Things to Do in Kitsilano Vancouver + Neighbourhood Guide

Every Vancouverite (myself included) has thought about moving to Kitsilano at least once.

The snug seaside neighbourhood named after local medicine man Jack Khatsalano has epic beaches, riveting restaurants, and even Ryan Reynolds.

Hippy counterculture (Greenpeace) and yuppie consumer culture (Lululemon) were born here yet somehow neither manages to define the area completely – so let’s dig a little deeper.

Here’s your VP neighbourhood guide on becoming a Kitsilano pro.

Things to Do in Kitsilano

CATCH A BOAT FROM DOWNTOWN

I grew up on the water so it might admittedly be a bit cheeky putting this at the top of the list. However, in my opinion, the best way to discover Vancouver is by water.

The cheapest way to do this is via False Creek Ferries.

So grab your $7.00 return ticket and board these passenger-only ferries outside the Maritime Museum – one of the best museums in Vancouver.

They’ll take you to the aquatic centre downtown or even further to Granville Island Market and even Science World.

You’ll get the wind in your hair, see the harbour, and maybe even spot a few sea lions.

Related: Best Vancouver City Sightseeing Tours

KILL SOME CLASSIC KITS COFFEE

Coffee drinkers, I’ve got a concoction for you:

• One part bad Vancouver weather
• One dash of high to medium income
• Top it off with a teensy sprinkle of snobbery

This is what makes Kitsilano a coffee hotspot. In fact, supping back a couple of coffees is one of the best Vancouver winter activities going.

Bel Cafe offers a unique experience with their blue lavender latte but it’s no gimmick, it tastes amazing.

Whale Watching Tours

Coming to Vancouver? You’ve got a 95% chance of seeing whales

Show Me More

The best value is found with the in-house roasted coffee at Sweet Barrell Creamery. You’ll want to try the Syphon brew. It’s also a nice spot if you want some ice cream: their Japanese trio (especially the red bean) is a hit.

However, my personal favourite is the cozy Broadway hideaway Platform 7. This French railway station-themed cafe serves premium Stumptown Coffee Beans that produce what is quite possibly one of the best cortados in the city.

GO TO KITSILANO BEACH

You’ll find two of Vancouver’s top beaches in Kitsilano, both of which are located along the city’s iconic Seawall, the world’s longest urban waterfront path.

The aptly named Kits Beach is arguably the most fashionable of them all: ideal for people watching, volleyball, and basketball.

You can swim in the ocean from about May to September but there’s also Canada’s longest swimming pool along the shore.

The Kitsilano Showboat here is an open-air amphitheatre to see live music and other performances in Vancouver in summer.

You’ll also find Jericho Beach which is much more laidback, decidedly wider, and with a much better view of the mountains, English Bay and Stanley Park.

If you’re looking to BBQ, this is the spot to do it.

CHECK OUT THE H.R. MACMILLAN SPACE CENTRE

Before being sponsored, Vancouver’s astronomy museum was simply called ‘The Planetarium,’ and most people with any memory of the 90s still use the name.

The UFO-shaped building and its famous crab statue are home to the Planetarium Star Theatre, a great place to watch presentations on deep space.

The live science shows at Ground Station Canada are super educational. At the same time, the Cosmic Courtyard is a hit for people visiting Vancouver with kids, especially the touchable meteorites and moon rocks.

GO SHOPPING ON WEST 4TH AVENUE

This top Vancouver shopping district between Fir and Balsam has been called ‘8 blocks of fabulousness‘, and who am I to disagree? And with international chains at a minimum it’s a great place to support local business.

Sporty Vancouverites head here for all sorts of athletic, outdoor, and yoga gear. Lululemon was born in Kitsilano, but there’s also North Face and Showcase if you’re skiing at the local mountains.

Don’t forget Zulu Records if you want a throwback record store to find obscure releases, vinyl, and independent records.

Looking for local, ethical, and sustainable clothing? Head to Two of Hearts.

HAVE A PICNIC IN VANIER PARK

Kitsilano has 15 beautiful parks, but Vanier Park is perhaps the most well-known one of the bunch. This vast expanse of grass and beach offers a beautiful view of the harbour, skyline, and mountains.

It’s also the site of some major Vancouver festivals (but more about that later), but when they’re not on, you’ll have plenty of space to roam!

Grab some supplies from the nearby Granville Island Market and head on over.

The park is located a brisk 15-minute walk along the Seawall, which offers lovely views of the Vancouver skyline and False Creek.

I like setting up shop near the Gate to the Northwest Passage sculpture, this twisted paperclip-like monument commemorates George Vancouver’s arrival in Burrard Inlet.

HIT THE MUSEUM OF VANCOUVER

It may sound a bit odd, but the Museum of Vancouver (MOV) can actually be found in the same building as the Planetarium.

It’s actually the biggest civic history museum in Canada and the oldest museum in Vancouver, dating back to 1894.

The following permanent exhibitions offer a great understanding of Vancouver city history:

• Neon Vancouver + Ugly Vancouver
• 1900s – 1920s: Gateway to the Pacific
• 1930s – 1940s: Boom, Bust, and War
• 1950s: Vancouver in The Fifties
• 1960s – 1970s: You Say You Want A Revolution

There’s also a prominent First Nations collection, including a basket and bracelet received by Captain George Vancouver on his first Pacific voyage.

These local gems are topped off with some fantastic Asian, European and Egyptian antiquities.

WHERE TO EAT AND DRINK IN KITSILANO

• GREEN LEAF SUSHI CAFE: Kitsilano institution known for its flame-seared aburi sushi in order to enhance its flavours and textures. The price-quality ratio here is incredibly high.
• ANNALENA: Creative Canadian fare perfect for a romantic night out or any celebration. Try the 4 or 7 course tasting menus.
• SOPHIE’S COSMIC CAFE: An eclectic dining room with an atmosphere to match the tastes, then head to this popular cafe that’s been serving since 1988. This is one of Vancouver’s best breakfast spots, and they serve it until 5:00 pm.
• MR. RED CAFE: Award-winning Vietnamese restaurant with a modern touch. The pho bo here is spectacular. And with a reasonable $21.00 price tag, it’s one of the best value meals on Vancouver’s West side.  
• RAIN OR SHINE: Seasonal organic ice cream parlour that uses no corn syrup, no modified milk ingredients, and nothing artificial. It’s all organic – every scoop comes from the same 120 cows in nearby Abbotsford, BC.
• LOCAL: This “Cali-cool” bar and grill is renowned for its beachy atmosphere and a massive patio right across the street from Kits Beach.

SHOPPING IN KITSILANO

This area is all about local boutiques specializing in activewear, high fashion, and health products – making shopping one of the best things to do in Kitsilano.

There area has two main shopping streets (4th Ave. and West Broadway). You’re more likely to find 4th Avenue to be the more interesting of the two, particularly the stretch between Fir and Balsam streets. 

The area contains numerous fashionable local boutiques and the city’s largest collection of outdoor and active lifestyle retailers.

Here’s a look at a few of the top shops.

• ARC’TERYX: A popular local outerwear chain that has a reputation for quality and high-performance outerwear, hiking shoes and climbing gear.
• GRAVITYPOPE: This 4th Avenue boutique is “a temple of shoes” with over 200 brands of shoes on site.
• KIT & ACE: Local athleisure clothing brand founded by Lululemon’s head designer. Here, it’s all about technical apparel for the modern commuter – especially if you’re commuting by bike. 
• LULULEMON: Have a look at the local outpost of this now global brand, which has its beginnings right here in Kits.

KITSILANO FESTIVALS

KHATSALANO STREET PARTY

Date: 2025 date TBA (typically mid-July in Vancouver)

Vancouver was formerly notorious for being a so-called ‘no fun city.’  But thankfully spectacular festivals such as the Khatsalano Street Party (the original name of the area, more later) are doing a lot to change this.

The party was originally a one-off to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Woodstock and pay homage to Kitsilano’s hippy past of head shops, vegetarian food, record stores, and vintage clothes.

Today, it has evolved into Vancouver’s largest free music and arts festival, with over 50 bands, 40 food trucks, and 100’s vendors.

GREEK DAY

Date: 2025 date TBA (typically early July)

Though you’ll find most other ethnic enclaves like Little Italy or Punjabi Market on the city’s east side, the Greeks set up shop in Kits along West Broadway.

For this reason, it has been the centre of Greek culture for decades. Never does this become more apparent than in late June when 100,000+ people head to Kits, and the souvlaki begins to sizzle (pardon the reference).

At Greek Day you’ll get all sorts of authentic Greek (and non) food tents, live music, a market, Greek dancing, cooking demonstrations, and much more.

The best part of all? It’s along a stretch of Broadway that contains some of Vancouver’s best bars.

CELEBRATION OF LIGHT

Dates: Wednesdays & Saturdays in late July/August – 2025 dates TBA.

The barges that launch the light for this massive fireworks festival are found right in front of Kitsilano Vancouver, so it’s great to grab a spot at Kits Beach – though you also can’t miss one of the top places nearby, like the West End.

Every year, three countries are tasked with outdoing each other in a battle royal of blaze. Each country gets one dedicated night to make it happen before they compete in a thrilling grand finale to close out the show.

The shows are synchronized to music and, starting in 2018, had to be centred around a certain theme. The first theme? Love.

It’s British Columbia’s largest outdoor event – so get a spot early!

VANCOUVER INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN’S FESTIVAL

Dates: May 26 — June 1, 2025.

I faintly remember going to the Children’s Festival as a kid. But my most distinct memory is trying ‘rainbow’ ice cream for the first time – artificially delicious!

The festival’s goal of inspiring young minds through artistic experiences may have fallen short in my case, but my friends with children assure me that if you’re visiting Vancouver with kids, there’s no better option.

Some of the top activities here include circus skills, face painting, and origami.

You’ll also get plenty of live music and kid-friendly performances.

BARD ON THE BEACH

Dates: 2025 dates TBA.

Western Canada’s largest Shakespeare festival has run every year from June until September since 1989.

The 729-seat capacity main stage tent in Vanier Park has an open-ended stage with Vancouver’s skyline and mountains serving as a spectacular backdrop.

There’s also a smaller, more intimate stage for performances of Shakespeare’s lesser-known plays.

Bard is well known for its educational programs and community outreach with a heavy emphasis on local arts. So, if you want to give back to the city, there are worse things you can do!

WHERE IS KITSILANO IN VANCOUVER?

You’ll find Kitsilano (‘Kits’ to us locals) on the south shore of English Bay on Vancouver’s west side.

Its boundaries are marked by Alma Street to the west, Burrard Street to the East, and 15th Avenue to the south.

The area is home to some 45,000 residents spread out over 5.46 km2.

Kitsilano can be accessed quickly via local public transport from some of Vancouver’s best areas to stay – just across Burrard Bridge from downtown.

HOW TO GET TO KITSILANO FROM DOWNTOWN

Expect to pay about $12.00 to get there with a Vancouver taxi from downtown.

Unfortunately Kitsilano isn’t served by Skytrain, with the closest station 40 minutes away at Olympic Village.

But there’s still an easy solution.

• DRIVING: Kits is a quick 5-10 minute drive over Burrard Street Bridge from downtown.
• 99-B LINE BUS: An express bus that runs along Broadway between Commercial Drive and UBC. It runs as quickly as every 3 minutes during peak hours. To take it, grab the Canada Line from downtown to Broadway-City Hall Station.
• #7 DUNBAR BUS: The #7 Dunbar runs along Granville Street in Downtown Vancouver across the Granville Bridge before heading west along 4th Avenue—Kitsilano’s premier eating and shopping area.
• #2 MACDONALD BUS: Offers service along Burrard Street in Downtown Vancouver and travels along Cornwall and Macdonald Streets in Kits. If you’re heading to the beach or any of the Vanier Park museums, you can take the #2 (Macdonald) bus. The same route runs after midnight as the N22 Night Bus.

KITSILANO HISTORY

THE HISTORY OF KITSILANO

Modern Kitsilano stands on lands that have been traditional to the Coast Salish people for thousands of years. It was a particularly prosperous area to set up fish traps, sustaining the communities over the winter.

In fact, the name ‘Kitsilano’ is an anglicization of the surname of Squamish Chief August Jack Khatsahlano – a local medicine man who liaised with settlers and was instrumental in conserving aboriginal oral histories.

The suffix ‘lan-our’ means ‘man’ in the local indigenous language, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Unichem.

The 1960s welcomed a counterculture of grass smoking, draft dodging hippies – it was here that Greenpeace was founded in 1969.

More recently, the area has been invaded by young urban professionals due to its high-quality shops, amenities, and proximity to parks and beaches.

KITSILANO FAQ

Where is Kitsilano?

Kitsilano (‘Kits’ to locals) is situated on the south shore of English Bay on the west side of Vancouver.

It is bordered by Alma Street to the west, Burrard Street to the East, and 15th Avenue to the south.

How far is Kitsilano from downtown Vancouver?

The heart of Kitsilano is 3.7 km from Vancouver City Centre station in the downtown core.

It’s just a 7-minute drive or 40-minute walk over the Burrard Street Bridge.

Is Kitsilano safe?

Kitsilano is an extremely safe neighbourhood where violent crime is a rarity. Especially compared to places like the downtown Eastside, there is also very little petty crime owing to the area’s general prosperity.

How do you pronounce ‘Kitsilano’?

Locals pronounce it kit-suh-LAH-noh.

How do you get to Kitsilano Beach by Skytrain?

Unfortunately Kitsilano Beach is not served by Skytrain. However, you can jump on the #2 Macdonald bus from along Burrard Street downtown, which will take you right there in less than 10 minutes.

Visiting Kitsilano in Vancouver?

I’ve given it my all on Kitsilano, but maybe it wasn’t enough. If something isn’t clear or you need some custom advice then get at me ASAP.

You can do this by following us and messaging us on our Vancouver Planner Facebook page or by writing in the comments below.

Enjoy Kits:)