A one day tour of Vancouver by bus and Skytrain

Tour the highlights of Vancouver by Bus and Skytrain in just one day with our recommended Vancouver day tour

Do you only have one day to see Vancouver? You can see many highlights of Vancouver in just one day by following our suggested Vancouver day tour. You can either follow our suggested tour, or use the many resources on this site to make changes reflecting your own interests. The key to seeing more of Vancouver in a single day, is to plan and follow a logical path from one location to another. This allows you to cover a lot of area in just one day all while using Vancouver's bus and Skytrain system. We also recommend purchasing a day pass when starting your tour each day so you can ride the system all day long without having to purchase additional fares.

For other possible one day tour ideas, you can pick one of the days from our two or three day tour pages, as they may be more in line with your interests. You can also add an additional day to any of our suggested tours with the BC Ferries Day Trip which is a full days outing on it's own.

We hope you find this guide helpful and that you have a great time exploring Vancouver by public transit.

• Leg 1 - Take a walk through Gastown.

  

  Start your day in Vancouver by taking the SkyTrain to Waterfront Station. Exit the station and stroll east along Water Street into Gastown. Enjoy a morning coffee somewhere before making your way back to Waterfront Station.

  Time: 1 Hour

• Leg 2 - Ride the Seabus and visit Lonsdale Quay Public Market

  

  Board the Seabus for the 15 minute crossing over to Lonsdale Quay Public Market in North Vancouver. Spend some time exploring the many shops and services in the Public Market and grab quick lunch or snack before riding the seabus back to Waterfront Station.

  Time: 1½ Hours




• Leg 3 - Stroll along the seawall in Stanley Park

  

  Exit Waterfront Station walk 2 blocks south to West Pender. Catch the #19 Stanley Park bus going west on Pender into Stanley Park. From the Stanley Park bus loop make your way toward Vancouver Aquarium and check out the free viewing area on the west side. Follow the path north from there to the seawall and go for a walk in either direction along the seawall for about 30 minutes then double back to the aquarium area and west back to the bus loop. Take the #19 Metrotown bus back to Pender and Burrard and walk south 1 block to Burrard Station.

  Time: 2 Hours

• Leg 4 - See Vancouver from the SkyTrain

  

  At Burrard Station catch an Expo Line Train heading east to Surrey King George and ride it all the way out to Scott Road Station. You will see good views over much of Metro Vancouver along the way as most of the track is elevated. Just before Scott Road Station you will enjoy some more great views of the eastern portions of Greater Vancouer, as you cross the world's longest transit only bridge high above the Fraser River. Exit the train at Scott Road and follow the signs to make your way to the westbound platform and catch the next train going back to Columbia Station in historic New Westminster (the first capital city of BC).

  Time: < 1 Hour

• Leg 5 - Explore Burnaby Mountain Conservation Area and Simon Fraser University

  

  At Columbia Station follow the signs to the platform for the Millennium Line Train heading to VCC/Clark Station. Get off the train at Production Station. Catch bus #145 SFU up to the Upper Bus Loop at Burnaby Mountain Conservation Area and Simon Fraser University. Note: the #145 bus can be very busy when University is in session, however it is only about 7 minutes between buses, so if you can't get on the first bus you won't have a long wait for the next one. Explore the interesting architecture of the campus and have a lunch or dinner at one of the numerous restaurants adjacent to the bus loop. If there is still at least an hour of daylight and the weather is good, take any bus from the upper bus loop or the transportation centre (just past the 'tunnel' your bus first passed through coming to the University) to the University residences stop (first stop past the 'tunnels') and follow the trail to the west that begins behind the bus stop for a 15 minute walk to the Burnaby Mountain Conservation Area. Enjoy the views of the city, mountains and Burrard Inlet along with totem poles, sculptures and the rose gardens before walking back to the University residence stop.

  Time: 3 Hours

• Return Leg

  If you are making your way back to downtown Vancouver catch bus #135 Burrard Station for the 50 minute ride back into downtown. If you are staying in North Burnaby, New Westminster or Surrey take the #145 bus back to Production Station and navigate back to your hotel, or if staying near Metrotown take bus #144 Metrotown.

  Time: < 1 Hour

  Total time for a one day tour in Vancouver: 9½ Hours plus hotel connections.