Vancouver is one of the most beautiful and scenic cities in the world, which is why you’re here, or thinking of coming here. There is no shortage of insta-worthy backdrops for everyone, no matter what you’re into. Into nature? We have mounds (literally) of that. Into art? We have that. Into food? We have the best and most food porny (truth).
Yes, we have lots of dedicated Van Fan accounts, but you can go experience and get your own pics to show off at these places:
Bridges
We might not have the Golden Gate or the Brooklyn, but we have the Lion’s Gate and the Capilano Suspension and like 34 more and they’re pretty spectacular. Cop some of the best views of the North Shore skyline from under the Lion’s Gate Bridge on the Stanley Park seawall, which is a smaller replica of San Francisco’s Golden Gate. Or you can drive through the park to the top of the bridge, which is where a lot of local photographers get their money shots.
Don’t forget the touristy shot on the Capilano Suspension Bridge (Cap Bridge). It’s usually pretty picked during peak season, but you can find times during low season to get the perfect shot solo. As well as under the Granville Street bridge.
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Mountains
Were you ever eve in Vancouver if you don’t have a pic from atop one of the mountains? It doesn’t really matter whether you drive or hike, taking pics on a mountain top is a must, obviously because we’re surrounded by them.. and they’re beautiful beasts. Any views from way up are amazing, but the #worthit ones to hike are: The Chief (Squamish), St. Mark’s Summit (Cypress Mountain), Quarry Rock (Deep Cove), Grouse Grind (Grouse Mountain).
If hiking and sweaty pics aren’t your thing, you can drive up to Cypress Lookout and it has pretty spectacular views.
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Beaches
There is no shortage of beach pics in a city surrounded by water and we don’t have to explain why you’d want to capture some of these beautiful sand and water spaces, but we will tell you which ones are the nicest and the go-tos. English Bay (Downtown) is the main and most popular destination, so of course it’s always looking properly kept. Sunset Beach (Downtown) is the beach next to English Bay and is also very beautiful, where you will find the Engagement Rings and Dinosaur Ribs installations (read on). Kits Beach is full of attractive people, pillowy sand, volleyball nets, park and a massive pool and it always a great backdrop when the clouds get stuck in the mountains across and makes it look hazy.
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Architecture
Vancouver has been a hotspot of new and cool urban developments lately. It’s a super young city, so you won’t find many oldies, but lots of goodies. The buildings are contemporary and modern and feature a lot of glass because the sun isn’t as strong, so you can, and to reflect and enhance the views of the water and mountains that surround. With lots of plans in the works in the next few years of sick new livings, there are some pretty special ones already like Vancouver House, the Qube, ARC Vancouver and more coming every year. Don’t forget the Hotel Europe, which is our version of the Flatiron Building in NYC.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CBCLbvBJgGd/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Greenery
Not many cities have urban, oceans, mountains AND greenery so accessible. In fact parks and green spaces take up 11% of the city’s area. If you’re looking for some lush greenery for a background or photo op, this is our round up of the best spots: Deep Cove, Stanley Park, Bloedel Conservatory in the VanDusen Botanical Garden, Queen Elizabeth Park, Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden, Vanier Park, Lynn Valley and Pacific Spirit Regional Park.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CLci2urhHf8/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Sunsets
We are #blessed with the insanely beautiful west coast sunsets. The sky turns all colours of pink, purple, blue and orange and sets right into the water like a portrait turned magic trick.
The beaches are the obvious choice and include: Sunset Beach, English Bay, Kitsilano Beach, Wreck Beach and Third Beach (on Tuesdays, it turns into a drum circle party). The less obvious and possible more stunning is watching it from atop a mountain and the closest and most convenient hightop is Cypress Mountain. A local fav, is if you can snag a table by the window in the restaurant area of Cactus Club Coal Harbour, you can get dinner and a show.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CPPjKicg-fc/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Art
Vancouver isn’t ‘known’ for being an artsy city (depending on who you ask), but it actually is. With the Vancouver Mural Fest’s successful annual colouring of the city, we’ve been left with giant murals all over, especially in the Main Street area, but the most popular IG-worthy destinations are still the Alley Oop (Downtown) and Fun Alley (North Vancouver). If you’re not sick of wings pics yet, there’s the Kits Wings in Kitsilano. For giant-sized installations, there’s the Digital Orca (Coal Harbour) and the Engagement sculpture and the Dinosaur Ribs (Sunset Beach) and there are always some sort of pop up installations, especially in the summer. Another great photo op is the graveyard of retro neon signs at the Museum of Vancouver.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BlCq5ZZFU2r/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Restaurants
Tis the season for garden patios. It’s the trend in Vancouver right now and all the restaurants are coming out with a garden oasis getaway indoors or on their patio. The following are where you can find your flowery backdrops: Bonjour Vietnam Bistro (Chinatown), Black and Blue’s The Roof (Downtown), Reflections the Garden Terrace (Downtown, Rosewood Georgia Hotel), Glowbal (Downtown).
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