In a matter of days, Taylor Swift will take the stage in Vancouver for her final Eras Tour shows in what is truly the end of an era. If you haven’t yet made it to one of the Eras Tour dates, you have one last weekend of chances — Swift will play BC Place with opener Gracie Abrams on Dec. 6, 7, and 8.
Whether you’ve already got a ticket or you’re hoping to buy off scalpers day-of, Vancouver is a decidedly fun place to wrap this period of Swift’s life and career. The major metropolitan city is known for its bountiful outdoor beauty, vibrant restaurant scene, and so much more. In short, Vancouver is cool whether or not you’re going to a Taylor Swift concert.
As I pack my bags and prepare to grab a Delta flight to Vancouver this weekend, I’m asking around and making my list of the best restaurants, stays and of course, where to make friendship bracelets in anticipation of the weekend. Below, discover more about Vancouver, British Columbia, including where to stay, what to do, and how to make the most of your trip with various Swiftie-friendly activities.
What to do in Vancouver
Vancouver is an outdoorsman’s paradise, and if walking through nature and living a folklore fantasy is your thing, I recommend a trip up to Grouse Mountain via the Grouse Mountain Skyride gondola for some spectacular views. (You can also catch a glimpse of the gondola in the first To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before movie, which was filmed in Vancouver.) Once on the mountain, you can take nature trails or grab coffee or food at the Altitudes Bistro or The Observatory.
For fans who want more Taylor Swift-themed activities, Vancouver Magazine has compiled an excellent list of options, including drag shows, dance parties, Taylor Swift impersonators, boat cruises, and club nights. You can also check out Science World, a museum/center that is doing “Swiftie Days” with various activations, such as playing songs on their giant piano and hunting for easter eggs at various exhibits. You could also take an Eras-inspired food tour of Granville Island on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday.
Where to stay in Vancouver
Swifties, Marriott Bonvoy has you covered — the hotel chain is bringing back its friendship bracelet-making stations one last time at various hotels around the city. When I attended the Eras Tour in Stockholm, the fully-stocked stations were a chance to make tradeable bracelets and bond with fans over fandom and surprise song guesses (also, there are typically good photo ops in the lobby with various Swift signage). As the tour wraps, this is a great way to make some lasting memories with people you may have never met, brought together over their appreciation for Swift’s music. You do have to be a Marriott Bonvoy member, however you can sign up for free here.
If you haven’t been to Vancouver before, you’ll be delighted to hear how easy it is to get around on foot or by public transit, especially given the stadium location — around 15-20 minutes walking from downtown, depending on where you are. Here’s the full list of Marriott Bonvoy properties with friendship bracelet stations:
- The DOUGLAS, Autograph Collection (next to the stadium)
- JW Marriott Parq Vancouver (next to the stadium)
- Delta Hotels Vancouver Downtown Suites (~15 minute walk)
- Metropolitan Hotel Vancouver (~15 minute walk)
- Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre (~17 minute walk)
- Residence Inn Vancouver Downtown (~22 minute walk)
- Vancouver Marriott Pinnacle Downtown Hotel (~25 minute walk)
- The Westin Bayshore, Vancouver (~14 minutes via public transit)
- Delta Hotels by Marriott Burnaby Conference Centre (~30 minutes via car)
- Vancouver Airport Marriott Hotel (~40 minutes via car, around 9 miles)
Plus, you can shop for official Taylor Swift merch at The Westin Bayshore Grand Ballroom pop-up, which is also hosting activities and offering door prizes. See the dates below, and note that the first hour of the pop-up is for hotel guests only, so you’ll need a room key to enter.
- Thursday, December 5 from 2 p.m.-6 p.m.
- Friday, December 6 from 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
- Saturday, December 7 from 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Where to eat
Vancouver is a foodie’s dream, largely thanks to its ethnic and cultural diversity and its location near the ocean. The city is known particularly for its seafood and for its variety of Asian cuisines.
Eater has a great list of essential Vancouver restaurants, and I’m adding to my list: Maenam, a Thai restaurant with a “deft balancing act of sweet, aromatic, citrusy, hot, and spicy flavors in great Thai dishes with B.C. twists.” Ophelia, a Mexican restaurant with especially good skirt steak tacos. And Hawksworth Bar for Korean fried cauliflower. Over on some Vancouver subreddits, residents recommend Phnom Phen as “legendary” for Vietnamese and Cambodian dishes, as well as Toshi’s for sushi (beware of lines).
I also plan to check out the Douce Diner in North Vancouver for breakfast purely for its notoriety as a filming location for To All the Boys — but reviewers recommend the Eggs Benny. Here’s hoping my very own Peter Kavinsky arrives as “You Are in Love” plays on the diner jukebox.
