Broke & Bougie
The Secret Library Rooftop Garden
Level 9 of the Central Library has a free rooftop garden with downtown skyline views. Most Vancouverites have no idea it exists.
More infoBroke & Bougie
Level 9 of the Central Library has a free rooftop garden with downtown skyline views. Most Vancouverites have no idea it exists.
More infoFloatplanes, an Orca and the Olympic Flamewaterfront
free
walkable
Floatplanes, an Orca and the Olympic Flame
Two free kilometres of Coal Harbour glamour: the Olympic Cauldron, a LEGO-look orca, floatplanes, and zero spent.
Free · 1½h
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Hop Out to 'Beer Island'hidden gem
waterfront
free
Hop Out to 'Beer Island'
'Beer Island' is a one-acre tidal wildlife refuge off the False Creek seawall that you reach via stepping stones and costs nothing.
Free · 1h
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The Free Half of the Chinese Gardentranquil
free
hidden gem
The Free Half of the Chinese Garden
The ticketed garden's free sibling: koi, lily ponds, a pagoda, and a full afternoon in Chinatown for $0.
Free · 45m
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Crack Up at the Laughing Menplayful
photogenic
free
Crack Up at the Laughing Men
Fourteen three-metre bronze men frozen in full hysterical laughter, open 24/7, and required by inscription to bring you joy.
Free · 30m
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Wander the UBC Research Forestpeaceful
scenic
free
Wander the UBC Research Forest
Free colour-coded trails through 5,000 hectares of Douglas firs and old growth that predates Canada. UBC's lab, your date.
Free · 2h
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Cobblestone Wander Through Gastownhistoric
walkable
atmospheric
Cobblestone Wander Through Gastown
One of the world's only steam clocks, cobblestones, gas lamps, and Vancouver's full origin story for the cost of absolutely nothing.
Free · 1h
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Chase Murals Through Mount Pleasantartsy
walkable
creative
Chase Murals Through Mount Pleasant
300-plus murals mapped free on the VMF app around Main Street. A treasure hunt with very large prizes.
Free · 1½h
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Riverfront Wander at the Olympic Ovalwaterfront
free
walkable
Riverfront Wander at the Olympic Oval
A free Fraser River stroll past the wave-roofed Olympic Oval, with interactive bobsled simulators waiting on the first Thursday.
Free · 1½h
Open this idea →Everyone knows the Colosseum-shaped Central Library downtown. Almost nobody knows about the Phillips, Hager and North Garden on its roof, free and publicly accessible on Level 9, with skyline views that feel entirely unreasonable for how easy they are to reach. Food and drink are allowed up there, so bring a coffee, claim a sunny bench before golden hour, watch the city hum below, and then tell exactly nobody.
