Kitsilano Travel Guide

Tourist Guide

Kitsilano
Kitsilano Beach showing a bay or harbour and general coastal views
Photo provided by Tourism Vancouver
Photo provided by Tourism Vancouver
Photo provided by Tourism Vancouver

Ethnic food, fashionable shops and one of Vancouver’s best beaches are all part of this bayside neighbourhood.

Once the center of Vancouver’s counterculture during the 1960s, Kitsilano is now a haven for the city’s young urban professionals. It’s also one of Vancouver’s best districts for shopping and eating. Sample from a wide array of ethnic cuisines, explore bookstores or fashion boutiques and enjoy one of Vancouver’s most popular beaches.

Walk through the streets and get a feel for the neighborhood. Two famous organizations were founded in Kitsilano and show how it has changed over time. The environmental organization Greenpeace planted its roots here in the late 1960s, when the neighborhood was a counterculture hotbed. In the late 1990s, yoga clothing brand Lululemon was founded in Kitsilano, which suggests the neighborhood’s young professional turn.

Start your visit on West 4th Avenue, where the majority of Kitsilano’s shops and restaurants are located. Popular restaurants serve a range of cuisines, including Malaysian, Mexican and Japanese. Organic food options are common in the area as well. After eating, browse through the shops, which include bookstores, home décor shops and fashion boutiques.

During the summer months, Kitsilano Beach is packed with locals enjoying the cool waters of English Bay. If the crowds are overwhelming, look just off the beach for Kitsilano Pool, one of the longest pools in Canada.

East of the beach, find Vanier Park. This 42-acre (17-hectare) park features lawns, ponds and excellent views of the downtown skyline. Three of Vancouver’s notable museums are located here, including the Museum of Vancouver, which has numerous artifacts from the city’s history, including a collection of neon signs. Discover more educational exhibits at the Vancouver Maritime Museum and the H.R. MacMillan Space Centre. In summer, Vanier Park also hosts the Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival. Watch a riveting performance, such as The Tempest, on a sunny Vancouver afternoon.

Located just across False Creek from downtown, Kitsilano is served by several subway and bus lines. If you are arriving by car, park in the Vanier Park lot for a fee and explore the neighborhood on foot.


Popular places to visit

Activities


Our pick of the best Kitsilano Hotel Deals

Radisson Blu Vancouver Airport Hotel & Marina
Radisson Blu Vancouver Airport Hotel & Marina
4 out of 5
3500 Cessna Dr, Richmond, BC
The price is NZ$370 per night from 21 July to 22 July
NZ$370
21 July - 22 July
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star luxury hotel in Richmond. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast (surcharge), and a free airport shuttle. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (2,153 reviews)
"Very nice"

Reviewed on 4 Jul. 2025

Radisson Blu Vancouver Airport Hotel & Marina
River Rock Casino Resort
River Rock Casino Resort
4 out of 5
8811 River Road, Richmond, BC
The price is NZ$481 per night from 11 July to 12 July
NZ$481
11 July - 12 July
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star luxury resort in Richmond. Enjoy a full-service spa, 5 restaurants, and a marina. Our guests praise the pool and the helpful staff in our ...
8.2/10 Very Good! (9,243 reviews)
"Everyone was friendly and helpful. The room was exceptionally clean."

Reviewed on 5 Jul. 2025

River Rock Casino Resort
Pinnacle Hotel Harbourfront
Pinnacle Hotel Harbourfront
4 out of 5
1133 Hastings St W, Vancouver, BC
The price is NZ$454 per night from 20 July to 21 July
NZ$454
20 July - 21 July
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star business-friendly hotel in Vancouver. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast (surcharge), and a fitness center. Our guests praise the breakfast and the ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (6,859 reviews)
"Wonderful! I look forward to returning. From clean simple check in, convenient parking, good room, quiet night of sleep, comfy bed, & great pool/spa/weight room- everything I am looking for in a good stay, at a reasonable price:)"

Reviewed on 4 Jul. 2025

Pinnacle Hotel Harbourfront
YWCA Hotel
YWCA Hotel
2.5 out of 5
733 Beatty Street, Vancouver, BC
The price is NZ$313 per night from 21 July to 22 July
NZ$313
21 July - 22 July
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this hotel in Vancouver. Enjoy free WiFi, a fitness center, and parking (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms in our reviews. ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (2,518 reviews)
"Everything"

Reviewed on 5 Jul. 2025

YWCA Hotel
Hyatt Regency Vancouver
Hyatt Regency Vancouver
4.5 out of 5
655 Burrard St, Vancouver, BC
The price is NZ$628 per night from 20 July to 21 July
NZ$628
20 July - 21 July
includes taxes & fees
Book a stay at this spa hotel in Vancouver. Enjoy free WiFi, a full-service spa, and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (2,348 reviews)
"It was a nice place, but the lobby is little chaotic often times."

Reviewed on 1 Jul. 2025

Hyatt Regency Vancouver
Sandman Hotel Vancouver Downtown
Sandman Hotel Vancouver Downtown
4 out of 5
180 W Georgia St, Vancouver, BC
The price is NZ$436 per night from 6 July to 7 July
NZ$436
6 July - 7 July
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star hotel in Vancouver. Enjoy free WiFi, 2 restaurants, and 2 bars/lounges. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms in our reviews. ...
7.8/10 Good! (3,316 reviews)
"Excellent"

Reviewed on 3 Jul. 2025

Sandman Hotel Vancouver Downtown
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Other neighbourhoods around Kitsilano

Granville Island featuring a bay or harbour, a high-rise building and a city

Granville Island

4.5/5(3 area reviews)

Granville Island is known for its ample dining options, and you can make a stop by Granville Island Public Market and False Creek while in the area.

Granville Island
Granville Island showing a bay or harbour and a city as well as a small group of people

Fairview

4.5/5(4 area reviews)

While you're in Fairview, take in top sights like Great Canadian Casino at the Holiday Inn or Granville Island Public Market, and hop on the metro to see more of the city at Olympic Village Station or Broadway-City Hall Station.

Fairview
West End featuring signage, a city and street scenes

West End

The stunning beaches and popular shops are just a few highlights of West End. Make a stop by Robson Street or Sunset Beach while you're exploring the area.

West End
Gastown showing outdoor art, a statue or sculpture and a city

Central Vancouver

3/5(1 area review)

If you're spending time in Central Vancouver, check out sights like Canada Place Cruise Ship Terminal or Rogers Arena and hop on the metro to see more of the city at Granville Station or Vancouver City Center Station.

Central Vancouver
Yaletown showing street scenes, a city and night scenes

Yaletown

Take time in Yaletown to visit attractions like Robson Street and Vancouver False Creek Seawall. You might also appreciate the abundant dining options, and you can hop on the metro at Yaletown-Roundhouse Station to see more of the city.

Yaletown
Kitsilano featuring street scenes, flowers and road cycling

West Side

While you're in West Side, take in top sights like VanDusen Botanical Garden or Kitsilano Beach, and hop on the metro to see more of the city at King Edward Station or Oakridge-41st Avenue Station.

West Side

Kitsilano Travel Guide

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