Best Day Trips from Vancouver: Victoria, Whistler, Whales and More

Vancouver sits between the Pacific and the Coast Mountains, and many of the best places in British Columbia are within a day’s reach. If you are not renting a car, or don’t want to plan the logistics, a guided tour with hotel pickup is the easy option. These are the trips worth taking, with duration, price and who each one suits.

All prices are starting prices per person in Canadian dollars, taken from GetYourGuide in October 2026. They change with season and demand.

Day Trips at a Glance

Trip	Duration	From	Rating
Victoria and Butchart Gardens by coach and ferry (opens in a new tab)	13 hrs	CAD 305	4.7 (1,534)
Victoria by seaplane, ferry back (opens in a new tab)	1 day	CAD 427	4.6 (240)
Whistler, Sea to Sky Gondola and Shannon Falls (opens in a new tab)	11 hrs	CAD 225	4.8 (1,030)
Whale watching on a covered catamaran (opens in a new tab)	5 hrs	CAD 257	4.8 (3,116)
Scenic seaplane flight (opens in a new tab)	30 min	CAD 189	4.8 (2,085)
Capilano Suspension Bridge and Grouse Mountain (opens in a new tab)	7 hrs	CAD 264	4.8 (538)
Gastown food tour (opens in a new tab)	3 hrs	CAD 166	4.8 (661)

Victoria and Butchart Gardens

Victoria is the capital of British Columbia, at the southern tip of Vancouver Island. Getting there means the BC Ferries crossing from Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay, about 1 hour 35 minutes through the Gulf Islands. With the drive to the terminal and waiting time, plan on roughly four hours each way.

The full-day coach and ferry tour (opens in a new tab) handles all of that. It stops first at Butchart Gardens, a former limestone quarry the Butchart family began turning into a garden in 1904. Then you have free time in downtown Victoria, around the Inner Harbour, the Parliament Buildings and the Fairmont Empress. At 13 hours it is a long day, but you don’t have to organize anything. A similar option is the Victoria and Butchart Gardens tour (opens in a new tab).

The faster way is by seaplane (opens in a new tab): about 35 minutes from Vancouver Harbour straight into Victoria’s Inner Harbour, returning in the evening by ferry and coach. It costs more, saves time, and you see the Gulf Islands from above.

If you would rather explore Victoria on your own, the coach and ferry transfer (opens in a new tab) starts at CAD 91. Better still, stay a night.

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Whistler on the Sea-to-Sky Highway

Highway 99 from Vancouver to Whistler is called the Sea-to-Sky Highway on its most scenic stretch. It follows Howe Sound, a fjord with islands and steep mountains, then climbs into the Coast Mountains. The 120 kilometres take about two hours without stops.

The Whistler day trip (opens in a new tab) stops at Shannon Falls, which drop 335 metres in several steps, and rides the Sea to Sky Gondola near Squamish up to 885 metres. At the top are viewing platforms, a suspension bridge and short trails above Howe Sound. Then you get free time in Whistler Village, host of the 2010 Winter Olympics. A highly rated alternative is the Whistler tour with gondola and Shannon Falls (opens in a new tab) from CAD 190.

In winter, winter tires are mandatory on the Sea-to-Sky Highway, one more reason many visitors prefer a tour to a rental car.

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Whale Watching from Vancouver

Orcas live in the Salish Sea between Vancouver and Vancouver Island, and humpback whales join them from spring to fall. Tours leave from Granville Island or Steveston and take about five hours, because the whales are often farther out near the Gulf Islands.

The covered catamaran tour (opens in a new tab) has three viewing decks, photos are included, and the operator guarantees whale sightings. With more than 3,000 reviews it is the most booked tour from Vancouver. A smaller option is the semi-covered catamaran from Granville Island (opens in a new tab). Bring warm layers, it is cool on the water even in summer, and take seasickness tablets beforehand if you need them.

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Scenic Seaplane Flight

Seaplanes take off and land all day in Coal Harbour next to the convention centre. The scenic flight (opens in a new tab) lasts 30 minutes and crosses Stanley Park, the Lions Gate Bridge and the North Shore mountains. On a clear day you can see the glaciers inland. It fits easily into a city day and is one of the best rated activities in Vancouver.

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North Shore: Capilano Suspension Bridge and Grouse Mountain

Across Burrard Inlet the rainforest begins. The Capilano Suspension Bridge is 137 metres long and hangs 70 metres above the Capilano River, with treetop walkways and a cliffside path next to it. Nearby, the Skyride gondola climbs Grouse Mountain, with views over the whole city to Vancouver Island.

The guided tour (opens in a new tab) combines both with a stop at Cleveland Dam and picks you up at your hotel. If you go on your own, buy the tickets separately: Capilano Suspension Bridge Park (opens in a new tab) from CAD 79 and Grouse Mountain Skyride (opens in a new tab) from CAD 93. In season a free shuttle runs from Canada Place to the bridge.

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Gastown Food Tour

Gastown is Vancouver’s oldest neighbourhood, with cobblestones, brick buildings and the steam clock on Water Street. The three-hour food tour (opens in a new tab) visits seven eateries and covers the area’s history along the way. It works well for a first evening or a rainy day.

Booking Tips

• Most day tours pick up at downtown hotels. If yours is outside downtown, check the meeting point before you book.
• Most tours can be cancelled free of charge up to 24 hours before. Whale watching and seaplane flights depend on the weather and are moved or refunded if conditions are bad.
• In July and August the Victoria and Whistler tours often sell out days ahead.
• If your cruise ship is in Vancouver for only one day, choose the seaplane flight, the North Shore or the food tour. Victoria and Whistler take too long.

For what to see in the city itself, read our guide to the best things to do in Vancouver.