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Beaty Biodiversity Museum
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Beaty Biodiversity Museum

See all things to do
See all things to do
Beaty Biodiversity Museum
4
116 reviews
#73 of 463 things to do in Vancouver
Speciality Museums
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10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
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The area
Address
Neighbourhood: University Land Endowments
An area as rich in history as it is in natural beauty, the expansive parkland of the University Land Endowments is protected by the city in cooperation with the University of British Columbia. A large green space studded by rose gardens, Japanese rock gardens, botanic gardens, canopy walks, regional parkland, and hiking trails, the University Land Endowments are a breath of fresh air. Combining a commitment to preserving nature with a similar promise to preserve culture, its valleys are also home to the First Nations heritage museum, the biodiversity museum, and anthropological and memorial exhibitions. From its highest canopies to the sandy shorelines of Wreck Beach, its serenity is preserved by the University buildings that dot it, combining Mother Nature and scholarship.
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Best nearby
Restaurants
123 within 5 kms
Tim Hortons
50
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Attractions
234 within 10 kms
Pacific Museum of Earth
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University of British Columbia
557
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357
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Ladner Clock Tower
2
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UBC Aquatic Centre
7
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429
1 kmGardens
Wreck Beach
287
0.8 kmBeaches
Stanley Park
29,217
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See what other travellers are saying
  • Sophie
    1 contribution
    Amazing - best enjoyed with some background knowledge
    A must-see for students & adults with an existing love of nature, biology, conservation or evolution. With a small amount of background knowledge (1 university course or a few YouTube videos) you can enjoy this museum so much more. Makes perfect sense to have it on a university campus as its best enjoyed by people with an existing interest. That being said, it’s my favourite museum in Vancouver.
    Visited January 2020
    Travelled as a couple
    Written October 31, 2020
  • dodge440
    752 contributions
    one for a rainy day only
    It was indeed a rainy day and our planned activities were cancelled so we decided to head out here. The whale and the video about its siting at the museum is fascinating and some of the exhibits are too although many less so as they are crammed in to drawers rather than on regular display. The shop is quite good. We did get some explanations of stuff from students working there too. A reasonably interesting afternoon - no more than that.
    Visited July 2022
    Written July 26, 2022
  • Kathrin S
    Portland, Oregon610 contributions
    A nice educational field trip
    I wasn't sure that I'd like this museum after reading the mixed reviews, but we enjoyed our visit. We all learned a lot. I agree it may not be in Vancouver's Top Ten but it'll be close up there! It was difficult to find. (Google maps struggled) but it was a good visit.
    Visited August 2022
    Written August 14, 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.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
116 reviews
Excellent
43
Very good
42
Average
19
Poor
12
Terrible
0
Alexandra T
Murrieta, CA1,915 contributions
Lots of research
Aug. 2022
This museum is on the campus of UBC. We went on a Tuesday when you get to pay what you want. There is a huge whale skeleton in the lobby and lots of displays around the rest of the museum.
Written October 8, 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.
Kathrin S
Portland, OR610 contributions
A nice educational field trip
Aug. 2022
I wasn't sure that I'd like this museum after reading the mixed reviews, but we enjoyed our visit. We all learned a lot.

I agree it may not be in Vancouver's Top Ten but it'll be close up there! It was difficult to find. (Google maps struggled) but it was a good visit.
Written August 14, 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.
dodge440
London, England752 contributions
one for a rainy day only
Jul. 2022
It was indeed a rainy day and our planned activities were cancelled so we decided to head out here. The whale and the video about its siting at the museum is fascinating and some of the exhibits are too although many less so as they are crammed in to drawers rather than on regular display. The shop is quite good. We did get some explanations of stuff from students working there too. A reasonably interesting afternoon - no more than that.
Written July 26, 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.
Sophie
1 contribution
Amazing - best enjoyed with some background knowledge
Jan. 2020 • Couples
A must-see for students & adults with an existing love of nature, biology, conservation or evolution. With a small amount of background knowledge (1 university course or a few YouTube videos) you can enjoy this museum so much more. Makes perfect sense to have it on a university campus as its best enjoyed by people with an existing interest. That being said, it’s my favourite museum in Vancouver.
Written October 31, 2020
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.
Mellie2013
Port Moody, Canada2,715 contributions
Amazing atrium and Big Blue!
Sep. 2019
Loving this new glass building on the UBC campus. Drawn into the entrance by Big Blue, the blue whale skeleton from PEI. This building really showcases the skeleton!

Unfortunately we were unable to view the lower floors due to rental of the space for a private event. Will return for further inspection.
Written October 15, 2019
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.
Le petit chat noir
San Francisco, CA126 contributions
Different
Sep. 2019
This is an unusual museum in that many of the bodies are hidden away in cabinets, a few are in glass cases and some are in drawers that you can pull out (including one with some interesting advice about how to poison your nearest and dearest). We did a tour with a docent who turned out to be an English major but who did an excellent job showing us around and helped to bring the place to life.
Written October 5, 2019
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.
Luiz_Felipe_Mendes
Belo Horizonte, MG281 contributions
A lot of information but with not much creativity in how to show it
Aug. 2019
Another great cultural/science visit in the UBC area.
A lot of information and examples of animals, plants and other beings in this museum. But after a while it turns into the same thing over and over, I missed a little diversity in terms of how to interact and receive information.

TIP: There is a discount if you buy a ticket for both Biodiversity and the Anthropology museums.
Written September 16, 2019
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.
Suzie P
nottingham, great britain123 contributions
Fascinating - but maybe not for the kids
Jun. 2019 • Friends
This museum takes you through samples of species of all manner of flora and fora going forwards in time from the primordial swamps. It's very much an archive of samples so it's rows of plants and bones and taxidermy in jars and cabinets and drawers. It's a little dark. But fascinating to see the progression of species.

The big blue whale skeleton is excellent and the story of how it was salvaged is interesting and you can view that, and visit the gift shop, for free. There is a combo ticket with the museum of anthropology which also gives you discount in the gift shops.
Written July 4, 2019
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.
Vivienne G
Vancouver, Canada40 contributions
Great for kids
Jul. 2019 • Family
As you enter the first thing you see is the blue whale skeleton. It’s huge and a great draw for kids. You descend into a basement showing the amazing timeline from the creation of earth to the present. There is a children’s discovery area at the back where they can touch and feel exhibits. Big black cabinets display various mammals, reptiles, insects, eggs, etc. It’s good to see these things for real, rather than just on a video or in a book. 90 minutes should be enough to see it all. Not recommended for preschoolers.
Written July 2, 2019
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.
CanProf
Kelowna, Canada1,545 contributions
More a storage area than a museum
Jun. 2019 • Couples
I have to add my name to the list of recent disappointed reviewers of this museum. In the main (leaving aside the big whale skeleton) this is row and row of cases with specimens in them packed into narrow aisles. I doubt we spend more than a half hour before our interest flagged and we left. Money not well spent.
Written June 12, 2019
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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BEATY BIODIVERSITY MUSEUM - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

Frequently Asked Questions about Beaty Biodiversity Museum
Beaty Biodiversity Museum is open:
  • Sun - Sat 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Restaurants near Beaty Biodiversity Museum: View all restaurants near Beaty Biodiversity Museum on Tripadvisor