Two Days in Vancouver Before Your Alaska Cruise
If you're sailing to Alaska out of Vancouver - which you likely are, since it's the primary embarkation port for Inside Passage itineraries - here is our strongest piece of pre-cruise advice: don't fly in the day you board.
Arrive two days early. Vancouver will earn every extra hour you give it.
We know, we know - the point of the trip is Alaska. But Vancouver has a way of becoming its own highlight. We did the two-day pre-cruise stay before our July sailing, and we left wishing we had a third day. Here's exactly how we'd spend it.
Where We Stayed: The Burrard
We stayed at The Burrard - a retro-style boutique hotel in the heart of downtown Vancouver - and it set exactly the right tone for the trip.
The Burrard has 72 individually furnished rooms, a courtyard, a rooftop terrace, and an onsite café. It's eco-conscious, dog-friendly, and radiates the kind of "has actual personality" energy that's increasingly hard to find as downtown hotel blocks fill up with look-alike chains. Every detail feels considered without feeling precious about it.
Location-wise, you can't do much better. Granville Street is steps away, Canada Place is a reasonable walk, and transit is easy to reach. We'd stay there again without a second thought.
Getting Downtown from the Airport
We took the Canada Line SkyTrain from the airport to Vancouver City Centre station, then walked several blocks to the hotel. It's convenient, affordable, and genuinely easy - helpful people on the platform were happy to walk us through the process when we looked like we were figuring it out.
That said: we wouldn't recommend this route for travelers with a lot of large luggage, or for anyone with mobility concerns. In those cases, a taxi or rideshare directly to the hotel is worth the splurge.
Evening Arrival: The World Cup, Granville Street, and a Very Humble Dinner
We arrived during the FIFA World Cup - Vancouver was one of the host cities - and the energy in the city was something else. Locals and visitors packed the streets, games playing on screens in every bar window, the whole city buzzing.
We were hungry, we were near Granville Street (which has no shortage of great restaurant options), and we had our hearts set on El Furniture Warehouse, which had claims of “Best Happy Hour in Vancouver”. Solid deal, by the way - from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM, Tuesday through Sunday, every single item on the food menu is priced at $6.95. It’s worth checking out if you're there.
We couldn't get in. The World Cup had other ideas.
We tried a few other spots on the street and around the neighborhood. Also packed. After a long travel day, we made the only sensible decision: Chipotle, early bedtime, zero regrets. Sometimes travel is glamorous and sometimes it's a burrito bowl and a good night's sleep. Both are valid.
Day One: Coffee, a Bus, and the Best of Vancouver
Morning: Craffles
We started the next morning with a short walk to Craffles - an adorable little café in Yaletown that turned out to be exactly what we needed. The weather was gorgeous, we sat outside, and it was one of those slow, lovely mornings that reminds you why you travel. Highly recommended as a first stop.
Mid-Morning: The Hop On Hop Off Trolley
After breakfast, we boarded the Hop On Hop Off Trolley. We'll be honest - it's not for everyone. Some travelers find it a little touristy, and fair enough. But we think it's one of the best ways to get the lay of the land in a city you don't know well, especially if you only have a day or two. You see a lot of ground quickly, you get oriented, and then you can make informed decisions about where you actually want to go back and spend more time.
For a pre-cruise Vancouver stop, it's a smart use of your morning.
You can grab your tickets here: Vancouver Hop On Hop Off Trolley Tour w/ 20 Stops & Live Guide
Stop 1: Granville Island
First off the bus: Granville Island. This was our favorite stop of the day.
Granville Island is a 14-hectare peninsula in the Fairview neighborhood - a former industrial area that's been transformed into one of Vancouver's most vibrant public spaces. The famous Public Market is the anchor: fresh produce, fish, seafood, local products, prepared foods, and more vendors than you can get through in one visit. Surrounding it are restaurants, a marina, artists' studios, performing arts theaters, and craft breweries.
The vibe is bohemian but accessible - part working neighborhood, part public gathering place, beloved by locals and visitors alike in a way that feels genuinely earned rather than manufactured for tourism.
We wandered, we browsed, we took in the beautiful views of downtown across the water. And we stopped to see The Giants - massive murals of a colorful crew of giants by French street artists that are seriously impressive up close. If you're an art person (or even if you're not), don't walk past them.
Stop 2: Gastown and Chinatown
Back on the bus, then off again in Gastown. We saw the famous steam clock - worth a photo, genuinely charming - and made our way toward Chinatown to see the Centennial Gate. Gastown has great street energy: independent shops, good food, beautiful old brick architecture. If you have extra time to wander, wander here.
Stop 3: Canada Place
A quick stop at Canada Place for a bathroom break and lunch before re-boarding. Canada Place is the cruise terminal - you'll be back here on embarkation day - but it's also a landmark in its own right, with great waterfront views and several dining options. Good place to grab a quick bite and keep moving.
Stop 4: English Bay Beach
Our last stop off the bus: English Bay Beach. Come here for A-maze-ing Laughter, the sculpture by Yue Minjun - a collection of oversized bronze figures, all laughing uproariously, installed along the beach. They're delightful and a little surreal. Pick your favorite figure, take a photo with them. We'll tell you now: it's impossible to stand next to them without laughing yourself.
The Seawall Walk to Stanley Park
From English Bay Beach, we walked the Seawall toward Stanley Park. This is one of the great urban walks in North America, and we don't say that lightly.
Along the way: sweeping views of the Vancouver skyline and the mountains behind it, an impressively large public pool (the 2nd Beach Pool), and an endless stream of locals out running, cycling, and generally making you feel like you should exercise more. The weather was perfect, which helped.
We walked through Stanley Park itself - past the Lost Lagoon, all the way to the Rose Garden - and took approximately a thousand photos of the skyline along the way. If you love a good photo opportunity, bring more memory than you think you need.
Dinner: El Furniture Warehouse (Second Attempt)
That evening, we met our sister and brother-in-law - who were also in Vancouver for the same cruise - for dinner at El Furniture Warehouse. We got great seats outside this time. The food was lovely and very affordable, the company was even better, and it felt like the trip had officially begun.
Evening: Drinking Chocolate and Float Planes
We'd planned to finish the night with s'mores at Mink's Chocolate Café. Mink's didn't cooperate - they were close to closing and had stopped serving s'mores for the night. We pivoted to their drinking chocolates instead, which turned out to be a perfectly excellent consolation prize.
Then we walked back to Canada Place and stood there as the sun went down, watching the float planes take off from the harbor. The light on the water, the mountains behind the city, the float planes gliding out toward the Sound - it was one of those quiet moments where you think: this is why we do this.
Highly recommend building this into your evening if you can.
Embarkation Day
We checked out of The Burrard and made our way to Canada Place to board the Azamara Pursuit. We wanted to be among the first on the ship so we could be at the gangway to welcome our group with a hug when they boarded - one of our favorite parts of leading a group trip.
After we'd settled in and grabbed food, we headed up to the deck for sailaway. The views of Vancouver from the water are something else: the skyline you've been walking around for two days, suddenly receding. And then: the Lion's Gate Bridge, appearing ahead. It's a genuinely low bridge when you're standing on a ship's upper deck, which never fails to produce a collective "wait, are we going to clear that?" moment. (You always clear it. But someone always makes the duck joke. It might as well be you.)
Ahead: the Inside Passage. Alaska.
If You Only Have One Day
Two days is ideal, but one day in Vancouver is still very much worth it. Here's how we'd prioritize:
Option A (our recommendation): Start at Granville Island for the Public Market and a wander, then walk the Seawall to Stanley Park. This gives you the two most distinctly Vancouver experiences - the waterfront energy of the island and the grandeur of the park — without rushing either.
Option B: Gastown for architecture and street energy, then English Bay Beach for the A-maze-ing Laughter sculpture and a walk along the water. Pair this with a café stop on Granville Street.
Either way: The Hop On Hop Off Trolley is a genuinely good tool for a short visit. It helps you orient quickly and make informed choices about where to spend your limited time.
Vancouver rewards the extra day. If there's any flexibility in your flights, use it.
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Sailing to Alaska from Vancouver? Our Alaska Cruise First-Timer Guide covers everything to know before you board. Organizing a group cruise? We've written up exactly how we do it — logistics, tips, and all the things we'd do differently. And if you want a deep dive on the route itself, the Southeast Alaska Approach Guide is a great next read.
Questions about pre-cruise Vancouver logistics? We're always happy to help.
