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We took the trolley through Stanley park, starting with the aquarium- which was one of the best we've ever visited! So many beautiful stopping points in the park, truly a must see when visiting the city. You can spend two hours, or all day!
Stanley Park was at the top of my must-do list while visiting Vancouver--and it was easily one of my favorite activities. The urban park spans over 1,000 lush acres and has such a rich history. It officially opened as a public park in 1888, named after Lord Stanley, Canada's Governor General at the time. We decided to experience it in the best way possible: on two wheels. After renting bicycles near Coal Harbor, we set off along the park's famous seawall--a scenic path that loops around the entire perimeter and offers nonstop views of ocean, mountains, city, and skyline. It's the kind of ride where you find yourself stopping often because every turn reveals beautiful views. Along the way, we made stops at some of the park's most iconic landmarks. The Stanley Park Totem Poles were vibrant and deeply rooted in Indigenous culture and storytelling. We continued on to the Girl in a Wetsuit statue, and then made our way up to Prospect Point. Don't forget to take in the view of the Lions Gate Bridge stretching across the water! Further along, we stopped to admire Siwash Rock before finishing our route near A-maze-ing Laughter by English Bay. After hours of heavy rain, we got incredibly lucky--the skies cleared what felt like just for us, and we were able to enjoy the entire ride in fresh, crisp air. I was so happy seeing the beaches along the way and the tree-lined paths glowing with orange leaves as we soaked in the last bits of autumn. Best of all, we were treated to a beautiful sunset at English Bay. It felt like the perfect closing moment--peaceful, golden, and well-earned after a full loop around the park. I can't recommend visiting Stanley Park enough. Wish we had enough time to visit the teahouse, but will have to save that for next time. If you're short on time but want to see a lot, biking the seawall is absolutely the way to go. It's active, scenic, and such a memorable way to experience one of Vancouver's most beloved places.
One of the most beautiful parks in North America and a popular tourist destination when visiting Vancouver. This park is huge so be sure to rent a bike and enjoy the sites.
Stanley Park is an iconic spot in Vancouver and a great place to walk around and see city and nature views!
Nice place to walk and take in some beauty. They have paths divided for bikes and walkers which is nice. They have a small gift shop. There are bathrooms.
Stanley Park - one of Vancouvers must see & experience parks. I've dropped plenty pictures of Stanley Park over the years under my - City of Vancouver - review. Over time I realized, this jewel deserves its own review. One of Vancouvers big draws for tourists, this is a stunning park minutes from downtown Vancouver. I have visited dozens of times & brought many out of town family & friends to see Stanley Park. I often go during the summer months but will not hesitate to drop in during the Fall or Winter. Things to do here - bike, walk, jog, scooter, rollerblade, sight see, visit the aquarium, enjoy a summer concert & more. Take a ride around via horse & carriage if you like. There's even a beach on the west side of the park to chill out on. As you walk around the outer perimeter of the park, the views are breathtaking - the ocean, downtown Vancouver, the mountains, the Lionsgate Bridge, the skyline - all gorgeous. A walk around the seawall can take up to 90mins, depending on how often you stop along the way. Oh you definitely will be making a few stops along the way to capture those picture perfect shots. The trees in this park are iconic - age & beauty, so keep an eye out. Head to Prospect Point, facing West Vancouver, & make that proposal to your future spouse, at this stunning view point. As you wind your way around the park, you end up at Second Beach Pool - a large beautiful heated pool, open during late spring through to the end of summer. At the centre of the park is the popular Vancouver Aquarium, recommended for families with kids to come check out. Post pandemic (Covid-19) in late 2021 into year 2022, Stanley Park became notorious for severe attacks on people by - coyotes. It took a while for government to get control of the situation. It was definitely a scary time to go through the park back then. Hot tip alert - if you drive here & park, do not leave your wallets or passports in your car! And do not even get out of your car, & proceed to put anything in the trunk, ie jacket. Unfortunately theives operate here - you won't see them but they are here hiding in the bushes. I have scootered around the entire park. Some passage way on the far western side is just too narrow & gets too crowded. I'd recommend scootering around the park in an anticlockwise pattern, getting to the Lions Gate Bridge & then turning right back around. For sanitys sake.
Very well kept and easy to follow biking and walking paths. Beautiful scenery!!! There are a few slow zones if you're riding a bike where you must walk the bike. There are a couple attractions and activities along the route like totem poles, light houses, and even a swimming pool and park! Very busy on weekends and weekdays.
we drove around stanley park after dinner and caught the sunset, hoping to catch a glimpse of a humpback whale or maybe even a pod of orcas passing through the water. no such luck this time, but honestly the park still delivered. instead, we spotted a seagull standing perfectly still with a starfish clamped proudly in its mouth like some kind of seafood trophy. it looked both deeply proud of itself and slightly terrified to move in case it dropped its prize. it's easy to understand why stanley park is considered vancouver's most famous attraction. somehow this enormous urban park manages to combine rainforest, beaches, wildlife, gardens, ocean views, and the downtown skyline all in one place without ever feeling overly busy or commercialised. the drive through the park alone is worth it. take your time, there is construction going on right now. winding roads curve beneath towering western red cedars, douglas firs, and hemlocks before suddenly opening up to sweeping coastal views. every turn feels completely different from the last. the stanley park seawall is really the centrepiece of the entire experience. wrapping around the waterfront with nearly nonstop views of english bay, burrard inlet, lions gate bridge, the north shore mountains, and the vancouver skyline, it's the kind of place where people naturally slow down. cyclists cruise past runners, dog walkers stop to admire the scenery, tourists pause every few metres for photos, and families wander along the path with ice cream in hand. prospect point was easily one of the highlights, especially near sunset with the view stretching towards lions gate bridge and the mountains beyond. brockton point lighthouse added another classic postcard view, while the sailboats gathered near the royal vancouver yacht club made the harbour glow in the evening light. along the seawall we passed the scuba diver statue resting casually on a rock beside the water, definitely a scuba diver, not a mermaid, and somehow it perfectly matches the atmosphere of the park: peaceful, slightly quirky, and unmistakably west coast. lost lagoon brought a completely different energy from the oceanfront sections of the park. surrounded by trees and calm walking paths, the water reflected the skyline while ducks, geese, and other birds drifted quietly across the surface. second beach and third beach were both full of people making the most of the evening. second beach has the famous heated outdoor pool sitting right beside the ocean, along with volleyball courts, picnic areas, and one of the best sunset spots in the park. third beach felt quieter and more tucked away, with people stretched out on driftwood logs watching the sky slowly shift colours over english bay. nearby, the teahouse sits hidden among the trees, blending naturally into the surroundings. what makes stanley park stand out is how much there is beyond the famous seawall. tucked throughout the park are forest trails, gardens, playgrounds, tennis courts, public art, wildlife viewing areas, the pitch and putt golf course, and the vancouver aquarium hidden among the trees. despite sitting beside downtown vancouver, the park rarely feels urban. within minutes you can go from skyline views and busy pathways to quiet forest roads where all you hear is wind moving through the trees and waves hitting the shoreline. it's the contrast that makes the place memorable. even without spotting whales or orcas, the evening felt unforgettable. stanley park isn't just a place you visit once for the photos, it's the kind of place you keep wanting to return to because every section of it feels slightly different from the last.
I'm a firm believer that the best way to experience a new city is by visiting a park, and Stanley Park in Vancouver is the quintessential case. It's the third-largest urban park in North America and even bigger than Central Park in NYC. Unlike other large urban parks that were designed by architects, Stanley Park is a naturally occurring rainforest ecosystem that evolved from a forest and urban space over time. It attracts 18 million visitors per year. The park is also a darling child of Western travel media, regularly earning praise from companies such as TripAdvisor and Conde Nast Traveler as the top/most beautiful park in the world. The park is indeed absolutely stunning. When I visited, it was bustling with activity, and I observed people in the park from all different walks of life. I am personally an active traveler. I would have loved to have some dedicated time to go hiking and explore the park more extensively, but my friend who accompanied me on the trip is more of a leisure traveler. So, we spent the majority of our time in the park lounging and enjoying an incredible sunset at the beach. Not a bad compromise at all. :) Please refer to resources developed by local experts such as the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation, the University of British Columbia, and the Vancouver Heritage Foundation for more comprehensive information on Stanley Park.
Gorgeous spot for a walk. Visited on a beautiful sunny day and got to walk along the sea wall. Had a great time. The totem poles are so cool. Great views of multiple points of the city. Its busy but still enjoyable. Lots of bikes and pedestrians. Can also drive through and see things while driving. We even saw a bald eagle flying above us!!
Visited the Harry Potter forbidden forest event at Stanley Park and it was a 10/10. The attention to detail was great. The staff were friendly as well and helpful In organizing parking etc. the lights, sound and music , as well as figures all throughout was a magical experience.
BEAUTIFUL PARK, runners/walkers/roller skaters. two lanes for ppl on feet vs wheels. very safe, abt 6mi to make one loop around lake + park, u go under the bridge, u get a view of the beaches, ferries, seagulls, u enter parks. U NEED TO ADD THIS TO UR ITINERARY!! go biking for $10 an hour is so worth it!! yummy waterfront dining areas surrounding
Pros: The people of Vancouver are so lucky to have something like this. If I lived here, I would be biking this route once a week. We saw multiple seals playing in the water. There's a tea place towards the end. Cons: very very crowded. Lots of rude people.
Stanley Park is great and you need to check it out if you're in that area. Rent a bike to go around for 30 or 60 minutes, it's fun and you can quickly get to the various points and snap some pictures. Note that paid parking is enforced every day and you'll probably end up paying around 13$, I think that's the summer rate. read more
2 years ago
Stanley Park was cool. Everyone recommended it and what I liked about it is that it didn't meet the hype. For an urban park it's surprisingly diverse as far as activities and scenery goes. I'm happy I went because this was the one place that every Vancouverite was telling me to see read more
Such a lovely and big park. Summer is great here for running, cycling, and walking taking photos of the great skyline of Vancouver. It can get chilly if it's windy. You can rent bicycles and spend time at the gift shop near the totems. They are huge and good for pics. Getting there is pretty easy and near the city but it can get messy if traffic or snowing. Parking is also available in 2 different spots that I can recall but if heavy snow, there can be some flooded parts and parking will be a small issue. You must make time to walk around the park. There is a lighthouse and some animals around. You can walk down to the water but the algae and rocks would be in your way. It is gorgeous all year round :D read more
2 years ago
This is a beautiful park with several interesting areas. Since I was on a tour bus, I was only allowed off in two areas of the park (at the awesome totem poles and at the fabulous scenic overlook of the bridge), but there are many other areas that one could enjoy here. We did, however, have a scenic drive through the rest of the park, and since it was raining that particular day, it all worked out. If I were visiting the park on my own, though, I'd spend quite a bit more time enjoying the scenery and the areas within this huge park. A must-see if you are visiting Vancouver. read more
Amazing park!! One-fifth larger than Central Park in NYC. Very cool Forrest setting with lots of trails to explore. I walked along the sea wall, doing the 6 mile loop and there was a ton to see. The walk took me about 2 hours but I walked at a pretty decent pace; lots of people were biking. Highly recommend checking the park out if you are in Vancouver. read more
3 years ago
This park is a great place for taking walks and pictures, tons of trees and view of the city, the place is amazing to see when you visit Vancouver. The weather is nice there also when it's June, have fun. read more
4 years ago
An absolute must see when visiting Vancouver. Make sure you rent some bikes (half fsy got me around stanley all the eay to downtown, then graville and back. Stanley was my absolute fave! read more
8 years ago
3 years ago
With limited mobility, I was glad to be able to squeeze in a quick drive-through of the famed urban landmark park on the last day of a brief visit. Initially, our car proceeded at a snail pace behind a horse-drawn tour carriage on the single lane, one-way loop road around the park. Many bicyclists zipped by; a concrete barrier separated the wide bike lane from the road. Perhaps riding a bike is a safe, flexible, and better way to tour the park (later, I learned that biking on the scenic seawall loop around the edge of the park covers beaches, monuments, lighthouse, etc ). What I liked best about the drive-through were the sight of the beautiful, impressive Vancouver's skyline from the park, and passing under majestic tall trees arching over the road. Even though I bypassed many attractions; this quick drive-through satisfied my curiosity. read more
2 years ago
I wanted to skip out on bicycling around Stanley Park and just walk but so glad we ended up renting bikes at Spokes since it would have been a long walk. Stanley Park is gorgeous, especially on a mostly sunny summer day in July, with just enough cloud cover for it not to get too hot. There are so many places to stop and take pictures of Brockton Point, the Lions Gate Bridge, and even downtown Vancouver (at least, that's what I thought it was) across the water. With all the stops we made, it took us at least 2 hours of bicycling through the park. We even stopped at one part where you can carefully make your way to wade onto the beach - the water is cold but feels good after you've gotten your blood pumping cycling! Stanley Park is a must visit while in Vancouver! read more
8 years ago
Awesome park! There's a lot to do here and a must see if you're in Vancouver. We biked around the park and stopped along the way at the different view points and attractions. It's a nice way to spend the day. There is also some beach areas if you're interested in jumping in the water. We saw a few seals on rocks nearby. There's also a few gardens that are cool to check out. You could easily spend an entire day walking around and checking out new parts of the park. Enjoy! read more
8 years ago
Wonderful place. Easy to get to; just catch a Route 19 bus downtown and ride all the way to the end. I'm sure the place is gorgeous during the spring and fall.....went during winter and half of the trees lost all of their leaves lol. Still, it's a great place to walk and chillax; I went when it was off-and-on raining so it was extra peaceful with not much people around. Pretty cool scenic points throughout my walk; only walked a bit of the huge loop since I had other things on my agenda. read more
4 years ago
Beautiful park in Vancouver! So walkable, boasting magnificent views of the skyline and ocean, a great place to escape the hustle and bustle. It's stunning year round, but definitely worth a visit all the more after a fresh drop of snow and clear skies (rare as that may be, but it happens ;) read more
4 years ago
9 years ago
With three hours remaining in our sunny weekend trip to Vancouver, we were on a mission: explore as much of Stanley Park as possible. Given its enormity, you could easily spend the day here. However, with our time constraint, here are a few highlights of what we fit into our visit: 1) Stop by Hallelujah Point for a captivating view of the Downtown Vancouver skyline. It's quite a sight! 2) View the First Nations Totem Poles and read up on their background as each has it's own story. This is actually one of the top Vancouver attractions, so it's a must! 3) Follow the path behind the Totem Poles for a view of the Lion Gates Bridge and then continue walking along the seaboard to the Brockton Point Lighthouse for more scenic views. If you're lucky enough to spend more time at the park, visit the Rose Garden and the aquarium! Those are on our list for next time. Parking is about $3 an hour. In all the lots, there's a parking meter where you'll submit your license plate number, enter your coins and receive a receipt to place in your dashboard. **TIP** Arrive before mid-day to avoid the crowds, which allows for better photo opportunities. Although there are horse carriage tours available at a cost, the best way to explore the park is by foot. It's nice that the pathways are split into three lanes - walking / running, rollerblading and biking - provides some structure so that all park-goers can enjoy however they see best fit! read more
Best park I've ever visited. I highly recommend renting a bike just outside the park to fully enjoy the park! Bike rental is not available inside the park but plenty of them just outside. They have bike lane and pedestrian lane available, easy to ride around. I really went all around and can't pick my favorite area. All were good on its way. I saw floating gas station for boats, lions gate bridge looked impressive, ocean/river had different looks depending on where you are. Views of mountains and downtown are gorgeous. Relaxing at the second beach was really relaxing. Lots of trails to cut across the park. Riding bikes on the trail, made me feel oh I wish I have a job to support living in Vancouver.... People were so friendly, got lost a couple of times but people came up to me to help with directions. I could come here daily for my run or bike. read more
4 years ago
So to start off, was it overpriced? Absolutely. Was it delicious? Absolutely the eggs were soooo perfectly soft-poached; I mean - look how runny it is the chili flakes gave it that extra oomph! Mmm also something about airport food just tastes extra yummy (maybe cause I'm spending more $$ on it?!) read more
6 years ago
I'm not even sure why this page would even have anything less than a 5 star option. Stanley Park is everything they say and more. I knew it had to be the first activity during my trip. Got up bright and early and started walking the seawall around 8am and only finished walking the whole thing around 2pm and yet there's still stuff I didn't see! It's just the most wonderful park and it's the ideal way to spend your day just strolling or biking or lounging by one of the beaches. read more
4 years ago
This is such an amazing park, we had such a nice visit!!! So many different environments to choose!!! read more
5 years ago
4 years ago
9 years ago
It's American Thanksgiving today, and I've been thinking a lot about gratitude. Things I'm thankful for. Good people around me in my life. Good experiences this year, this summer, and continual hope for the future. And yes, Stanley Park. Well, maybe not *just* Stanley Park, but places like it. Outdoors. Outside. Fresh air, trees, trails, and all the natural places that are so special. You see, Vancouver is a jungle of gray and teal glass highrises. It's a well thought out city skyline, but it's a lot of concrete, steel, and shiny hard glass surface. In this world of urbanity, then, how wonderful is it to have over a thousand acres of green grass, spindly trees, winding trails, ponds, birds, and walkways around the water? It's a splendid, beautiful thing and something I'm incredibly grateful for. I came from the market with a whole bag full of picnic goodies: prosciutto, caraway seed cheese, fancy soda, salami, a local apple, and a raspberry chocolate tart. I walked across the bridge and headed to the park, stopping at a bench just outside its gates to finally eat my pickings. Then it was onto the seawall, which runs the perimeter of the entire park (though much of it was temporarily closed for maintenance) so I popped into the interior of the park on the Lovers Walk, crossed over past Beaver Lake, and came out on the road back to the entrance. But there are several paths that criss-cross the verdant landscape and you'd be happy to traverse any of them. There are some more popular areas of the park. The area nearest to downtown, the totem poles, Hollow Tree, Siwash Rock. I actually didn't see any of them. I'm a road less traveled kind of guy. But eventually I will go back to see them. On this trip, it was more about getting lost in my mind, and not setting out to see anything in particular. I think next trip I'll also try it via bike. The bike path goes around the entire park (one-way only, counter-clockwise) and would be an excellent way to cover lots of ground. I'm thankful that there are places like this in the world. read more
4 years ago
Walk it! Or bike it! Skate board or roller blade if you younger. Do a sprint from the sprinter to the canon! read more
San Francisco has Golden Gate Park, New York has a larger Central Park, and Vancouver has an even larger Stanley Park. This was the first place for our tour group to visit, on our 9 day Canadian railway tour. The park is on a peninsula, surrounded on three sides by water, and a very short distance from downtown Vancouver. The heavily forested park is crisscrossed with dual pedestrian and bike paths, with vehicle traffic limited to a few roads. Paid parking only. You have to pay in advance using cash bills, or credit card to a machine, which gives you a dated dashboard receipt, with expiration time. Parking about $3 Canadian an hour. From our first stop we could see the skyline of Vancouver across the narrow strait, with an array of totem poles on the other side, next to the visitor centers, restrooms and souvenir shops. Vast fields of landscaped greenery in the background. Cross over the pedestrian and bike paths, watching out for speeding cyclists, and we see horse drawn wagons, not carriages, the horses with black diapers, so you don't have to worry about stepping in some monster horse droppings. But that still leaves dog droppings. Horses dressed better than the tourists in the wagons. Part of the 5.5 mile seawall path for pedestrians and bicyclists. In a distance the Lions Bridge, a suspension bridge like the Golden Gate, but in green colors, also built in the 1930s. Other features include the largest aquarium in Canada, board a miniature train replica of the first transcontinental train to cross Canada, visit an animal petting farm, play on an 18 hole golf course, visit the rose garden, and eat at any of the 3 restaurants some with great ocean views. We get on the bus shortly and pass by a beach, somewhat empty on this Friday, as temperatures only in the low 70s, with a stiff breeze picking up in the afternoon. Great place to rent a bike, go jogging, walking or just catching rays. Named after Lord Stanley, in 1888, then governor-general of Canada, who also had the Stanley cup named after him. Passed by the Royal Vancouver Yacht Club, - not in this lifetime for me! read more
A lovely stroll in a huge park. THE PARK: Serene. Beautiful. Nature. Crisp air. Chilly, but bearable in October. We were dropped off and just walked around. We started by the seawall overlooking the water. You can get down on the rocks or you can walk/bike the paved road right next to it. After spending some time admiring the view, we ventured into the park, which looks like a forest. We had a map and there are wood markings with names, but in all honesty we let ourselves get lost and enjoy being in nature. We met a cute wiener dog named Molly. I uploaded a bunch of photos/videos. Highly recommend spending time here. read more
A must visit tourist place but it's truly a great place to visit. There are two lanes as you travel. The right side is for pedestrians. The left side are for the cyclists. While we were cyclists and stayed on our side of the road, many pedestrians and cyclists wove in and out of their lanes. At a couple of instances, people could easily clash into each other. The lanes should be wider. That said, as you travel, at each point there are signs to let you know where you are. You'll see the Seawall where somebody or bodies make the stones into stone people. You'll find the waves crashing over the edges and into the lanes. Also beware of the falling rocks. If you're lucky you might even see a mermaid! read more
Stanley Park is gorgeous!! You can do so much here. There's an aquarium, a pool, a beach, a train ride, a playground, and so much more that I didn't even get to see in one day. Definitely the best park I have ever been to because of all the different scenery and options. read more
4 years ago
Me and my visited Canada for the first time this weekend and this was the highlight of our trip! We went for a beautiful walk along the water and enjoyed watching the ducks and experiencing the natural environment. Lots of exercise without even noticing, it was so pretty! The signage was a little confusing and we weren't able to find the miniature train, and we wish that there were more bathrooms along the path. However, it was great and we'd love to come back someday. read more
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610 Pipeline Road
Vancouver, BC V6G 3E2
Canada
Coal Harbour
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http://vancouver.ca/parks-recreation-culture/stanley-park.aspx
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