In the print dialog pick “Save as PDF” to keep it on your phone. A5 makes a pocket booklet; A4 suits a desk printer.
Voykit pocket guide · Canada
North Vancouver
Base here 2 nights for mountain access without downtown prices: SeaBus to downtown is 12 min, Grouse and Lynn Canyon are a bus ride away.
North Vancouver sits across Burrard Inlet from downtown, with the North Shore mountains rising straight behind it. Two municipalities share the name — the denser City around Lonsdale Avenue and the suburban District above the highway — but for a visitor it is one place. Sleep here for trail access and cheaper rooms; day-trip here if you only want Grouse Mountain and the Capilano Suspension Bridge.
- Country
- Canada
- Best months
- May–Oct for hiking, kayaking and the Grouse Grind; Dec–early Apr for local ski hills
- Avoid
- Nov–Mar for rain at sea level (mountains get snow instead)
- Stay
- 2 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- CAD
- Money
- Currency is the Canadian dollar (CAD, $). Cards and tap-to-pay are accepted almost everywhere.
- Daily spend
- Budget C$90–140 excl. bed · Mid C$150–240 excl. bed · High C$260+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Rogers, Bell and Telus plus cheaper brands (Fido, Koodo, Public Mobile); prepaid SIMs in malls and stores. Canadian data is expensive — an eSIM is often cheaper.
- Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance 911
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 120 V · 60 Hz · Same as the US.
- Tipping
- Restaurant: 15–20% of the pre-tax bill.; Bar: CAD 1–2 per drink.; Taxi: 10–15%.; Housekeeping: CAD 3–5 a night.; Guide: 10–20% of the tour price.
- Water
- Tap water is drinkable; treat water from lakes and streams (giardia).
- Toilets
- Free in malls, Tim Hortons, stations and park visitor centres.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee | C$3–6 |
| Food-court meal at Lonsdale Quay Market | C$12–20 |
| Casual restaurant main | C$18–30 |
| Draught beer in a pub | C$7–10 |
| TransLink single fare, one zone | C$3.20–4.65 (check) |
| SeaBus crossing, adult | C$3.20–4.65 depending on zone and time (check) |
| Grouse Mountain Skyride, adult | C$56 |
| Capilano Suspension Bridge, adult | C$70+ (check) |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- YVR · Vancouver International
- SkyTrain Canada Line to Waterfront, then the SeaBus to Lonsdale Quay; about 1 h 15 min door to door
- CXH · Vancouver Harbour Flight Centre
- Floatplane terminal downtown; SeaBus from Waterfront is the onward link
Typical fares
- SeaBus Lonsdale Quay → Waterfront
- 12 min; one or two zones depending on time (check)
- Bus 236 Lonsdale Quay → Grouse Mountain
- about 30 min
- Taxi Lonsdale Quay → Grouse Mountain
- C$35–50 (check)
Get around
TransLink buses cover the whole North Shore; Lonsdale Quay, Phibbs Exchange and Park Royal are the hubs. The SeaBus links Lonsdale Quay to Waterfront Station downtown in 12 min. A car is faster for Grouse, Lynn Canyon and Deep Cove, and parking on the North Shore is usually free. Cycling works between Lower Lonsdale and the Lions Gate Bridge but the terrain is hilly and the attractions are far apart.
See and do
Known for
- Grouse Mountain and the Skyride
- Capilano Suspension Bridge
- Lynn Canyon and its free suspension bridge
- Deep Cove kayaking
- Lonsdale Quay Market and the SeaBus
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Downtown Vancouver | SeaBus from Lonsdale Quay to Waterfront Station | About 12 min crossing plus waiting |
| West Vancouver | Bus R2 along Marine Drive, or drive Highway 1 | About 30–45 min |
| Bowen Island | Bus to Horseshoe Bay, then the BC Ferries crossing | About 1.5 h |
| Whistler | Drive Highway 99, or the summer Rocky Mountaineer from the North Vancouver station | About 2 h by car |
Sleep
- Lower Lonsdale
- Walk to the SeaBus, Lonsdale Quay Market, the Shipyards and most restaurants; best for a car-free stay.
- Central Lonsdale
- Along Lonsdale Avenue uphill from the waterfront; more everyday shops and cafés, 10–15 min walk down to the quay.
- Capilano Road / Grouse area
- Motels and lodges closest to Grouse Mountain and Capilano; you need a car or bus 236 for everything else.
- Deep Cove
- Quiet waterfront village east of the centre; good for kayak mornings, weak for transit and evening food.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Thank you | Thank you |
| Sorry / Excuse me | Sorry |
| One adult ticket, please | One adult ticket, please |
| Does this bus go to Grouse Mountain? | Does this bus go to Grouse Mountain? |
| Can I pay by card? | Can I pay by card? |
| Where is the SeaBus terminal? | Where is the SeaBus terminal? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake; 'Bonjour' first in Québec; avoid: Assuming everyone speaks English
- Queues: Line up and wait your turn; avoid: Pushing in
- Apologising: 'Sorry' is politeness, not admission of fault; avoid: Loud confrontation
- Canada vs US: Treat Canada as its own country; avoid: Calling Canadians American
- Indigenous culture: Buy from Indigenous-owned businesses and ask before photos at ceremonies; avoid: Wearing headdresses as costume
Scams and watch-outs
- Mountain weather differs from the waterfront: it can rain or snow on Grouse while Lonsdale Quay is dry. Carry a shell.
- The Grouse Grind is uphill only; download on the Skyride costs about $15.
- Lynn Canyon's suspension bridge is free but narrow and busy; it is not the paid Capilano bridge.
- Both bridges into North Vancouver slow badly at weekday rush hour and on weekend afternoons.
- The SeaBus does not take cash: buy a Compass ticket or tap a credit card at the gate.
Very safe for visitors; the real risks are mountain weather, cliff edges at Lynn Canyon and Deep Cove, and leaving valuables in a parked car at trailheads.
One and two days
No timed day plan for North Vancouver yet. Suggested stay: 2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Grouse Mountain and the Skyride
- Capilano Suspension Bridge
- Lynn Canyon and its free suspension bridge
- Deep Cove kayaking
- Lonsdale Quay Market and the SeaBus
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- City of North Vancouver: www.cnv.org/
- District of North Vancouver: www.dnv.org/
- TransLink: www.translink.ca/
- Grouse Mountain: www.grousemountain.com/
- Lonsdale Quay Market: lonsdalequay.com/
- The Polygon Gallery: thepolygon.ca
- The Shipyards District: theshipyardsdistrict.ca/
- Wikivoyage: North Vancouver, revision 5240228 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5240228
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
North Vancouver
To this address, please
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police, fire, ambulance911
No embassies in North Vancouver; the US consulate-general and most others are in downtown Vancouver (check).
Tipping is expected in Canada: 15–20% at restaurants and bars, 10–15% for taxis.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/north-vancouver). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.