The Top 5 Beaches in Vancouver

Vancouver's legendary clothing-optional beach, reached by 490-odd steps down Trail 6 through the forest at the edge of UBC. It's a genuinely wild, countercultural scene with driftwood-log seating, vendors selling drinks and snacks, and some of the best sunsets in the city. Fair warning: clothing is optional (many go nude), the stairs back up are a serious workout, and there are no lifeguards.

Downtown's most beloved beach, right off the West End, famous for its sunsets, palm-lined promenade, and summer swimming. It's free, walkable from downtown, and the heart of the annual fireworks festival. Busy on warm evenings, but that buzz is half the charm.

Vancouver's sporty, spacious beach across the water in Kits, with skyline-and-mountain views, beach volleyball, and the enormous heated saltwater Kitsilano Pool. It's free, family-friendly, and a summer social hub. The pool is seasonal and ticketed, and parking fills fast on hot days.

Tucked at Ferguson Point on the western edge of Stanley Park, this sandy, log-strewn beach is backed by big trees and blissfully removed from the downtown bustle. It's the local pick for sunset picnics and a quieter, more natural feel than English Bay, with free parking nearby. The water is cold and there's no concession right on the sand, so pack your own drinks.

A vast, west-facing stretch (East, West, and Extension) where the tide pulls way out and leaves acres of warm, shallow flats and firm sand. It's arguably the best spot in the city for kids, sandcastles, kite-flying, and long low-tide walks, with knockout North Shore mountain views. The catch: at high tide the swimmable water is thin, and the far sections have few facilities.

A rocky, cove-like beach at the far west end of West Vancouver with clear, sheltered water over Howe Sound, framed by islands and mountains. It's the region's marine-protected scuba and snorkeling hotspot, and at low tide you can scramble across to Whyte Islet to spot sea lions and eagles. It's more rock than sand, the drive out is a haul, and parking fills fast on summer weekends.

A laid-back, grassy park-fronted beach whose small protected bay is deeper and calmer than most, making it one of the better spots in the city for an actual swim. It's a favorite for windsurfing and sailing out of the Jericho Sailing Centre, plus easygoing sunsets over the water with the North Shore mountains behind. The sand is coarser here and it gets busy on hot weekends.