Canada · North America

Discover Vancouver with Rafeek

Vancouver is a major city in Western Canada, located in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia.

Seeing Vancouver without the story is only half the trip

The problem

Group tours run on someone else's clock, printed signs say too little, and searching for context on your phone pulls you out of the moment. Most travellers leave Vancouver with photos but no sense of what they actually saw.

How Rafeek fixes it

Rafeek is a personal audio guide in your pocket. Press play at each landmark in Vancouver, listen at your own pace, and keep your eyes on the place instead of a screen. Guides work offline, so no roaming or signal worries.

What you'll discover in Vancouver

34 landmarks with their own audio guide — tap any one to read what you'll hear.

BC Place Stadium

A prominent landmark in the city skyline, this multi-purpose stadium is home to the BC Lions and Vancouver Whitecaps FC. It is notable for its cable-supported retractable roof, the largest of its kind in the world.

Beaty Biodiversity Museum

Located on the UBC campus, this natural history museum showcases a vast collection of over two million specimens. Its most famous exhibit is the massive 25-meter blue whale skeleton suspended in the museum's glass atrium.

Bill Reid Gallery of Northwest Coast Art

The only public gallery in Canada dedicated to contemporary Indigenous Art of the Northwest Coast. Named after the acclaimed Haida artist Bill Reid, it showcases a stunning collection of Indigenous art, including his masterpieces.

Canada Place

An iconic landmark on the waterfront with its distinctive sail-like roof. It houses the Vancouver Convention Centre and the FlyOver Canada virtual flight ride, and serves as the main cruise ship terminal.

Capilano Suspension Bridge Park

A major tourist attraction featuring a thrilling 137-meter long suspension bridge swaying 70 meters above the Capilano River. The park also includes a Treetops Adventure and a Cliffwalk, offering stunning views of the temperate rainforest.

Chinatown

One of the oldest and largest Chinatowns in North America, this historic neighbourhood is a vibrant cultural hub. It features traditional architecture, the iconic Millennium Gate, bustling markets, and the serene Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden.

Christ Church Cathedral

An elegant Anglican cathedral located in downtown Vancouver, designated as a heritage building. Built in the Gothic Revival style, it is admired for its impressive ceiling of Douglas fir beams and beautiful stained-glass windows.

Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden

The first authentic, full-scale classical Chinese garden ever built outside of China. This tranquil oasis in the heart of Chinatown offers a peaceful escape with its beautiful pavilions, rock forms, and water features.

English Bay Beach

A bustling urban beach located in the West End, famous for its beautiful sunsets and as the site of the annual Celebration of Light fireworks festival. It's a popular spot for swimming, sunbathing, and kayaking, with a scenic section of the Seawall running alongside it.

FlyOver Canada

An immersive virtual flight ride located at Canada Place that takes you on a breathtaking journey across the country. Using state-of-the-art technology, you soar over iconic landscapes, complete with wind, mist, and scents.

Gastown

Vancouver's oldest neighbourhood, characterized by its cobblestone streets, Victorian architecture, and the famous whistling Steam Clock. Today, it is a trendy hub of independent boutiques, art galleries, and some of the city's best restaurants and bars.

Granville Island

A vibrant peninsula and shopping district located under the Granville Street Bridge. It is famous for its extensive public market, which offers fresh local produce and seafood, alongside artisan workshops and theatres.

Grouse Mountain

A popular mountain resort offering breathtaking panoramic views of the city, sea, and surrounding mountains. Accessible via the Skyride gondola, it provides year-round activities from skiing in winter to hiking and a grizzly bear refuge in summer.

H.R. MacMillan Space Centre

An astronomy museum located in Vanier Park that aims to educate and inspire about space and the universe. It features a planetarium star theatre, live science demonstrations, and interactive exhibits for space enthusiasts.

Jericho Beach

A scenic park and beach on the shores of English Bay, offering wonderful views of downtown Vancouver and the North Shore mountains. It is a popular spot for sailing, windsurfing, picnics, and relaxing on its sandy shores.

Kitsilano Beach

One of Vancouver's most popular beaches, often called 'Kits Beach' by locals. It boasts a long stretch of sand, tennis courts, a massive outdoor heated saltwater pool, and stunning views of the city and mountains.

Lighthouse Park

A rugged and beautiful park in West Vancouver known for its dramatic coastline and majestic old-growth rainforest. The park's trails lead to various viewpoints and the historic Point Atkinson Lighthouse, which has been active since 1875.

Lynn Canyon Park & Suspension Bridge

A beautiful municipal park in North Vancouver offering a free and exciting suspension bridge that sways 50 meters above a canyon. The park also features popular swimming holes, waterfalls, and numerous hiking trails through a lush temperate rainforest.

Museum of Anthropology at UBC

Located at the University of British Columbia, this museum is celebrated for its collections of world art and cultures. It has a particular emphasis on the magnificent art and artifacts of British Columbia's First Nations peoples, including large totem poles.

Olympic Cauldron

A monumental legacy of the 2010 Winter Olympics, located at Jack Poole Plaza on the waterfront. The striking glass and steel cauldron is a popular photo opportunity, set against a backdrop of the harbour and North Shore mountains.

Pacific Spirit Regional Park

A vast 874-hectare park located on the west side of Vancouver, bordering the University of British Columbia. It offers a network of over 73 km of trails through lush forests and along scenic shorelines, ideal for walking, cycling, and horseback riding.

Queen Elizabeth Park

A stunning 130-acre municipal park located at the highest point in Vancouver, offering spectacular views of the city skyline. The park is famous for its beautifully manicured quarry gardens, arboretum, and the tropical Bloedel Conservatory.

Richmond Night Market

A massive, bustling night market that runs during the summer months in the nearby city of Richmond. It is famous for its incredible variety of Asian street food, lively entertainment, and hundreds of retail stalls.

Robson Street

Vancouver's most famous shopping street, stretching through the heart of downtown. It is a bustling hub for fashion, featuring a mix of high-end retailers, international brands, and diverse dining options.

Science World

An engaging science centre housed in a distinctive geodesic dome on the shores of False Creek. It offers hands-on interactive exhibits, amazing live science demonstrations, and an OMNIMAX theatre, making it a fun destination for all ages.

Spanish Banks Beach

A series of beaches known for their vast sandy flats at low tide, making them ideal for skimboarding and long walks. This beach offers a quieter atmosphere with stunning views of the city skyline and North Shore mountains.

Stanley Park

A world-renowned 1,001-acre urban park that is a magnificent green oasis in the midst of the city. It features miles of trails, beautiful beaches, local wildlife, the famous Seawall path, and the Vancouver Aquarium.

Vancouver Aquarium

Located within Stanley Park, this is Canada's largest aquarium and a center for marine research and conservation. It is home to thousands of incredible ocean species and aquatic life, offering educational exhibits and engaging shows.

Vancouver Art Gallery

The largest art museum in Western Canada, located in a former provincial courthouse in downtown Vancouver. It is known for its extensive collection of works by renowned British Columbian artist Emily Carr and other regional and international artists.

Vancouver Lookout

An observation deck located 168 meters high atop the Harbour Centre tower in downtown. It provides a stunning 360-degree panoramic view of Vancouver, the surrounding mountains, and the Pacific Ocean.

Vancouver Maritime Museum

This museum, located in Vanier Park, celebrates the rich maritime history of Vancouver and the Canadian Arctic. Its centerpiece is the historic St. Roch, an RCMP schooner that was the first vessel to sail the Northwest Passage in both directions.

VanDusen Botanical Garden

A spectacular 55-acre garden that showcases an impressive variety of plants from around the world. Visitors can explore themed gardens, wander through an Elizabethan hedge maze, and enjoy the serene atmosphere and stunning floral displays.

Wreck Beach

Located at the western tip of Vancouver near UBC, Wreck Beach is North America's largest clothing-optional beach. It is a popular spot known for its natural beauty, relaxed atmosphere, and stunning sunset views over the water.

Yaletown

A stylish, historic district that was once the city's warehouse and rail yard hub. Today, its converted brick buildings house some of Vancouver's trendiest restaurants, boutiques, and tech companies, with a vibrant nightlife scene.

How Rafeek works in Vancouver

Download Rafeek

Get the app on iOS or Android and pick your destination.

Choose a guide

Browse the landmarks nearby and choose the ones you want.

Press play and walk

Listen as you go, at your own pace, online or offline.

About Vancouver

Vancouver is a major city in Western Canada, located in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia. As the most populous city in the province, the 2021 Canadian census recorded 662,248 people in the city, up from 631,486 in 2016. The Metro Vancouver area had a population of 2.6 million in 2021, making it the third-largest metropolitan area in Canada. Greater Vancouver, along with the Fraser Valley, comprises the Lower Mainland with a regional population of over 3 million. Vancouver has the highest population density in Canada, with over 5,700 inhabitants per square kilometre (15,000/sq mi), and the fourth highest in North America.