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Bill and I have been lucky enough to visit amazing parks all over the world and Stanley Park in Vancouver ranks right near the top of the list. Located just a few steps from downtown Vancouver, it’s surrounded by water on three sides with amazing views, tons of things to do, and some easy-to-miss Hidden Gems.

And the best part? Visiting the park is FREE! Some activities in the park have a cost associated with thej, but many of them are totally free.

We spent a whole day there – exploring, hiking, taking pictures, people watching. Come follow along as we show everything you need to know to make the most of your day at Stanley Park in Vancouver!

A bright red shuttle buss with wheels drives along the paved park road.

Quick Facts about Stanley Park in Vancouver

Hours: 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM
Amount of Time: Minimum 2-3 Hours – We spent a whole day there!
Cost to Get In: FREE
Pets Allowed?: Leashed Dogs are allowed in most areas of the park except for the flower gardens.
Good To Know: The Eastern side of the park is often busier, hosting many of the major attractions and spots. The western side of the park is more natural and usually less crowded.

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The Map of Stanley Park in Vancouver

I created a special map for you below, showing the attractions at Stanley Park which are covered in this blog post.

A map with numbered red, blue and black dots showing all the highlights of Stanley Park in Vancouver — Map based on OpenStreetMap data, CC‑BY‑SA 2.0

A legend showing what each number dot represents on the Stanley Park Map.

Top Attractions at Stanley Park in Vancouver

#1 – The Seawall

Almost all the way around Stanley Park is a 5.5 mile paved path along the water called the Seawall, very popular for walking, running, and biking. We also saw people on scooters and rollerblades making their way around the park.

As you explore, you can get amazing views of the city skyline, the North Shore mountains, Vancouver Harbor and the Burrard Inlet. My camera was shooting non-stop!

The Skyline of downtown Vancouver as seen from the Seawall at Stanley Park.

The Seawall is nicely divided to keep the walkers and runners separate from the bikers and scooters. The bike lane is one direction only, going counter-clock-wise along the peninsula, but walkers can go in either direction.

A paved walkway with a orange stripe down the middle keeps bikers separate from walkers.

My very favorite part of the Seawall is the part that overlooks Coal Harbor, where all the boats for the Rowing Club and the Yacht Club are located. I love looking at marinas!

#2 – The Vancouver Aquarium

The Vancouver Aquarium is Canada’s largest aquarium, located right in the heart of Stanley Park. A perfect venue for kids and adults alike to learn about the local wildlife such as sharks, whales, sea otters and sea lions. They also offer an immersive 4D Theater experience.

A building with pillars housing the Vancouver Aquarium has people coming and going in front of it. A large carved whale statue sits off to the left.

#3 – Totem Poles

In the east end of the park near Brockton Point, you can view several totem poles at close range. I loved looking at the intricate and detailed carvings and reading the plaques about the stories they tell.

A series of 6 totem poles stand in a grassy meadow. Some are taller than others, and one has wings that are wide-spread.

A close up of a carved wooden totem pole shows carvings resembling birds and pigs in all kinds of bright colors, plus white and black.

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#4 – Brockton Point Lighthouse

A charming focal point popular for Instagram photo opportunities, the lighthouse guides the boat traffic in and out of Vancouver Harbor. From this vantage point, you can see Vancouver Harbor and North Vancouver.

A rather boxy looking red and white lighthouse stands on the edge of the water at Brockton Point at Stanley Park in Vancouver.

#5 – Prospect Point Lookout

At the very top of the park, the Prospect Point Lookout offers sweeping views of the Lions Gate Bridge and the North Shore Mountains. It’s also a great spot for bird watching, cruise ship dreaming and getting ice cream!

In the distance, the Lions Gate Bridge connects North Vancouver to Stanley Park. It resembles a green Golden Gate Bridge.

A sea gull with dark gray wings flies over the water. — Glaucous-winged Gull

A cruise ship passes through the narrow waterway. — Alaska bound!

#6 – The Beaches

Most people don’t think of Vancouver or the Pacific Northwest as exactly a beach destination, but Vancouver actually has quite a few lovely beaches and two of them are located right in Stanley Park.

Second Beach (#6A) is not too far from the Entrance in English Bay, and the larger Third Beach (#6B) is along the west side of the Peninsula. Both offer seasonal concession stands and bathrooms. Second Beach also offers a swimming pool.

Sandy beach with people walking and building sand castles. The waves are lapping the shore and big ships are out on the water in the distance.

# 7 – The Teahouse at Ferguson Point

Known for it’s stunning views of the Burrard Inlet, especially at sunset, the Teahouse in Stanley Park offers a famous three-course lunch that comes highly recommended and a wine tasting in the late afternoon. Each of these are offered on certain days of the week and reservations are required.

A restaurant with pitched rooflines hides behind a manicured green hedge and cars in the parking lot

A dull brown wooden sign hangs from a pole, naming the Teahouse in Stanley Park Restaurant.

# 8 – Lost Lagoon

A quiet oasis away from the busier parts of the park. This man-made lake is a great habitat for birds and wildlife and it has a nice trail all the way around it. It’s located near the entrance to the park from downtown Vancouver, making it easy to slip in and experience nature right away.

A peaceful lake with the Vancouver city skyline in the distance.

#9 – The Stanley Park Pavilion and Rose Garden

Tucked more in to the interior of the park is the Pavilion and Rose Garden. The Pavilion is an event venue, surrounded by beautiful gardens. Nearby the Stanley Park Rose Garden features 3500 rose bushes and other varieties of flowers, blooming from April to October.

A rose garden and green grass flank a large wooden sign that says Stanley Park Pavilion with a wooden red rose in the middle of it. — Photo Credit Bob Jensen, Pexels

Hidden Gems at Stanley Park in Vancouver

Here are some of the lesser known areas of the park that are also worth checking out.

#10 – Girl in a Wetsuit Statue

Located off the Seawall between Brockton Point and Prospect Point, this small statue sits on a rock in the water, watching the people passing by her. She’s actually pretty well known and in plain sight, but she’s quite small so if you aren’t looking, you might just miss her.

This statue of a woman reclining on a rock out in the water is an iconic photo op at Stanley Park. It is unceremoniously known as "Girl in a Wetsuit"

#11 – Beaver Lake Trail

After you’ve walked or biked the Seawall, there are still many miles of trails to be hiked through the interior of the forested park. One of these is the Beaver Lake Trail which leads to a great wetlands habitat for birds and wildlife.

A lake full of vegetation has open water in the foreground and pine trees in the distance.

Pink and white water lilies float in the dark water.

Another highly recommended trail is the North Lagoon Trail, a quieter trail that runs along the north side of Lost Lagoon. It is great for being mostly in the shade and offering great bird watching.

Overall, I would say that Stanley Park in Vancouver does a great job of having well maintained trails with modest elevation gains and bonus, there are lots of benches!

A family hikes along a wide gravel path through the woods.

#12 – Rhododendron Garden

This garden features a beautiful collection of azaleas and rhododendron plants from the collection of locals Ted and Mary Greig, who were known for their rhododendron breeding. Located on the south west side of Lost Lagoon, this stunning garden features over 4500 plants of all colors.

Another special garden to check out is the “Secret” Teahouse Garden, located next to the restaurant on Ferguson Point. It’s much less busy than the other gardens and a great place to watch the sun set over the Burrard Inlet.

#13 – Stanley Park Pitch and Putt

Adjacent to the Rhododendron Garden, the Stanley Park Pitch & Putt offers 18 holes ranging from 40-100 yards in a fantastic setting overlooking English Bay.

What is Pitch and Putt you ask? I’ve been told its like Golf and Mini-Golf had a baby. You play the entire course using a pitching wedge off the tee and then a putter to finish it off. No golf carts, no heavy bags, no long drives. But still has fairways and greens.

A man in a blue shirt with an enormous visor on uses a pitching wedge to hit a golf ball at the Pitch and Putt course at Stanly Park in Vancouver.

#14 – Siwash Rock

This iconic Rock hugs the coastline on the west side of Stanley Park along the Seawall. It’s a favorite photo op for many people. You can hike to it along the Seawall, or from the road by following the path down to Third Beach and going to the north end of the beach. I took my photo with a zoom lens from Ferguson Point.

A large rock sticks up out of the water next to the paved hiking trail along the coast.

Amenities Available at Stanley Park

#15 – Info Booth

A green, red and white building behind a wooden fence houses the Info Booth for Stanley Park in Vancouver.

The Info Booth in Stanley Park is a great resource for information about the park itself. It’s just inside the park at 715 Stanley Park Drive. They offer free maps as well as brochures about and ticketing for other attractions in the Vancouver area. And bathrooms!

Dining Options

There many places to get food within Stanley Park. From sit down restaurants and cafes, to snack shops and food trucks. I included the bigger ones on the map.

Note that some are open seasonally and hours seem to be more like guidelines. We checked out several at about 5:00 PM and they were already closed for the day.

#16 – Prospect Point Cafe – open year-round for lunch. The adjacent ice cream shop is VERY popular too!
#17 – Stanley Park Brewpub and Restaurant – open year-round for lunch and dinner
#9 – Stanley’s Bar and Grill – located inside the Stanley Park Pavilion. Open June – September
#7 – The Teahouse Restaurant offers lunch and dinner on selected days of the week.
#2 – The Vancouver Aquarium offers several dining options.

There are also concessions stands located around the park at Second and Third Beaches, at the Brockton Point Lighthouse and at near the Totem Poles.

Getting Around Stanley Park

It’s such a large park, what are the best ways to get around? Depending how much time you have to explore, consider these options.

Take a Guided Tour:

Here are some highly recommended tours for Stanley Park in Vancouver:

Talking Trees: Stanley Park Indigenous Walking Tour Led by a First Nations Guide – Learn about the First Nation’s culture and history in the Vancouver area – I have several friends who have taken this tour and they highly recommend it!
The Stanley Park Bicycle Tour – This small group tour hits the best parts of the park and covers a lot of ground on a leisurely ride. Suitable for all skill levels.
Vancouver Secrets of Stanley Park Walking Tour – With your Storyteller guide, find the park’s hidden trails, crime scenes, secret cemeteries and oddest art installations – things you won’t learn on any other tour!

After a tour, you are free to explore the park more on your own.

Walk around the Park:

By far the most popular way to explore the park is on your own two feet! Miles of pathways around the park offering fantastic views, wildlife viewing and clean fresh air.

Bike around the Seawall:

Many people do a bike rental to cruise around Stanley Park. There are several bike rental places located just outside the park, with most located along Denman Street between Eihu Lane and Georgia Street. Check out these bike rental businesses: Spokes Bicycle Rentals, Bikes and Blades, or Freedom Bikes, all of which are highly ranked.

Bikers riding along a paved trail in a shady treed area of Stanley Park in Vancouver.

Right in the park itself, there are bikes available for people who are part of the Mobi by Rogers Bike sharing Program. Download the Mobi by Rogers app and set up an account. Then you check out and return bikes at stations all over the city of Vancouver.

Screen shot of the Mobi by Rogers app in the Apple App Store.

Riders check out bikes to rent near a bright orange kiosk that says ROGERS on it.

Take a Horse-Drawn Carriage:

Right next to the Info Booth, you can board a horse-drawn carriage that takes you on a tour to the main highlights in the eastern end of the park. If you want to make sure you get a seat, we recommend booking in advance.

Click Here to Book your Horse-Drawn Carriage Tour in Advance

Two horses pull a green and white carriage with people sitting on the benches. This is a popular way to tour Stanley Park in Vancouver.

Driving and Parking

The main Park road winds through the park in one direction, mostly along the Seawall.

Paid parking is available throughout the park. If you are going to be there for more than a few hours, buy a daily parking pass. Then you can park anywhere in the park for 24 hours.

If you buy an hourly parking pass, it is only valid in the parking area near the kiosk/meter where you purchased it. There are kiosks everywhere to pay for parking.

Bill and I first parked near the Aquarium and explored the entire eastern half of the park on foot. After that, we drove to Prospect Point Lookout to explore there, and then to Ferguson Point to explore that area. I just wish we had spent more time in the western half of the park.

Getting To Stanley Park

The main entrance to Stanley Park is at the west end of Georgia Street in downtown Vancouver. So it’s easy to get there using many modes of transportation

Walk from downtown or from the Burrard Skytrain Station to the park entrance
Bike from downtown
Take the TransLink #19 bus from downtown
Drive through downtown Vancouver and enter the park at the end of Georgia Street / Hwy 99. Pay attention to make sure you take the right exit down into the park – if you miss it, you’ll be taking Hwy 99 all the way through the park and have to turn around on the North Shore to come back.

If you’re coming from the North Shore, come across the Lions Gate bridge on Hwy 99 / BC 1A. Shortly after crossing the bridge, take the exit on the right to access the Park Road.

Conclusion: Is Stanley Park in Vancouver Worth a Visit?

Absolutely it is! It’s the number one thing to do in Vancouver. If you have a long enough visit to spend a whole day there, I’d highly recommend it. But if you are short on time, plan to spend at least 2-3 hours exploring this beautiful place, just steps from Downtown Vancouver.

I first visited with my kids on a family road trip in 2016. When Bill and I planned our own trip to Vancouver, I couldn’t wait to show him this beautiful space!

More Info on Canada

Here are some more posts about Canada, British Columbia and Vancouver, including some that I’m still working on. If you’d like to receive emails when I’ve posted new content to the site, please complete the short form above.

Vancouver:

Vancouver Island:

Taking the Ferry to Vancouver Island? Learn from Our Experiences (and Our Mistakes)
Butchart Gardens: A Visual Tour of Canada’s Most Beautiful Garden
Coming Soon: Things to do in Campbell River, BC
Coming Soon: Things to do in Victoria