Vancouver Art Gallery

The Vancouver Art Gallery occupies a grand heritage building in the heart of downtown, and it's made a genuine effort to be one of the city's most welcoming family destinations. The headline: kids and teens 18 and under get in free, always. That alone makes it one of the best-value cultural outings in Vancouver.

The gallery's permanent collection includes an extensive holding of Emily Carr works — the BC-born artist whose swirling, moody paintings of forests, totem poles, and coastal landscapes define the visual identity of the Pacific Northwest. Kids who've walked through Stanley Park or visited a totem pole connect viscerally with Carr's work. Rotating exhibitions cycle through every few months and often include contemporary, immersive works that engage kids — large-scale installations, interactive digital art, and multimedia experiences.

Sundays are the prime family day. The Making Place is a drop-in art studio where kids and parents create together, inspired by the current exhibitions. Materials are provided, no reservation needed, and the vibe is relaxed and encouraging — it's about the process, not producing a masterpiece.

At 2pm, the Family Tour takes groups through the galleries with an educator who engages kids with questions, stories, and activities designed to help them see the art through their own eyes.

The gallery building itself is beautiful — a former courthouse with soaring ceilings, wide staircases, and natural light. It's fully accessible with elevators, stroller-friendly galleries, nursing rooms, and family washrooms. The 1931 Gallery Bistro serves lunch and snacks on the lower level.

Location-wise, the gallery is impossible to beat. It sits on the corner of Robson and Hornby in the downtown core, steps from shopping on Robson Street, Pacific Centre mall, and the Robson Square ice rink (seasonal). It's a 10-minute walk from Canada Place and Gastown.

The first Sunday of each month is pay-what-you-can for adult admission, making it essentially free for the whole family. On other days, adult admission is about $23, with seniors and students discounted. Indigenous visitors have free admission at all times.

For families visiting Vancouver, the Art Gallery is an easy, affordable rainy-day destination that's enriching without being stuffy — especially on Sundays when the programming is specifically designed to make art accessible and fun for kids.