Olympic Festivities at Granville Island

Nestled in a beautiful waterfront setting, Granville Island is truly a must-see Vancouver destination.  A favourite spot with locals and tourists, the Island boasts an array of galleries and artisan shops, a public market, gourmet restaurants and cafes, a kids market and more.   

With the Olympics in Vancouver, a number of special pavilions have opened on the Island, offering top-notch entertainment, cultural exhibitions, family-friendly activities and venues for watching the games. Granville Island is only about 15 minutes from downtown Vancouver and is a great place to spend a few hours or an entire day.

How to get there:

Take the Canada Line to the Olympic Village stop, then transfer to the free Olympic Line. The line runs every 6 to 10 minutes and features state-of-the-art modern streetcars that are on loan from Belgium.

Look for Olympic volunteers who hand-out daily sheets highlighting a schedule of the day's concerts and events. If you are not near a Canada Line stop, then try Translink’s trip planning guide for bus routes.

Top things to do on the Island:

Atlantic Canada House

Don’t miss the daily food sampling, “A Taste of Atlantic Canada” which showcases Atlantic seafood and agricultural products. Tastings are daily at 11:30 a.m., 2 p.m., and 5 p.m. at the Backstage Lounge. When Vancouver.com visited, we were treated to delicious stuffed lobster tail, wild boar rilletes with blueberry relish, yellow tail flounder fritters and Solomon Gundy. The spread is prepared by culinary students from the four Atlantic Provinces and goes above and beyond what one would expect for a free event.

Atlantic Canada House also features live performances and music at the Backstage Lounge, Granville Island Stage and New Revue Stage. For complete details, visit the website.

Place de Francophonie

This little "French Quarter," located at the False Creek Community Centre features more than 100 live performances by artists from across Canada and around the world. Club Adrénaline (open from 11 a.m. onward) is the place to enjoy the Olympic events in French while grabbing a bite to eat. The agrotourism pavilion features kiosks operated by Canadian tourism organizations.

Every evening at 6 p.m. there is programming on the Air Canada stage where you can soak in Canada’s Francophone culture with established stars and emerging artists. For a complete schedule, visit the website.

House of Switzerland

The Swiss House operates primarily as a restaurant (at the popular Bridges Restaurant—look for the yellow building near the public market). Your Swiss hosts have added some notably Swiss items to the regular Bridges menu such as Cheese and Chocolate Fondues and Raclette with Potatoes, Pickles and Pearl Onions. The venue is a great place to watch live broadcasts of the games and potentially spot some of the Swiss team.

Public Market

The aroma of freshly baked goods will lure you into the public market, which is full of treasures to explore. The colours of the fresh fruit and vegetables, the beautiful flowers at the garden shops and the fresh seafood on display, delight the senses. Merchants and artisans showcase homemade products, crafts and gifts throughout the market. And of course, there are a number of bakeries, food vendors, coffee shops and stalls where you can pick up something tasty to eat or drink.

Art Galleries, Studios and Shops

Granville Island is known as a hub for artistic activity. It is home to the world-famous Emily Carr University of Art and Design, as well as many artist studios and shops. Simply wander around to find studios and shops featuring glassblowing, jewelry making and much more.

Kids Market

Kids are guaranteed to love this market, dedicated to the young and young at heart. From the child sized door at the entrance, to the giant indoor Adventure Zone and the numerous toy stores, Kids Market promises to delight and entertain. The market has extended hours during the Olympics (10 a.m. to 9 p.m.).