Explore Vancouver’s Kitsilano Neighbourhood: The 11 Best Attractions

August 3, 2016

6 min read

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A lively, beautiful, and eco-friendly beachside community close to Downtown Vancouver, the neighborhood of Kitsilano – known more commonly by locals as ‘Kits’- is one worth exploring! Here are a few of our must-do attractions!

Bicycle parked on a beach with a large ship and mountains in the background under a cloudy sky.

11. Bike the Neighbourhood

A great and inexpensive way to get around Kitsilano is by bike! There are a few cycling routes, including Seaside Greenway which begins at the Vancouver Convention Centre and follows the shoreline. This path ends at Kits Beach, just past Vanier Park. However, you can continue your ride from Jericho Beach along to Pacific Spirit Regional Park where you can enjoy a picnic or wander through 875 acres of lush greenery. This park is dog-friendly (off-leash), so you can bring along your fur baby for the ride! Lastly, you can find bike lanes going down and along West 4th, and on York Street. For bike routes, click here.

Metallic crab sculpture with raised claws in front of a modern building at night.

10. Visit the Museum of Vancouver and H.R. MacMillan Space Centre

Get connected and gain a deeper understanding of the city at the Museum of Vancouver, Canada’s largest civic museum, located at Vanier Park! Exhibitions are always changing and always engaging. Gaze at the stars and beyond at the H.R. MacMillan Space Centre where you can really take a hands-on approach to discovering the Universe.

Vancouver Maritime Museum building lit at night with large anchor and flags on the lawn

9. Dive into Maritime History at Vancouver Maritime Museum

Open to all-ages and with a mix of permanent and changing exhibits, the Vancouver Maritime Museum makes for a nice morning or afternoon stop on route to the beach! Exhibits are informative and interesting, and the entire museum can be explored in just a few short hours.

Large square sculpture on grassy hill by water with boats and mountains under a blue sky with wispy clouds

8. Chill out at Vanier Park

Home to the Maritime Museum, the Museum of Vancouver, and H.R MacMillan Space Centre, Vanier Park has long been a landmark destination in Kitsilano and also the largest park, hosting several festivals throughout the year.

Yellow wooden building with red window shutters and doors, surrounded by grass, flowers, and trees.

7. Get your history on at Hastings Mill Store Museum

The Hastings Mill Store Museum is the oldest building in Vancouver, truly withstanding the test of time and the elements, surviving the Great Fire of 1886. A gem in the city, this museum may be small but it holds a huge amount of great history!

Two people sitting on a bench by a lake with two bicycles nearby, framed by large trees.

6. Relax at Margaret Pigott Park

At the cusp of Kits and Point Grey, Margaret Pigott Park is a nice, quiet, little hangout that offers unobstructed views of West Vancouver and a fresh ocean breeze.

Outdoor swimming pool with many people swimming and relaxing, city skyline and trees in the background under clear blue sky.

5. Stay Cool at Kitsilano Pool

Or warm, at Kitsilano Pool, an extension of Kits Beach. Enjoy a heated outdoor pool, the only salt-water pool, slides, and staggering views of English Bay, Stanley Park, and the North Shore Mountains.

Crowd of people walking and browsing stalls at an outdoor market with white and red tents on a sunny day.

4. Shop Local Farmer’s Markets

Every Sunday beginning in May and wrapping up at the end of October, the Kitsilano Vancouver Market takes over the Kits Community Centre offering local organic produce, baked goods, meat, seafood, cheese, and arts and crafts as well as live music entertainment.

City street with cars, pedestrians, traffic lights, and tall buildings with mountains in the background under a cloudy sky.

3. West Broadway Food Tour

A few blocks up from Kitsilano, West Broadway is an eclectic strip of delicious eats guaranteed to satisfy all of your cravings! Get your stretchy pants on and arrive hungry.

Busy urban street with parked cars, trees lining the sidewalks, colorful banners on streetlights, and buildings in the background.

2. Shop West 4th

A popular shopping destination – and for good reason – West 4th stretches over eight blocks, delighting shoppers seeking active wear, unique boutique stores, home decor, coffee shops, and a list of fine-dining restaurants. An always bustling area that’s perfect for people watching.

People playing volleyball on a beach with large trees in the foreground and mountains across the water in the background.

1. Spend the Day at Kits Beach

FACT: No trip to Kitsilano is complete without a stop at Kits Beach. One of the most popular beaches in Vancouver, Kits Beach is super busy in the summer and an active hub where you can paddle board, kayak, pass around a frisbee, play beach volleyball, or hit up the public tennis and basketball courts! Picnic perfect, you can also chill and unwind with a book and some nearby takeout.

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