Vancouver Skytrain

Everyone says how convenient the Vancouver Skytrain is. You can get most anywhere you need to go.

But what attractions in Vancouver are within walking distance from a Skytrain station?

But other than the 'regular' fun of riding the Vancouver Skytrain, here are some destinations within walking distance of the stations.

Metropolis at Metrotown in Burnaby (at Metrotown Station), is the biggest mall with hundreds of stores. Nearby there are also delicious Indian and Asian foods available at ethnic restaurants.

Pacific Centre Mall is the downtown Vancouver mall and has the fanciest department store in the city – Holt Renfrew. This is the spot for your luxury Vancouver shopping purchases. Use Granville station or Vancouver City Centre station to get here.

Styles on display at H&M in Pacific Centre Mall

Also along Vancouver Skytrain are Brentwood mall at Brentwood Town Centre station, Lougheed mall at Lougheed Town Centre station and Central City Shopping Centre at Surrey Central station.

And moving into Richmond on the Canada Line, you’ll find Oakridge mall at Oakridge/41st station, and the Richmond shopping malls: Aberdeen mall at Aberdeen station, Lansdowne Centre at Lansdowne station and Richmond Centre at Richmond-Brighouse station.

No matter where you are on Vancouver Skytrain you will find Vancouver malls nearby.

Just up Granville Street from Pacific Centre Mall to Robson Street you’ll find many more stores from Banana Republic to Louis Vuitton. Combined both make a great Vancouver shopping experience.

From Waterfront Skytrain station, you can stroll down Cordova and Water Streets into historic Gastown.

You will find touristy souvenir shops as well as local designers making good with new fashions in clothes, shoes, photography, and more.

My favourite shop, Button, Button, for all your button needs.

On your way to Gastown, you can also check out Vancouver Harbour Centre for the Lookout at the top. You'll experience an amazing 360 degree view around downtown Vancouver.

Ride the ferry across Burrard Inlet with Stanley Park on one side and the Ironworkers Memorial Bridge on the other.

On the other side, you're at Lonsdale Quay. Walk around outside for a spectacular view across the water to the downtown Vancouver city skyline. And then make your way inside to explore.

There's food shops: Toffee or Fudge? Exotic cheeses? Fresh fish? Artisan wine? And more. There's shops for gifts and clothing, teapots and jewellery. There's a whole Kids Alley with play places and clothing, toys and sweet shops. Fun for all.

Up the street, you will find the Vancouver Art Gallery at Robson Square. Inside, BC's most famous painter Emily Carr’s work is wonderful.

From the Stadium/Chinatown station on the edge of downtown you can easily access Chinatown and Rogers Arena. If you're in town for a Canucks hockey game, this is where you want to be!

Nearby Chinatown is perfect for immersion in another culture. During the summer weekend evenings, you can also check out the Chinatown Night Market.

Before you hit the Night Market, experience the exotic tranquility of the traditional Chinese Garden in Vancouver. Peaceful serenity inside the hustle and bustle of Chinatown, you'll walk right back to 14th century China.

You can do two things here easily.

Head into Science World and learn about biology, physics, chemistry. And play with how sounds travel and musical instruments work. This is the best with kids, but if you're a kid at heart, you'll have fun.

Or walk, run or bike along the sea wall which takes you along the shore of False Creek all the way back downtown to Stanley Park or on the south side all the way out to Jericho Beach.

There's an extensive selection of vintage and consignment clothing. Plus art and gift shops and bakeries, gelato shops and other yummy food to tempt your appetite.

Live music in many restaurants keeps Commercial Drive a happening place well into the evening.

The real highlight is in the summer at the Vancouver Farmers Market held here on Saturdays.

(You will also find a summer Farmers Market near Main Street on Wednesdays or in the Winter on Saturdays at Commercial Drive.)

Then if you're in the mood, take an old-school paddlewheel ride to experience the Fraser as it would have been a century or two ago.

- Stroll along the sea wall and watch the sunset out in English Bay as you head towards Stanley Park.

- Visit shops and restaurants in Yaletown. Mostly full of young people in this newly developed area of Vancouver, it has its own unique character: ritzy and high-end.

- Take the ferry across False Creek to Granville Island and Vanier Park for Bard on the Beach. (Main Street station would also work for this)

I am cheating a bit here - technically Granville Island isn’t within walking distance of the Vancouver Skytrain. But if I include the ferry ride as part of the attraction, then it all works out.

Then you get to ride across the water in a boat that feels like it's almost too low in the water but is actually completely safe.

On the other side at Granville Island, you can explore the shops and galleries to find art made of all materials from clay, wood and iron to paper, fabric and glass.

And the Granville Island Public Market has the best selection of interesting foods that Vancouver has to offer. You'll find it all and more on Granville Island.

A short walk along the sea wall to Vanier Park. Here you will find the Vancouver Maritime Museum, the Planetarium, and, in the summer Vancouver's very best Shakespeare Festival, Bard on the Beach.

This next one is a long-ish walk from either King Edward or Oakridge-41st stations.

Queen Elizabeth Park is Vancouver's loveliest public garden.

Crowning the very top, the Bloedel Conservatory is a tropical refuge full of plants from around the world and free-flying exotic birds. I definitely recommend this attraction, but the walk is going to take you some time.

And you can check out my favourite sculpture The Spirit of Haida Gwaii, or the Jade Canoe, by Bill Reid in the Departures Lounge.

This huge bronze canoe holds mythical characters of the Haida First Nations along the BC Coast. If you are flying out of YVR, then you can just come a bit early and check it out then.

If you're after “culture” at night, the Queen Elizabeth Theatre, home to Vancouver Opera, is near the Stadium-Chinatown station. Right next door is the Vancouver Playhouse Theatre for live theatre, chamber music and other smaller shows. And the Orpheum Theatre, near Vancouver City Centre and Granville stations, is home to the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra.

Or if what you really want is to gamble the night away, the Edgewater Casino is near at hand at the Plaza of Nations within walking distance of Stadium-Chinatown station. The Casino also has a free shuttle if you don't want to walk.

These are the main attractions Vancouver offers with easy walkable distance from the Vancouver Skytrain.

Many of the other skytrain stations are in residential areas - great for locals, not so interesting for tourists!

You may also be interested in Translink's list of attractions Opens New Window in Vancouver and the Lower Mainland that are accessible via transit.

The ones not mentioned here usually require at least one bus transfer from the Vancouver Skytrain.

Happy Vancouver Skytrain-ing!

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