Granville Island

Granville Island

Granville Island
4.5
NeighbourhoodsPoints of Interest & LandmarksIslands
9:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 8:00 PM
About
This large sandbar and former industrial site is now a posh, artsy neighborhood filled with quaint shops, eateries, breweries, and year-round arts and cultural festivals. Located in False Creek, it's famous for the Granville Island Public Market where you can get fresh produce, gourmet food, and artisanal handicrafts. Visit during summer when the island is exceptionally bustling with outdoor entertainment acts, or during the holidays for twinkling festive lights. You can get to Granville Island by car by crossing the Granville Bridge. Otherwise, you can also take a scenic ferry ride, or a walking or bike tour of the waterfront. – Tripadvisor
Duration: 1-2 hours
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  • ChiuYiMan628
    Tokyo, Japan1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Good vibes
    The Granville Island Public Market is great. You have a lot of things to choose to eat. Although there's a bit crowded, I can still manage to find a table to have my lunch there. Suggest to spend more time at this place.
    Visited February 2024
    Travelled solo
    Written March 24, 2024
  • Jo P
    Brough, United Kingdom604 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Must visit if in Vancouver
    A must visit if you are in Vancouver. Entertainment, shops, food and drink with a busy atmosphere. We spent a couple of hours wondering around and it became quieter towards the end of the day. We would highly recommend visiting Lee's Donuts. We walked over the main bridge to get there but there is also ferry options.
    Visited April 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written April 20, 2024
  • Zitatravel
    London, United Kingdom837 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Shopping and a drink at the Tap and Barrel enjoying the views
    A good place to visit for some shopping and grab a drink out on the patio of the Tap and Barrel restaurant bar. They have happy hour after 2.00pm so we enjoyed two glasses of pinot and some humus dip ( which was a large serving) . Excellent views nestled between the two bridges. We walked there and back. If you are on the other side you can catch a quick ferry over for £4.50 per person. An excellent way to spend our last day in Vancouver.
    Visited April 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written April 29, 2024
  • CBfromCA
    Fountain Valley, California39 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Fun place to visit
    Lots of things to see. Great shopping. Enjoy the market - it has everything and it all looks great. Live entertainment outdoors in the middle. Nice to sit for a minute and listen. Tables out side to sit and eat a nice lunch, many food choices.
    Visited May 2024
    Travelled with friends
    Written May 4, 2024
  • Malcolm
    Yealmpton, United Kingdom275 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Well worth a visit
    A really good place to visit. Trip there by water taxi was cheap and fun. On the island the market was an interesting place to walk around full of different stalls selling meat, fish, fruit and vegetables. There were also lots of art and craft shops. As well as pubs and restaurants. We visited a couple of times.
    Visited May 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written May 19, 2024
  • rowdygirl00
    Hilton Head, South Carolina190 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great way to spend an afternoon.
    Granville island is a great way to spend an afternoon, particularly if you are looking for good eats and unique finds! So many small shops with clothes, glass, pottery, maple products, salts, etc. on the way to the market and inside. Lots of food choices with seating mostly outside to enjoy it. Plan on 2-3 hours to stroll through the shops surrounding the market and then grab some lunch inside. Highly recommend.
    Visited May 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written May 20, 2024
  • Not disclosed
    292 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Well worth a visit
    A great place to explore and lots of things to do. A well stocked market had an extensive choice of fruit and vegetables. Lots of stalls selling smellies. China, jewellery etc. Numerous places to eat. Buskers in the square. You can catch a local boat and explore as well. Very atmospheric
    Visited May 2024
    Travelled with family
    Written May 30, 2024
  • kay
    Vancouver, Canada4 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great places to eat!
    In March, my friends and I visited Granville Island in Vancouver, and it was a fantastic experience. We spent the day exploring the island's eclectic shops and artisan boutiques, each offering unique and high-quality goods. The variety and creativity of the items made shopping a real pleasure. The Granville Island Public Market was a highlight, filled with an array of food stalls offering delicious local delicacies. We enjoyed fresh seafood, artisan cheeses, and mouth-watering baked goods. The standout was our visit to Lee's Donuts, where we indulged in perfectly fluffy and sweet donuts in various flavors. After our culinary adventures, we took a scenic ride on the AquaBus ferry to downtown Vancouver. The ferry ride offered beautiful views of the city skyline and was a relaxing end to our day. Granville Island’s combination of excellent shopping, tasty food, and stunning scenery made it a perfect destination. Whether you're a local or a visitor, Granville Island is a must-visit for a memorable day out.
    Visited March 2024
    Travelled with friends
    Written June 1, 2024
  • N0rmalee
    Bossier City, Louisiana1,024 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Interesting place,would have enjoyed more time there
    We stopped here for a while as part of a tour with Vacations by Rail on a bus. Would have loved to spend more than the hour or so we had as we spent most of that time finding a food vendor to buy some lunch. Great weather, lots to see and would be a fun spot to wonder around. We did see a glass blowing shop and a broom making shop! There is still a cement manufacturing plant there.
    Visited May 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written June 1, 2024
  • Sue H
    Bourne, Massachusetts165 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    An Enjoyable Afternoon
    This is a fun place to spend an afternoon. Some typical tourist shops with prices higher than elsewhere. However, it’s the market that is the draw….beautiful fresh fruits and vegetables, beef, poultry, pork and other meats, cheeses and a huge selection of herbs and rubs. Lots of places to eat…sit down and takeaway.
    Visited June 2024
    Travelled with friends
    Written June 9, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

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Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

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Stephani A
6 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2024 • Family
This is a very happening part of town in Vancouver. We took an Uber from our hotel which was not on the island, but I understand the public transit was easy to take here, too, as relatives used it around the same time. There are many artsy shops, live music spots, things to eat and drink, etc. The public market was great for good, cheap food. I recommend Lee's doughnuts for a snack. My kids (8 and 10) got a little bored, but my younger one did have lots of fun playing in the toy store area. There was a climb room (near the birthday parties) which gave you unlimited time for $7. Overall, I think this is a much more happening spot for adults though. I loved the broom store!
Written July 31, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

ColScott
Brisbane, Australia211 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2023 • Solo
I visited Granville Island on my first day in Vancouver while waiting for my hotel to allow me to check in. I caught the False Creek ferry from Yaletown Dock and the return ticket was CA$9, it’s only a 10min ferry ride but you get a good look at the city from the water. Granville Is is full of markets, stalls and tourist souvenir shops and it would appear as it was a Sunday a great amount of Vancouver was there. I would say you only need a few hours there, maybe half a day but no more, but definitely worth a visit.
Written August 29, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Tawnyrval
Ontario, CA4,327 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2023 • Couples
Granville Island is a small walkable island located in the heart of downtown Vancouver. If you are familiar with Pikes Place, Grand Central Market, International Market Honolulu then you know what I’m talkin about.
If you are tourist like ourselves, don’t drive there just catch an Uber or Lyft but If you plan to drive, here is some parking info - Parking is free before 11 am and after 6 pm.  Pay parking in effect 11 am – 6 pm daily, $3/hour on weekdays and $4/hour on weekends and statutory holidays.

Plan to spend most of the day here, you can get some fresh fruit, eat delicious fish and chips, pizza, doughnuts, pot pies, buy bread, bagels, souvenirs, toys and even purchase art. If you head over to their website, you can actually plan your day. The day we visited we played by ear, heading to the Vandusen Botanical Garden first then late lunch at Tonys, dessert at Lee’s and happy hour at Vancouver Fish Company (all reviews for these places should be up!) and in between we souvenir shopped, bought a book and looked at art!
Written September 14, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Gregory D
Edmonton, Canada115 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2023 • Family
Today was our first time here, it was nothing special. Boat ride was fun because it’s a boat with two 9 year olds. Was excited to see a wine store but exited quickly after I saw the ridiculous prices. Not sure who’s paying $80 for a bottle of wine but that person isn’t me. Way too many art stores, didn’t see one person go in any of them and the “kids mall” was way too expensive and nothing really fun to do.

Now for the market review. Big market, lots of fruit, some exotic, stupid expensive plus the food places were also very expensive. $16 for a sandwich is way too high, bottled pop $3.50 one piece of cod with fries was $18 and it wasn’t even that good. One place had gf and vegan options which is called laurelles fine foods, tight wraps with curry and chickpeas, pretty tasty and filling.

Definitely wouldn’t go back to this way overpriced tourist trap.
Written September 28, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Gregory B
11 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2024 • Friends
Great place to grab some food, dessert, musical instruments, or an artistic trinket. Plenty of things to see and do. Negatives? It was a tad crowded, even on a Thursday. Parking is competitive - if you don’t get there before noon plan on parking far away and walking on in. Or, take transit. You can thank me later. Overall, a good place to visit, and share a meal with friends or family.
Written August 18, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

C P
Paradise Point, Australia82 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2024 • Solo
More than 10 years since my previous visit. This time I was disappointed. Everything looks old and dirty, very crowded even on a weekday. Nothing really to see just the undercover food market, lots of tiny shops selling over priced souvenirs or hand crafts, there is nothing to do. Thankfully the sun was shining so my day was not totally wasted.
Written August 11, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

MillNewcastle
Gateshead, UK439 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2022
We were out and about in Vancouver and decided to walk across Granville Bridge to go to Granville Island. It is quite a long walk. The area is very busy but there were loads of restaurants and shops. The best part was the indoor market areas that were full of food stalls and fresh food counters. Great to wonder around and plenty of seats on the waterfront to sit and eat what you have bought. Saw the Aqua Bus while we were sitting and this was a much quicker and easier way to get back across to Vancouver and I think fares started from $3. Great place to spend a sunny afternoon.
Written September 15, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Valentina P
Kyiv, Ukraine24 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2023
Though Granville Island is a bit crowded during weekends, it is nonetheless cozy and enjoyable. I love the chill vibes you get from it. It has a plenty of shops with souvenirs, handmade crafts, and art pieces. As for coffee shops, my fav is Blue parrot.
After exploring Granville Island, I'd recommend taking a ferry to West end or Yaletown and continue enjoying your day
Written July 17, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Dean
Wellington, New Zealand863 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2023 • Solo
Spent an afternoon out on Granville Island. I caught the Aquabus from the Hornby Street dock. It is literally no more than a 150 meters across the river to the Granville Island dock. Maybe less than 4 mins. You can drive and walk there but the aquabus or ferry is so quick (I paid jusr over $3 canadian online by scanning a QR code while you wait. You can pay on the bus but it will cost like a dollar more). The Island itself has many different vendors offering everything from artwork such as painting and metal work (which was very cool or hot) to brewies to food markets. I went for lobster roll which is located at the Lobsterman. There was a very very long line for the donuts.

Overall, had a good hour or so just walking around and viewing at various vendors.
Written February 20, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Anne D
Sydney, Australia64 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2023
We went to Granville Island on a Saturday and so we expected it to be busy~ it was. The food market has everything you'd expct but can be very hot inside. Although there is seating upstairs, it is MUCH nicer outside winning "the tables with shade lottery". Grab the seats and send someone inside for food. There is everything you could want from nationality food of many countries, beer garderns, and many cakes, cookies etc + gelato. The seats are slanted and not comfortable for 2 average adults but OK for thin/children size. Simply ask to sit down if there is only a couple~ they don't own the tables, especially if a seat is being used for a bag! There is enough room for a family of 5 if you all sit still. Bring your own water as it can be thirsty work walking around, but restrooms are limited in the market. However, there is so much to see on Granville Island away from the market. There is a huge children's section away from the hussle and bustle with water parks, playground, tennis courts, bike paths, kid~friendly snacks etc. It is near the artistic section. Maps are no longer printed and they ask you to download a map before you come. There are many, many clothing shops but they are all quite expensive. There is a book shop which is reasonable, a small postcard stand, a wonderful stationary store with pens, seals and paper. The catch to get over to Granville by transit is that the Fast Ferries and Aquabus are run by the same company and are outside the compass system. It is cheaper to buy a return ticket, but you can buy tickets on the boat with cash or card. Check out details @FalseCreekFerry. They actually have a map of Granville Island on thier brochure which we found afterwards. The closest metro to a ferry dock is Valetown followed by Main Street -Science world depending where you want to join and return from .They also go up to the top of Kitsilano beach where the Maritime museum, aquarium and museums are located in the park. It is cheaper to get a day pass if you are going several zones. It was interesting to walk around but I'm not anxious to go back.
Written August 8, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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