10 Actually Fun Things To Do In Vancouver for Young Adults

Some people like to call Vancouver the “No Fun City,” but we take issue with that. Sure, if your idea of a good time is a Pilates class followed by a $25 cocktail, this city’s got you covered. But Vancouver has more than its fair share of unique experiences well suited to younger adults. Take a read of our recommendations!

1. Examine Real Autopsy Tables at the Vancouver Police Museum

Located in Vancouver’s former city morgue, the Vancouver Police Museum is unapologetically macabre. You can stand in the exact room where autopsies were performed (the tables are still there, complete with drains) and learn about unsolved murders, corrupt cops, and vintage weapons. It’s the perfect date spot if you want to test someone’s squeamishness early on.

2. Descend the 500 Steps to Wreck Beach

Wreck Beach is North America’s largest naturist (AKA nude) beach, and it’s a Vancouver rite of passage. Hidden behind the UBC campus, you have to descend nearly 500 wooden steps to get there — which means you also have to hike them back up. The views here are fantastic (and we do mean the scenic views – not the clothing-optional ones.) 

But the city wasn’t always so cool with Wreck Beach’s laid-back vibe. The RCMP spent the better part of the ’70s and ’80s cracking down on naked hippies and illicit vendors. Ultimately, the naturists outlasted the law. Thanks in part to the efforts of the Wreck Beach Preservation Society, Vancouverites today are free to let it all hang loose.  

3. Hunt for Vintage Gold on Main Street

If you want to curate a unique wardrobe, Main Street is your treasure trove. Start around Mount Pleasant and work your way south. Between Mintage, F is for Frank, and other thrift boutiques, you can spend hours digging through racks of wool flannels, worn-in Levi’s, and leather jackets. 

Grab brunch somewhere along Main Street to fuel your thrifting journey, and spend the day hunting for a perfect find. 

Pro tip — add in a stroll around Mount Pleasant to check out the street art. Thanks to the Vancouver Mural Festival, the neighbourhood is packed with many of the city’s finest murals.

4. Drink Where the Rat Pack Drank at The Penthouse (for the over 19s only)

We couldn’t make a list of Vancouver’s best spots without including this legendary watering hole. Yes, The Penthouse can offer an evening of exotic entertainment, but it’s the nightclub’s rich history that makes it an essential stop on a night out. 

Run by the Filippone family since 1947, this neon-lit landmark has hosted the likes of Frank Sinatra, Louis Armstrong, and Ella Fitzgerald — along with decades of bootleggers, mobsters, and undercover vice cops.

While most people dream about what happens inside The Penthouse, the marquee outside the venue has become iconic in its own right, even inspiring its own book. The sign is frequently updated with razor-sharp comments on current events, celebrity scandals, and local news. It’s gone viral multiple times – if you’ve been on social media in the past year, you’ve probably seen the now-famous “Never Neighbours” marquee. You can also visit Tyrant Studios upstairs in the club, for an evening of live jazz.

The Penthouse has survived police raids, botched robberies, and a fire that nearly swallowed it up. Grab a drink, soak in the retro vibes, and pay your respects to this iconic venue.

(Keep an eye out for our occasional Secrets of the Penthouse special event tours, too!) 

5. See a Play on Granville Island

Granville Island isn’t just for dodging aggressive seagulls and emptying your wallet on artisanal goodies. After the public market closes and the tourist crowds thin out, the island comes to life as one of the best arts hubs in the city.

The Arts Club Theatre Company operates out of the Lindsay Family Stage, putting on everything from chaotic comedies to gripping dramas. Alternatively, you can hit up The Improv Centre for something unscripted.

To make an evening of it, travel to and from the island on a False Creek Ferry and grab a pint at Granville Island Brewing before the show.

6. Run the Streets with Vancouver Mysteries: Outdoor Escape Games

For true crime fans, puzzle fanatics, and escape room enjoyers. This is your chance to do some sleuthing while exploring downtown Vancouver. 

Vancouver Mysteries turns the city’s oldest neighbourhoods into a giant game board. You’ll meet an in-character game master on the street to receive your physical kit—complete with maps, tools, and evidence—before being let loose. Whether you’re solving a brutal murder in Gastown (Crime in Downtown) or hunting down paranormal activity outside the city’s most haunted buildings (Ghost Patrol), you have two hours to crack the case.

They also run mystery dining experiences, including the “Murder Is A Drag” series. It’s a night out sure to put your detective skills to the test.

7. Drink Cocktails in a Hidden Speakeasy (for the over 19s)

Here at Forbidden Vancouver, we love a hidden gem. This city has a number of speakeasies to choose from. There’s something about descending a hidden staircase, having to supply a secret password, or taking a leap of faith on an unassuming entrance that elevates your evening from simple drinks to an adventure. 

Check out The Narrow Lounge on Main Street, marked only by a red light in a graffiti-covered alleyway. The Stock Room in Yaletown lurks beneath a burger joint. Or, for friends of the occult, visit a pet physic in Gastown that moonlights as Arcana Spirit Lounge. 

Nowadays, speakeasies are a fun experience, but during prohibition, these kinds of establishments were illicit, dangerous, and one of the only ways to enjoy a stiff drink. Join us on our Forbidden Vancouver walking tour to be transported back to a world of mob bosses, crooked politicians, and bootleggers. And after all that walking, you might want to grab a drink yourself at one of these bars. 

8. Dodge Tourists (and Pay Nothing) at Lynn Canyon

When you’re visiting Vancouver, everyone tells you to go to the Capilano Suspension Bridge. Capilano is great, but it’s also expensive and packed with tour buses, especially in the summer.

If you want to beat the crowds, take the Seabus over to the North Shore and hit up the Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge. It’s narrower, slightly more terrifying, and surrounded by lush rainforest.

Perhaps best of all: it’s 100% free. Spend the afternoon hiking the trails and swimming in the (very cold) 30-foot pools. You’ll get a chance to appreciate one of Vancouver’s best landscapes, while giving your wallet a bit of a break. 

9. Get Sweaty at a Rickshaw Theatre Punk Show

Located in the heart of the Downtown Eastside, the Rickshaw Theatre is a former Shaw Brothers martial arts movie house turned legendary independent music venue.

The floors are sticky, the acoustics are loud, and the vibe is grungy. If there is a punk, metal, or obscure indie band rolling through town, this is where you want to see them.

10. Walk the Cobblestones with a Forbidden Vancouver Tour

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sure, this is a shameless plug, but it’s our blog and we make the rules. We don’t do boring, umbrella-waving history tours. We do the dark, the dirty, and the dramatic. Take our Lost Souls of Gastown tour to hear about smallpox outbreaks, devastating fires, and unsolved murders, or jump on The Really Gay History Tour to learn how Vancouver’s LGBTQ2+ community fought back against police raids and censorship. 

Ready to see the side of the city they don’t put on the postcards? Book a Forbidden Vancouver Walking Tour today and let us show you where the bodies are buried.