Swaying in the wind

Strung across a picturesque tree-lined canyon and accompanied by interpretive walks, historic displays and a giant gift shop, entry to Capilano Suspension Bridge costs an eye-watering CDN$30.95 in summer. Hang onto your money — and avoid the shuffling tour bus crowds — by heading to nearby Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge. Less showy than its rival and without the colourful additions, it's set amidst verdant parkland and has an interpretive centre telling you all you need to know about temperate rainforests. Best of all: it's free.

Drop the gondola

Grouse Mountain is one of the city's best outdoor attractions but it costs CDN$39.95 for a return gondola trip to its idyllic summit. If you're feeling fit (or massively motivated to save money), take the calf-busting Grouse Grind hiking trail for free instead. The well-marked, summer-only trail takes two or three hours and is not for the uninitiated: it's very steep and you'll need to pack some water to keep you going. Once at the top, you can freely enjoy the lumberjack shows, grizzly bear enclosure, chainsaw sculptures and alpine trails, before taking the gondola back down for CDN$10.

Viewtastic Vancouver

It’ll set you back $15 to access the lofty downtown viewing deck otherwise known as the Vancouver Lookout. But although not quite so elevated, the vistas from the waterfront side of the new Vancouver Convention Centre expansion are much more popular with locals — and not just because their free. Stroll the walkway here and you’ll have panoramic views across the shimmering inlet, fringed by Stanley Park to one side and the looming North Shore mountains ahead. And if you tire of this smashing panorama, the building’s perimeter is studded with cool public artworks (look for Douglas Coupland’s pixilated orca) as well as the towering Olympic cauldron, a permanent reminder of the 2010 Games.

Not just the VAG

The Vancouver Art Gallery draws the crowds but if you prefer stroking your chin in relative solitude, there are several excellent alternatives. The new Bill Reid Gallery of Northwest Coastal Art is a smashing showcase of Haida carvings, jewellery and paintings. The free-entry Contemporary Gallery showcases challenging modern art from around the world. And the University of British Columbia’s Morris & Helen Belkin Gallery is the modern art centerpiece of a campus stuffed with public art installations.

On yer bike

In summer, the Stanley Park seawall is choked with tourists teetering along the route as if they've never been on bikes before. If you're the kind of cyclist who likes hitting the road without hitting someone else, there are lots of lesser-known bike routes where you can easily reach your favourite cruising altitude. Try the newly-complete waterfront trail around False Creek or dip into some of the many intriguing urban routes, designated by the City of Vancouver.

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Next: Near the beaten track