Granville Island and False Creek by Ferry and Foot

False Creek is the narrow inlet that cuts into the heart of Vancouver, and for most of the twentieth century it was lined with sawmills, rail yards and factories. Granville Island, in the middle of it, was built up from tidal sandbars starting in 1915 as an industrial island. When the industry faded, the federal government remade it in the 1970s as a mix of public market, artists’ studios, theatres and a still-working cement plant, and the market opened in 1979 in a former machine shop. It remains one of the most successful urban redevelopments in North America.

This walk starts with the best way to arrive: one of the tiny passenger ferries that dart across False Creek from downtown. After the market and the island’s lanes, it follows the seawall east along the south shore through the residential streets of False Creek South, past the 2010 Winter Olympics athletes’ village, and around the head of the inlet to Science World, the silver dome built for Expo 86.

The path is flat and paved the whole way, shared with cyclists on separated lanes, and it has the city’s best views of the downtown skyline reflected in the water.

Getting there. Take a False Creek Ferries boat from the dock at Sunset Beach by the former Aquatic Centre (closed in 2026; check that the stop is running), or an Aquabus from the foot of Hornby Street, to Granville Island. By bus, route 50 runs from Waterfront Station to the Granville Island entrance. The walk ends at Main Street–Science World Station on the Expo Line.

Permits & tickets. The island, market and seawall are free. The two ferry companies sell their own tickets, including day passes; fares change, so check their sites. Science World charges admission.

Good to know:

The two ferry companies use different docks on Granville Island and do not accept each other’s tickets.
Parking on the island is limited and fills early on weekends; arrive by ferry, bus, bike or on foot.
The market is at its quietest on weekday mornings and busiest on summer weekend afternoons.

Day 1

Ferry, market and the south-shore seawall

Hornby Street or Sunset Beach ferry dock → Science World 4.5 km

Navigate this day Print day

A ferry to Granville Island, the Public Market, the island’s lanes and silos, the False Creek South seawall, the Olympic Village and Science World.

Segments

Ferry across False Creek 0.5 km Map

Hornby Street or Sunset Beach ferry dock → Granville Island ferry dock

Passenger ferry

The little ferries of Aquabus, running since 1985, and False Creek Ferries carry a dozen or so passengers at a time and take only a few minutes to cross under the Burrard or Granville Street bridges. Sit near the front for the view of the water and the downtown towers. About 10 minutes.

About this place

The Aquabus, also known as Aquabus Ferries Ltd., is a privately owned and operated ferry service that provides commuter and sightseeing services to locations all along False Creek of central Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The Aquabus started service in 1985.
Read more on Wikipedia Photo: Joe Mabel · CC BY-SA 3.0
Granville Island Public Market 0.2 km Map

Granville Island ferry dock → Granville Island Public Market

Indoor market

The market fills an old machine-shop building next to the ferry docks, its stalls selling fish, meat, cheese, bread, fruit and ready-to-eat food. Take time to walk every aisle before you choose, then eat on the waterfront outside. About 60 minutes.
Studios, lanes and the silos 0.8 km Map

Granville Island Public Market → Granville Island Hotel

Industrial lanes

Wander east through the island's lanes of glassblowers, potters, printmakers and galleries, past the theatres and the former Emily Carr University building. The working cement plant with its painted silos is on the way, as is Granville Island Brewing. At the east end, the Granville Island Hotel sits over the water. About 40 minutes.

About this place

The Granville Island Brewing Company (GIB) is a brewery originally based on Granville Island in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It was founded in 1984 and calls itself "Canada's first microbrewery". In 1989, it was sold to the wine conglomerate Andrew Peller Ltd. In 2009, it was bought by Creemore Springs, a subsidiary of Molson Coors, which in 2016, became the third largest beer corporation in the world. Of brewers with locations in British Columbia, Granville is the seventh largest based on sales to the BC Liquor Distribution Branch.
Read more on Wikipedia Photo: Granville Island Brewing · Public domain
False Creek South seawall 1.5 km Map

Granville Island Hotel → Cambie Bridge

Paved seawall

Follow the seawall east along the south shore of False Creek, through a planned neighbourhood of low-rise housing, marinas and parks built in the 1970s on former industrial land. Across the water the towers of Yaletown and the white roof of BC Place rise above the marinas. About 25 minutes.

About this place

False Creek is a short narrow inlet in the heart of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, which separates the Downtown and West End neighbourhoods from the rest of the city. It is one of the four main bodies of water bordering Vancouver, along with English Bay, Burrard Inlet, and the Fraser River. Granville Island is located within the inlet.
Read more on Wikipedia Photo: Wpcpey · CC BY-SA 4.0
Olympic Village 0.8 km Map

Cambie Bridge → Olympic Village plaza

Paved seawall and plaza

The athletes' village for the 2010 Winter Olympics is now a residential neighbourhood. In its plaza stand The Birds, two giant sparrow sculptures by Myfanwy MacLeod, each about 5 metres tall. Just west, Hinge Park and Habitat Island are small restored wetlands where herons fish at the water's edge. About 20 minutes.

About this place

Hinge Park is a naturalized wetland park in the city of Vancouver, British Columbia. Hinge Park covers 2.3 acres and also connects to Habitat Island which covers around 1.5 acres. The park includes a trail in Habitat Island, a walking/biking trail along the shoreline of False Creek, public art installations, picnic tables, benches, docks, a children's play area, a bridge constructed from sewer pipe, a water pump with metal runnels at the top of a small hill, and the Olympic Village dog park.
Read more on Wikipedia Photo: M477ch4n · CC BY-SA 4.0
Science World 0.7 km Map

Olympic Village plaza → Science World

Paved seawall

Round the head of False Creek to the mirrored geodesic dome that served as the Expo Centre at Expo 86 and reopened as Science World in 1989. Go in for the hands-on galleries or simply admire it from the seawall, then walk a few minutes to Main Street–Science World Station. About 15 minutes, longer inside.

About this place

Science World is a science centre run by a not-for-profit organization called ASTC Science World Society in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It is located at the eastern end of False Creek and features many permanent interactive exhibits and displays, as well as areas with varying topics throughout the years.
Read more on Wikipedia Photo: Differense · CC BY-SA 3.0