Vancouver Lookout

Get a 360-degree view from one of the city's tallest buildings

Word to the wise: Tickets are valid for the entire day, so if it's busy when you reach the top, you can come back later at no extra cost.
Talk of the town: The first man on the moon, Neil Armstrong, officially opened the Lookout in 1977.

Situated at the top of the Harbour Centre, the Vancouver Lookout presents incredible 360-degree city views. A Willy Wonka-esque elevator shoots you 150 meters skywards in just 40 seconds - worth the entrance fee alone. On the observation deck, you'll see Stanley Park, the Pacific Ocean and across to the North Shore Mountains and beyond. Surveying downtown Vancouver from up here makes you feel a kind of ownership of the city and, if you manage to miss the crowds, it boarders on the spiritual.
There are free guided tours around the Lookout, with staffers helping to identify views of note. It's a particularly good spot to come when you first arrive in Vancouver to visually orient yourself with the city and the places you want to see. This building also houses a revolving restaurant, shops, a university campus and 28 floors of offices.