Walk along the seawall. Stanley Park borders Coal Harbour, so the Coal Harbour stretch of the seawall runs straight into the park. Most people can do it without a ticket or a schedule.
Walking the Coal Harbour seawall
The Coal Harbour section of the seawall looks out over Burrard Inlet, the North Shore mountains, yachts and the seaplanes that land and take off in the harbour. Keep the water on your right as you head toward the park and you cannot go wrong. The path is paved and easy to follow.
How long it takes depends on where you start. A hotel at the Convention Centre end of Coal Harbour is a longer stroll than one near the park edge, so allow extra time if you want to stop for photos. Late afternoon is a good time to go, when the light on the mountains is at its best.
Once you reach the park, the seawall carries on around the whole peninsula. The loop around Stanley Park itself is about 8.8 kilometres, which is useful to know if you plan to walk or ride further than the entrance.
Cycling into Stanley Park
The seawall has two separate paths inside the park, one for pedestrians and one for cyclists and skaters. The cycling lane is one way and goes counterclockwise, so you ride with the water on your right. Do not ride against the flow, and keep off the pedestrian path.
Bike rental shops are a common sight near the park’s edge, but opening times and prices change by season, so check with the shop before you head out.
Taking the bus along West Pender
If you are carrying bags or the weather is poor, TransLink bus 19 serves Stanley Park. In the downtown core the stop for the park is on West Pender Street, and the route ends at the park’s bus loop. Check the TransLink trip planner for the next departure from the stop nearest to you, because summer and weekend frequencies differ from the rest of the year.
Other buses only pass along the edge of downtown. The 19 is the one that goes into the park.
When a taxi makes sense
Coal Harbour to the park is a very short ride, and a taxi mainly helps with luggage, mobility needs or heavy rain. The Vancouver taxi page explains how to book.