by Jessica Napier
Arguably one of North America’s most photogenic urban centres, Vancouver is a scenic jewel where modern architecture meets rugged natural beauty. With its towering glass buildings, sandy beaches, green parks and picturesque mountain ranges, the city offers breathtaking views in every direction. Visit these local lookouts for panoramic views of the Vancouver skyline and the surrounding landscape. [Image courtesy of Tourism Vancouver. Photo credit: Albert Normandin]
Get a whole new perspective on the city from the Vancouver Lookout at the top of the historic Harbour Centre building. A 40-second elevator ride brings you 168 metres above the downtown core up to the panoramic viewing deck, revealing sweeping 360-degree views; on a clear day you’ll even catch a glimpse of Vancouver Island and snow-capped Mount Baker in the distance. Complimentary guided tours help bring the skyline to life as experts share fun facts about local landmarks and historic details about Vancouver’s ongoing urban development. Best of all, tickets are valid all day so you can check out the view in the daytime and return again at night to watch the sunset and marvel at the twinkling lights across the city.
At 152 metres above sea level, Queen Elizabeth Park is the highest point in the city and perhaps the prettiest locale to see views of Vancouver’s downtown core and the North Shore Mountains. The sprawling urban park is home to a network of manicured gardens and various lookout points. Feeling hungry? Make it a feast for all the senses at Seasons in the Park, where you can book a table in the aptly named Skyline dining room and take in the scenery while noshing on fine West Coast fare.
Free, accessible and somewhat unexpected in their beauty, Vancouver’s many bridges offer some of the best views of the downtown skyline and surrounding waterways. Soak up the sunset over English Bay from the Burrard Bridge or head to Stanley Park for a trek across the Lions Gate Bridge (be sure to wear your walking shoes); venture across to North Van and back again and you’ll certainly work up an appetite. Afterwards, pop into Prospect Point café for a bite to eat and snap a selfie at another renowned viewpoint overlooking the water towards the North Shore Mountains.
While it’s great to view the city from up high, some of the best views of Vancouver are experienced on the water. Hop aboard a brightly coloured Aquabus ferry and cruise the waterways of False Creek to view the city of glass from a different vantage point. Purchase a day pass for $15 and take a nautical sightseeing tour from the West End to Olympic Village and back again.
Known as the Peak of Vancouver, Grouse Mountain is just a 30-minute drive from the downtown core but is truly a world away when it comes to its geography. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can earn your view by climbing the 2,830 punishing steps up the 2.9-kilometre Grouse Grind trail to reach the summit. For a more leisurely approach, hop aboard the Skyride and take the gondola up the mountainside in just eight minutes and you’ll be rewarded with sweeping views of the city centre, the Gulf Islands, the Pacific Ocean and snow-capped peaks in the distance. Even on a cloudy day, the misty fog over the city creates an eerie magic.
The popular Dog Mountain trail at Mount Seymour attracts plenty of sightseers (as well as their four-legged friends) throughout the year. The easy-to-moderate five-kilometre-return hike is a steady climb along winding pathways over tree roots, small streams and wooden bridges. At the top, you’ll emerge out of the forest at a rocky outcrop that reveals truly spectacular views of North Vancouver, the Lions Gate Bridge, Stanley Park and downtown Vancouver. Bring a few snacks and plan to stay a while to savour the scenery.
Popular among weekend warriors, families and Instagram stars, Lighthouse Park in West Vancouver is home to numerous groomed trails that wind through old growth forest and along the coastline, making it an accessible spot for hikers of all ages and abilities. Take the Arbutus Trail to Eagle Point on the east side of the park where you’ll see stunning views of the Burrard Inlet with the Lions Gate Bridge and Vancouver in the distance. Those who want a quick-and-easy photo-op can stroll from the parking lot along Beacon Lane out to the Lighthouse Viewpoint, which offers pretty coastal views and picnic tables.
Sometimes to get the best views you have to go up, like, WAY up. Book an airborne adventure with Harbour Air and you can really take your sightseeing to new heights. Offered year-round, the 20-minute Classic Panorama seaplane tour takes off from Coal Harbour and delivers aerial views of Vancouver’s glass towers, Stanley Park and sandy shorelines.
If you’ve got a small group and are looking for an unrivalled in-flight experience, book a private helicopter tour with SKY Helicopter Tours. Departing from the Harbour Heliport in downtown Vancouver, personal choppers seat anywhere from one to four passengers. The signature Experience Vancouver tour takes intrepid sightseers above the North Shore Mountains, over the Lions Gate Bridge and Stanley Park, and across the downtown core.
For those who want the experience of soaring in the sky but would rather keep their feet planted on the ground, FlyOver CANADA is a gentle virtual-reality ride that’s great for all ages. The flight simulator takes participants across the entire country while seated in a suspended, chair-lift style seat. A four-storey spherical screen and wind machines, interactive scents and other special effects help create the illusion of flying.
From downtown towers to rugged mountaintops, winding waterways to sky-high flights, Vancouver offers a seemingly endless array of lookout points from which to admire the city’s stunning natural beauty. Just don’t forget to bring your camera!
