
- Is Granville Island really an island? Not quite! It’s a peninsula on False Creek just across the water from downtown Vancouver. It’s in between Kitsilano and Olympic Village and underneath Granville Bridge. However, it was an island before 1950!
FAQs on this Granville Island what to do list
Where is Granville Island?
Granville Island is in Vancouver, an easy walk, cycle, or aqua bus from downtown Vancouver.
How to get to Granville Island?
Taking the Granville Island ferries is the easiest way however there are also bus services, you can drive or walk or bicycle the Vancouver seawall.
Is Granville Island worth visiting?
Definitely! This is one of Vancouver’s top attractions and is well worth visiting. Besides the food and arts, you’ll get great views of Vancouver and it’s worth combining with a walk or cycle on the seawall too.
What is Granville Island famous for?
Granville Island Vancouver, British Columbia, is famous for its public market, artisan shops, galleries, and eateries.
How long to spend at Granville Island?
I’d recommend at least 1-2 hours for Granville Island if you’re just visiting Vancouver. However, you could spend longer if you take a tour from there, watch a show, or grab drinks at one of the bars.
Final thoughts on Granville Island things to do
If you’re visiting Vancouver as part of a longer holiday, or even if you only have 1 day in Vancouver, be sure to visit Granville Island.
Besides Stanley Park, this is one of Vancouver’s top attractions and there are so many Granville Island activities. From eating your way around the best restaurants on Granville Island to shopping, attending comedy shows, visiting art galleries or just taking in the views of False Creek, you won’t run short of ideas for what to do on Granville Island.
If you’re looking for more things to do in Vancouver, be sure to check out this guide to what to do in Kitsilano Vancouver, the best things to do in Yaletown, these Gastown attractions, and my favorite things to do in West End Vancouver. There are also plenty of fun things to do near Main Street too.
Last Updated on August 17, 2023 by Hannah
Hannah started That Adventurer after graduating back in 2013 and has documented all of her adventures since then. From backpacking South America to city breaks in Europe, a 3 month road trip across the USA in a self-converted van and 6 years living in Canada, you’ll find posts on all of this.
Hannah specialises in active travel and on That Adventurer you’ll find hiking, walking, biking, skiing and all sorts of active travel guides to allow you to see a destination in an adventurous way.
Now back in Europe, you’ll find new guides as Hannah and her husband spend the next year ‘digital nomading’ from Norway to Portugal, Switzerland to Scotland and places in between.
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