33 FREE things to do in Vancouver (or almost free)

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Vancouver is not a cheap city. It can feel like everything costs a lot of money to do. As a visitor it can be almost $50 per person for one of the city’s tourist activities. They’re fun and there’s plenty of them, but if you live here or are visiting for a while (or on a budget) it’s not sustainable. But there are free things to do in Vancouver if you know where to look.

Getting to Vancouver and staying here

While I can’t promise getting to Vancouver will be cheap, there are often good deals to the city as more airlines are passing through Vancouver. Hotels can get pretty pricey in the summer, but the shoulder seasons like early Spring and Fall bring more reasonable prices.

But your trip needn’t cost too much with these money saving activities in the city, some of the best free things to do in Vancouver.

Getting around Vancouver

Free things to do in Vancouver #1: walk! But seriously, Vancouver is very walk-able. When I first moved here I would walk everywhere, it’s how I got to know the neighborhoods and find some hidden gems. But if you don’t want to walk everywhere, or want to explore a little further afield here are some of the best ways to get around:

Skytrain

Our metro system, which is almost all above ground (hence the name). The skytrain is most useful to travel further afield like Burnaby or Richmond, as the downtown stops are pretty close together so it’s easier to walk. Local’s tip: save money getting to/from the airport with the Canada line service right into downtown from the airport.

Bus

The bus is ideal for getting around downtown if you don’t want to walk too far. The #19 goes along through Chinatown and all the way into Stanley Park. The #6 will take you down Davie Street all the way to English Bay Beach. Local’s tip: get a reloadable Compass card which can store value to use on both the bus and skytain as some passes are not transferable.

Seabus

The Seabus is a ferry that runs from Waterfront Station to Lonsdale Quay in North Vancouver. The best way to connect to buses on the North Shore for Lynn Canyon, Grouse Mountain and Capilano Suspension Bridge. The ride takes 15 minutes and service runs until late every 10-30 minutes. Local’s tip: try to get to one end of the ferry or the other to get great views of the North Shore or Downtown Vancouver. Bonus: Your Compass card works on the Seabus too.

Car

Staying downtown? You won’t need a car. Rely on transit if you need to. If however you intend to visit Whistler or drive out into the Valley towards Abbotsford or Chilliwack (yes, that’s a real place) then renting a car might not be a bad idea. I’d recommend you book in advance. Local’s tip: rent only for the days you need to as parking can add up. Most hotels have a minimum of about $30-40/night parking.

The best free things to do in Vancouver

Now to some of the best (and cheapest) activities in Vancouver. Some are downtown, some are a little further afield. Whatever you end up doing in Vancouver I’m sure you’ll have a great time. Remember though, that it rains quite a bit (it’s how our city is so beautiful) so take note of some indoor activities too. Just in case.

But without further ado here are some of the most fun free things to do in Vancouver that I’ve found as a local (or at least under $10).

Walk around Stanley Park

Anyone who lives in Vancouver will tell you how lucky they feel to have Stanley Park here in the city. One of the largest city parks in North America, you can easily get lost in the trails for hours.

No matter which side of the park you’re on there are incredible views: Vancouver harbor, the North Shore mountains, Pacific ocean and Lost Lagoon. In the summer I love to take a book and sit on one of the benches watching the world go by. The summer also hosts the Theatre Under the Stars in the park as well as the Stanley Park painters circle.

The Vancouver Aquarium is a great place to visit with kids (or big kids) for an additional fee, and you’ll likely see a lot of wildlife just walking the park around no matter what time of year. Stanley Park is definitely top of my free things to do in Vancouver list!

Street art self guided walking tour

Free things to do in Vancouver with the most bang for your buck: checking out all the street art. Vancouver has a lot of street art. The amount the city has is growing each day, and you often can’t walk too far without finding a mural or two. Each year Vancouver has a big mural festival with many new pieces commissioned.

One of my favorite walks is along Main Street from around 27th Avenue down to False Creek and Olympic Village. If you walk around this area you will certainly come across some amazing pieces of street art, and it’s the perfect completely free activity in the city. See more Vancouver street art and how to find it yourself here.

Free samples at Granville Island

Oh Granville Island, how I love you. One of my favorite places in the city for sure. I often wander over the Granville Street bridge from downtown to the little island underneath the bridge.

The public market has some incredible food stalls with delicious items to buy. There are often samples to try but beware, if you try them you’ll most likely want to buy everything.

Still it’s a great place to walk around and try some local food, and you can get some items at a reasonable price. Also on Granville Island there are many local artisans selling crafts both on stalls in the market and in some of the permanent store locations.

Local’s Tip: Be sure to take a seat outside the market at the edge of False Creek to admire the view and watch all the boats go by.

Release your inner book geek at the Vancouver Public Library

The library is a cool building. It’s modeled after the Colosseum in Rome so is pretty spectacular to look at. There are cafes and shops all around it, as it’s on Robson Street toward the stadiums.

While you need a library card, and therefore need to be a local, to check books out, there’s nothing to stop you going in to read. If it’s a rainy day and you’re on your own, or you want to brush up on some local history and guide bookings, make your way to Library Square.

There are so many floors of books it’s not even funny. I could get lost for hours in this library, a search party may be called upon. If you’re visiting for a longer time you can get a visitors card but you do need to pay for it.

Local’s tip: check out the library website as there are various times in the year when they have book sales, usually pretty cheap. You can buy books at the Central library location of West Georgia Street downtown.

People watch on Robson Street

Robson Street is known for its shopping, so this may not be the place you think of for a cheap activity. However there are a lot of cafes and bars lining the street which is perfect for people watching after you’ve tired yourself out window shopping.

The pedestrianized area between Howe Street and Hornby Street is a great place to relax on Robson Street. Right behind the Vancouver Art Gallery are seating areas in the public square and there are food trucks and vendors.

With this many good shops though this may not end up being one of the best free things to do in Vancouver as window shopping often leads to purchasing. Or it does when I’m involved.

Vancouver Art Gallery

Speaking of the Vancouver Art Gallery, you wouldn’t think you’d be able to get in here for cheap since their door price is over $20. However, visit on the first Friday of the month between 4pm and 8pm and you can get in for free (pre-booking recommended).

The art gallery has permanent and changing exhibits and can easily keep you entertained for an hour or two.

Ice skating at Robson Square

Back outside the art gallery towards the Robson Street pedestrian area, there are some steps leading under the street. Under here is the University of British Columbia downtown location, but also a big open area that in the winter turns into an ice rink.

From November until mid-March ice skating is one of the top free things to do in Vancouver. You can take your skates down to Robson Square and skate for free, or there are rentals for about $5.

Climb the Grouse Grind

From a leisurely skate around Robson Square to possibly the most why-did-I-choose-to-do-this activity in the city. Grouse Mountain on Vancouver’s North Shore has a lovely gondola ride to the summit where in the winter you can go skiing, skating, and snow-shoeing.

But in the summer there are grizzly bears to view in the refuge at the top, lumberjack shows and amazing views of the city. Who am I kidding, there are amazing views all year long (weather permitting). For those who like a challenge, the Grouse Grind is the trail up the mountain to the top that people in the city like to do for fun exercise.

The Grouse Grind is known as mother nature’s stair master and you may wish you hadn’t started the roughly 1.5-2 hour trek (depending on your fitness level). But it’s a great workout.

The climb is free but you can’t walk down the Grouse Grind trail. There are two options. 1) Take the gondola which is currently at $20 per person; or 2) Take the BCMC trail down (unlike the Grouse Grind, this is a two-way trail).

Remember to take a reusable water bottle with you on your travels, like this one from FastTech

Peruse the local farmers’ markets

Who doesn’t love a farmer’s market. You don’t have to spend a fortune there, but you’ll probably want to. There are farmers’ markets all over Vancouver and most run from May until October.

Different markets operate different days of the week so check out the schedule here. I like the West End farmers’ market, and if you have a car and want to go a little further then Steveston or Ladner are really good.

It’s not just fresh produce, they have locally made cheeses and meats, alcohol, crafts and hot food from food trucks. It’s free to look and there are bound to be some samples.

Antique fair

Vancouver loves a good antique market. There’s the Vancouver Flea Market on Terminal Avenue (not far from Main Street skytrain station). You’ll find some junk, but maybe some good finds too. If nothing else it’s fun to look around.

Admission is less than $2 usually unless a special event. You can also visit Fort Langley which has a lot of little antique shops. It’s a lovely day trip from Vancouver.

Join a street party

If you’re looking for free things to do in Vancouver with your few thousand closest friends then watch out for some of the street parties we have going on. We love our street parties in Vancouver. Any excuse to close down a major road and fill it with people.

There are numerous events throughout the year, although as expected you’ll find more of them in the summer months. Downtown Granville Street and the Art Gallery usually have cultural events on a weekend like the Taiwanese Cultural Festival and Carnaval del Sol.

Then different neighborhoods have their street parties and events. There’s Italian Day on Commercial Drive, Car Free days on Main Street, Commercial Drive and Denman Street. There’s a Greek Festival, and the biggest street party of them all, Pride week in Vancouver.

The week has tons of events for all, and the weekend is always on the long weekend in BC (first weekend in August). Davie Street in Downtown is closed for the street party which goes late into the night, and the Sunday of the long weekend is the Pride Parade.

Watch fireworks

As if downtown doesn’t have enough events going on, there are various fireworks nights throughout the year. Often on New Years eve there is a fireworks display down at Canada Place. They also sometimes have fireworks there on Canada day (July 1st).

Then in the summer we have the huge Honda Celebration of Light where millions of people watch the fireworks in English Bay in downtown. Usually three or four countries compete for the best display spread out over a week and a half to two weeks at the end of July on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Just don’t drive downtown, you’ll be in traffic forever.

Free outdoor movies

While we’re talking about the good things of summer, one of my favorite summer evening activities is an outdoor movie. Yes, greater Vancouver has a drive-in movie theater, but it’s out in Langley. So if you are staying downtown or living here, it’s not that easy to get to for an evening movie.

In the downtown area though, make sure to check out the free movies in Stanley Park right at Second Beach. For about 6 or 7 weeks in July and August they have movies each Tuesday night playing for free on a big screen. Usually cult classics and a couple of more modern movies they start at dusk which at that time of the year is probably around 8:30-9pm. So it runs late.

Take a blanket, some snacks and your friends, and watch a movie with the park to your left and the ocean to the right. You don’t get a better location than that. If you’re looking for a bit more comfort they rent out chairs at the front for a fee (around $20) including popcorn. There is a similar outdoor movie location at Canada place, and others in the lower mainland.

Lynn Canyon

Capilano Suspension Bridge park is a big Vancouver attraction, but Lynn Canyon is the free alternative where you’ll find all the locals. They also have a suspension bridge although not quite as high, but still in a wonderful setting.

Plus, as I already mentioned, it’s free. There’s even free street parking nearby. There are trails, viewpoints, waterfalls and much more. The visitor area has parking, a visitor center, cafe and bathrooms. If you walk further up the trail you reach Rice Lake which is a nice little walk. I love to go in winter when it’s a little quieter and the lake is frozen.

Picnic at the beach

Vancouver has a few beaches. Downtown you have English Bay Beach (probably the busiest) and Sunset Beach, both great for a picnic. If you want a little more quiet then head to Third Beach along the seawall further into Stanley Park (more on that later).

It’s a little quieter because you have to walk further to get there. Pack some food, a blanket or a couple of chairs and away you go. At Second Beach there is a huge grassy area (where the outdoor movies are on Tuesdays, see above) where people often bring a small BBQ.

If you’re not downtown, you can also try Kitsilano Beach, which leads into Jericho Beach and Spanish Banks. The further you go, the less crowded it might be. All are great places to relax on a warm summer day (or evening) and admire the views around Vancouver.

Take a drive up the Sea to Sky highway

While this may not technically fall under the category of free things to do in Vancouver, if you do have access to a car here then your possibilities open right up. The Sea to Sky highway is one of the most amazingly beautiful stretches of road here in BC, leading you from Vancouver to Whistler (and beyond).

You can visit Whistler, and spend more time there, but if you don’t want to go that far you can at least take a drive part way up the Sea to Sky. Squamish is the town halfway between Vancouver and Whistler, and this cute little town is surrounded by mountains, and choc full of cute shops and breweries that will break up your day.

There are plenty of places to stop on the highway, although note that most of them are easier to stop on the way back to Vancouver. The highway in most places is still quite narrow so you will need to stop off to appreciate the views fully.

Check out some of the fun things along the highway if you have more time (and money). Britannia Beach and the Britannia Mine Museum, Furry Creek (yes, also a real place) if you want a round of golf, and Horseshoe Bay has a nice little village. This is also where you go to take the ferry to Vancouver Island. Keep driving up the highway to Whistler – here’s what you can do with a weekend in Whistler.

Walk the Lion’s Gate bridge

To get to Whistler, and onto the Sea to Sky highway you will most likely go across the Lion’s Gate Bridge if you came from downtown. The bridge looks quite similar to the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, but is green instead of red. Maybe that’s a hint as to the family that built the bridge: the Guinness family (yes, of the beer).

While every Vancouverite will tell you how much they loathe driving over the bridge (it’s a bottleneck for traffic at both ends so avoid rush hour and long weekends) there are great views if you walk across.

It’s quite the walk of course, and at the edge of the inlet it can be breezy even on a nice day. But you can see downtown Vancouver on one side and the Pacific ocean on the other. In front of you are the North Shore mountains, and behind you Stanley Park. There really isn’t a bad direction to look.

Queen Elizabeth Park

Stanley Park isn’t the only park in Vancouver. If you take the Canada Line Skytrain to the King Edward stop, Queen Elizabeth Park is a short walk from there. There are lovely gardens to look at and admire and plenty of benches to sit down and read a book on.

If you make it to the top of the park there’s the Bloedel Conservatory, a large golf ball looking dome with tropical plants and birds. It doesn’t take long to walk around but it’s really nice in there. Plus it’s less than $10 per person entry.

There’s a high end restaurant opposite, Seasons in the Park. From the restaurant and right next to the restaurant there are stunning views of Vancouver on a nice day.

Steveston tram

Steveston is a little fishing village past Richmond (where the airport is). To get there it’s best to have a car, but you can get there by public transit if you want. I’ve done it many times.

Take the Canada Line Skytrain as far as you can go to Richmond-Brighouse (note: every other train goes to the airport instead so make sure you’re on the right one before you get to Bridgeport, the last stop where you can switch). From there cross the street and take any of the following buses to Steveston village: #401, #402, #406, #407.

Once in Steveston on No. 1 Road and Moncton, there’s a little museum in the park that houses an old city tram. You can get on board and see how far city transit has come. Entry is FREE. Steveston has a lot of other things to do and you can easily spend an afternoon there. Check our more highlights of Steveston here.

Canada Place trail

Want to learn more about Canada? Head on over to Canada Place. The cruise ship terminal was opened in 1986 for the World Expo which came to Vancouver. Fun fact: the Expo was also responsible for the Skytrain being built.

Canada Place has 5 white sails whose ten points represent the 10 provinces and territories of Canada. Cruise ships dock most days in the summer and if you walk along the pier you can get closer to the ships and also see the North Shore mountains at the end. Flyover Canada is a simulated ride over Canada, tickets are around $20.

But for another of the free things to do in Vancouver I recommend taking a walk along the outside of Canada Place where there’s a trail leading you from province to province along the walkway. Along the way there are information guides about Canada’s history, and at the end is the Port of Vancouver museum telling you the history of shipping and trade in Vancouver.

Patio in Gastown

If you’ve been to Canada Place, then Gastown is a short walk from there. Steamworks brewery marks the start of Gastown, along Water Street. It’s just the first of many nice patios in Gastown, the original part of Vancouver where the city was born in 1886. Walk down the cobbled streets which are lit up nicely at night, and get pulled back in time. There are dozens of tourist shops, cafes, bars and restaurants.

If you keep walking along Water Street you’ll reach a big roundabout area with a lot of great food places around it. I’ve taken walking tours in Gastown, which if you have time I’d definitely recommend. Forbidden Vancouver has some great tours, but unfortunately I can’t class this under free things to do in Vancouver (worth the money though). But if you’re looking for a cheap activity, then sit on a patio in the summer (or a cozy pub in the winter) with a nice craft beer.

Some of my summer recommendations:

• Local – at the big roundabout, huge patio and really nice menu. Great place for people watching in the summer
• Six Acres – opposite from Local. Small patio, but great beer selection and snacks. TIP: the garlic parmesan popcorn is really good
• Steamworks – next to Waterfront Station, it’s a brewery so the beer is made right there and is delicious. The menu is great, but being at the edge of Gastown it can be a little noisier

And some not so sunny day recommendations:

• Black Frog – just down from the Gastown Steamclock (on Cambie Street) is a little pub with reasonably priced food, and friendly staff. It’s cheap and cheerful and for me I love it more because that’s where I met my boyfriend Jeff
• Alibi Room – if you love beer then head over to Alibi Room. After Local continue down Alexander Street to a place that has 50 beers on tap and creative comfort food

Movies in the Morgue

Movies in the park are for summer, but the fall and winter months bring a new kind of fun movie night: Movies in the Morgue. The Police Museum on Cordova Street (past Gastown) is an interesting museum. Learn about grisly tales of Vancouver’s true crime history, and see some terrifying homemade weapons that have been confiscated over time.

But a novel experience is to watch a movie in the old city morgue, if you’re not too scared that is. They pull the screen down in front of the little doors where the bodies have been kept in the past, and sell cheap popcorn and sodas. Sometimes they have horror movies but there are other kinds of movies too. Tickets are under $20 but also include entry to the museum which is $13.50 on its own.

Roedde House Museum

Another cheap museum in the city is the Roedde House Museum in the West End of downtown. This is a Victorian townhouse filled to the brim with items from that era. Go back in time at this adorable house on Barclay Street.

There are guided tours and tea and tour days too. I grew up in the UK so have spent many a vacation visiting old houses around the UK just like this, so I can tell you it has a lot of cool thing to see. The museum is only open a few hours a day so check times before you go. Currently open 1pm-4pm Wednesday-Friday and Sunday in the fall/winter, and 11am-4pm the same days in the summer.

Free walking tour – toonie tours

I love a good walking tour when I’m visiting a new place. It’s the best way to get a feel for a new city or town. And you get so much more information about the history than if you wandered on your own.

I’ve taken walking tours in Vancouver. Even though I live here and think I know everything about it, I don’t. There’s always a new tidbit to learn. But not only is this tour one of the best things to do in Vancouver, it’s one of the best free things to do in Vancouver. Toonie Tours offers this free walking tour of Vancouver.

Because it’s free you should reserve ahead of time as they only take max 25 people out. The tour is three hours long which is pretty good for free! The company do other tours around Vancouver. Walking tours are getting more popular here. To check out other tours on offer in Vancouver through Viator click here.

Free concerts

Vancouver has had some amazing performers grace the various stages around the city. From big name stars like Jay Z and the Spice Girls, to musicals like the Book of Mormon and Wicked and even classical music at the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. But while there are bound to be some good acts here during your visit you might not want to spend a lot of money going to see them. The good news is there are free concerts around Vancouver throughout the year.

There’s the Vancouver International Jazz Festival in the summer which has some free concerts included. Every Tuesday evening in the summer you can go to the drum circle at Third Beach (in Stanley Park). Same day as the movies in the park! It’s more a free-for-all than a concert, but it’s musical and fun.

Deer Lake Park in Burnaby is also a good place when they have Symphony in the Park which is a free concert by the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. Most farmers markets and festivals in the summer will have some live music of some kind too.

Local’s tip: although not one of the free things to do in Vancouver I highly recommend a night at the VSO. They often put on performances playing the musical score to major Hollywood movies while the movie plays on a big screen behind. They have been working through the Harry Potter series, and I recently watched Jurassic Park there.

Christmas market

I love Christmas! There, I said it. Christmas markets are my thing. They’re so much fun. Is there anything more festive than being outside on a nice winter evening with Christmas lights all around drinking hot chocolate (or mulled wine if you’re feeling extra festive)? You know there isn’t. While Vancouver can’t really compete with the Christmas markets of Europe, they still put on a pretty good market outside the Convention Centre.

Tickets have steadily increased in price the last few years. Last year they were $15 at the gate (you can save a couple dollars online) but have the option to extend to a season pass for an additional $1. So even if you spend $16 and go twice you’re under $10 a visit (I’m counting that in my list, so don’t even try and argue). It’s a fun event and runs for about a month from late November.

There are gifts, Christmas decorations, a beer tent, live entertainment and food vendors. The food is amazing, you’ll have to go more than once to try it all.

Local’s tip: if you eat nothing else make sure to try the Mr. Pretzels and the raclette vendors…you know, that cheese that is in all the drool-worthy videos from places in Europe. Cheese and bread, it doesn’t get much better.

Take a boat ride

Earlier I mentioned Granville Island market. But if you’re looking for a fun way to get there, take a little ferry across False Creek from downtown. There’s the Aquabus and False Creek Ferries and they run every few minutes from morning until evening. I often take the ferries to get there for two reasons. #1: it’s quicker than taking the bus or walking over the bridge; #2: it’s fun and you get great views of the city from the boat.

The boats also go to Vanier Park (where you can see the Maritime Museum or Museum of Vancouver), to Yaletown and even down to Science World at the end of False Creek. Tickets start at about $3-4 one way and cost depends on where you sail to.

Local’s tip: you can buy a book of 10 tickets and save on the price if there are a few of you together or you will use the ferries a few times during your stay.

Cycle Stanley Park

In the summer I get up early so I can cycle around Stanley Park (specifically the seawall) without hundreds of other people around. I love getting there early and having the sun come up as I’m biking along with some of the most incredible views.

Likewise, cycling in the fall is amazingly beautiful as you churn up the crunchy leaves on your way around. Even winter has some nice cycling days. But if you don’t have your own bicycle or you’re just visiting the city, how can you get around?

Well I have an annual pass for Mobi bikes, a bike share company in Vancouver. There are stations all over the city to pick up and drop off bikes. You can also get a day pass or a 30 day pass. If you’re here a few days that might be worth the deal. Another option is Yes Cycle. They have an hour rental for $8.50 including all you’ll need to ride (bike, helmet, lock).

Local’s tip: choose early morning or evening for a quieter time to cycle around the park.

Museum of Vancouver

I love the Museum of Vancouver. It’s such a good museum. They have changing exhibits and permanent displays. If you’re new to Vancouver they have a wonderful timeline exhibit taking you from Vancouver back in the 1800s to present day.

Some of the history is interesting to read about, but it’s definitely not boring. There’s also a really cool neon lights exhibit showing some of the old signs from the 50s when neon was everywhere. There are also great exhibits telling people about the local First Nations tribes.

While the museum costs over $20 usually, there is a donation night the first Sunday of each month. For whatever you can pay, you will be able to learn all about Vancouver. Essentially a $20 a visit museum becomes one of the best free things to do in Vancouver.

Local’s tip: get there early as there will be a line and you want to maximize time to soak up Vancouver’s history.

Enjoy a comedy show

While we’re on evening activities what better way to relax than visiting a comedy show. While there are a number of comedy shows in Vancouver, I like The Improv Centre on Granville Island.

Some tickets are higher priced than others, so it all depends on the day you go. But on Thursdays you can get tickets starting at $10 on Pay What You Can night. The shows change frequently and they are often inspired by current events.

Local’s tip: There’s the potential for some audience participation so keep your head down and try not to look too nervous if they ask for volunteers.

Trivia nights Vancouver

There are a number of trivia nights held around the city, pretty much one for every night of the week. Nice Guys Trivia is the company that do the one I am part of. They go around a few different pubs throughout the week.

Trivia is free to participate and there are prizes of beer and money throughout the night. It starts around 7pm and goes on for about 2 hours or so. There are music rounds, general knowledge, current events and specialist categories voted for each week.

It’s fun, a great social event and perfect if you’ve got a couple of know-it-all’s you want to help win you some free drinks.

Pitch and Putt Central Park

Golf can be expensive in and around Vancouver, even though there are some ridiculously nice golf courses. I’m not a big golf fan, I kind of get bored around the 9th hole but occasionally go for a fun afternoon out on a nice day. Pitch and putt golf is therefore perfect because it’s quicker and cheaper than a full game of golf.

While there is a pitch and putt in Stanley Park downtown, it’s close to $15 per person. But if you’re willing to go a little further, Central Park in Burnaby has pitch and putt a little cheaper, and it’s a really nice park to walk around too. It’s only around $10 per person at any time, but they also have evening pitch and putt for the last 2 hours of the day for around $7 per person.

Local’s tip: if you’re lucky you might see some wildlife as there are raccoons, squirrels, and I once saw a coyote.

Free art galleries Vancouver

Earlier I talked about the Vancouver Art Gallery, the main art gallery in town. But while you can only get in cheap on Friday evenings, there are some other galleries around town that are free to go see.

Now, they are more “maybe I want to buy some art” kind of galleries, but you don’t have to purchase to take a look. One of my favorites is the Chali Rosso Gallery on the 3rd floor of Canada Place. They have pieces by Dali, Picasso, Matisse and others for sale, but you can go to take a look around for free.

I’m a big Salvador Dali fan so I love going here. The gallery also has a public art exhibit in Vancouver each year where they put up one or two Dali sculptures around Vancouver like these ones from 2019. If your money is burning a hole in your pocket you can walk away from the gallery with a new Dali or Picasso painting. Want to see more Dali art? Here’s my guide to visiting Salvador Dali’s hometown of Figueres, Spain.

33 free things to do in Vancouver

Whew, and there you have it. An epic list of fun free things to do in Vancouver. Obviously some of these are seasonal so make sure to check out in advance what’s going on in Vancouver. Here are a couple of my resources for finding things going on in the city:

• Vancouver’s Best Places – festivals and events
• Destination Vancouver calendar of events
• The Georgia Straight events listings

Whatever you end up doing in Vancouver I guarantee you’ll love it here. The city has so much going for it, that you’ll need a vacation to get over your vacation. The views around the city are spectacular, it’s saturated with amazing restaurants and bars, and clearly not everything is super expensive here or I wouldn’t have found this many things to talk about.

Make sure to take time to walk around some of Vancouver’s neighborhoods like the West End, Commercial Drive, Gastown and Chinatown. Take advantage of the public transit and how walk-able the city is. And most of all take in the laid back, artistic lifestyle of Vancouver. For more tours and activities in Vancouver check out Viator here.

If you’ve enjoyed this post please leave a comment or share using the social media buttons below. What are your favorite free things to do in Vancouver? Tell me about other great cities with free activities you’ve visited.