Things To Do In Richmond BC – A 4 Day Bucket List Itinerary

Richmond, British Columbia, Canada is often seen as the gateway to Vancouver, but savvy travelers know it’s worth spending more than just a few hours here. The city blends stunning coastal landscapes, vibrant neighborhoods, and a rich cultural heritage, making it a destination in its own right. From historic fishing villages to modern attractions, there’s no shortage of things to do in Richmond BC for every type of traveler.

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Food lovers in particular will find themselves in paradise. Richmond boasts some of the best Asian cuisine outside of Asia, from authentic dim sum and dumplings to innovative fusion dishes. Add to that bustling markets, waterfront dining, and locally owned cafes, and it’s clear that exploring Richmond is as much a culinary adventure as it is a sightseeing journey.

This 4-day itinerary is designed to give you a complete picture of the city’s highlights, including local attractions, hidden gems, and unique experiences. Whether you’re interested in history, outdoor activities, or simply soaking up the city’s coastal charm, you’ll discover why Richmond deserves a place on your travel list beyond a half-day stop on your way to Vancouver.

4 Day Richmond BC Itinerary Highlights

This 4-day Richmond BC itinerary covers the top bucket list items and shows you how you can easily spend a whole weekend here and more.

Here were our top 5 highlights of Richmond, British Columbia:

1. Whale Watching
2. Richmond Night Market
3. Steveston
4. Dumpling Trail
5. Richmond Olympic Oval

Things To Do In Richmond BC – A 4 Day Itinerary

Richmond is typically known for its Asian culture, but when you start looking at the whole of Lulu Island that forms the city limits, you begin to see that there’s so much more than its stereotype. 

With this 4-day itinerary of Richmond BC, we wanted to see the city in a way that most don’t get to unless you’re a local. In a span of a long weekend, learn what you can see, do, eat, and where to stay without even having to cross the bridge to Vancouver.

Trip Planning Map

If you’ve seen our Grand Rapids 4 Day Itinerary, Best Kichijoji Street Food, or Best Ramen In Tokyo, you’ll know that we’re big fans of trip planning maps, especially for when we’re on the road. 

We always have one prepared before we travel so that we can quickly pull them up for reference. Our hope is that these maps give you the jump start to plan your trip to Richmond BC.

Day 1 – Best Food And First Stops

To get you started in Richmond, it’s time to start your adventure with some food. What better way than to have many options laid out in front of you at the food court of the Aberdeen Centre.

This modern-day Asian shopping mall will make you feel like you’re almost transported to Hong Kong, and it all culminates on the second floor where you’ll want to try every single vendor. 

With spicy Szechuan, Hong Kong cafes, Taiwanese, Japanese, Korean, Shanghainese, and more to satisfy your cravings, take a peek around see what suits your fancy.

Our recommendation is Bubble Waffle Café which has Hong Kong classics like the bubble waffle, rice rolls, curry fish balls, and made-to-order soup noodles. 

Other notable stalls to look out for is Szechuan House and their spicy chicken, Wu Fung Dessert for their fried chicken wings, and Saboten for their Japanese cutlet sandwiches.

While you’re at Aberdeen Centre, take advantage of the fact that the famed Japanese 100 Yen store, Daiso, has its only store in Canada located here. This two floor bonanza of Japanese goods is filled with gems that you won’t find at any dollar store. They’re great for home organizers, kitchen tools, and personal stationary.

One of the advantages of being in Richmond is that the airport is extremely close, which not only makes it convenient to hit the ground running if you fly in, but it also makes airplane viewing really easy. 

The Larry Berg Flight Path Park is one of the friendliest and also cutest spots to watch a steady stream of planes touch down at the Vancouver International Airport.

In this park, you’ll find a giant globe meant for climbing and stomping and crossing miniature runways that’s just perfect for a photoshoot as planes roar above.

If you have time, another spot that’ll give you a unique perspective of Richmond is the Canada Line Bikeway that runs across the Fraser River North Arm and connects to Vancouver. 

It’s a little off-the-beaten-path for most visitors but it’s a short walk to get up to the bridge where bikes zoom across and the Skytrain hums above. From this bridge, you’ll see the remaining log booms along the river.

Before you head to your hotel to check-in, grab one of the best mango slushes from Bubble Queen. The huge chunks of fresh mango are second to none. If you’re still hungry, their specialty bubble waffles with mochi are always a hit.

Close out your first day with dinner at Kiriri for an authentic Japanese dining experience with extensive grilled and deep-fried items, alongside sushi and sashimi. 

For sushi lovers, the highlights are always on the fresh fish board where specialty fish are imported and available in limited quantities. Fair warning, their Tako wasabi is extremely spicy.

Day 2 – Olympic Dreams And Gourmet Indulgence

Richmond is known to have the best dim sum outside of Asia so it’s time to put that to the test at Chef Tony Seafood. This is an insanely popular restaurant for dim sum, so our first recommendation is to make a reservation ahead of time. If you don’t manage to, come early on a weekday and they’ll try to squeeze you in.

What makes Chef Tony so good is that they make everything fresh and they do unique spins on classic dishes. 

For instance, their siu mai is topped with truffle, which we have to say makes it hands-down the best we’ve ever had. Their shrimp dumplings (har gow) use cuttlefish ink which is why the skin is black. Their rice noodles are green because they use bitter gourd and was quite delicious.

It wasn’t long ago that Vancouver hosted the 2010 Winter Olympic Games and one of the primary venues they built was the Richmond Olympic Oval. 

Designed for the long track speedskating event, the venue was designed with its post-Olympic future in mind and while we didn’t expect to spend that much time here, this ended up being quite the surprise attraction.

Joining a private tour of the facility, learn about all the hidden secrets of how the building was constructed including Canadian innovations in the roof, which is said to resemble a heron, environmental features that capture rainwater and recycle heat generated from refrigeration, and the use of trees damaged by pine beetles.

The tour also gave us a chance to take a look at all the incredible sports and fitness facilities that range from the ice rink, their state-of-the-art OVALfit program, hardcourt sports, climbing wall, ping pong tables, and even batting cages.

Beyond what’s inside, make sure to spend time walking the exterior of the oval, which features Water Sky Garden and the giant red lanterns made out of netting held up by huge metal rings above ponds that act as a water reservoir from the rain collected.

The best part as visitors though is the Richmond Olympic Experience which is Canada’s only Olympic Museum. 

Incredibly interactive and hands-on, this is not to be missed. Alongside touchscreens that feel like they belong more to a science fiction set, there are sports simulators and interactive challenges. 

You’ll easily end up spending hours here because you’ll want to try to beat your own ski jumping record, execute perfect turns in a bobsled, beat your friend at a game of reaction times, and see yourself on TV as a sports broadcaster.

If you’ve read my tip above, you’ll know that the hidden secret is that you can go rock climbing for free with your ROX ticket. This is in fact the only rock-climbing facility in all of Richmond so take advantage of this. 

With 45 different routes culminating in their 44-foot overhang, their walls are set up for top rope, lead climbing (partner belay and self-belay), and bouldering. 

Remember, rock climbing is an official sport that started in the 2020 (2021) Tokyo Summer Olympics so it’s time to start training!

You will have had a very active day up until this point so you will no doubt be hungry.  Down the street from the Richmond Olympic Oval is Origo Club, which will honestly be the culinary highlight of your trip. That’s saying a lot because of how good all the food spots are on this itinerary.

This swank French eatery is an impressive experience from start to end. When you walk in, you step into a cultural gallery with art pieces from Tibet on display.

Precious ceramics, pottery, and sculptures are situated around a custom-made arched door that leads into a space that feels like an ultra-luxe hotel lobby that is filled with earthy wooden tones and huge marble slabs splashed throughout.

The dinner menu is highlighted by Head Chef David Pan’s beef tartare, pan-fried scallops and a bone-in pork chop. Each are done to perfection and carefully constructed with a balance of local produce and freshly curated ingredients, paired with subtle flavors and delicate dots of exquisite purees. 

These nouveau takes of French classics are rounded out with freshly baked bread that comes with lemon truffle and honey butter, and the mind-blowing Crème Brûlée à l’Espresso.

We particularly appreciated the incredible attention to service and our server’s detailed explanation of the process behind the cured egg and daily hand-made truffle chips that are part of the beef tartare.

If the sun is still up, we recommend that you make your way to Terra Nova Adventure Playground to watch the sky light on fire. 

This is popular park for its massive play area that includes a tree house, zip lines, maze, and sand play areas. It also well known for its West Dyke Trail that is lined with benches and picnic tables, so come here for a leisurely stroll as the sun dips and planes land before your eyes.

Day 3 – Canadian Coastal Heritage

If you want to see true Canadian fishing and coastal heritage, you won’t find it in Vancouver, it’s actually right in Richmond and the town’s name is Steveston.

Come here first thing in the morning and start off your day right at the Rocanini Coffee Roasters. They have great artesian coffees, yummy croissants, my favorite lemon squares by the lemon square, and fancy shakes as well.

You’re in for a treat on this day because you’ll have one of the most incredible experiences that you may not have thought to do from Richmond – whale watching! 

What most don’t realize is that it’s actually better to do whale watching from Steveston because of a few things:

1. Closer – You’re often closer to the whales, which means shorter boat ride times.
2. Prices are cheaper – As a direct comparison, Steveston Seabreeze Adventures starts st $179 CAD whereas Prince of Whales from Vancouver is $209 CAD.
3. Smaller boat sizes – The Vancouver cruiser boats have a capacity of 74 whereas the ones leaving from Steveston are typically a maximum of 23. For an activity like this, you actually want the smaller boats because not everyone will be fighting for a spot when the whales are viewable from one side. This also means a smaller ratio of marine guide to guests so it’s also easier to ask questions.

Depending on what time of year you go, there’s a few different time slots available for a whale watching tour with Steveston Seabreeze Adventures, but you’ll need to make it to their offices by 45 minutes early for check-in.  You’ll receive your boarding pass tickets and once it’s time, you’ll be taken down to your boat.

We won’t spoil too much of the experience, but you’ll be taken out to the Strait of Georgia from the Fraser River. Along your way to look for whales, you’ll pass through an estuary where saltwater meets fresh water, see bald eagles perched up on a light post, and views of stellar sea lions. That’s only the beginning.

The main event, of course, to find whales out in the wild. Now every experience is going to be different because it’ll depend on which transient pods are coming through or if others are in the area. 

The good news is that all the cruise operators are connected by radio so if they’re spotted somewhere, your captain’s going to know.

Our experience specifically was absolutely incredible because of how many orcas we spotted in the span of 1 hour near the transient whales. 

What made it such a treat was the fact that there were so many juvenile orcas in the group and all they wanted to do was splash their tail and jump for joy, so we got to see an endless amount of action. It was truly magical.

Since you’ll be famished by the time you’re back in Steveston, the first spot we’d recommend hitting up is Pajo’s Fish & Chips. This is the go-to spot and always packed with people along the harbor, so you can’t miss it. For the best, make sure you order the Alaskan Wild Halibut and Fries.

With your bellies full, now it’s time to learn more about Steveston. 

Once a boisterous frontier for the open sea and principal port along the Fraser River, much of what you will see here comes back to how this was one of the busiest ports in the world at the turn of the 20th century and literally supplied the world’s canned fish.

Where you’ll want to focus on in Steveston are the two national historic sites – Gulf of Georgia Cannery and Britannia Shipyards.

The Gulf of Georgia Cannery is the closer of the two to the center, so start there. 

The cannery is an integral part of not only the growth and development of Steveston but also a main cog in providing canned fish in the world. 

This expansive facility was one of the largest of its kind and this is only one of two of its kind left in Canada to see in person, the other being in Prince Rupert.

Whether through the guided tour experience or exploring the museum on your own, you’ll learn about the multicultural labor that kept the canning and herring reduction plant lines moving, the entire process of fish brought into the final product, fascinating tales from that era, fishing methods, films, and interactive displays.

The next main attraction to visit in Steveston is the Britannia Shipyards. 

This is truly a rare surviving example in Canada of a period in time when boatyards, multi-ethnic communities, and canneries will give you insight into what it was like in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s.

What makes this historic site special and unique is the fact that it is a living and breathing museum in more ways than one. 

With the help of volunteers dressed in period costumes, you’re not only seeing remnants of houses and the shipyard, but you also get to see live demonstrations of people showing you net mending, sewing, shipyard wood working, and more. 

On top of that, the site is also periodically restoring old wooden boats to bring history to life.

As much as this site is about shipyards and the canning industry that once thrived on the river, buildings such as the Murakami House, Chinese Bunkhouse, Stilt Houses, and First People’s Bunkhouse show that this site is much more about the multi-ethnic peoples that were brought here to power the industry, their stories, their struggles, and successes.

Spend the rest of the afternoon exploring historic Steveston and get to know the town.  Loaded with charm, Steveston is extremely easy to explore on foot. 

There’s a bit for everyone here with national heritage sites for history buffs, plenty of boutique shops to drop in, artisan shops, and plenty for kids as well. It’s a place of maximum coastal charm, chill vibes, and the occasional seagull call.

While the Gulf of Georgia Cannery and Britannia Shipyards are the key places to visit, there are plenty of other spots you want to go to. Here are a few places we’d recommend that you drop by.

• Fisherman’s Wharf – The entire boardwalk along the pier is fascinating to explore as it houses Canada’s largest commercial fishing fleet and there’s the public fish sales float that’s set up here where fishermen sell their fresh catches. It’s best to come here Friday afternoon, and during regular business hours on Saturday and Sunday.
• Steveston Tram – In the early 1900’s a tram line called the Interurban ran from Vancouver’s lower mainland to Steveston but was decommissioned in 1958. A fully refurbished tramcar is on display for you to explore.
• Steveston Museum – Take a glimpse into the past of the village, its first bank, and people that shaped it.
• Garry Point Park – A nice park on the far west end of the village that’s great for a leisurely walk and coastal views.
• Outpost Mini Donut Company – Popular for gourmet and freshly made mini donuts.
• Timothy’s Frozen Yogurt – Locals and visitors love this spot for their fresh fruit frozen yogurt.

Oh and if you’re a fan of the TV show “Once Upon A Time”, Steveston was the primary backdrop for Storybrooke.

For dinner, you’re going to have the most insane pizza you’ve ever seen, and you can only find it at the Steveston Pizza Company. 

We love the run of the mill pizza that are great for late night parties and we also love the gourmet Italian thin crusts, but to think that something close to $1,000 exists seems ludicrous right? 

Okay fine, it’s more like $850 on their menu, but this humble little corner pizza shop has become an international sensation for their over-the-top pies.

If your pockets aren’t that deep, save your money and instead get their Serpent pizza which features shrimps, prawns, Canadian lobster tails, and smoked salmon. It sure packs a wallop for those that love their seafood without breaking the bank at $125. 

We split it between the two of us and it was pretty overwhelming as a 12-inch pizza so we’d say splitting between 3 or 4 people would be perfect.

Day 4 – Dumpling Trail & Night Market Madness

Your final full day in Richmond is going to be ALL about food and that isn’t exactly hard to do here but if you’re visiting for your first time or even if it’s your second or third, the challenge is always in trying to figure out what’s good. 

Two things are going to make things a lot easier…

The first is something called the Dumpling Trail. This is a pretty unique idea that takes on the familiar concept of ale or wine trails that you see cities adopt except now it’s food based. 

Richmond having a rich history of Asia culture and influences, it only makes sense to consolidate the best in dough wrapped fillings that we call dumplings. CNN even named the Dumpling Trail as 12 of the world’s most enticing food and drink trails.

Currently, there are 16 restaurants that are part of the Dumpling Trail and each one of them has their own specialty because it covers everything from har gow, siu mai, gyoza, xiao long bao, wontons, mandu, bahn bot loc, and so much more. 

The trail itself is designed to more of a guide to help you pick which restaurants to hit up. You can either do a bunch together or slowly visit them over time. It’s a modern day culinary choose-your-own-adventure.

With too many restaurants to choose from for our brunch feast, we elected to join a Vancouver Food Tour where our guide, Cassandra, maximized our limited time and took us to these delectable highlights:

• Empire Seafood Restaurant – A dim sum specialist that is extremely high quality.
• Tsim Chai Noodles – Their crispy wontons are insanely good especially once you drizzle that special sauce on.
• Xi An Cuisine – Their spicy wontons are out of this world and definitely a highlight.
• Peanut’s Bubble Tea – Take a break from dumplings and grab their famous wheel cakes and bubble tea.
• 4 Stones Vegetarian Cuisine – You won’t even know their food is vegetarian. Try their gyoza and Chinese BBQ cut buns.

The next food-focused pursuit will absolutely blow you away. 

Ever since our 12 day trip to Taiwan where we ate through more night markets than we can count, we’ve been craving something similar. In a go-big-or-go-home way, we’ve finally found it, and we think you’ll be impressed.

The Richmond Night Market is the largest of its kind in North America. Year to year the vendors change but what’s constant is its size, yummy and sometimes ridiculous treats, retail shops, carnival games, and random dinosaurs (don’t ask me why).

The main attraction is the food of course!

It’ll be a feast for the senses because as the music is pumping and you snake your way through the crowd, you’ll hear the sizzle of the grill, the smell of fresh barbequed meats, and ultimately taste international foods that range from China, Korea, Japan, Phillipines, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Germany, and Brazil.

From classics like skewered meats to love-it-or-hate-it items like stinky tofu or Instagrammable inventions like rainbow coloured grilled cheese, there is truly something for everyone.

Make sure to watch the YouTube exclusive on the Richmond Night Market to see everything we tried to get inspiration (coming soon). Shoutouts go to Chef James, Mamalak, ZZIM, Nori Express, Two Sweet Guys, Tuk Tuk YVR, iTOFU, Crab Hut, and Asomi Mochi!

Beyond food, there are tons of carnival games to try your luck and skill at, and there are the rows and rows of retail shops that cover anything from socks to cell phone cases.

Day 5 – Last Dash For Food

hk bbq master richmond takeout

Okay so we lied, there’s actually a bonus fifth day, but it’ll all depend on where you’re moving onto next or when your flight out of Richmond is.

Since our flight wasn’t until mid-afternoon, we squeezed in two more food stops before dropping our car rental at the airport.

The first is HK B.B.Q. Master. Featuring top quality meats from BC and Alberta, their Hong Kong barbeque is a serious hole-in-the-wall gem in Richmond. 

Winning numerous rewards and frequented by celebrities like Seth Rogan, their BBQ pork, roast pork, BBQ duck, and soy sauce chicken are the best around.

Located underneath a grocery store and connected to the parking lot, you’ll often find lines overflowing to the main street here. 

Another place worthy of your taste buds is L’OTUS Cake Boutique and a treat you can take away for your trip home or to your next destination.

If you’re not familiar with the Japanese mille crepe cake, these are refined specialty cakes that typically have no less than 20 paper-thin handmade crepes layered with rich cream.

At L’OTUS, you’ll find the original flavor but there are also unique ones such as Earl Grey, mango, matcha, black sesame, and many more.

And with that, your Richmond BC adventures are finally over and it’s time to head on to your next destination!

Where To Stay In Richmond

There are plenty of places to stay in Richmond and it’ll come down to your budget and location for where you want to be. 

Ultimately, we personally think that the Marriott Vancouver Airport Hotel is a perfect hub to get to everywhere conveniently by car and by foot, but we’ve provided other options if that doesn’t suit your fancy.

Recommended Activities To Book

If you’re looking for something guided in Richmond BC, these activities may be of interest, so make sure to check them out!

• Zombie Scavenger Game – This is an independent interactive scavenger hunt that that involves a food, supplies, weapons, and shelter throughout Richmond, BC.
• Steveston Magical Mystery & Sea Adventure Explorer Tour – That is an incredibly long name for a tour but this is a private guided tour of Steveston that includes entrance tickets to the Gulf of Georgia Cannery.
• Vancouver: 24 or 48-Hour Hop-On Hop-Off Tour – See the best of Vancouver your way with this fun hop-on hop-off bus tour. We loved how easy it was to explore spots like Stanley Park, Gastown, and Granville Island—all at our own pace!
• Vancouver: Scenic Panorama Seaplane Tour – See Vancouver and Richmond from above on this scenic seaplane tour. It’s an unforgettable way to take in the city’s skyline, mountains, and coastline!

Quick Richmond Travel Guide

Money – While credit card is accepted in most places, it is still wise to carry a good amount of Canadian cash on-hand.  The Richmond Night Market is a prime example but you’ll also find that there are some Chinese eateries (i.e. HK BBQ Master) that are cash-only as well.

When is the best time? – The best time of the year to go to Richmond not only coincides with good weather but also when the Richmond Night Market is on so April to October is your best bet.  As you plan your trip, another place to check is the Visit Richmond BC events page, to see what is going on locally.

Getting here – The Vancouver International Airport (YVR) is located in Richmond, BC and as the primary hub in Western Canada, flying in to experience Richmond is incredibly easy.  Alternatively, Seattle’s Sea-Tac Airport (SEA) is also only 3 hour drive away.  If you’re in downtown Vancouver, Richmond is only 35 minutes away.  From say Calgary, Richmond is 10.5 hours drive away.

How do I get around the city? – There is public transportation in Richmond but if you plan to get to all the spots in this itinerary, life would definitely be easier with a car.  As we mention above, booking with Avis is what we’d recommend from YVR.  If you’d prefer not to drive, there is a special Richmond Discovery Shuttle that will take you to Steveston.

Where should I stay? – The most comprehensive platform for bookings based on personal experience was Booking.com.  They had everything from hotels, hostels, and guesthouses and we always managed to find an awesome place for a great price.  As an alternative, there’s also Expedia and VRBO.

Do I need travel insurance? – As always, travel insurance is highly recommended. My philosophy is that you want to make sure you’re covered in case the unknown happens.  Make sure to read our guide on choosing the right travel insurance for you. Overall, HeyMondo has the best balance of price and coverage.

Richmond, BC Packing List

Richmond has everything from ocean breezes to rainy days, and sunny outings. So, packing smart will make your 4-day trip way more comfortable. Below are the essentials we recommend bringing, plus a few extras for whatever weather or plans might pop up on your itinerary.

• Light Rain Jacket – Richmond’s coastal weather can be unpredictable, so a packable rain jacket will keep you dry without weighing down your bag.
• Comfortable Walking Shoes – You’ll do plenty of exploring between the waterfront, night markets, and parks, so comfy shoes are a must.
• Layers for Every Season – Bring mix-and-match layers like t-shirts, hoodies, and a light sweater as temperatures can shift quickly throughout the day.
• Reusable Water Bottle – Stay hydrated as you wander; Richmond’s tap water is clean and safe to drink.
• Portable Umbrella – Always handy for those surprise showers (trust us, they happen more often than you think).
• Camera or Smartphone – You’ll want to capture the colorful food markets, scenic river views, and unique cultural spots around the city.
• Daypack or Crossbody Bag – Ideal for carrying your essentials while keeping your hands free to snap photos or snack on street eats.
• Travel Adapter & Power Bank – Keep your devices charged for maps, translation apps, and all those food photos.
• Hand Sanitizer – Perfect for freshening up after exploring markets or trying street food when a sink isn’t nearby.
• Sunscreen – Even on cloudy days, UV rays can be strong, especially if you’re out on the water for a whale watching tour or exploring the waterfront.

The Richmond BC Experience

Phew that was a lot of ground to cover, and we thought that even 4 days wasn’t enough to do everything that we wanted to do. 

The one limiting factor is how much stomach space you have because, as you will have seen in this 4-day itinerary of Richmond, there’s so much food to try.

What you’ll learn from this trip to Richmond BC is that yes, Asian cuisine is out of this world but there’s so much more to the city. 

The authentic experience you’ll discover in Steveston is truly a gem, the Richmond Olympic Oval is a fun place to explore for kids and adults alike, and the numerous coastal parks and trails.

Now go forth and fill your bellies and memories!

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This trip was in collaboration with Tourism Richmond but all opinions and thoughts are my own.

Got questions for your own trip to Richmond? Let me help by simply dropping a comment down below!

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