Things to do to in Vancouver’s West End by someone who lives there

Visiting Vancouver or planning to at some point? Make sure you don’t miss out on the chance to explore Vancouver’s West End.

It’s my favourite part of the city and sure, I may be biased since it’s where I live, but it’s got a chilled-out vibe, there is SO much greenery, there are beaches and it’s home to Stanley Park. I mean, what’s not to love? But it’s not all about the parks and beaches, there are even more things to do in Vancouver’s West End than you’d first think.

The best things to do in Vancouver’s West End

I loved living in the West End, especially in the summer! There are so many festivals, beautiful places, great food and drink. You’ll never need (or want!) to leave with this list of things to do in the West End, Vancouver.

Visit the beaches

One of the (many) reasons I love the West End so much is that there are some incredible beaches!

There’s Sunset Beach which, yes, really does have incredible sunsets. There’s English Bay, Second Beach and Third Beach.

They’re all sandy and gorgeous. You’ll find driftwood benches, beach volleyball games, and even a waterslide at sunset beach in the summer!

Personally, Third Beach and Sunset Beach are my favourites as they tend to stay a little bit quieter than the other two during summer.

Having a beach walk, or a relaxing few hours with a good book on the beach is definitely one of the best things to do in West End Vancouver.

Walk the Lost Lagoon

I feel like a lot of people miss the Lost Lagoon when they explore Stanley Park. To see the Lost Lagoon you have to leave the seawall but it’s not far away from Second Beach. You can walk the entire way around the lagoon and it’s absolutely gorgeous at sunrise.

Keep your eyes peeled for wildlife, I saw a beaver eating a ginormous fish one morning!

Explore Stanley Park

You can’t visit Vancouver without exploring Stanley Park. However, you see it – on foot or bike, running or walking – it doesn’t matter.

Do one lap biking at Stanley Park where you go around the seawall past the beaches, pineapple rock, the Lady in a Wetsuit statue (Vancouver’s version of Copenhagen’s mermaid statue), and past the totem poles.

Then, do another where you head into the park and see the Lost Lagoon, the aquarium and the gardens. It’s amazing having this park so close to the city!

Grab a drink on Davie Street…

Denman Street, often affectionately referred to as the Gay-bourhood, is a great place to celebrate. There are several bars along Davie Street where you can grab a drink with the locals. Head to Score on Davie for some incredible cocktails that are a meal and a drink all in one!

…Or on Denman Street

The Blind Sparrow on Denman Street is a very cool type of pub. They have 12 rotating taps of locally brewed beer to work your way through and there’s some tasty food too for when you get hungry!

Wander the streets

One of my favourite things to do in the West End is to just wander the streets with a coffee or a tea. The streets in the West End are lined with trees, you’ll probably see people packing their cars with tents and camping gear (summer) or skis and snowboards (winter).

On some streets, you’ll see tree stumps where someone has painted a little tiny door on the bottom. Oh, and there are little book swaps along the streets too. Plus some of the houses are beautiful! Ah, I love it!

Visit the West End Farmer’s Market

Every spring until fall the Farmer’s Market comes to the West End on Saturday mornings. It’s full of delicious and local fresh fruits and vegetables, cheese, fish and other produce.

My favourite local flower company, Front Yard Flower Market, comes here and their bouquets are SO pretty and last for several weeks.

Visit the locals’ favourite cafes

There are tonnes of cafes in Vancouver’s West End but two of my favourites are the ones that aren’t on the main streets. Greenhorn on Nicola Street and Cardero Bodega on Cardero Street not only serve great coffee but do some tasty food too.

Visit one of Vancouver’s smallest museums

The Roedde House Museum has to be one of the smallest museums in Vancouver. The museum is housed in the Roedde family’s home. Gustav Roedde was Vancouver’s first bookbinder and was successful enough to build a house in the West End in 1893: the Roedde House Museum.

There’s also a little park outside which is nice to sit in during summer.

Grab an ice cream

Denman Street has some great places to get ice cream. Plus, it’s super close to English Bay so you can grab an ice cream and walk along the beach with it!

Everyone raves about Marble Slab and they do some very interesting flavours. But, if it’s real Italian ice creams you’re after then head slightly further up the road to D’oro Gelato & Caffè for creamy ice cream you’ll love! Or stop by the Rain or Shine ice cream truck on English Bay!

Snack on a muffin at Delaney’s Coffee House

Delaney’s Coffee House is always buzzing and their muffins are delicious! Grab a blueberry muffin with your coffee and watch the hustle and bustle on Denman Street in the morning.

Head to Cactus Club Cafe for ‘Appy Hour and sunset views!

Cactus Club Cafe in Vancouver’s West End has one of the BEST views of any restaurant in all of Vancouver. The dining room goes right on to the beach and if you visit during happy hour in the winter you’ll be there for sunset AND cheap food and drink!

Laugh along with the A-maze-ing Laughter statues

These statues are guaranteed to put a smile on your face. These 14 cast bronze statues are all laughing and pulling faces and they’re great fun to take pictures with.

Watch the International Fireworks Festival on English Bay

If you’re in Vancouver in July then don’t miss out on the International Fireworks Festival on English Bay. The firework festival is free to attend and happens over three nights as three countries put on a display as part of the competition. The displays are set to music and last for about 30 minutes so they’re pretty spectacular!

Top tip: Watch the fireworks from Sunset Beach where there tend to be less people and see if you can stand near someone with a speaker so that you can still hear the music!

Go swimming at Second Beach’s outdoor swimming pool

If you don’t want to swim in the sea then opt for the outdoor pool at Second Beach. It’s open from May to September and, you’ll be pleased to know, it’s heated!

Go to Lumiere Vancouver

In winter when the city is a bit dark and rainy, Lumiere Vancouver arrives! They set up beautiful light sculptures, mostly around the West End and English Bay, and you can take a self guided tour to see than all, or just enjoy them as you come across them.

It’s one of the best things to do in Vancouver in winter!

Eat ramen along Denman Street

Denman Street is full of great ramen restaurants! You’ll see queues outside a lot of them and the best part is that they’re quite cheap too! Getting ramen here should definitely be on your list of things to do in Vancouver’s West End!

Try Kintaro, Marutama Ramen and Ramen Danbo. If they’re busy you can also head on to Robson Street for even more options!

Hire a bicycle, or tandem, for exploring

Vancouver is such a bike-friendly city! There are bike lanes all over the city and Stanley Park is, arguably, best explored by bike. Towards the northern end of Denman Street there are several places to hire bikes, tandems and also rollerblades!

Eat poutine at La Belle Patate

Every visitor to Canada should eat poutine! This dish is traditionally made up of chips, gravy and cheese curds but you can also get loads more toppings! La Belle Patate is an unassuming place on Davie Street in Vancouver’s West End but they sure know how to make poutine!

If you want to find out more about poutine check out this post.

Get Brunch at the Red Umbrella Cafe

Whilst I’m yet to go here, Thom has been several times and always reports back that he’s had a great breakfast. There’s usually a bit of a wait for a table at the weekend but their big traditional breakfasts are worth waiting a little while!

Attend Vancouver Pride Festival

Vancouver Pride takes place on the August long weekend (the first Monday in August). As part of Pride, there’s a huge parade through Vancouver’s West End and since Davie street is affectionately known as the Gayberhood, there are a lot of parties and specials at Vancouver’s bars and restaurants. It’s such a fun atmosphere!

Watch artists and musicians at Jim Dava Plaza

Jim Dava Plaza at Bute and Davie Street is a pedestrianized area where annual events happen with artists and musicians entertaining passers-by. It’s also a spot that locals just sit and chill at!

The plaza was named after a longtime community activist and you can learn more about what’s happening there here.

Watch the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra in the Park

One of the best free events in Vancouver is the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra‘s free summer concert at Sunset Beach. This is an annual event usually taking place in early July where a huge stage is set up as the orchestra takes to it and plays beautiful music.

Bring your chair and some snacks and enjoy! Get there early if you want to get a good spot as it gets super busy. But, when it comes to what to do in west end Vancouver in summer, this is one of the best things to do.

Watch a free movie in Stanley Park

EVO, the car-sharing company, holds movies in the park over the summer. They set up a huge screen near Third Beach and you can attend the movies for free. It’s great fun and even better that it’s free!

See this year’s line up here.

Play tennis!

Tennis courts across Vancouver are free to use and there are some lovely ones in Stanley Park. You will need your own rackets and balls though.

They’re busy so you’ll have to wait a bit but the rules are everyone gets 30 minutes. So, when you arrive give a couple playing their notice of 30 minutes and then it’s your turn!

Playing tennis after work was always one of our favourite West End Vancouver things to do with friends during summer!

Last Updated on December 28, 2023 by Hannah