Things to see in Vancouver

Chinatown and Dr Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden

Vancouver's Chinatown district centres on Pender and Main streets, and is crammed with speciality shops and dim sum restaurants. Chinese Canadians are just as likely to shop at the Asian malls in the southern suburb of Richmond however. At the western edge of Chinatown, the Dr Sun Yat-Sen Garden was the first full-sized, classical Chinese garden to be built outside of China.

Address: , Chinatown, Vancouver,
Telephone: +1 602 662 3207 (Dr Sun Yat-Sen Garden).
Opening times:

Dr Sun Yat-Sen Garden: daily 0930-1900 (mid-Jun-Aug); daily 1000-1800 (May-mid-Jun and Sep); daily 1000-1630 (Oct); Tues-Sun 1000-1630 (Nov-Apr).

Website: http://www.vancouverchinatown.cahttp://www.vancouverchinesegarden.com
Admission Fees:

Yes (Dr Sun Yat-Sen Garden).

Disabled Access: Yes
UNESCO: No

Museum of Anthropology (MOA)

MOA is a striking building on the UBC campus designed by Arthur Erickson for the purpose of displaying a collection of British Columbia's First Nations heritage. The simple concrete forms allow the star attraction, totem poles, to stand out against the view of the ocean visible through the expanse of glass walls. The museum also celebrates world arts and cultures.

Address: Point Grey, 6393 Northwest Marine Drive, Vancouver, V6T 1Z2
Telephone: +1 604 827 5932.
Opening times:

Fri-Wed 1000-1700, Thurs 1000-2100.

Website: http://moa.ubc.ca
Admission Fees:

Yes

Disabled Access: Yes
UNESCO: No

Vanier Park

This waterside Kitsilano park is home to three museums. The Museum of Vancouver (or MOV) charts the city's history. The HR MacMillan Space Centre hosts informative live demos and planetarium shows. The Vancouver Maritime Museum's thousands of nautical artefacts include St Roch, the first ship to sail the Northwest Passage from west to east.

Address: Kitsilano, 1000 Chestnut Street, Vancouver, V6J 3J9
Telephone: +1 604 736 4431 (MOV); +1 604 738 7827 (Space Centre); +1 604 257 8300 (Maritime Museum).
Opening times:

MOV: Sun-Wed 1000-1700, Thurs-Fri 1000-2000, Sat 1000-2100. Space Centre: Mon-Fri 1000-1500, Sat 1000-1700, Sun 1200-1700. Maritime Museum: Tues-Sat 1000-1700, Sun 1200-1700 (winter); daily 1000-1700 (summer); admission by donation Thurs 1700-2000.

Website: http://covapp.vancouver.ca/parkfinder/parkdetail.aspx?inparkid=120
Admission Fees:

Yes

Disabled Access: Yes
UNESCO: No

Science World at Telus World of Science

Housed in a distinctive silver geodesic dome, this interactive museum appeals to kids and adults alike with its hands-on exhibits and live demonstrations. It's also the site of Vancouver's OMNIMAX cinema, with its enormous dome screen. Outdoors, the state-of-the-art Ken Spencer Science Park features displays on sustainability and a brood of resident hens.

Address: , 1455 Quebec Street, Vancouver, V6A 3Z7
Telephone: +1 604 443 7440.
Opening times:

Tues-Fri 1000-1700, Sat-Sun 1000-1800 (winter); daily 1000-1800, Thurs until 2000 (summer).

Website: http://www.scienceworld.ca
Admission Fees:

Yes

Disabled Access: Yes
UNESCO: No

Stanley Park and Vancouver Aquarium

The long seawall that circles Vancouver's immense downtown park provides sweeping ocean views for strollers, joggers and cyclists. Trails crisscross the sprawling rainforest and parkland, connecting the seawall and beaches with an open-air pool, a totem pole park and the Vancouver Aquarium. The aquarium's diverse inhabitants include beluga whales, sea otters and African penguins.

Address: Downtown, 845 Avison Way, Vancouver, V6G 3E2
Telephone: +1 604 659 3474.
Opening times:

Daily 0930-1800 (late Jun-early Sep); daily 1000-1700 (early Sep-late Jun).

Website: http://www.vanaqua.org
Admission Fees:

Yes

Disabled Access: Yes
UNESCO: No

Vancouver Art Gallery

Housed in the former provincial courthouse (though a new home is in the pipeline), the gallery's collection includes international artworks as well as paintings by Canadian artists such as Emily Carr. The gallery's outdoor public art space, Offsite, hosts a rotating programme of contemporary installations (on West Georgia Street between Thurlow and Bute Streets).

Address: Downtown, 750 Hornby Street, Vancouver, V6Z 2H7
Telephone: +1 604 662 4719.
Opening times:

Daily 1000-1700 (until 2100 Tues).

Website: http://www.vanartgallery.bc.ca
Admission Fees:

Yes

Disabled Access: Yes
UNESCO: No