Vancouver’s Third Beach in Stanley Park is an impressive beach with one of the region’s longest stretches of sand and spectacular views of English Bay.
Third Beach at Stanley Park
Connected to the rest of the park by the seawall, Third Beach is one of Metro Vancouver’s best beaches. It’s located just a short distance from Second Beach which is also beautiful. Both places are popular and located within the same park.
What to do at Third Beach
There’s a lot to do at Stanley Park’s Third Beach. The beach is nice and sandy with water that is usually chilly but still good to swim in. You can also walk along the Seawall to Siwash Rock. If you’re looking for a meal, you can visit The Teahouse.
Hanging out at the Beach
In the summer, Third Beach is a perfect place for sun tanning, swimming in the ocean and playing in the sand. You can also just splash around and cool off in the water.
Siwash Rock and Taking a Seawall Break
Third Beach is also a great spot to stop for a break while walking or cycling around the Stanley Park seawall. The beach backs onto a forested section of Stanley Park along the Seawall. It’s just a short walk away from Siwash Rock.
TIP: If you don’t want to walk the entire 10 km around the Stanley Park seawall to get to Siwash Rock for the views or some photos, you can simply park at Third Beach and stroll northwards just a few minutes to the rock from there.
Dining at the Teahouse
The sunsets from Third Beach are world-class, the swimming is great (but cold) and just up the hill is one of Vancouver’s most famous restaurants – The Teahouse. The Teahouse is a great place for brunch on the weekends. The restaurant’s also great for lunch, dinner or a cup of tea and snacks at other times during the week.
Brahm’s Tams Drum Circle
If you’re ever near Third Beach on a sunny Tuesday evening in the summer, don’t be surprised to hear drumming and to see hundreds if not thousands of people at the beach.
On days with sunshine and expected sunsets from May until September, folks gather with their djembes drums for some jamming. Large crowds of people will gather to watch and enjoy the vibes as well.
Click Brahm’s Tams Drum Circle for more information.
Third Beach Video
To give you an idea of what to expect at Third Beach and the surrounding area, check out the video below. It was taken at the beginning of November in 2020. As you can see, the autumn leaves were at their peak.
If you look very carefully you might see a couple of people coming out of the frigid water after going for a swim! They are in the distance, but you might spot them. There are usually lots of people swimming and sun tanning here in the summer. It’s very unusual though this late in the fall. It was, however, a beautiful warm day.
Featured in the video are parts of the lower parking lot, the beach itself, the Stanley Park Seawall and the area in front of the Teahouse Restaurant.
Other Information
Third Beach is one of the Lower Mainland’s best places for summer swimming, laying on the beach, walking and cycling along the Stanley Park Seawall, and admiring the evening sunsets.
To learn more about the beach, see the City of Vancouver‘s website.
For more ideas on things to see and do in the area, click Stanley Park.
For information on other great beaches in the Lower Mainland, including English Bay, Second Beach, White Rock and others, see our article about Vancouver’s Top Beaches.
