Discover Vancouver’s Arts and Culture Scene with 20% Off Attractions
As far as major world cities go, Vancouver is the young one of the bunch, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a wealth of history and culture to explore on a visit to the city. From important works by Indigenous artists of the region to contemporary trailblazing shows from around the world, there’s a whole lot more to Vancouver just waiting to be discovered.
And now when you book your ticket to explore with Viator, you’ll receive a 20% discount on some of Vancouver’s most intriguing attractions using the promo code: MUSTDOVANCOUVER.
Nestled below the glass skyscrapers of the downtown financial district is a fascinating journey into the mind of one of Canada’s most important artists. Bill Reid was a master goldsmith, carver and sculptor. The Bill Reid Gallery tells the story of his exploration into his Haida roots that created one-of-a-kind, ancient yet modern pieces. Along the way, he captured the world’s imagination and built bridges between Indigenous people and the rest of the world. His legacy continues in the gallery that houses not only some of his most well-known pieces but exhibitions by up-and-coming voices as well. The gallery is Canada’s only public gallery dedicated to contemporary Indigenous Art of the Northwest Coast with the current exhibition featuring Morgan Asoyuf’s collection of carvings, jewelry and portraits honouring Indigenous matriarchs and two-spirit activists. Book now.
Around the corner, in the century-old former courthouse at Robson Square, is the Vancouver Art Gallery, one of Canada’s most respected and innovative visual arts institutions. In addition to its permanent exhibition of works by famed British Columbian artist Emily Carr, the gallery features Indigenous artists and the art of Asia – drawing the dynamic cultural map of the province. Artists from around the globe have stopped in for a visit too, including Takashi Murakami, Alberto Giacometti and the current retrospective of Cindy Sherman’s evocative and ground-breaking photographs. Guided tours are always available for a deep dive into the work. Book now.
Get to know the city you thought you knew at the Museum of Vancouver where historical documents meet contemporary artifacts to present the “official biography” of the city, and at the same time, dream aloud about the ways it will grow into the future. Relive each decade of the city’s 133 years, through the boom years of the newest corner of the British Empire, to the neon explosion of the 50s and the counterculture of the 70s. Or go way back to the City Before the City with a collection of stone, bone and shell objects from the Musqueam people recently uncovered through urban development. Book now.
Take in aerial views of Canada’s dramatic landscape without leaving the ground at FlyOver Canada. Start with an entertaining presentation on the history and culture of Canada then take off on a simulated flight ride where you’ll dip into deep valleys, glide over magnificent prairies and gaze at snow-capped mountains. Book now.
For a tale told by the inhabitants of the city long before any humans settled here, a trip through VanDusen Botanical Gardens will introduce you to the unique plants and flowers that flourish on the West Coast. Stroll through the 55-acre oasis-in-the-city on a self-guided tour of 75,000 native and exotic species, the theme of which changes every month. Make time to lose yourself in the Elizabethan Maze made of 3,000 pyramidal cedars or find your Zen in the oriental Stone Garden. And it’s not just natural wonders that will catch your eye, thanks to the 12 world-renowned sculptors that left their mark on the garden in the Vancouver International Stone Sculpture Symposium of 1975. Book now.
Finally, all that exploration is bound to work up a mighty hunger, so you’ll want to head straight to Vancouver’s historic Chinatown for the Dim Sum & Classical Chinese Garden Tour. You’ll start off at the New Town Bakery for authentic dim sum at a neighbourhood staple since the 1980s. Belly full, you’ll be guided just down the block to the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden, the first of its kind built outside of China, for a 45-minute tour of the grounds modelled after the Ming Dynasty scholars’ gardens in Suzhou. Stay for traditional tea or continue exploring outside the walls through one of the city’s most vibrant neighbourhoods. Book now.