Outdoor Swimming Pools in Vancouver
It's pool season in Vancouver! You can enjoy mountain and ocean views while you cool off in one of the city's public outdoor pools. With pools across the city offering family zones and lane swimming, there's an outdoor pool for everyone.
Second Beach Pool
Second Beach Pool is located right next to the beach in Stanley Park so it has great views of English Bay and Burrard Inlet. The huge heated pool is 80 metres long. It has a designated area for lap swimming and a shallow area with a sloped entry and several slides, perfect for kids.
This year, Second Beach Pool is open daily from May 17 to September 7. Advanced reservations aren't required, but are a good idea since the pool gets full, especially on sunny summer weekends. You can make reservations for public swim or lane swim sessions up to three days before your visit.
Make a day of it by biking the Seawall to and from Second Beach Pool. Or pack a picnic lunch to eat on the beach or the nearby grassy lawn. There are two playgrounds too, including one that features a firetruck kids can clamber across.
Kitsilano Pool
At 137 metres long, Kitsilano Pool is the longest outdoor swimming pool in North America. There has been a saltwater swimming pool on this site since 1931, but the current heated pool dates back to 1978. This spring, the pool underwent refurbishment and repairs and is expected to reopen in mid-June.
You can't beat the views from Kits Pool. Look north across Burrard Inlet to the imposing peaks of the North Shore Mountains. You can also spot the towers of the downtown skyline and the green forests of Stanley Park.
The pool has a shallow area for kids with slides and waterplay activities. However, Kitsilano Pool is best known for its lane swimming: challenge yourself to swim laps of its entire 137-metre length.
After your swim, grab lunch on the patio at one of the restaurants on nearby Cornwall and Yew Streets. Local Public Eatery has a huge patio with beach views and elevated pub fare on the menu. Or chow down on Italian food on the streetside patio at Nook. If you're looking for a vegan meal, The Cider House has a fully plant-based menu, outdoor seating, and over 20 local craft ciders on tap.
New Brighton Pool
East Vancouver's New Brighton Pool is also located on the ocean. It sits in a pocket of park near the shoreline of Burrard Inlet near the Ironworkers Memorial Second Narrows Bridge. From the pool, you can see Vancouver's busy port as well as the North Shore Mountains across the water.
The 55-metre-long heated pool has a beach-style entry at one end as well as several slides. There is also a dedicated 25-metre lap swimming area.
In 2025, you can visit New Brighton Pool between May 17 and September 7. Reservations are advised but not required. Register up to three days in advance for public swim or lane swim sessions.
If you're in the neighbourhood, check out Playland a few blocks away. The amusement park includes tons of rides and midway games. Don't miss the iconic Wooden Rollercoaster. It's the oldest rollercoaster in Canada, running since 1958.
Hillcrest Aquatic Centre Outdoor Pool
The Hillcrest Aquatic Centre has an indoor pool with a lazy river, a steam room, a sauna, and a hot tub. But in the summer, the main attraction is the outdoor pool which includes water sprayers and bubble jets. Admission to the Aquatic Centre includes access to both the indoor and outdoor areas. The pool is currently closed for maintenance but will reopen on June 30.
Queen Elizabeth Park is across the street from Hillcrest. After your swim, follow the park paths to the Quarry Gardens to admire the blooms. Then head up to the plaza in front of the Bloedel Conservatory. This is Vancouver's highest spot so it has great views of downtown and the North Shore Mountains. The domed conservatory is also worth a visit. It is home to over 500 exotic plant species as well as numerous tropical fish and birds.
More Ways to Cool Off Outdoors
If you want to get wet outdoors in Vancouver, outdoor pools aren't your only option.
Vancouver is surrounded by the Pacific Ocean so beaches abound. English Bay Beach in downtown Vancouver is the heart of the city's beach culture. The city's first lifeguards began patrolling here over 100 years ago. Spanish Banks Beach stretches along the city's west side. At low tide, the sand extends for more than one kilometre offshore.
Kids will love cooling off at one of the city's spray parks. The Stanley Park Water Park has great views of the North Shore Mountains thanks to its location next to the Seawall on the north side of the park. Or head to the Granville Island Water Park. It has lots of sprayers and a waterslide.