Get Around Like a Local – 6 Places in Vancouver Worth Taking Public Transit To

Last Updated: May 1, 2026

8 min read

Blue and gray Vancouver Skytrain with open doors at a station platform with yellow tactile paving and passengers boarding.

Blue and gray Skytrain with open doors at a station platform with yellow safety strip and passengers boarding.

Image via Vancouver Sun

One of the best things about planning a Vancouver trip is how easy getting around Vancouver without a car really is. You simply don’t need a vehicle to experience Vancouver’s top sights or venture beyond the city on a memorable day trip. So much is accessible via public transit!

The city is walkable in many areas, and the TransLink routes are pretty simple to manage once you've got the hang of it. Here is a quick recap of the city's convenient and accessible transit options* plus six great attractions that can be reached via transit.

*All are wheelchair accessible and run from around 5:00 am to 1:00 am.

Get Around on Translink

Bus – The extensive bus routes run from fairly early in the morning to late at night when the NightBus service kicks in. Downtown’s Granville Street, Burrard Street and Georgia Street are where you can catch many of the main bus routes.
SkyTrain – The SkyTrain is Vancouver's automated rapid transit system that connects you throughout the city and around Metro Vancouver on three different train lines.

Blue and white Canada Line Skytrain on elevated curved tracks with city buildings in the background.

Skytrain, Vancouver.

SkyTrain – The SkyTrain is a completely automated light rapid transit system that offers quick, efficient service between the Downtown core and Metro Vancouver’s suburbs (going east-west). There are three SkyTrain lines: Expo Line, Millennium Line, and Canada Line. The majority of the tracks are above ground, so this is a really affordable and scenic way to see the city.
SeaBus – Unique to Vancouver, the SeaBus is a passenger-only ferry service that links Downtown with the North Shore. The journey takes less than 15 minutes, and you get to enjoy beautiful waterfront, mountain, and city skyline views.

Downtown to North Shore Seabus, Vancouver.

6 Places Worth Taking Public Transit To

Stanley Park Bus Route, Vancouver.

Stanley Park

Few Vancouver attractions are as iconic as a trip to Stanley Park. There is something for everyone (Seawall walk, the Vancouver Aquarium, beaches, mini-golf, just to name a few), and it is an experience that never gets old. Numerous bus routes will take you directly to the park, and it’s also within walking distance of many downtown neighbourhoods.

Red metal framework with a sign reading Lonsdale Quay Market featuring a boat graphic.

Lonsdale Quay, North Vancouver.

Lower Lonsdale

Lower Lonsdale is a vibrant waterfront area, home to some great restaurants with big patios, fabulous views of Downtown Vancouver, and the Lonsdale Quay Market where you can shop for souvenirs, enjoy a tasty lunch, walk along the waterfront or sit and enjoy the ocean breeze and beautiful views. There is always something fun going on in the area, and it is also the transit hub where you can catch the #250 or #257 to Horseshoe Bay for a ferry to the Sunshine Coast, Bowen Island, or Nanaimo or the #236 to get to Grouse Mountain or the Capilano Suspension Bridge.

New Westminster Pier, New Westminster.

New Westminster

Downtown New West was the ‘first’ Downtown, and the city used to be the capital of British Columbia. The neighbourhood’s 19th-century architecture adds plenty of charm as you browse antique shops and watch tugboats and freighters make their way along the Fraser River. Along the waterfront, stop by the public market to explore its tempting mix of restaurants and food stalls. Some favourite spots are the Great Wall Tea Co, the Fraser River Discovery Centre, and The Boathouse for their patio views and food.

Large wooden totem poles and carved figures displayed in a sunlit museum with glass walls and a high ceiling.

Public Market, New Westminster.

Museum of Anthropology

The Museum of Anthropology is located in a stunning building overlooking Vancouver’s spectacular mountains and sea. It houses one of the world’s finest displays of Northwest Coast First Nations arts, the world’s largest collection of works by acclaimed Haida artist Bill Reid, and over 9,000 objects from around the world. Wander the Great Hall with its sky-high windows and look at all the carvings on display. Other engaging spots to visit at UBC are the Botanical Garden and the Beaty Biodiversity Museum.

Steveston Village, Richmond.

Steveston Village

Located in Vancouver’s suburb of Richmond, Steveston is home to some of the Lower Mainland's finest fish and chips. There are plenty of options, but one of the best is Pajo’s, a casual waterfront spot. Steveston Village has cute shops, scenic walks, a park, and great restaurants making it the perfect place for a family or date day trip. Be sure to visit the Gulf of Georgia Cannery National Historic Site, a Parks Canada site with a world-class, interactive museum that brings Steveston’s fishing history to life.

McArthurGlen Designer Outlet Vancouver Airport, Richmond.

McArthurGlen Designer Outlet Vancouver Airport

One of the best places for Vancouver shopping is just down the street from YVR Airport at McArthurGlen Designer Outlet. Just a few minutes from the airport and 30 minutes from Downtown, this outdoor shopping outlet features 80+ stores and retail brands like Armani, Guess, and Hugo Boss, with prices up to 70% off. There are also plenty of great cafés and restaurants to grab a bite when you get hungry.

Getting Around Vancouver Without a Car

The most economical fare option for getting around Vancouver without a car is the Compass card day pass. Find out where to buy Compass Cards and plan your transit route with ease. If you’re out and about and need to look up a route, save your data and log on to the city’s free wi-fi hotspots!