A traveller who used Air Canada’s seasonal direct flights from Dublin to Vancouver described a 72-hour Vancouver itinerary built around neighbourhoods, markets and local attractions.
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The guide begins with Air Canada extending its seasonal direct flights from Dublin to Vancouver, giving the traveller a route into the city for a three-day itinerary created with help from a friend who has lived in Vancouver for nearly two decades.
After arriving, friends collected her at the airport and the first stop was Queen Elizabeth Park, where she walked through the conservatory and reached a viewpoint with ocean views, the city skyline, and mountain sightlines including Cypress, Seymour and Grouse.
The itinerary then turned to Vancouver’s neighbourhood “Van” regions, with the guide describing the north as an area for outdoor enthusiasts, the east as a more industrial district associated with artists and creatives, and the west as a laidback beach-oriented area.
Next, the traveller visited Main Street in Mount Pleasant for thrift and consignment shopping, then moved to Commercial Drive for independent shops, bars and coffee shops. The guide includes meals at Violette and a return the next day for brunch at Lunch Lady, described as Vietnamese food.
One morning included a 5 km run along local beaches and a stop at a farmers market for fresh fruit and vegetables.
The itinerary shifted outside the city to Capilano Suspension Bridge about 30 minutes from Vancouver, where the guide describes a “destination pass” from the tourist board and notes that the bridge’s entrance was decorated with hanging pumpkins. It also highlights autumn features such as falling leaves and views from the bridge, plus the treetop walk and a cliff-top walk.
After that, the guide continued to Grouse Mountain, reached by cable car, and describes the “Grouse Grind” hike as a steep 2.5 km climb. It also references Coola, a grizzly bear rescued near death two decades ago, and notes that his companion, Grinder, died earlier that year. The guide adds that a lumberjack show runs at the destination.
Back in the city, the guide includes time in Stanley Park, described as the “green heart of the city,” and a stop at Prospect Park for another city view. It also references West End for a community feel, including people gathering on the beach to play volleyball and sunbathe on grassy parkland.
Community amenities are presented as part of the neighbourhood connection, with the guide describing community centres offering affordable pools, tennis courts, pitches and gyms, and benches and communal seating in urban areas that were opened during COVID lockdowns and have continued.
The guide returns to Kitsilano for an ocean-adjacent beach stop and describes a local summer pool by the shoreline. It then highlights Batch, a beachside bar with live music and sea views, and a sunset described as shifting from muted purple clouds to a later red glow.
For the next morning, it directs visitors to AetherHaus for a 90-minute guided relaxation class that includes movement from a large sauna to cold-water plunge pools.
It also includes an out-of-city stop toward Whistler at the Sea to Sky Gondola, with the guide describing lighter hikes at the summit and views from the mountain air.
In the final day’s “back in the city” portion, the guide suggests strolling along Coal Harbour’s water’s edge among yachts, shopping downtown, and eating sushi at Temaki in Kitsilano. It then recommends Granville Island, describing the English Market as an indoor food hall with fish, fruit and vegetables, salads, breads and sweet treats across the wider outdoor complex, along with coffee at 4th Street and a final run along the seawall before departing.
The traveller said the flight home on the last day was scheduled for 3 p.m., leaving a morning for the Granville Island and seawall stops, and concluded the three-day trip by remarking that she was “even talking like a local” after completing the itinerary.
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