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Spanish Banks, Vancouver

4.7
#2 of 9 in Beaches in Vancouver
Beach · Hidden Gem · Nature / Park
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Take a trip to Spanish Banks, a series of beaches on the shores of English Bay. Technically only one bank, the beaches split into three main areas: east, west, and extension. The west beach offers the best conditions for skimboarding and kitesurfing, and has particularly extensive low tide flats. All three offer ample room for relaxation and recreational activities, including picnics, barbecues, and beach sports, while the east and west parts also benefit from concession stands and other amenities. For Spanish Banks and beyond, use our Vancouver driving holiday planning website to get the most from your Vancouver vacation.
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Spanish Banks reviews

TripAdvisor traveler rating
TripAdvisor traveler rating 4.5
514 reviews
Google
4.7
TripAdvisor
  • Love walking along this area. So beautiful every direction one looks. So much to see in this lovely part of the city. The steps are a great place to do a cardio workout while looking out to the... 
    Love walking along this area. So beautiful every direction one looks. So much to see in this lovely part of the city. The steps are a great place to do a cardio workout while looking out to the...  more »
  • A beautiful place from where you can witness incredible sunsets and at the same time watch the city skyline in the distance. But the slow waves have allowed algal blooms which dont look good for a... 
    A beautiful place from where you can witness incredible sunsets and at the same time watch the city skyline in the distance. But the slow waves have allowed algal blooms which dont look good for a...  more »
  • Fun, relaxing place in West Van. At low tide the beach is huge and dogs love it. TIP: stop at the Jericho Beach Sailing club 2nd floor patio for a beer & burger with great views on the way home. 
    Fun, relaxing place in West Van. At low tide the beach is huge and dogs love it. TIP: stop at the Jericho Beach Sailing club 2nd floor patio for a beer & burger with great views on the way home.  more »
Google
  • Great place for relaxing and entertaining. You can find a lot of grass fields to set up your picnic and walk to the beach. Best place to see tides in the afternoon! A lot of walking and running space. Dogs can be off-leashed. Finding parking space could be an issue on the weekends. Different vibe compared to other beaches like English Bay.
  • My favourite beach. It is beautiful all year round. Great for beach volleyball, BBQ, pinics, watch fireworks, kayaking, swimming. Also, perfect for families to spend the day.
  • We went to Spanish banks and walked across the beach westwards to see the sunset. We ended up in what I later found out (using Google maps) to be an off leash area. I did not notice clear signs posted for those coming from the east part so I learned the hard way. I'm not a dog owner but I don't mind playing with them either (if I ever have a farm then definitely will think of getting a dog) Anyway, I wouldn't recommend someone walking west from here if they mind friendly dogs coming to play with them every now and then. We sat at a log by the beach. My wife put her ice cream on the side for a second, and a dog came running and ate it. I put my phone against a rock to take a steady picture. A dog came running and pushed it over. 😂 The view of sunset from this park is stunning. My only feedback is that the park is missing some lighting in several areas. The west area including the parking lot has no lighting 👏 at 👏 all. So if you're coming to watch the sunset, kayak or ride a SUP board, please come with flashlights (I saw many people, apparently-regulars, pull out their flashlights at sunset!) Otherwise prepare to look for your stuff in the dark, walk in the dark back to your parking lot, load your car in the dark. And if parking management reads this. Please consider installing lights (preferably solar powered) at the parking lot and around the paths so people can find their way **safely** at night. Terrible photos are mine, but credits to my wife Tessa Santoni for the awesome photos of the sunset.
  • Very beautiful beach! Peaceful and relaxing..can swim, play beach ball, and have picnics...toilet and food establishments available
  • Very quiet and relaxing beach, the bathrooms are clean. The concession store is open now. The parking is very fluid, even though it’s almost full, cars come and go. Perfect for all the family 💕

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