Kitsilano Travel Guide

Tourist Guide

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



Other neighbourhoods around Kitsilano

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

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 featuring a city and a bay or harbour 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 which includes street scenes, a city and signage

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 a statue or sculpture, a monument and outdoor art

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 BC Place Stadium and hop on the metro to see more of the city at Granville Station or Vancouver City Center Station.

Central Vancouver
Yaletown which includes street scenes, a city and night scenes

Yaletown

Take time in Yaletown to visit attractions like Robson Street and Roundhouse Community Arts & Recreation Centre. 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 flowers, street scenes 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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