Vancouver is known for its breathtaking views and spectacular sights from sea to sky. Explore the many famous landmarks that accentuate Vancouver's natural beauty and make it a truly distinct North American city.
Canada Place
This famous landmark was built for
Expo'86 and includes the Vancouver World Trade and Convention Centre.
Canada Place, designed by architect Eberhard Zeidler, had more than 5 million visitors for the duration of Expo'86 World Fair.
It has five distinctive sails that represent the five continents. This makes Canada Place stand out as a unique attraction in Vancouver. Indeed, it attracts around 3 million visitors annually. In 2009, the a new
Convention Centre facility was opened - it was used for International Broadcast Centre during the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics.
Things to do at Canada Place:
› Explore the Vancouver Convention Centre which holds a variety of commercial fairs and private functions
› Wander around the pier and spot cruise ships docked on site from late spring until early fall
› Watch a movie at the IMAX 3D Theatre
› Grab a lunch and enjoy breathtaking views at the Pan Pacific Hotel
For more information about what's happening at Canada Place contact admin@ canadaplace.ca or 604-775-7200
Where: Canada Place is located beside Waterfront Station near
Gastown. From here, you can access the skytrain, Canada line and seabus.
Canada Place - 780-999 Canada Place - Vancouver BC
Hotel Vancouver
Hotel Vancouver, which was designed by Archibald and Schofield, opened in May 1939 and cost a total of $12 million.
Hotel Vancouver has 20 storeys and 556 rooms; it is also the third and sole remaining hotel to be named Hotel Vancouver.
The Canadian National and Pacific railways built this hotel over a span of 11 years. It took a longer period of time to finish building Hotel Vancouver due to lack of funds during the
Great Depression. In the mid 1990s, this famous landmark was restored for $70 million dollars under the management of Fairmont Hotel Vancouver.
Things to do at Hotel Vancouver:
› As a guest at the hotel, enjoy a complimentary pass to the health club and swim in the luxurious pool with jacuzzi and sauna
› Get a beauty treatment with
Absolute Spa; for more information visit their website
› Indulge your taste buds at Griffin Restaurant for a Sunday brunch, afternoon tea or quality dinner; enjoy some live jazz music and martinis in the evening at the ritzy West Lounge
Hotel Room Price Range: $200-$350 per night
Where : The Fairmont Hotel Vancouver is located at 900 West Georgia Street, within minutes from the
Vancouver Art Gallery, downtown Vancouver.
Fairmont Hotel Vancouver - 900 West Georgia Street - Vancouver BC
Stanley Park
Stanley Park is the largest natural landmark in the city with many statues, monuments and ecological wonders that enrich the park's natural and cultural heritage.
Stanley Park is a famous landmark - it attracts around 8 million visitors a year and is known as the third largest urban core park in North America.
Originally the home of the Coast Salish
First Nations people, this 1000 acre park became the first official green space of Vancouver in 1887.
Stanley Park's rich rainforest is located on the edge of the Pacific Ocean - a unique setting where you can experience two natural wonders in one location!
Things to see in Stanley Park:
› Explore Third Beach with views of the intriguing Siwash Rock
› Discover Brockton Point visitor centre, lighthouse and Northwest Coast native totem poles
› Take pictures of breathtaking views and local monuments* around Halleluja Point and Lumbermen's Arch
› Watch some live musicals at Malkin Bowl during
› Walk around the Lost Lagoon and visit the Nature House to learn about the diverse flora and fauna of Stanley Park
Where: Located close to
English Bay, downtown Vancouver.
Stanley Park - Vancouver BC
*
Tips: To discover major monuments and sculptures in Stanley Park, bring a map of the park.
Download map for free.
Science World
Science world is a science centre with hands-on interactive exhibits, public programs, and live demonstrations for children of all ages.
This famous landmark looks like a giant golf ball; in fact it is a geodesic dome that is 155 feet tall and includes 391 lights and 766 triangles made out of 15,000 pounds of aluminum!
It was built for the Expo '86 World Fair, which took place in downtown Vancouver. Science World also houses a Omnimax theatre which seats 400 people and has a large screen that is 27 metres in diameter.
Things to do at Science World:
› Kids Space Gallery features hands-on fun for children aged 2-6; themes include water, air, light, sound and motion
› Eureka ! Gallery showcases many activities for children exploring the science behind water, air, light, sounds, motion and machines
› Body Works Gallery introduces kids to the functions of the human body through comic adventures, arcade style games and cutting-edge camera technology
› Center Stage presents live demonstrations & cool experiments on various scientific topics from chemistry to electricity
General admission: Adults $23.50;
Youth (13-18), Seniors (65+), Students $19.75
Child $16.75
Add $5.50 if you want to see an Omnimax film.
Where: Science World is located at 1455 Quebec Street close to BC Place Stadium and Chinatown.
Science World - 1455 Quebec Street - Vancouver BC
Lions Gate Bridge
The Lions Gate Bridge is a suspension bridge that spans the First Narrows of Burrard Inlet. It has become a famous landmark of Vancouver, and links the downtown core to the cities of
North and
West Vancouver.
Visitors are usually in awe from the breathtaking views, and often drive slower just to take it in. Vancouverites have gotten used to these slow downs, which usually speed up in the middle of the bridge.
Not surprisingly, the Lions Gate bridge was designated as a National Historic Site in Canada in 2005. There are two lion statues on the bridge which symbolize the two 'lions', a pair of mountain peaks located north of Vancouver.
Lions Gate Bridge History
Funded by the Guinness Family (Guinness beer), the Lions Gate Bridge officially opened in 1938. This famous landmark was sold to the provincial government in 1955 for close to 6 million dollars. The Lions Gate Bridge was originally 2 lanes, but a third lane was added soon after it became government owned. In 1963, a reversing lane control system was put in place to regulate heavy traffic. In 1999, the Lions Gate Bridge was restored- the entire suspended structure was replaced at night and during weekends with little disturbance of regular weekday traffic.
Things to do on the North Shore:
› Visit the famous
suspension bridges in Capilano and Lynn Canyon and discover surrounding hiking and biking trails
› Do some shopping at Lonsdale Quay and take the sea bus across to Canada Place
› Ski at the local
north shore mountains which include Cypress, Seymour and Grouse
› Take a walk along the Ambleside sea wall which connects Ambleside beach in North Vancouver to Dunderave Park in West Vancouver
› Go for a picnic and
kayak trip in Deepcove in North Vancouver
Where: The Lions Gate bridge can be taken from downtown by following the Highway 99/1A. There are pedestrian and bicycle lanes on either side of the bridge.
Lions Gate Bridge - Vancouver BC
Tips for taking the Lions Gate Bridge:
There are only 3 lanes on this bridge, so it is best to avoid it during rush hour traffic. When taken from the North Shore, it leads you right into Stanley Park. After crossing the Lions Gate bridge, you can choose to take a scenic winding route within the park to downtown Vancouver. You can do this by taking the first exit to the right, called the Prospect Point, Stanley Park exit.
Famous Landmarks in Victoria BC
Victoria, the capital of BC, has two famous landmarks which are a must-see for visitors- the Empress hotel and the
BC Parliament Buildings. These intricate buildings showcase Victorian architecture, and are both designed by famous architect Francis Rattenbury.
The Empress Hotel
The Empress Hotel is a famous landmark in Victoria that is known for its excellent British Afternoon Teas and stunning views of downtown Victoria.
This Edwardian style hotel opened in 1908 and was later renovated twice, in 1966 and 1989 to restore it to its original grandeur. Its 477 rooms originally serviced businessmen and visitors who travelled aboard Canadian Pacific's steamships.
Like Hotel Vancouver, it is now owned by Fairmont Hotels and Resorts. Many famous celebrities have stayed at the Empress Hotel including John Travolta and Barbara Streisand.
Things to do at the Empress Hotel:
› Experience an afternoon tea in the Tea Lobby; the Empress is famous for its tea service enjoyed by more than 800 people per day
› Treat yourself to a massage or manicure at the in-house Willow Stream Spa
› Order a refreshing drink and try some high class cuisine at the Veranda restaurant; here you can enjoy the best views of Victoria's Inner Harbour and Parliament buildings
› As a hotel guest, use the complimentary health club facilities which include an indoor pool and gym
Hotel Room Price Range: $200-$350 per night
Afternoon Tea: $45-$55 per person with complimentary Empress tea tin
Where: The Fairmont Empress Hotel is located at 721 Government Street minutes from the Parliament Building and Inner Harbour, downtown Victoria BC.
The Fairmont Empress Hotel - 721 Government Street - Vancouver Island BC