Free Museums in Downtown Vancouver

"The Vancouver Art Gallery is the fifth largest art gallery in all of Canada. The VAG has rotating exhibitions, along with its permanent collection that boasts over 9,100 items. Art junkies will be impressed by the 200 major works by the Group of Seven, Emily Carr and Mark Chagall, which are all housed in the VAG."

"Located in Vancouver’s former main courthouse, the Vancouver Art Gallery is the largest art museum in Western Canada. Francis Rattenbury designed the neoclassical building in 1905, and it features marble imported from Vermont, Tennessee, and Alaska. In 1980, it became a Canadian National Historic Site."

"In Vanier Park near Burrard Bridge, the Museum of Vancouver is a large institution devoted to all things Vancouver. It covers the city history from the first Coast Salish communities to Japantown, Kitsilano hippie days, and urban development. Other worthwhile museums and centers are within a short walk, including the HR MacMillan Space Centre with its planetarium, an observatory, and the waterfront Maritime Museum, where splendid views capture English Bay with the North Shore mountains beyond."

"This Vancouver museum includes a life-size replica of a trading post, a 19th-century Canadian Pacific Railway passenger car, and an authentic dugout canoe in its many exhibits that document the history and evolution of Vancouver. The Orientation Gallery is a multi-layered timeline that uses artifacts to depict the growth and development of the region from pre-history to the heritage and culture of the First Nations to present day. A similar timeline is made with toys in a children's display."

"The Museum of Vancouver’s mission is to “inspire a deeper understanding of Vancouver through stories, objects and shared experiences.” It achieves this through exhibits on the city’s history, plus a First Nations art and artefacts collection."

"If you are looking forward to knowing about the maritime history of Vancouver then you should pay a visit to the Vancouver Maritime Museum in Canada. It is one of the oldest history museums in Vancouver and you must go through its collection. Vancouver Maritime Museum has galleries of model ships that are made of paper and cardboard."

"The Vancouver Maritime Museum is a great outing for the entire family. Lots of opportunities to explore and learn about the sea, the ships on it and all things naval!. The kids will love being able to climb aboard the historic St. Roch, the first ship to make the west-east journey across the Northwest Passage."

"In the West End, visitors and residents alike will find the restored heritage house that is the Roedde House Museum. Constructed in 1893 for the city’s first bookbinder, Gustav Roedde, and his family, the late Victorian home has 11 rooms that reflect their everyday life, with period pieces (including some from the Roedde family) and artefacts, some of which guests may carefully handle. The museum also hosts various events throughout the year."

"Take a trip back in time at 1415 Barclay Street's Roedde House Museum at the 19th century home of Vancouver's first bookbinder, Gustav Roedde. the Roedde House Preservation Society has carefully restored the house to create an accurate portrayal of late Victorian family life in the West End. Shopping in Vancouver"

"For a glimpse of what the West End looked like before the apartment blocks, visit this handsome 1893 Queen Anne–style mansion, now a lovingly preserved museum. Designed by infamous architect Francis Rattenbury,... Top ChoiceGardens in Fairview & South Granville"

"Vancouver's best museum is studded with spectacular First Nations totem poles and breathtaking carvings – but it's also teeming with artifacts from cultures around the world, from Polynesian instruments to Cantonese opera costumes. Take one of the free daily tours (check ahead for times) for some context, but give yourself at least a couple of hours to explore on your own. It's easy to immerse yourself here. "

"Museum of Anthropology at UBC: An informative museum highlighting The First Nations of Canada. Kitsilano Beach: An excellent place to relax with scenic views of Vancouver. You can also swim here when the weather is warm."

"This gallery, in the heart of downtown Vancouver is dedicated to contemporary Indigenous Northwest Coast Art and honours Haida artist, Bill Reid and his contribution to the art world. Bill Reid was a master goldsmith, carver, sculptor and acclaimed writer. The Bill Reid Gallery is a small, intimate museum with exhibits presented with video interviews and insights."

"Photo courtesy of Bill Reid Gallery of Northwest Coast Art (Facebook). Bill Reid is a national treasure and is known as a very talented Haida master goldsmith, sculptor, writer, carver and spokesman. Though his life ended in 1998, his legacy lives on in the small gallery in downtown Vancouver."

"Check out the First Nations art galleries for something beautiful to take home Find the Steam Clock and the statue of 'Gassy' Jack Deighton"

"On June 13, 1886, there was the Great Vancouver Fire, which took many buildings with it. The Hastings Mill Store was left untouched, leaving it to be Vancouver's oldest building. It wasn't originally at this location, but was built in Gastown and was saved from demolition and put on a barge to it's current location."

"The oldest building that is still surviving in Vancouver is the Hastings Mill Store. It was once located on the South shore of the Burrard Inlet. Built in 1865 and dedicated to Captain Edward Stamp, Hastings Mill Store was used as a sawmill company under Edward’s possession."

"5077 Victoria Drive, Vancouver Tel: (604) 428-4421 Web: https://www.kozakeatery.ca/ Instagram @kozakukrainianfood Advice: No reservations, eat-in or take-out. With it’s focus on Ukrainian dishes and baking, Irina and Sergiy are serving up homestyle food that they grew up eating in the…"

"A post shared by Oyster Bar & Shellfish Market (@fannybayoysters) on Apr 15, 2019 at 10:51am PDT. This Vancouver tide-to-table oyster bar is sure to give you some of the freshest seafood in the Pacific Northwest. Definitely make sure you head over for their happy hour which runs daily from 3 to 6 pm for some cheap food and drinks."

"Fanny Bay Oyster Bar & Shellfish Market provides the freshest seafood in the city. Our 'Tide to Table' concept brings top quality shellfish directly to your plate from our farms on Vancouver Island. Known for our fresh oysters, clams,"

"When it comes to eating raw oysters, freshness is not just nice, it’s critical. Owned by Fanny Bay Oysters, a B.C. shellfish farming and exporting company, this is the only tide-to-table oyster bar in the city."

"Its located on denman Street not very far from second beach its a very small place and their prices are very reasonable and their food tastes good."

"As Vancouver’s first 100% organic wine bar, Grapes and Soda builds their seasonal tapas-style menu around their ever-changing list of natural and biodynamic wines. Along with a variety of small plates, the intimate restaurant serves cheeses and the best smoky olives in town that pair perfectly with the many 'by the glass' options. One beer graces the menu, along with six artisanal cocktails."

"Grapes and Soda isn’t really a place you stumble across since it’s down a random street in Kitsilano, but it is somewhere you should seek out. Come here for their natural wine list, or a cocktail with things like sassafras smoke, kombucha, or salty rice. Their drink list is constantly changing, but we’ve never been disappointed here."

"After a stint at the Savoy in London, cooking for Mick Jagger, Prince, and a host of other glitzy celebs, Belgian chef Nico Schuermans has created the archetypal casual fine dining restaurant in Vancouver. Chambar offers an elegant room, faultless service, and a no-nonsense menu of French-/Belgian-influenced classics made with Pacific Northwest ingredients, which you’d be more than welcome to enjoy coming straight from yoga class still in your Lululemons."

"While part of dining at establishments like Chambar might be for the experience, with heat-and-serve dinners, you can now bring Chambar favourites to the comfort of home. Most of their packages serve two, like the risotto kit (from $16.50) and the Moroccan meatballs with chickpeas ($19). Or, if you're plant-based, the vegan tamarind and coconut curry ($14)."

"Chambar's one of the few restaurants that's open first thing and closes late in the evening. This bodes well for hungry diners in search of a delicious meal, any time of day. Whether you're here for breakfast, brunch, lunch or dinner, the Belgian-North African cuisine brings beautiful dishes to the table."

"Today I ordered the Pistachio Chicken curry for the first time here because I have never seen this dish anywhere else and I gotta say it did not disappoint me!"