Where to Watch the Sunset in Vancouver: 15 Scenic Locations

In Latest on the blog/Vancouver8 min read

When we first moved to Vancouver, one of the first things we fell in love with was the sunsets. Not only are they clearly visible from various spots in the city, they’re often utterly gorgeous. We lived in Yaletown that first year and would often look out the window, see a good sunset brewing and rush along the seawall to English Bay to try to catch it. And we know others do it too! If you’re visiting, watching the sunset from the beach or the mountains is one of the best things you can do in Vancouver.

So where to watch the sunset in Vancouver? You’re spoilt for choice, but we’ve narrowed it down! Here’s a handy map we made for you that shows our favourite spots, some more obvious than others.

Sunset Beach

Perfectly named, Sunset Beach is a wonderful place to be as the sky turns golden. It’s the first of the downtown beaches, located right next to English Bay. There’s a grassy area, lots of benches and of course plenty of space on the beach itself. Don’t be surprised when Canada geese casually stroll past you or plop down next to you. It’s quite a novelty if you’re not used to it.

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If you’re looking for a photo-op, there are two cool sculptures here to frame your shots: the 17.5 Arc x 13 by artist Bernar Venet and “Engagement” by Dennis Oppenheim. No wonder many locals and tourists come here for a romantic moment.

English Bay

English Bay beach is a classic Vancouver sunset spot with a great backdrop. It’s next to Stanley Park with lots of restaurants and breweries nearby, so it’s always vibrant and by far the most visited. In summer months, the sun sets right in front of you, framed by mountain peaks to the right and Kitsilano neighbourhood to the left, with huge freighters in the distance waiting for the tides. The beach has logs to lean against. Seals sometimes watch you from the water and geese stroll by next to you. The Inukshuk statue watches over the ocean and makes for the most perfect photo opportunity.

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Stanley Park: Third Beach

Third Beach has the advantage over Vancouver’s other beaches in that it feels more away from the city due to its location on the west side of the Stanley Park forest. You can walk along the Seawall to get there, but you can also drive and park in the lot right above the beach. This is a favourite summer evening destination for many locals. Sometimes it’s pretty packed, especially for the drum circle on Tuesdays, but it’s generally a great spot to hang out and watch the sky change colour. For a different vantage point, climb the stairs to the viewing deck above where you’ll find the parking lot, a concession stand and washrooms.

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The Seawall and Siwash Rock

If you don’t want to sit on the beach, walk or bike along the seawall to Siwash Rock and back. Along the way, you’ll pass Second Beach and Third Beach with plenty of spots to stop and take it all in.

Siwash Rock is one of Stanley Park’s most iconic natural landmarks. Also known as Slhx̱i7lsh or “standing man” in the Squamish language, it’s an 18-meter tall lonely rock with small trees growing on top. It’s incredibly photogenic and definitely worth the walk.

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Elsje Point

Contrary to popular belief, not all sunsets must be enjoyed from the beach. Elsje Point is a mini peninsula that looks out over English Bay, Stanley Park and the ocean. There are only a few benches to sit on, but even those aren’t used much. At the tip, you’ll see an anchor chained to the ground to keep Elsje Point from drifting away (okay, not really, but that’s the story we’re going with!). You’ll also find Heritage Harbour Marina nearby, with its collection of old yachts and boats. If you don’t drive, the best way to get there is to take a False Creek ferry from downtown, which is always a nice ride.

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Kitsilano Beach

Kitsilano Beach is quite a mouthful, which is why everyone just calls it Kits Beach. If you want to experience how locals spend their summers, this is the place to be. It’s one of Vancouver’s most popular stretches of sand and it’s always packed. To escape the crowds, grab a table at the restaurant above the concession stand and watch the sunset with a drink in hand. The best spot though is from the end of Kitsilano Beach by the pool. It’s really stunning, with the towers of downtown, Stanley Park and the North Shore Mountains providing that classic Vancouver backdrop.

Jericho Beach

A little further out in Kitsilano is Jericho Beach, a wide open sandy beach that’s much quieter than Kits Beach. You can stroll around Jericho Beach Park and spot wild bunnies hopping around before settling on the beach to watch the sunset. Or rent a kayak or paddleboard from the Jericho Sailing Centre and watch the sunset from the water. Few things beat paddling around as the light fades and the water turns gold.

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Spanish Banks

Even further out than Jericho is Spanish Banks, a wide stretch of beach where you can always snag a spot near one of the logs placed uniformly along the sand. It’s cleaner than the other beaches we’ve talked about and we find that even if it’s a little cloudy in the city, there are often fewer clouds at Spanish Banks. At low tide you can walk quite a long way out on the sandbars, which is pretty cool. We don’t like to play favourites, but this one may be up there as one of our favourite places to kick back and relax at sunset.

Shipyards Pier in Lonsdale Quay

Lonsdale Quay in North Vancouver is only a 12-minute SeaBus ride from downtown. This spot is different because you’re looking back at Vancouver’s skyline with the sun setting farther out over the ocean. When small clouds float above the city buildings and catch that golden light, it’s really something. The waterfront pier is perfect for strolling and there’s no shortage of food and drink options, including a few breweries.

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Lighthouse Park

Lighthouse Park is out in West Vancouver, about a 10-minute walk through old growth rainforest. There’s no view towards the ocean from the lighthouse itself, but if you stroll down a little further to the bluffs by the water, that’s where the magic happens. You have a great open view of the ocean and you also see Vancouver’s skyline on the horizon, quite far in the distance. If you want to walk a little before the sunset, there are some nice trails through the park that lead back to the lighthouse. Just remember to pack a headlamp for the hike back!

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Cypress Lookout

Cypress Lookout offers something hard to find for Vancouver sunsets. Most of our sunsets are enjoyed from a beach or a park, but a quick drive up Cypress Mountain gives you a higher vantage point with panoramic views of the city. It’s just a small pull-off by the road, but the view takes in all of downtown Vancouver, Mt. Baker across the border and the city spreading out below. Just know that you’ll need a car for this one, as there’s no public transport up the mountain.

Cypress Village Pop-Up Lookout

There’s another sunset spot on Cypress Mountain that’s lower in elevation than Cypress Lookout: Cypress Village Pop-Up Lookout. Unlike Cypress Lookout, where people mainly stop for a quick photo, this is more of a hangout spot. It’s a large grassy area with a coffee, beer and pizza bar plus outdoor seating, though most people simply hang out on the grass. There’s also a scenic Trestle Bridge for a short walk. Head up an hour or two before sunset to make the most of your time, and why not stop at Cypress Lookout on the way up or down while you’re at it.

Burnaby Mountain

Burnaby Mountain sits on the edge of Vancouver at about 370 meters elevation, but don’t worry, you can drive all the way to the top. You get a solid panorama of the city with many notable buildings like Canada Place and BC Place visible below, and Vancouver Island in the distance. There are picnic benches, but most people bring a blanket and watch the sunset from the grass. Although it’s rare, there are bears on the mountain from time to time – there was one last year strolling casually near the car park.

Whitecliff Park

Whitecliff Park is a beautiful cliffside park near Horseshoe Bay in West Vancouver. The shoreline here is mostly rock, with a small island called Whyte Islet just offshore. The walk down to the shoreline is very short. When the tide is low, you can carry on and walk across the rock causeway to reach the island. The climb up is a bit steep but you’ll always see people attempting it (check the tide charts if you want to do this so you don’t unexpectedly get trapped). Head to the northern end of the park where you’ll find a few benches perched above the water – these are your best sunset seats. Look out for sea lions on the rocks and bald eagles circling above. It’s a bit of a trek from Vancouver if you don’t have a car, so outside of summer, it’s rather quiet. In summer though, it’s a different story.

Garry Point Park & Steveston Fisherman’s Wharf

Steveston is at the south-west end of Richmond. Unlike other spots we mentioned, this one is facing the open water of Strait of Georgia and Fraser River. The most popular sunset viewing spots are in Garry Point Park and along West Dyke Trail. In fact, you can walk along the water for around 5.5 km with constant views to the west. However, our favourite spot is Steveston Fisherman’s Wharf, a really picturesque fishing harbour. The sun sets between the boats, so unsurprisingly, you’ll often find photographers here trying to catch the perfect shot. You can also get tasty fish and chips at Pajo’s and if you’re lucky, enjoy the sunset right from your table!

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Vancouver’s sunsets are truly something special and now you have 15 incredible spots to choose from. The best part? You really can’t go wrong. We’ve chased sunsets all over this city and we’re still amazed every single time.

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