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Getting There
Granville Island sits under the south end of the Granville Bridge, connected to the mainland by a single road through a short tunnel. The most enjoyable way to arrive is by the Aquabus or False Creek Ferries — small passenger ferries that cross False Creek in 5 minutes from the downtown side.
The main Aquabus dock is at the foot of Hornby Street downtown; False Creek Ferries departs from near the Vancouver Rowing Club at the foot of Thurlow. Fare is $5 each way; ferries run every 5–15 minutes. From the south side, buses 50 and 84 stop near the island entrance. There's limited paid parking on the island itself — don't drive on a busy summer day.
The Public Market
Granville Island Public Market is one of the best food markets in North America — a large covered space packed with permanent stalls selling fresh Pacific seafood, local produce, artisan cheeses, freshly baked bread, smoked meats, hot food counters, and specialty foods from across BC.
Go hungry. The hot food counters inside are some of the best casual eating in the city — Pacific salmon prepared four ways, Punjabi lamb wraps, crepes, pad thai, and rotating seasonal specials. The market gets extremely crowded on summer weekends; get there before 11am or after 2pm for more breathing room.
Lee's Donuts has been on the island for decades and the cinnamon sugar old-fashioned donut is one of Vancouver's great small pleasures. Siegel's Bagels does genuinely Montreal-style bagels. Earnest Ice Cream has arguably the best ice cream in the city — look for the seasonal BC fruit flavours.
Granville Island Brewing
Granville Island Brewing opened in 1984 as one of Canada's first craft breweries and is still brewing on the island. The taproom on Cartwright Street is a great stop — cold pints, brewery tours, and a welcoming room. The Island Lager is the crowd-pleasing flagship; the seasonal and small-batch taps are worth exploring.
Brewery tours run most days (check website for times, ~$12–15 including tasting). The taproom is a solid spot to watch matches if they're screening — a relaxed, local atmosphere without downtown prices.
Arts, Theatre & Studios
Granville Island has a strong arts and performance identity. The Arts Club Theatre (the Granville Island Stage) is one of Vancouver's main professional theatre companies, staging productions through the summer. The Revue Stage hosts comedy, cabaret, and smaller productions.
Over 50 working arts studios are on the island — glass blowers, potters, jewellers, and printmakers often have open studios where you can watch work in progress and buy directly from the maker. The Net Loft building has a collection of specialty shops — handmade paper, local books, specialty foods, and unusual gifts.
Kids' Zone
Granville Island is one of Vancouver's best destinations for families. The dedicated Kids Market building is a two-storey indoor playground and toy market, with a water park outside in summer (free). The toy shops inside range from classic wooden toys to craft supplies and unusual games.
The ferries themselves are a delight for kids — being on the water, seeing the boats, and the scale of the Granville Bridge overhead. Even the walk through the market is engaging for older children. Budget 3–4 hours for a family visit.
Suggested Day Plan
Morning: Take the Aquabus from downtown and arrive when the market opens at 9am. Grab coffee and breakfast from the market stalls. Browse the food vendors while it's still quiet, then explore the Net Loft and arts studios.
Midday: Lunch at the market hot food counters (arrive before noon to beat the rush). Walk the island perimeter along the seawall. Stop at Granville Island Brewing for a post-lunch pint.
Afternoon: Visit the Kids Market if you have children. Browse the working studios (many open 10am–5pm). Take the ferry back to downtown — or continue along the seawall on foot to Olympic Village (about 30 minutes).
Allow a full half-day minimum; a full day passes easily. Bring cash — some smaller market stalls are cash only.