Granville Island is an amalgamation of a public market, restaurants, a marina, a hotel, numerous artists' studios and workshops, and more located in one location. No wonder it's a popular tourist destination! You can watch artisans weaving at looms or creating brooms or blowing glass. Interestingly enough Ocean Concrete is also located here and you can gawk at their silos when walking around. If you're visiting during the weekends or holidays, parking can be a bit of a hassle. The sidewalks aren't clearly marked either, so pedestrians also spill over into the streets. It's better to take a ferry or water taxi to avoid the headaches. read more

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Granville Island is touristy, sure, but not in a bad way. It's vibrant, full of energy, and still feels authentic. A mix of locals and tourists alike. The only downside is the prices, not horrible, but seem to be at a premium than right over the bridge. Traffic was also horrible trying to go and leave - sounds like others parked across the bridge and walked or took a ferry. We went on a Saturday mid afternoon and parking was ok because some people were leaving. A good selection of shops, including the public market and various shops. It was crowded, but service was good and friendly. We had a big meal beforehand, but it seems like a nice place to brunch by the waters and enjoy the views or have a snack - long line for the donut shop! There's a small playground for kids and toy stores. There's also a nice pond area to sit and enjoy a snack or just relax on a nice day. read more

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This island was so fun to visit. We took an aquabus ferry. I think it's better to take the ferry since it's fun and a lot faster, but you can walk there if you like. There's a couple of restaurants, shops and Granville Market. We went inside the Market and bought a couple of snacks. I especially loved the lemon bars. They have different samples you can try and find something you like to eat. The island also has a large Children's store, which was perfect for my children. We found some fun things for them to do and some toys for them as well. I would recommend taking the time to visit the island at least once. read more

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This is a must go, must see, do not miss out on kind of tourists' destination. Yes, it's very touristy but in a good kind of way. I loved walking around and enjoying the music, shops, and especially their public supermarket which deserves its own review. Very fun vibe and lots of interesting things to see. read more

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Granville Island is a bustling public market, restaurant, shop, art and entertainment district that it appears tourists and locals alike flock to. Right along the water it's got views and water activities to partake in as well. Apparently, it wasn't such a good place here 40+ years ago but it's clearly an attraction present day. Walked down here with Buddy scoping things out. The Public Market has lots of foods - fish, cheeses, produce, juices and much more. Sorta reminds me Grand Central Market in L.A. Stopped and had some maple syrup salmon bites from one of the vendors that was a combination of food I didn't think I'd try. I had to resist getting too much because we'd be meeting up later with friends. The whole area is very walkable and would recommend if you can as there was quite a bit of traffic in the area and it looked like the parking garage got full at one point. There are plenty of shops to see and a nice walking path alongside when you're ready to leave the crowd. Make the visit if you're in the area, especially recommend Liberty Distillery (see my review for that). read more

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Loved the variety of shops and food places. It was so large, we missed a portion of it.

If I was forced to choose one, and only one, definitive, must-visit place in all of Vancouver metropolitan area, it would be Granville Island. It is a microcosm of everything that makes Vancouver, and Canada as a whole, incredible. It has, honestly, just about everything you could ever need, all in one place: restaurants; bars; a massive, bustling farmers market; a mall dedicated solely for shopping for, and entertaining, children (of all ages); artists' studios; buskers and live entertainment; souvenir shops; clothing stores; bookstores and stationery; a harbor with rentable boats and guided tours available; festivals throughout the year; parks (including a splash park); play places; game stores; jewelry stores; fabric and art supply stores...are you getting the idea yet? About the only thing it doesn't have is housing (directly on the island, anyway), but even so, when people discuss the topic of creating "20-minute neighborhoods", Granville Island should be template from which all are developed. You could easily spend a whole day here. We did, in fact. Twice: once in 2023, and once back in 2019, when my wife and I first came here together. Even then, if you're not thorough, there's plenty of things you may have missed. Be sure to explore every alley, round every corner, climb every staircase, open every door (even the ones you're probably not supposed to), and you will find something new to entertain, entice, or enthrall you. There is, however, one caveat of which to be aware concerning Granville Island: a singular blemish on its otherwise impeccable reputation: traffic. There is one, and only one access road on-and-off the island, and it is persistently, hopelessly clogged with traffic. Take public transportation, or park a few blocks away, off the island, and walk there. Trust me: you will save time, and avoid frustration, this way. Labeling Granville Island as a "tourist trap" completely misses the point: this is a living, breathing pillar of the community, frequented by locals and visitors alike, and is far more than just the sum of its constituent parts. It is an example of the entire Canadian oeuvre: the inclusive, welcoming, equitable, multi-cultural mass of humanity and commerce, coexisting and working together in peace, sprinkled with a dash of chaos, and about as close to "utopian" as society has yet achieved. read more

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Always so much to do on Granville Island but do be careful when eating outside ! The seagulls are savage and will steal food out of your hands. Parking can also be a little insane. read more

A Island located across from Vancouver. This place has trendy shops and restaurants with a very large marketplace, where you can buy many fruits and vegetables, bakery item and meat. Parking is just okay we were here during the week and was okay to fine a parking spot, weekends I think could be very busy. Really enjoyed our time there! read more

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Fantastic spot to grab a bite and a drink. There are many restaurants and stores as well as great views of the Vancouver bay and cityscape. There are also key historical sites and many spots where you can learn more about this iconic area and how it came to be what it is today. We stopped at the Kids Market to explore it and our kids loved it. We got some lobster rolls from The Lobster Man and I wasn't impressed. We also got a delicious lemon bar from The Lemon Square in the public market and now that was fantastic! Totally recommended. People were friendly in most places and stores (not at The Lobster Man). I think that things were fairly valued. Great local attraction to visit! read more

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A small but nice news stand, located at one of the Granville Market entrances. I picked up the larger Saturday edition of the Globe and Mail here. The mini market sells other periodicals and snacks. read more

Such a wonderful touristy place filled with shops and artistry shops. If you can get over the pain of finding a parking spot, this place is a gem! You will need a full day here to explore half of what this place can offer. From high end restaurants (high recommend The SandBar) to the shops in the Market, there something for everyone. We were there for about 3 hours and only got to try and see a few shops and eateries. I love the exploring the Public Market. A lot of the stores or dining areas in Granville Island are close after 6pm so make sure you get there before hand to not miss out on any of the eateries there. The market is open daily, 9am - 6pm. For popular stores, you will find people lining up outside the market (ie Lee's Donuts and Oyama Sausage). Parking is free before 11am and after 6 pm. Pay parking in effect 11am - 6 pm daily, $2/hour on weekdays and $3/hour on weekends and statutory holidays. Tip: make sure you download the parking app so you can get reminders and add more time if you need to without having to go back to your parking lot. Its a beautiful place often with live musicians and artists along the market plaza. Definitely come when the weather is warmer and nicer then when we came. It was overcast and rainy, so we didn't get to take the water taxi, which I hear is a must. read more

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Great island to visit. Fabulous food & goods open market with tons of vendor stalls of all sorts. We tried the pot pies which were delicious. Loved the entire ambiance of the market with stalls of all types of goodies. It was entertaining visiting all the different shops. The broom factory was amazing. All hand crafted pieces of art. Definitely a must to see. The glass blowing shop was another amazing art center. Loved everything about Granville island. The outdoor street entertainment was an added bonus to the right of the marketplace, in front of the boat ramp. Will definitely be stopping by again. read more

Visiting again at 10+ years, nice to spend a day. Lots of available parking everywhere, unfortunately no pay app (unless I didn't see it?? Comment if there was) to add more time when it expires, so you need to head back to pay for more time. Public Market was busy as usual, Lees Donuts had a lineup but moved quickly. Broom Co. Had some cool handmade in house straw brooms... prices as high as $425!! Cement Factory had the cool marble showcase. Live entertainment in the park, Granville Island Brewery, Yoho Cruises, Lamb Popsicles, Old World Fudge, and more! read more

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Definitely a tourist spot to check out. The "island" isn't huge but it has lots of shops and food stalls. Lee's Donuts is also inside - great donuts! There was also a tea shop where we purchase some Lychee Jasmine tea which was bomb. Worth checking out since it's really not that far from downtown as well. Parking wasn't terrible since there's parking lots around. read more

Granville Island - Shopping Centers Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

So fun! If you can, get a ride to drop you off because the traffic is pretty hectic. But so much to see, unique stores, amazing food. It's a must see if you're in Vancouver. read more

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Fun if you have kids as the market was fun to grab a bite to eat. The stores seem to be geared toward adults so nothing really for university students let alone teenagers. This seemed really safe and fun for kids to adventure read more

One of the best spots to go to in Vancouver. Great restaurants and market. Nice views and walk. Take the water taxi across and back. Granville island is like an artsy neighbourhood. Here you will find stage plays, comedy bars, galleries, art supply stores, decor shops, sculptures, even a school for the arts. The public market is so nice to go to and buy fruits and vegetables, meat, seafood, cheese, and many more. If you get hungry, there's a lot of food options from soups to sandwiches. Thai, pizza, Chinese food, Mexican and many others. You can also buy coffee and sit on one of the benches on a sunny day and enjoy the view of the harbour. read more

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What a fun place to visit if your in the area. There is so much to see here. Every corner has shops and art. Only down side is parking is a little difficult and getting in and out can be rough if you drive. But otherwise great place to visit with the family. There was something for all ages. The market is the best part. So many shops and food vendors. If you want to see the area there are multiple water taxes to take you around the area. Every person I interacted with was nice and helpful. read more

Friends and I drove to Granville Island for a couple of hours to walk around...wasn't too hard to find parking but pay attention to the meters and parking rules. It was a nice view and walk by the water and the shops there... stopped by to look at and purchase souvenirs...and took an ice cream break... Can pay to take the Aquabus boat to get from one side to the other...just check the prices and schedule. read more

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Lots of little shops and the large public market. Lots of places to eat and drink on the island, lots of fast food to eat before or after shopping in the market and Meat, Fish and Cheese shops to buy thing to take home for dinner, Every city needs something like this. Everyone we talked to was very friendly and attentive, the prices were for the most part reasonable some a the higher end of the price spectrum for hand crafted items but much of the food was very reasonable and freshly prepared. Highly recommended when visiting Vancouver. read more

This is a delightful place to spend a chunk of time shopping and looking for crafts and food to eat and to go. Find the cheese shop that has mostly Canadian cheeses. They have a great seleselection! Explore beyond the main food hall and down the alleys as there are some wonderful shops and artisans. read more

Fun day of seeing lots of fruits, tasting lots of pastries and desserts, and relaxing in the seating by the water. Recommend it for a few hours. read more

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My daughter did all the planning for this family trip and What a surprise, I have no clue what Granville island is until we went here. I had the best time and I wish I had more time. We were only here for 2 hours due to our time on our parking, although we could have paid for more time via our smart phones but we had a tight schedule. Granville Island is a peninsula and shopping district located across False Creek from Downtown Vancouver under south end of Granville Bridge. The island is home to 275 businesses, provides amenities such as large public market, marina, hotel, community centre, performing arts theatres, fine arts galleries, shopping,brewery and there is even an out door water park. During my visit here my family and I got to explore Granville, the place is huge. We got coffee and checked out some of the little shops, saw the small out door water park, checked out the open market, got some snacks, I regret coming here on a full stomach, took lots of pictures, the view is amazing, and we saw a live show with a guy throwing knives around. What a fun day at Granville. I am happy to get to experience it, but next time I am going to make sure we have more time here at Granville Island. My advice, you cannot visit Vancouver without visiting Granville, go on an empty stomach and allow yourself at least a day here. Oh as I passed by the theater, I saw ad for "Sound of Music", oh how, I wish I could go back to see it. read more

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We had a great time here, but my advice....don't try and park inside, you will be stuck, and wasting your time and gas. Just find a parking lot outside, and walk down. Lots of shops. Breweries, candy shops bakeries and restaurants. Customer service everywhere we went as great. read more

Granville Island - This is at the candy shop. - Shopping Centers Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

I love bringing out of town guests to Granville Island as there is so much to do & eat here! Lots of local crafty items and a haven for foodies. Definitely need to bring an empty stomach when you visit. Make sure you come earlier as parking can be a challenge. Rather than taking the car, take the local bus or ride on the Aqua Bus. For foodies, the food options are endless ranging from specialty soups to local cheeses. I recommend you shop a bit, take a food break, and repeat often. There's even a few dining places and a couple of hotels here. There is also a local brewery and a kids market. A great place to spend a few hours here and have a great experience here for all ages. read more

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One of the must see things in Vancouver if one is a tourist. It's not really an island anymore, but guess the name stuck. Parking here unfortunately sucks. No free spots until 1800, and the market closes 1900. They've metered all the spots outside the island too. Ugh. The place is quite eclectic. There are some mid to high end restaurants, the famous produce market, some arts and crafts stores, craft beer, and even a cement plant with cool looking silos and that Rube Goldberg machine in front. It's very easy to lose track of time just wandering around. And of course the view of the downtown core from here is among the best for taking photos. Random trivia - the end scene of Mission Impossible 4 is filmed here. It's not Seattle like it says in the movie. read more

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The whole island gets 5 stars. You have to visit Granville Island when in Vancouver. At the market you can find many unique items and the products are of great quality. Crafts, honey, soaps, plants, cheeses, seafood, produce and a food court with popular dishes. The food is so good!I highly suggest trying out a little of everything that tempts you because most likely it is delicious. I came here with my mind set on A la Mode for their chowder pot pie. Its a dish that turns heads. A perfectly baked pastry on top of a hearty salmon chowder. Only at Granville Island can you find something so yummy! I then got tea at Granville Island Tea Company and it is easily the best loose leaf tea my husband and I have shared. We'll be done with our small bag very soon so I'll have to come back for more as soon as possible! I also spent quite a while roaming the streets and entering tons of shops. You'll want to buy and try everything here. The views are also spectacular and reason alone to visit. read more

After my cruise, my friend and I took advantage of the time we would have in Vancouver to explore. We didn't do enough research beforehand so struggled a bit to coordinate but luckily found this place. From the Vancouver waterfront train station, we took the bus to go to Granville. FYI- buy your compass bus pass there and back at the train station. The 2nd pass back will also be usable on the train if you happen to need to go to the airport. There are so many food options here to choose from, and also vegetarian/vegan friendly. There is a farmer's market which I was very impressed with the fresh fruit displays! Kudos to whomever is meticulously stacking those berries!! Also, a great place to buy candies and nuts as souvenir gifts to bring back. There were also gift shops along the way with very unique and novelty items. The view outside was gorgeous, where you can witness the boats on the water and the bridge. Apparently you can also get here by the ferry ride, which I think is a cool way to spend your time. Totally recommend!! read more

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A tourist trap... I mean attraction. Granville Island is a must visit but it is definitely super touristy. You can call it a trap or an attraction... but I'll leave that up to you to decide. Thankfully, this island has plenty of parking - however, you can only park for 2-3 hours at a time, depending on where you park. Keep in mind the fine print! Try to get here earlier in the morning to secure parking - as we were leaving a few hours later, we noticed that there was a backup of traffic trying to find a spot to park. We had brunch at Edible Canada, which was surprisingly good, especially with the average rating on Yelp. They also offer food tours here... but we didn't need any help stuffing our faces. The Granville Island Public Market is an easy way to kill some time and all your money! Honestly, it wasn't that pricey, but in an effort to eat and try everything, I may have gone a bit overboard, especially with the baked goods. There are also some local crafts and art to peruse. Overall, while it may not be most local spot to visit in Vancouver, it is fun and touristy and an easy way to kill a few hours while on vacation. read more

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We sailed into Vancouver from our Alaska tour Stop by to see Granville Island which is awesome Plenty of Art, Boutiques & Shopping. Great Restaurant with water view. Boat trips,canoeing and all other water sports. We visited woofies & Meows all natural dog treats read more

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This is also a MUST when visiting Vancouver. We had taken a hop on and off tour bus and this was one of their stops. My mom and I had walked around the public market for about 3 hours or so. JJ's had really great coffee, small and expensive for the size, but the taste was great. There were so many vendors to buy goodies from. We had bought some maple syrup, olives, and smoked salmon for treats to take home. We had bought some yummy cakes and sat by the water front and just chilled and people watched. It was so hot that day, that we also bought some gelato. Overall, lots of people- majority are tourists, but everyone was so nice. There was so many things to buy as well. read more

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Am I missing something here? I feel as though people are always raving about this spot and I unfortunately don't get the appeal. Lot's of gift shops and a few places to grab a bite to eat. None of them looked particularly appealing to me but we grabbed some Mexican food at what seemed to be the most exciting/centrally located restaurant here. Will leave my review separate for that lol. The market was your standard market. I was hoping to find unique-to-Vancouver treats but didn't come across that. Perhaps the weather had something to do with my experience as other reviewers boast about boats and water spots to take part in. I don't necessarily thing I'd jump at the opportunity to do that anyways. read more

Granville Island in my opinion is a bit of a tourist trap. They have lots of cool stuff in the market but everything is pretty expensive. Parking can be a nightmare in the summer as well. Pretty sure it's pay parking as well but I'm not sure. I only usually pass by on my bike. It is a cool place to come once in a while and there are some nice restaurants as well. There are also street performers who do various acts.... read more

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My girlfriend and I came to visit Canada for the first time and Granville island was high on our list. We loved walking around the artisan district and seeing the artists at work. There were very unique craftsman here, such as broom-makers, glass-blowers, black smiths, felters, artisan sake, and silk painters. It was so much fun to explore and see all their beautiful creations. We were only able to stay for a few hours but there was so much more to see! Would love to come back another day. read more

Granville Island - The Woodshop - Shopping Centers Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

We LOVED this island. We found easy parking, explored the shops and spent over an hour in the public market. The public market is fantastic and there is so much to eat, sample, and purchase there. It truly is a gem! We also had dinner at the Sandbar restaurant on the island which was delicious! We were here on a rainy night at the end of November. I can't imagine how spectacular this island is when you can fully enjoy it (when it isn't raining). Check this place out and come hungry! read more

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Granville Island, known for its market, shops, and art galleries, is a popular destination, with both locals and tourists. I hadn't been for quite some time, so when my husband suggested we head down there during the recent long weekend, I thought it was a great idea. However, I was disappointed with my visit. First, the food options aren't that great. If you're not looking to dine in one of the more expensive restaurants on Granville Island, such as The Keg, Bridges, or The Sandbar, and instead are looking for a quick, and somewhat affordable meal, options are pretty limited. In the market place, there is a food court, but the options are rather boring, and there is a lack of seating. I understand that Granville Island is a busy place, and I don't mind not being able to find a table if there are a lot of people, but the dinning area is so poorly designed; there are so few tables and chairs, and everything is so crammed together that walking through the area, especially with a plate of food, is difficult. It's just an all around unpleasant experience. (We ended up going to Popina Canteen for lunch, and while it was comfortable and the food was good, it was quite expensive for a couple of burgers, an order of fries, and drinks.) Second, there is a severe lack of washrooms. Yes, Granville Island is a busy place. Yes, you will have to wait. But who the FUCK thought that three or four stalls per washroom (of which there aren't many in the first place) is adequate for a place like Granville Island?! Not only should there be more washrooms, but there should be at least six stalls. Also, the washrooms are segregated by what kind of genitals a person is presumed to have. At one point, there were at least a dozen people in the vagina line, while there was no one in the penis line! In my opinion, Granville Island not only has to do away with washrooms segregated by what's between your legs, but they need to build a facilities building where there are several toilet stalls, for ANYONE to use. But, what really soured my mood was the reaction of an employee when I was searching for a washroom. I wasn't familiar with where the washrooms were, and I approached what I thought was a public washroom. One door was closed and marked as "occupied", and there was an employee with her cleaning cart and supplies standing there, waiting to clean it. The door to the other washroom was open, and I could see that it was in fact a washroom, but because of the angle at which I was standing, I could not read the sign on the door. I approached the door to READ THE SIGN, and the employee started SCREAMING AT ME. It is very difficult to read when someone is screaming at you, and I couldn't understand what she was yelling about. Eventually, after she calmed the fuck down, I was able to read the sign and realized that the washroom was for employees only. Jesus fucking christ - there was no reason to yell at me like that. How fucking difficult is it to say, "That washroom is for employees only"? Also, I did NOT walk into the washroom - I was simply trying to read the fucking sign! Ugh. In summary, I love the shops, galleries, and the food market (although when you don't have a lot of disposable income to spend, it's kind of a downer), but the dining choices are expensive or boring (I do like Terra Breads, but I wasn't in the mood for a pastry and coffee for lunch!), there is a severe lack of seating and washrooms, and I was yelled at by an employee for trying to read a sign. [Yelp collections: Being a tourist in my own city; Rude!] read more

This is my favorite part about Vancouver. No, it's not really an island. But it's by the water and it sure feels isolated so make of it what you will. You can walk around all of it in 20 or so minutes, but you'll likely end up getting caught up browsing stores or drinking or eating so plan at least 2 hours when you park. Getting in to park is the most annoying because it's only a one-way road around the place and there are tons of cars trying to park. Luckily there are enough parking lots all around the place so hopefully you won't be searching for long. Anyway, come show this charming place some love! read more

The food hall here is outstanding but the parking can be crazy. The area surrounding it has really been built up over the years but this is still a great to visit and shop. Came here after an Alaskan cruise on the Disney Wonder and will do it again whenever I am back in Vancouver. read more

Cool place! Stop here if you are In Vancouver, BC. You can take the Hop-On, Hop-Off and make it one of your Hop-Offs. First it has a lot of the usual gift shops featuring lots of handcrafted local ethnic (First Nation) items. A star "market" is Kid's Market. A conglomeration of little booths that are all under one roof with all kinds of fun things for kids. Stop here if you need to get souvenir or other types of gifts for kids. The Public Market is amazing! All kinds of fresh food, from produce and cheese and many bread/bakery booths, along with fresh fish booths, to delis, other food booths with all kinds of fare. Italian, American, soups/chowders, and much more. We didn't have that much time, but if you are able to, plan on spending 30 minutes just to walk through the market to check out all the food options before deciding on where you'll buy your meal. There are some inside and outside seating but they get filled quickly. They also empty quickly since this is not a place to lounge but rather to get up and shop some more. Or of course if you are staying with a friend or at an Airbnb and plan on cooking there's so many choices of fresh meats and produce and cheese and breads... Great place to spend a few hours. I need to get back here to really enjoy all the sights and food offerings! read more

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