Free and Almost Free Things to Do in Vancouver and Victoria

The best things in life are free and a surprising number of them are in and around Vancouver, Victoria, and Whistler. In fact, most of what's enjoyable in this part of the world—including beaches, parks, hiking trails, interesting architecture, great views, and fun-and-funky neighborhoods—is available without charge.

Vancouver

In Vancouver, you can visit Stanley Park, Granville Island, Downtown, Gastown, Chinatown, and Yaletown and rarely have to open your wallet to pay admission fees. Granville Island's markets and galleries are all free, as are Canada Place and Stanley Park.

If that's not enough, here are a few lesser-known ways to stretch those loonies and toonies:

On Tuesday evening between 5 and 9, the Vancouver Art Gallery charges admission by donation, while the Museum of Anthropology has reduced rates. In North Vancouver, most visitors head for the fun, if pricey, Capilano Suspension Bridge, but a few miles away, the equally thrilling Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge, in Lynn Canyon Park, is absolutely free. It might be a bit of a trek, but also free on the North Shore is the Capilano Salmon Hatchery, where you can learn about the life cycle of salmon (and, in fall, watch them struggling upstream to spawn).

Public Transit

Don't forget one of Vancouver's great unsung bargains: an off-peak, two-zone SkyTrain ticket. For just a few dollars, you can see much of the city's east side and mountains from a clean, efficient elevated train, or venture to the Asian malls and night markets in Richmond. Using the same ticket you can transfer to the SeaBus for a 15-minute ride across the harbor. The tiny foot-passenger ferries across False Creek are great bargains, too, at just a few dollars a ticket.

Victoria

In Victoria, Beacon Hill Park or any of the city's parks and beaches are free, as are most of the city's iconic buildings. A stroll through the public areas of the venerable Fairmont Empress Hotel or a guided tour of the Parliament Buildings won't cost a dime. The Inner Harbour Walk has views of Victoria's Edwardian architecture, boats, and seaplanes, and the great people-watching is also free. You can even watch the foot-passenger ferries perform a 12-minute water ballet (Sunday, 10:45 am, May through September; Saturday, 10:45 am, July and August).

Bargains in Whistler?

Even in jet-set Whistler you can find a few bargains. In the village, you can make like the glitterati for the price of a latte: start with people-watching from a café patio, enjoy the street entertainers, then move on to a stroll through the village's half dozen or so art galleries. Even the village shuttle buses are free, while Whistler Transit buses can get you pretty much anywhere in the valley for C$2.50.