Vancouver Beaches · Canada · British Columbia · Salish Sea

Vancouver Beaches

Vancouver’s beach day usually means the downtown English Bay and Kitsilano Seawall, or a drive out Northwest Marine Drive to Spanish Banks and Jericho, or Third Beach inside Stanley Park — same city, different access.

English BayKitsilanoJerichoSpanish BanksThird Beach

Choose your stretch

  • English Bay Beach — downtown Beach Ave between Gilford and Bidwell · also called First Beach · most populated downtown beach · Seawall along the east side
  • Kitsilano Beach — Cornwall Ave at Yew St · Seawall and Kitsilano Pool
  • Jericho Beach — north side of Jericho Park · Point Grey Rd · east side for swimming, west side for sail and windsurf
  • Spanish Banks Beach — Northwest Marine Drive west of Tolmie · East / West / Extension · at low tide the water sits about one kilometre offshore
  • Third Beach — Ferguson Point inside Stanley Park · Seawall / park-road day

Full stretch cards

Parking at a glance

English Bay (Beach Ave): Pay parking. EasyPark Beach Ave lots are listed from the City page. Check the lot rates and signs on the day.

Kitsilano: EasyPark Kitsilano McNicoll — May 1–Sep 30 CAD $4.75/hr, max $21.25 (6am–2am); Oct 1–Apr 30 $4.25/hr, max $15.75. City also links 1426 Arbutus. Arbutus at McNicoll is gated 11pm–6am (lot page).

Jericho: Pay parking; EasyPark Jericho lots (Jericho Beach / Locarno / Hostel / East / Sailing Centre). Check the lot pages and signs on the day.

Spanish Banks: EasyPark Spanish Banks — Apr 1–Sep 30 CAD $4.25/hr, max $15.75 (9am–10pm); Oct 1–Mar 31 $3.00/hr, max $8.75. Some pay parking along Northwest Marine Drive between Blanca and W 4th.

Third Beach (Stanley Park): Pay parking; EasyPark Stanley Park / Third Beach. Check the lot rates and signs on the day.

EasyPark — Kitsilano McNicoll · EasyPark — Spanish Banks · EasyPark lots · TransLink trip planner

Best stretches and who they’re for

English Bay Beach

The easiest downtown beach for a first visit, on Beach Ave between Gilford St and Bidwell St (City of Vancouver; also called First Beach). Most populated downtown beach; Seawall along the east side; concession, washrooms, kayak rentals, volleyball; Mobi-Mat and water wheelchairs in season. Pay parking. Lifeguards Victoria Day–Labour Day; red/yellow flags when on duty.

Kitsilano Beach

Cornwall Ave at the north end of Yew St — Seawall and Kitsilano Pool. EasyPark Kitsilano McNicoll (May 1–Sep 30 CAD $4.75/hr, max $21.25). Lifeguards Victoria Day–Labour Day; water wheelchair in season.

Jericho Beach

North side of Jericho Park; Point Grey Rd between Wallace and Discovery. East side for swimmers; west side for sailboats and windsurfers. Concession, fields, tennis, picnic tables, swimming raft; pay parking (EasyPark Jericho lots). Lifeguards Victoria Day–Labour Day. Check the lot signs on the day.

Spanish Banks Beach

Northwest Marine Drive west of Tolmie — East, West, and Extension. At low tide the water is about one kilometre offshore. East & West: Seawall, concession, washrooms, BBQs, volleyball; lifeguards Victoria Day–Labour Day. West: designated quiet beach and dog off-leash about 200 m west of the building. Extension: BBQs, dog off-leash, kiteboarding launch. EasyPark Spanish Banks Apr 1–Sep 30 CAD $4.25/hr, max $15.75 (9am–10pm).

Third Beach

Ferguson Point, Stanley Park — naturally sandy; Seawall. Concession, washrooms; pay parking (EasyPark Stanley Park / Third Beach). Lifeguards Victoria Day–Labour Day. Park-road / Seawall day, separate from a West End English Bay walk-up. Check the lot signs on the day.

Notes before you pack

  • Dogs: Park Board — dogs on-leash in parks unless in a designated off-leash area. On sand, dogs only at beaches with designated off-leash areas — Spanish Banks Beach Park, Sunset Beach Park, plus Hadden Park, John Hendry Park, and New Brighton Park with seasonal or time restrictions. Spanish Banks West off-leash sits about 200 m west of the building; Extension has an off-leash area. City beaches · Dog off-leash areas · Spanish Banks.
  • Flags: Vancouver Park Board professional lifeguards — on duty when red and yellow flags are in place; season Victoria Day to Labour Day (late May to early September); hours noon–8pm starting Victoria Day. After Labour Day 2026 (Mon Sep 7), seasonal flags apply only when Park Board posts them. Emergency 911.
  • English Bay / Kitsilano Seawall, Spanish Banks / Jericho on Northwest Marine Drive, and Stanley Park Third Beach share one guide with different access, parking, and dog rules.
  • Check the EasyPark lot rates and signs on the day.
  • Tide: use DFO / CHS Vancouver (07735) and Point Atkinson (07795) predictions when you need heights.

FAQ

What is there to do near Vancouver Beaches?

Near Vancouver Beaches: dolphin and wildlife tours, and sunset sails and cruises. See Off the sand for tours and tickets.

Beach safety — who to trust