On the hunt for the best Vancouver Instagram spots to check out?
Vancouver is a picturesque city with tons of cool Instagram-worthy spots worth visiting.
From the adorable and aesthetically-pleasing cafés to the scenic mountain views, there’s just so much beauty to see in Vancouver.
It’s one of my favourite cities to explore in Canada, and I’ve been coming 1-2 times a year since 2016!
Plus, the weather in Vancouver is pretty mild all year round, so it’s not so bad going out even during the wintertime.
If you’re planning a trip to Vancouver, here are some other posts to help you plan your perfect trip:
- 48 hours in Vancouver
- Winter weekend in Vancouver
- Best things to do in Vancouver
- Things to do in Gastown
- Things to do in North Vancouver
- Instagrammable cafés in Vancouver
- Best restaurants in Vancouver
- Dessert places in Vancouver
- Vancouver to Calgary road trip
If you’re looking for even more fun activities and things to do in Vancouver, be sure to check out some local tours!
Here are some of the most Instagram-worthy spots in Vancouver, British Columbia!
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Where to stay in Vancouver
If you’re looking to book your flights and hotels for Vancouver, I’d recommend booking on Expedia, so you can collect points towards free rewards and discounts!
Downtown Vancouver is very walkable, so it’s worth booking a stay in the downtown area.
Here are some of the best hotels in downtown Vancouver to stay at:
- Delta Hotels by Marriott Vancouver ($)
- Hilton Vancouver Downtown ($)
- Metropolitan Hotel Vancouver ($$)
- Fairmont Pacific Rim ($$$)
We’ve also stayed at the Radisson Hotel Vancouver Airport, which is a great option if you have a car rental (which we usually book on Expedia).
The areas surrounding Vancouver are also worth visiting, so I’d highly recommend booking a car rental for at least one or two days!
Airbnbs are a great budget-friendly alternative, especially if you stay in Burnaby or Richmond.
If you’re interested in staying in Airbnbs, I have a separate blog post all about how to find the best Airbnbs!
Most Instagram-worthy spots in Vancouver
1. Stanley Park
Summer through winter, Stanley Park is gorgeous to wander around.
If you’re visiting during summer through fall, rent a bicycle from Spokes or Yes Cycle and stop wherever you feel like while biking along the Seawall.
You can also do a guided 5-hour bicycle tour if you’d rather have a guide with you!
If you’re visiting during the winter, take a drive through the park and stop in each parking lot to check out the photo-worthy viewpoints!
My favourite time of year to visit Stanley Park is probably during the fall because of all the leaves changing, but it’s pretty anytime of year.
LOCATION: Stanley Park, Vancouver, BC | Website
2. Lion’s Gate Bridge
The Lion’s Gate Bridge is Vancouver’s most iconic bridge, and the best views of it are from Stanley Park.
See it from the Prospect Point Lookout or walk a little bit down Stanley Park Drive to see it straight on like in the photo above!
Fun fact: the Guinness family (yes, the Irish brewing company) built the bridge in 1938!
LOCATION: Lions Gate Bridge Rd, Vancouver, BC | Website
3. Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden
I just love the look of the Ming Dynasty-inspired architecture paired with lush green gardens.
Entrance to Sun Yat-Sen Park is free, but tickets are required to enter the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden.
There’s a lot to see at Sun-Yat Sen Park in Vancouver, with tons of cute Instagrammable photo opps!
Things to note: $16 per adult for tickets online, $12 for students
LOCATION: 578 Carrall St, Vancouver, BC | Website
4. VanDusen Botanical Garden
The VanDusen Botanical Garden is one of the most beautiful botanical gardens I’ve ever visited, and one of my favourite Instagram-worthy spots in Vancouver.
There are so many unique and colourful florals in the garden, like the ones in the photo above!
You can see cherry blossoms during the spring and a light festival during the holidays, which makes for even more cute Instagram-worthy photo opportunities.
Things to note: $8.40 to $11.70 per adult for tickets online (depends on season)
LOCATION: 5251 Oak St, Vancouver, BC | Website
5. Vancouver Art Gallery
The Vancouver Art Gallery is a small but mighty gallery filled with cool exhibits that switch up every so often.
Grab some clean shots with the art deco-style interior, or snap some photos of the artwork.
It’s located in downtown Vancouver, and Tuesday evenings are pay-what-you-can by donation!
Things to note: $24 per adult for tickets online, $18 for students
LOCATION: 750 Hornby St, Vancouver, BC | Website
6. Museum of Vancouver
There are all kinds of cool things to see at the Museum of Vancouver, a lot of it showing the history behind one of Canada’s most populated cities.
The Neon Vancouver | Ugly Vancouver exhibit is the my favourite of them all, and it gives you a glimpse of Vancouver between the 1950s to 1970s.
Vancouver had around 19,000 neon signs during the 1950s, which was more than Las Vegas at the time, so it’s really awesome to see!
And it makes for really fun and Instagrammable photos 😉
Things to note: $10 per adult for tickets online
LOCATION: 1100 Chestnut St, Vancouver, BC | Website
7. Kitsilano Beach
Located around the corner from the Museum of Vancouver, Kitsilano Beach is one of Vancouver’s most popular beaches.
Walk from Kitsilano Beach to Vanier Park to enjoy the greenery and skyline views.
If you search enough, you’ll be able to find the Kitsilano Beach Swing (we couldn’t find it), and you can feel like you’re in Hawaii.
LOCATION: 1905 Ogden Ave, Vancouver, BC | Website
8. Vancouver Lookout
Gaze at the panoramic views of Vancouver from 30 storeys high.
While tickets for the Vancouver Lookout are a little pricy for what it is, your ticket grants you admission all-day long.
This means you can come in the morning for sunny daylight snaps, and in the evening for golden sunset views.
Things to note: $18.25 per adult for tickets online, $13.25 for students
LOCATION: 555 W Hastings St, Vancouver, BC | Website
9. Alley Oop
Also known as the “Pink Alley”, Alley Oop is painted in bright pink and yellow.
While it’s not an official tourist spot, it’s a fun place in Vancouver to stop and snap a pic or two!
It’s located right off of Vancouver’s Seymour Street, and you’ll likely spot other people taking Instagram photos here.
LOCATION: Seymour St. & W Hastings St.
10. Canada Place
Canada Place gives you epic views of the mountains from downtown Vancouver.
It’s also right next to FlyOver Canada, a fun touristy activity that’s one of the best things to do in Vancouver!
LOCATION: 999 Canada Place
11. Gastown
Gastown is the oldest neighbourhood in Vancouver, and the historical architecture combined with modern touches makes for gorgeous photos.
Meander through the historical area or hit up some of its Instagrammable cafés!
Hotel Europe is a heritage flat-iron building that makes for a great backdrop to your OOTDs.
Maybe even take your OOTD by the Gastown Steam Clock if you can catch it while it’s not surrounded by tourists.
If you’re a big foodie, you might also want to check out this 2.5 hour Gastown food tour, or this guided 3-hour food and history tour that partly takes part in Gastown!
LOCATION: Gastown, Vancouver, BC | Website
12. Granville Island
Granville Island is one of the cutest areas in Vancouver to explore, with tons of adorable Instagram photo opportunities.
Grab a shot of the neon sign as you enter, stroll around the waterfront, and take a peep inside the colourful stores and restaurants in the neighbourhood.
If you’re a big foodie, you might enjoy this food walking tour at Granville Island Public Market with an off-duty chef!
LOCATION: Granville Island, Vancouver, BC | Website
13. Lonsdale Quay
Located in North Vancouver, Lonsdale Quay gives you stunning views of downtown Vancouver’s skyline.
It’s definitely one of the most Instagrammable places in Vancouver!
While you’re here, be sure to check out the Lonsdale Quay Market for local eats and souvenir shopping.
If you’re looking for even more things to do in the area, check out my post on the best things to do in North Vancouver!
LOCATION: Lonsdale Quay, North Vancouver, BC | Website
14. Fun Alley
Also in North Vancouver is Fun Alley, a whole alleyway filled with cool painted walls and murals.
It’s a cute spot to visit on your way to or from the Lonsdale Quay Market!
LOCATION: Lower Lonsdale, North Vancouver, BC | Website
15. Capilano Suspension Bridge Park
Capilano might be the most touristy spot on this list of Instagram-worthy spots in Vancouver, but that doesn’t make it any less cool.
While some people might tell you it’s overpriced or overrated, I would say it’s absolutely worth visiting.
It’s probably the prettiest during the holidays with all the twinkling lights, but it’s worth a visit any time of year.
Capilano is definitely one of my all-time favourite spots to visit in Vancouver!
You gotta grab tickets in order to visit, but it’s totally worth it.
LOCATION: 3735 Capilano Rd, North Vancouver, BC
16. Cleveland Park
While it’s not particularly large, Cleveland Park is a nice place to stop at while you’re exploring in North Vancouver.
Take a walk around the trail and enjoy the stunning mountainous views.
The Cleveland Dam opens up during the summer, so you can see the water roaring down from the top.
I’ve only seen the dam flowing once when I visited during spring!
LOCATION: Cleveland Park, North Vancouver, BC | Website
17. Lynn Canyon Park
With its moss-draped trees and scenic trails, Lynn Canyon is an incredible park to explore with tons of great spots to take Instagram photos.
If you make your way down the trail, you’ll come across this rocky gorge with clear, turquoise water.
You can get plenty of beautiful nature shots while you’re here.
There’s also a suspension bridge at Lynn Canyon, but it’s a lot busier than Capilano because it’s free!
LOCATION: 3690 Park Rd, North Vancouver, BC | Website
Instagram-worthy spots in Vancouver:
- Stanley Park
- Lion’s Gate Bridge
- Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden
- VanDusen Botanical Garden
- Vancouver Art Gallery
- Museum of Vancouver
- Kitsilano Beach
- Vancouver Lookout
- Alley Oop
- Canada Place
- Gastown
- Granville Island
- Lonsdale Quay
- Fun Alley
- Capilano Suspension Bridge Park
- Cleveland Park
- Lynn Canyon Park
These were some of the most Instagram-worthy spots in Vancouver worth checking out!
Vancouver is one of my favourite cities in Canada – it’s probably the only place I’d consider living in other than Toronto (although I love life in Toronto)!
There are so many cool places to visit in Vancouver, and it’s always so beautiful to explore.
Vancouver is also one of my fave foodie cities, and if you’re a foodie as well, definitely check out this ultimate Vancouver food bucket list from my friends over at Noms Magazine!
If you’re looking for even more fun activities and things to do in Vancouver, be sure to check out some local tours!
What are some of your top Instagram-worthy spots in Vancouver? Let me know on Twitter or Instagram!
If you’re planning a trip to Vancouver, here are some other posts to help you plan your perfect trip:
- 48 hours in Vancouver
- Winter weekend in Vancouver
- Best things to do in Vancouver
- Things to do in Gastown
- Things to do in North Vancouver
- Instagrammable cafés in Vancouver
- Best restaurants in Vancouver
- Dessert places in Vancouver
- Vancouver to Calgary road trip
