Spanish Banks
Spanish Banks
4.5
About
This expansive beach offers fantastic picnicking opportunities, swimming, beach volleyball, or simply a panoramic view of Vancouver and the mountains. Spanish Banks tends to be a quieter beach which makes it very family-friendly.
Duration: 1-2 hours
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listingTours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
Full view
Top ways to experience Spanish Banks and nearby attractions
The area
Address
Neighbourhood: West Point Grey
West Point Grey is one of the city’s oldest neighbourhoods, especially known for its easygoing and admired beachfronts. Locals crowd the Spanish Banks and Jericho Beach, especially in the summer, where a sprawling view of the English Bay awaits. The central village is an oasis of sovereign shops, many of them in local operation for years. The neighbourhood has a more personal feeling to it, and can be a wonderful and much-needed break from the bustle of big-city life, being a little haven of peace and quiet with an almost village temperament in the heart of Vancouver.
Reach out directly
Best nearby
Restaurants
321 within 5 kms
Attractions
451 within 10 kms
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
514 reviews
Excellent
341
Very good
144
Average
27
Poor
2
Terrible
0
MekkTekk
Vancouver55 contributions
Aug 2023 • Family
Our absolute favorite beach area in Vancouver for relaxing and water activities.
This beach is huge and stretches almost 2 km when including Locarno beach and Jericho Sailing Centre. You can always find space to stretch out. There is lots of parking and it's free, but it does fill up on warm weekends.
The lowest tide is great for skim boarding, finding little crabs, walking across the massive tidal flats.
Swimming, SUP, Kayaking when water is in. There is some wind/kite surfing but wind is not reliable.
Lots of biking, walking trails on beach and into the adjacent UBC forest.
Beach volleyball courts and lots of space for sports.
Or just relax, picnic/grill or read a book.
There really is something for everyone here.
(Much less hassle than English Bay or Kits)
This beach is huge and stretches almost 2 km when including Locarno beach and Jericho Sailing Centre. You can always find space to stretch out. There is lots of parking and it's free, but it does fill up on warm weekends.
The lowest tide is great for skim boarding, finding little crabs, walking across the massive tidal flats.
Swimming, SUP, Kayaking when water is in. There is some wind/kite surfing but wind is not reliable.
Lots of biking, walking trails on beach and into the adjacent UBC forest.
Beach volleyball courts and lots of space for sports.
Or just relax, picnic/grill or read a book.
There really is something for everyone here.
(Much less hassle than English Bay or Kits)
Written 20 April 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
mike_the_bus_driver
Vancouver4 contributions
May 2022
It's a beach. A long, long beach. It's sunset. It's bikinis in the summer, dogs in the winter, and the best part is to go at low tide. I mean, really, really low tide, and walk out on the sand for what seems like forever. The car is waaaay back there. If you go off-season then bring your dog. But they aren't allowed on the beach in the summer for obvious reasons. Plenty of room, you don't feel crowded unless it is a super hot day and you decide to settle not too far from one of the three concession stands and washrooms. There are also areas for you to be under trees, and barbecue stands. I'm a local, I go there often. Now if only I had a dog...
Written 31 May 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SMH-BC-CDA
British Columbia, Canada6 contributions
Sept 2019
Sit on/beside a log and read a book, have a picnic. Dinner/evening will provide an amazing view of the sunset. Bike to this spot on the nearby path, wade in the water to cool off. Enjoy the view of the north shore and downtown.
Written 5 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reggie
Regina, Canada935 contributions
May 2022 • Family
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 ocean.
Written 4 December 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Irkhunter
Richmond, Canada25 contributions
May 2018 • Family
Spanish Banks is one of Vancouvers best places to enjoy the beach, surrounded by the mountains in the background. The zest of West coast living is at its peak on a sunny day. If you are so lucky to be at Spanish Banks on a Sunday and it's sunny. Take the time to feel the rhythm at the far end of Spanish Banks towards UBC. Once you hear the rhythmic beats emanating from djembes, dun duns,doumbeks and other drums you know you are at the right place. Great family entertainment to watch and dance. If that is too much excitement you can always fall back to the rhythm of the Pacific lapping up on the beach.
Written 7 May 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Janice L
Richmond, Canada200 contributions
I like these beaches best because they aren't filled with the trendy people like at Kits beach. It gets very busy here in summer and the parking lots fill up fast, but it's worth the wait to get one if you can. There is green space a plenty for the set up of bar b q's and picnics. Go prepared to stay for the day - it's great fun.
Written 22 January 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gerardo Señoráns Barcala
Vancouver Island, Canada40 contributions
Feb 2011 • Solo
Spanish Bank is " West of Tolmie Street on Northwest Marine Drive", Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
It is all the year a wonderful place for recreation, to meet friends, for jogging, for swimming, beach volleyball, walking, to barbecue with the whole family or friends. There some snack stands on the Spanish Bank.
History:
1592 - 1774 AD: The Spaniards cruised by as part of their exploration of Canada's west coast. Spain claimed the west coast of North America by virtue of the Treaty of Tordesillas, which occurred in 1494.
The Spanish explorer Lieutenant José Maria Narvaez was the first European to see this area of BC. He beat George Vancouver by a year, anchored west of Point Grey and explored the mouth of the Fraser River.
Later Captain Vancouver and Spanish Captain Dionisio Galiano, each at the head of an exploring expedition, are startled to meet each other at what is now English Bay. Captain Vancouver named Spanish Banks as a tribute to his Spanish friendship and specially to Lieutenant José Maria Narvaez who was the first European in Vancouver, BC.
The City of Vancouver has a number of streets named after Spaniards: Cordova, Cardero, Valdez and Narvaez nad more.... but also Galiano Street in Coquitlam etc.
It is all the year a wonderful place for recreation, to meet friends, for jogging, for swimming, beach volleyball, walking, to barbecue with the whole family or friends. There some snack stands on the Spanish Bank.
History:
1592 - 1774 AD: The Spaniards cruised by as part of their exploration of Canada's west coast. Spain claimed the west coast of North America by virtue of the Treaty of Tordesillas, which occurred in 1494.
The Spanish explorer Lieutenant José Maria Narvaez was the first European to see this area of BC. He beat George Vancouver by a year, anchored west of Point Grey and explored the mouth of the Fraser River.
Later Captain Vancouver and Spanish Captain Dionisio Galiano, each at the head of an exploring expedition, are startled to meet each other at what is now English Bay. Captain Vancouver named Spanish Banks as a tribute to his Spanish friendship and specially to Lieutenant José Maria Narvaez who was the first European in Vancouver, BC.
The City of Vancouver has a number of streets named after Spaniards: Cordova, Cardero, Valdez and Narvaez nad more.... but also Galiano Street in Coquitlam etc.
Written 13 January 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Vancouver_dan
North Vancouver, Canada725 contributions
This beach is the furthest from downtown as you travel west towards UBC. It is the quietest, cleanest and most peaceful beach in the city. The view looks across English Bay towards Hollyburn Mountain in West Vancouver. At low tide - the water receeds to expose a huge mud flat - you can walk out from shore. This is not a great location for swimming but kids will enjoy wading in the shallow waters and playing in the sand. There are concession stands and washrooms.
Written 1 February 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Krista C
Vancouver, Canada7 contributions
Jul 2015 • Couples
Beautiful beach on the west side of Vancouver (adjacent to Jericho beach). It's particularly great at low tide when you can walk ~1/2km out into the ocean.
Written 20 July 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Catherine S
Warrington, United Kingdom18 contributions
Jun 2015 • Couples
Lovely sandy beach with pier and great views ! The beach is a 15minute drive from Vancouver Downtown and had cafe facilities. Parking there is free and there was a nearby sailing club.
Written 17 July 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
No questions have been asked about this experience
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing