Vancouver, the capital of British Columbia, is one of the most well-rounded cities in North America. From stunning nature to striking cityscapes, this city has something for everyone. However, it also has a reputation of being one of the most expensive cities in Canada and North America. But there’s good news! If you’ve always wanted to visit the city but need to do so on a tight budget, I have lots of tips that you can use to make your trip more affordable. So read on to find out how you can visit Vancouver on a Budget!
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Use Public Transportation or Walk
Vancouver has a pretty robust transportation system. They also have a metro system and, while it doesn’t go everywhere, is pretty convenient if you’re staying outside the city center (and I’m going to explain in the next part why I think you should do this). Called SkyTrains, the metros consist of three lines that run from Downtown Vancouver to different areas of Vancouver, including the Canada line that goes to the airport.
Buses on the other hand go almost everywhere. Name a place in Vancouver and I can guarantee you that there’s a bus line that services it. I never took the SkyTains but I did ride the bus fairly often. One cool feature of the buses is that you can use your apple wallet to pay for rides. I would just tap my phone to the readers and the fare would automatically be charged to my credit card.
How to Save MORE Money on Transport
If you want to save more money, however, I would recommend getting a stored value Compass card that can be bought at SkyTrain stations, YVR airport, and some ferry terminals and retailers. It’s C$.60 cheaper per ride for buses and even more for trains, but keep in mind that there is a C$6 refundable deposit for each Compass Card you purchase.
Vancouver is also a very walkable city. A lot of the neighborhoods and attractions are close together or can be grouped together. I did most of Downtown Vancouver in a day and only took 4 bus rides that day. It pays to walk, so I would suggest looking at what you want to see and planning your itinerary around what attractions you can do successively.
When I was in Vancouver, I just used my contactless credit card on my apple wallet as I knew I would only be using buses because my Airbnb was located in an area that wasn’t serviceable by SkyTrain. This brings me to my second money saving tip.
Stay Outside the City Center
Because public transport in Vancouver is so vast and cheap, it makes more sense monetarily to get a hotel or Airbnb outside downtown Vancouver. You’ll save around C$100-C$200, which compared to the C$6 you’ll spend going into and out of the city every day means that you’re saving more money by locating yourself outside the city center. Some attractions, such as the VanDusen Gardens, Bloedel Conservatory, Museum of Anthropology, Kitsilano, and Queen Elizabeth Park are located outside the city center anyway so you would need to take public transport from the city center to reach them.
When I visited Vancouver I stayed at a reasonably priced Airbnb near Kitsilano, which was perfect because it was located near a supermarket and a bus station. While it did take about 30 minutes each morning to get to the city, I didn’t mind as it saved me a ton of money compared to getting a hotel or Airbnb in the city. When booking accommodations, dates and location are everything, so don’t be afraid to book something outside the city center. This is an underrated tip I have on visiting Vancouver on a budget.
Go to Lynn Canyon instead of Capilano
Capilano Suspension Bridge Park is one of the best attractions in Vancouver. Located in the city of North Vancouver, it’s a nature park that features the highest suspension bridge in North America. It also has a bunch of trails and treetop walks, as well as animal encounters and a cool CliffWalk. It was one of my favorite things that I did in Vancouver (or at least tied with Stanley Park and Granville Island). So it might come as a surprise to you that I recommend you skip it if you’re on a budget.
While Capilano Suspension Bridge Park is fun and unique, the entry fee to get into the park is kind of steep. You’re going to be paying north of C$70 per person to access the park, which isn’t cheap by any means. So if you would like to save some money, I would recommend going to Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge instead.
While I personally haven’t visited this park, it also has a suspension bridge (albeit not as high or long) and some trails as well. The best part about the park is that it’s free to enter and (to my knowledge) is open every single day. If you want to experience the nature of North Vancouver but don’t want to pay the steep price to enter Capilano Park, consider going to Lynn Canyon instead.
Visit Free Attractions
Just like every other city, there are things you can do in Vancouver for free. Unfortunately, the number of free things you can do in Vancouver pales in comparison to the amount of free things you can do in cities like LA or New York. But don’t fret, there’s still a bunch of things you can do here for free.
All the districts, such as Gastown, Yaletown, Kitsilano, and the West End are free for you to explore. Granville Island is also free to enter and is a fun to walk around in, even if you don’t buy anything. Queen Elizabeth Park and Stanley Park are also free to explore but if you only have time for one, do the latter. As for sights, the beaches are also free to do, as are the Gastown Clock, Engine 374 Pavilion, Canada Place, Christ Church Cathedral, The Smiling Statues, and the Vancouver Public Library. As I said, the heavy hitters need entry fees, but there’s still plenty you can do for free to ensure you visit Vancouver on a budget.
Utilize Free Shuttles
This tip is for those of you planning on visiting the Capilano Suspension Bridge or Grouse Mountain. Both of these attractions are located in North Vancouver. While you could take the public buses to reach these places, or even take an uber to get there, they both actually offer a free shuttle to and from Canada Place!
You don’t need a ticket to ride these shuttles, and they’re absolutely free as well. They depart once their respective parks open, and run until they close. When I used them, I don’t remember there being any sort of line. The buses weren’t even that full when I rode them. I was able to comfortably get a spot and it’s kind of a relaxing ride over the Lion’s Gate Bridge to get to Capilano or Grouse Mountain. I highly recommend it to anyone going to these places as it’ll help keep your trip to Vancouver on a budget.
Use Websites for Discounts
There are two websites you can take a look at for great deals on entry tickets for attractions. They are destinationvancouver.com and vancouverattractions.com. They both offer similar discount models that can be applied to multiple Vancouver attractions.
Right now they both offer 20% off if you book two attractions, 25% off if you book three attractions, 30% if you book four, and 35% if you book five. Attractions include VanDusen Gardens, Capilano Suspension Bridge, Sun Yat Sen Gardens, Flyover Canada, Grouse Mountain, Museum of Anthropology, Museum of Vancouver, Science World, Vancouver Aquarium, Vancouver Lookout, and the Vancouver Art Gallery. If you plan on visiting many of these attractions, make sure to check out these websites for the best deals.
Hopefully you’ve become more confident that you can visit Vancouver on a budget. Travel can be expensive, but it doesn’t have to be!
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