Take a Scenic Bike Ride Around the Seawall
See Vancouver's iconic Seawall in one scenic day from the seat of a bike. Follow this step-by-step itinerary that takes you past gorgeous viewpoint, landmarks, and food stops.
Start your trip by renting a bike from one of the shops like Spokes Bicycle Rentals near the corner of Denman and Georgia Streets. They can set you up with traditional bikes or e-bikes, as well as trailers and seats for kids and dogs. Your bike also comes with a lock and a helmet.
After you've got your bike, cross Georgia Street and follow Denman Street to the water. You have arrived on the Seawall, a 28-kilometre-long dedicated pedestrian and bike path that circles Vancouver. It's the world's longest uninterrupted waterfront path.
Turn left onto the Seawall and follow it into Stanley Park. You'll be riding around Stanley Park counter-clockwise, which is the only direction bikes are permitted to travel. (Pedestrians can walk in either direction.)
Follow the Seawall around Coal Harbour, admiring the boats at the marina and the floatplanes taking off nearby. Be sure to take a short detour off the Seawall to visit the totem poles. Continue along the Seawall around Brockton Point, pausing for photos at the lighthouse, built in 1914.
The next section of the Seawall has great views of Burrard Inlet and the North Shore Mountains. Keep your eyes peeled to spot the Girl in a Wetsuit sculpture just offshore.
Ride under the Lions Gate Bridge onto a wilder section of the Seawall. The narrow path is sandwiched between towering cliffs and crashing waves. Watch for Siwash Rock, a sea stack standing proud in the surf. Continue along to Third Beach. If you need a break, climb the stairs to the concession to fuel up with ice cream or a burger.
Keep riding to reach Second Beach and another concession stand. From here, you have a choice: If you're out of energy, follow the path inland around Lost Lagoon to head back to the bike rental shops and finish your ride. But if you want to keep cruising along the Seawall, stay on the bike path as it curls around to English Bay Beach.
English Bay is a great place for a break. Grab a bite from one of the food carts and lounge in the sand. Or lock up your bikes and eat at one of the cafes along Denman or Davie Streets. Cafe Portrait is a local's favourite for brunch.
When you're ready to keep riding, follow the Seawall past Sunset Beach, then under the Burrard and Granville Street Bridges. You are now following the shoreline of False Creek, an inlet that separates downtown Vancouver from the neighbourhoods to the south. Ride past the gleaming glass towers of Yaletown and around to Science World at the head of False Creek.
Just past Science World, stop for coffee and pastries at Terra Breads in the Olympic Village neighbourhood. Next, ride west through sleepy residential neighbourhoods to Granville Island. Don't miss the food stalls at the Public Market and the artisans in the Net Loft.
From Granville Island, it's time to make your way back to the bike rental shops. You can continue a few minutes along the Seawall to connect with bike paths that will lead you over the Burrard Street Bridge. Or you can take the Aquabus or False Creek Ferries across False Creek - they allow bikes on board.
Once you've crossed False Creek by boat or bridge, you can follow the Seawall back to Second Beach, then take the path beside Lost Lagoon. For a more direct route, use the bike lanes on Hornby and Haro Streets.