Vancouver Skytrain

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

The Vancouver Skytrain is a tourist attraction in itself. Skimming above street level (most of the time), you get a bird's eye view around the city and except on very rainy days, a lovely view to the mountains on the north side of Vancouver. And if you head all the way out to Surrey, you will cross the Fraser River along a very narrow bridge - it almost feels like you're floating in mid-air.

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

The biggest mall in Burnaby, Metropolis at Metrotown Station, has hundreds of stores.

It's so big that several stores have opened up two stores within the same mall just to make sure you can find them!

And then there's the large movie theatre complex on top of that.

In addition, the mall management specializes in organizing things to interest kids. Right now it's a display of “Grossology”, interactive exhibits and animations of gross things to help kids learn about science and biology.

You will also find many great and inexpensive ethnic restaurants for Indian and Asian food around the Metrotown area.

Pacific Centre Mall in downtown Vancouver (use Granville station or Vancouver City Centre station) is loaded with stores as well. Most popular for me are H&M for cheap European-style fashions and Holt Renfrew for days when I feel I can afford to try on $200 designer t-shirts.

The Vancouver headquarters for the Hudsons Bay department store is right above Granville Station (you will find every perfume known to Vancouverites here as well as many, many other things to purchase).

Walk up Granville Street a few blocks to Robson Street and you'll find many, many stores. Designer labels and discount shops, electronics, vintage clothing, jewelry and shoe stores.

And chocolate shops (Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory - yum!) And lots of good restaurants for real food in this area too. Either Granville, Vancouver City Centre or Burrard stations are good for access to Robson Street.

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.

On the new Canada Line to Richmond, you'll find Oakridge mall at Oakridge/41st station, and the Richmond malls: Aberdeen mall at Aberdeen station, Lansdowne Centre at Lansdowne station and Richmond Centre at Richmond-Brighouse station.

Phew - that's a lot of malls!

Gastown is one of the best-known tourist attractions in Vancouver. Fortunately in recent years, it's also developing an artistic community.

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. The ticket gets you in all day, so you can go again later at night for the night view.

Also from Waterfront Skytrain station: take the Seabus to Lonsdale Quay.

The Seabus is a Vancouver attraction as well. 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 jewelry.

There's a whole Kids Alley with play places and clothing, toys and sweet shops.
Definitely a worthy attraction for the Vancouver visitor, especially when combined with the Seabus trip there and back.

Up the street from Burrard Skytrain, you will find the Vancouver Art Gallery at Robson Square. The external architecture is great (an old courthouse converted to a gallery). Inside, Emily Carr (BC's most famous painter) is definitely worth seeing. And frequently the traveling exhibits put on at the Vancouver Art Gallery are wonderful.

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

Chinatown on the other hand is perfect for immersion in another culture.

The shops in the are will keep you interested and entertained with inexpensive fans, neat kitchenwares, and other goodies, plus some unusual foods for sale! During the summer weekend evenings, you can also check out the Chinatown Night Market.

Before you hit the Night Market, you need to 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.

Lovely and unusual architecture paired with perennial plants and rock natural sculptures all reflected in the shifting waters of the pond. Can you tell I love the Chinese Garden?!

You can do two things here within easy walking distance. 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.

Or you can head into Science World.This is the best with kids.

But if you're a kid at heart, you'll still have fun.

Learn about biology, physics, chemistry. And play with how sounds travel and musical instruments work.

Then find out what a hippopotamus jaw looks like (very big!)

From the Commercial-Broadway station, walk up : Commercial Drive to find fun and funky shopping.

A shelf of art on Commercial Drive.

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.

Nanaimo Skytrain station is near Trout Lake park. Not exactly the most important tourist attraction, but a pleasant spot to spend a relaxing day, especially with kids.

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.)

Flower Shopping at the Vancouver Farmers Market.

Next up, take the Vancouver Skytrain all the way out to New Westminster station. Walk along the Fraser River waterfront at New Westminster Quay.

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.

#2 - 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.

#3 - 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 these destinations are not within walking distance of the Vancouver Skytrain. But if I include the ferry ride as part of the attraction, then it all works out, I hope.

You can take either Aquabus or False Creek Ferries. These are private companies so it is an additional ticket on top of your Skytrain ticket.

And 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.

Then after that little detour away, let's head back to the walkable attractions from Vancouver Skytrain stations.

This next one is a bit of 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 lastly, if you aren't traveling to Vancouver via plane, then Vancouver International Airport is a fun spot to visit and watch the planes take off.

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.

For those coming and going from the airport via Vancouver Skytrain, be aware that day passes and faresaver tickets (not the regular transfer ticket if you pay cash) are exempt from the $5 YVR Addfare.

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.

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 on this page usually require at least one bus transfer from the Vancouver Skytrain.

Happy Vancouver Skytrain-ing!

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