Here's What to Do in Vancouver During FIFA 2026
FIFA 2026 is bringing tens of thousands of people through Vancouver this summer, and most of them are going to spend at least a day or two in the city before or after the matches.
If that's you, this post is for you.
I'm a travel advisor based in North Vancouver. I've lived here long enough to have strong opinions about what's actually worth your time, and short enough to still get genuinely excited about this city. Here's what I'd tell you.
What's Happening In Vancouver Right Now
Start with Granville Street. The City of Vancouver turned a five-block stretch from Georgia to Davie into a car-free pedestrian zone running through July 19. Patios spill onto the street, local businesses are open, and the whole thing has a real energy to it. It's free, it's central, and honestly it's the kind of setup that makes you glad you left the hotel. Worth an hour even if you have no other plan.
FIFA Fan Festival
The FIFA Fan Festival Vancouver runs June 11 to July 19 at Hastings Park and the PNE Grounds at 2901 East Hastings Street. General admission is free, and that includes live match broadcasts on massive screens, live music, food vendors, and fan experiences. It's in East Vancouver, so a bit outside the downtown core, but easily reachable by transit. If you don't have match tickets, this is where you go to actually feel the tournament. Worth at least one visit during your time here.
Where to Eat
Ramen Danbo (Robson Street) Fukuoka-style Tonkotsu ramen, right in the middle of downtown. Fair warning: there will be a line. It moves, but during peak lunch and dinner hours it can get long. My move is to go early or late and walk straight in. If you want a shorter wait, the Kitsilano location is quieter than Robson, and North Vancouver is quieter still.
The Sandbar Seafood Restaurant (Granville Island) If you're already at Granville Island, this is where you eat. Waterfront patio, fresh Pacific seafood, the kind of lunch where you end up staying longer than you planned. Order whatever fish they're featuring that day.
Top of Vancouver (Harbour Centre) This one costs more and it's worth it. The restaurant sits more than 550 feet above the city at the top of Harbour Centre and does a full 360-degree rotation every hour. Go for sunset. You'll watch the light change over the water and the mountains, and by the time you finish dinner the city is lit up below you. Book ahead. FIFA weekends will fill up fast.
The Lunch Lady (East Vancouver) It's not downtown, but don't let that stop you. Vietnamese comfort food, no fuss, the kind of place that's always packed because the food is actually good. Go for lunch. That's the whole point.
Mexican Antojitos y Cantina Genuine Mexican food in Vancouver. If you've come from Mexico for the tournament, this one will feel familiar. If you haven't, it's still worth your time. Either way, go hungry.
Cafes Worth Stopping At
Thierry (Alberni Street) French patisserie, serious coffee, a beautiful room. The kind of place you walk into for a croissant and end up sitting for an hour. Good for a slower morning before you head out for the day.
Nana's Green Tea (Downtown) Japanese-inspired drinks and light food. Matcha, hojicha, rice dishes. It's calm, it's different, and it's a good stop if you want something that isn't a standard coffee shop. I always recommend it to people who ask.
Breka Bakery (Multiple Downtown Locations) Open 24 hours, multiple locations downtown. Fresh baked goods and coffee at any hour without any judgment. Late after a match or early before one, Breka is there.
Things to Do
Stanley Park by Bike Rent a bike near Denman Street and ride the seawall. About 9 kilometers, mountains on one side, ocean on the other, old-growth forest in the middle. It's the best two hours you can spend in this city and I say that without hesitation.
Granville Island Public Market This is where Vancouver actually shops. Produce, cheese, bread, fresh pastries, food stalls. Walk through with no plan, eat something good, skip anything with the word "souvenir" on it.
Capilano Suspension Bridge Park Seventy meters above the canyon floor, surrounded by old-growth trees. It's on every list because it deserves to be. Go in the morning before the crowds show up. The difference is significant. The free shuttle picks up at Canada Place, the Blue Horizon Hotel, and the Hyatt Regency, so if you're staying downtown you don't need a car or a plan. Just book your tickets online and hop on. Paid admission, but the park is well done.
Lynn Canyon Park (The Local Version) Free suspension bridge, old-growth forest, and swimming holes in the summer. Less crowded, no admission fee, and the canyon is genuinely impressive. This is what people who live here actually do. Take the 228 bus from Lonsdale Quay or drive up. Easy half day from downtown.
Neighbourhoods Worth Walking
Gastown Vancouver's oldest neighborhood. Cobblestone streets, good independent restaurants, and a vibe that feels lived-in rather than staged. Have coffee here, walk without an agenda, and look up at the buildings.
Kitsilano Beach neighborhood, and in summer half the city is already there. Walk down 4th Avenue for cafes and shops, then follow the seawall toward the water. The Kits Pool is one of the longest outdoor saltwater pools in North America if you feel like a swim.
The Drive (Commercial Drive) This is where Vancouver actually lives. Italian espresso bars, Ethiopian restaurants, vintage record shops, all of it on the same block. No agenda required. Just walk and see what finds you.
Olympic Village Built for the 2010 Winter Olympics. Now one of the most genuinely liveable corners of the city. Good waterfront restaurants, calm energy, and mountain views that don't require any effort to find.
If You Have More Time: Day Trips Worth Taking
Victoria (Overnight Recommended) Take the BC Ferries across and you're somewhere completely different. Slower pace, beautiful old architecture, some of the best seafood in the province. One night is the minimum. Two gives you time to actually settle in. It's the add-on I'd recommend to almost anyone visiting Vancouver.
Bowen Island Twenty-minute ferry from Horseshoe Bay. Forested trails, ocean views, a quiet village in Snug Cove with a waterfront pub at the end of the walk. The Killarney Lake loop takes under two hours and is easy enough for anyone. If you want a full day, the Mount Gardner hike is a serious climb with serious views at the top. No car needed. Just show up and catch the ferry.
Whistler Two hours north on one of the most scenic drives in BC. Summer Whistler is quieter than winter and worth seeing for that reason alone. The Peak 2 Peak Gondola gives you views of the mountains and the valley that are hard to describe without sounding like I'm overselling it. Trust me on this one. The village is good for a wander and the food scene is solid.
Fraser Valley Wineries About an hour from Vancouver, the Fraser Valley is BC's other wine region and genuinely underrated. Small family wineries, vineyard patios, rolling countryside. Abbotsford and Langley are the main stops. If you'd rather not drive, several tour operators run full-day trips from the city. A good option if you have a free day and want something completely different from the urban energy of the tournament.
Vancouver doesn't try very hard to impress you. That's exactly what makes it impressive.
Add a day. You'll figure out pretty quickly why people who move here never leave.
And if you ever want to plan a trip that starts or ends here in Vancouver, whether that's an Alaska cruise departing from Canada Place or a vacation somewhere else entirely, I'd love to help. Fill out the Trip Starter Form and let's figure out what makes sense for you.
