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Spanish Banks
Category: Active Life Beaches Beaches [Edit]
4707 Marine Dr NWVancouver, BC V6T 1A1
Neighbourhood: Point Grey
(604) 224-7941
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
26 reviews for Spanish Banks
26 reviews in English
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Review from Emilie C.
2/22/2012
Breathtaking mountain/ocean views, sunsets, summer days, and strolls, Spanish Banks truly is as good as it gets.
Best seats in the house to watch a meteor shower on a clear night. 'Nuff said! -
Review from Edward L.
5/24/2012 1 Check-in Here
This beach is pretty freaking awesome, if you can find parking. There are a lot of spots, but there is even more people. I would suggest coming early in the morning, or late in the afternoon.
The beach itself is quite decent. The sand is great, the seaweed doesn't stink too much, and there are plenty of amenities. There's even a section where you can set up your own volleyball game if you bring a net. And of course, the view is absolutely phenomenal.
So why 4 stars? The washrooms are freaking DISGUSTING. Oh geez. It's almost better to go in the bushes, or in the ocean. Did I say that out loud? -
Review from Brian S.
Wonderful Beach! English Bay passes in front Spanish Banks beach. At low tides you can take a bare foot walk to a sand bar that is more than a 1k from the high tide mark. Low Tide walks are transformative experiences can make you feel like you have taken a ferry ride to your own island which is a home to seals, sea birds and kayakers and dog walkers. As the tide come in this island disappears and as you walk to higher ground which is in fact a fine city park/beach. No all it not perfect at Spanish Banks on nice days parking can be tough and bus service very limited. Even Bike racks are sparse and you see people taking there bike on the beach which is really unnecessary. As we all know life is not perfect t and his beach is as good of a refuge from city life's as it gets.
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Review from Luisa D.
10/29/2011
I love taking my dog to the off leash beach at Spanish Banks. It's such a relaxing beach despite all the pooches running around. My favourite time is when the tide's out and it seems like you could walk out to the freighters. There's something surreal about walking that far out into the ocean and wading through warm, ankle-deep pools.
The only draw back is that the rest rooms are far away. My girlfriend and I have been known to walk across the road for some bush-peeing. Once my dog decided to follow us and stood on the park side staring at us which made all the cars slow down as we were somewhat discreetly squatting. Yeah thanks dog! You're a big help. Having a bike with you makes it easy to get back to the loo and concession stand.
In the height of summer you need to get here before noon to be sure of a parking spot. Don't park on the grass along the road. You will get towed. Pack your lunch and blankets and make a day of it. Your dog will thank you.Listed in: Yelp's 30 Day Challenge
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Review from Sarah A.
9/8/2011 1 Check-in Here
This beach is the best beach in Vancouver in my humble opinion. Here you have an unlimited view of ocean, mountains, and sky with sail boats floating by against the North Shore backdrop. As Mark H mentioned - this is paradise, and one of the views that Vancouver is known for.
The beach is HUGE and almost never crowded. One side of Spanish Banks is designated for off-leash dogs, and the other side is dog free. There are two food cafes (selling fish and chips, hamburgers, hot dogs, candy, ice cream, and more) and public bathroom/shower spots as well.
It's ideal for sunbathing, swimming, paddle boarding, volleyball, bocce, barbecues, picnics, or just sitting and enjoying the view. The beach is sandy and soft - not a ton of rocks to stub your toes on.
Hit up Spanish Banks at low tide (check your daily news paper for tide updates) and you can walk forever out into the ocean.
There is a community shuttle bus that will take you out to Spanish Banks, and it is also easily accessible by bicycle, on foot, or by car (there is ample parking here).Listed in: Best Beaches
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Review from Kimberly P.
Vancouver, BC
1/23/2012
My favourite beach in Vancouver. There is always a nice breeze, so that even on the hottest of days you can lie in the sun without feeling like you're frying. Low tide is amazing as you can walk and walk before reaching the shoreline. Fries at the concession are delicious and even the coffee is okay. The best part of Spanish Banks is that it is free of the annoying muscle heads and bimbos that populate Kits beach!
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Review from Mary S.
Riley Park, Vancouver, BC
The fish at the Spanish Banks concession is a fried formerly frozen triangle and has an overwhelming fishy taste. So sad. Couldn't force myself to finish one piece. The onion rings are a bad choice too, but the fries are real and worthy of the beach.
The beach itself is one of the most beautiful places in Vancouver, especially at low tide when you can walk forever on the sand flats, then turn around and feel you are right in the middle of the bay. -
Review from Amy T.
Went to the off leash dog section of Spanish Banks over the weekend. It was one of the most relaxing days I've had with my husband and dog in a long time.
I absolutely love this dog beach because it just gives dogs and dog owners a chance to not worry. The dogs can dig in the sand and swim in the ocean to their heart's content. Owners don't have to feel like their dog will offend anyone if the dog approaches other people.
There was plenty of parking spots and space for you to stretch out on the beach. The only thing to keep in mind for you humans is that the washroom is quite a far walk. We can't do what the dogs do. Don't even think about it!Listed in: Pet Friendly Vancouver, Parks, Beaches and More
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Review from reyz a.
9/5/2011
A hot gorgeous labour day weekend in Vancouver is not complete for me unless I visit UBC's Cecil Greene Park and Spanish Banks. Difficult to park here today because of the holiday. A great place for Volleyball, strolling, watching the boats go by, looking at the mountains and staring at the profile of Vancouver. This has not changed since I was a little boy here.
Spanish Banks needs a review in Espanol:
Un fin de semana magnífico en Vancouver no es completo para mí a menos que visite a parque de Cecil Greene en Universidad de B.C. y playa de Spanish Banks. Difícil parquear aquí hoy debido a el día de fiesta. Un gran lugar para el voleibol, dando un paseo, mirando los barcos pasa, mirando las montañas y mirando fijamente el perfil de Vancouver. Esto no ha cambiado desde que era un niño pequeño aquí.
..or in my bad French:
Un week-end il fait chaud à Vancouver n'est pas complet pour moi à moins que je visite parc de Cecil Greene et Spanish Banks. Difficile à se garer ici aujourd'hui en raison des vacances. Un grand endroit pour le volleyball, flânant, observant les bateaux vont près, regardant les montagnes et regardant fixement le profil de Vancouver. Ceci n'a pas changé depuis que j'étais un petit garçon ici. -
Review from Trish W.
Vancouver, BC
1/29/2012
Ahhh Spanish Banks, how I love you.
Beach cafes, volleyball courts, a low-key atmosphere, beautiful views, a grassy area for picnics and barbecues - what more could you ask for? This is, by far, my favorite beach in Vancouver. Also a wonderful place to watch the sun go down in the mid-summer.
For those dog lovers among us, there is also a section off to the side where dogs can go off leash. Additionally, there is a lovely walking/running/bicycle path running from the western end of the beach, all the way to Jericho Beach in the east. -
Review from Carmen C.
6/28/2011
Best dog beach in Vancouver. Owners are pretty good about picking up messes. Dogs there are usually very friendly. Lot's of room to lay in the sun/ shade or take a jog with your pup. Low tide there is awesome! You can pretty much run out into what seems like the middle of the ocean.
A clean and amazing place! -
Review from Larry L.
5/23/2011
Everyone loves this beach.
Kids playing in the sand and digging for clams when it's low tide.
Lovers going for a stroll, holding hands.
Families and people out for BBQ's and sunworshipers.
Even car clubs will come here and show off their fancy 4 wheeled wares for others to see.
And Joggers who jog for the view as well as the exercise.
Great place. great beach. Lets hope for a great summer! -
Review from Mark H.
7/17/2011 4 Check-ins Here
BBW. Big Beautiful Water paradise. What's there not to love?
Ample free parking (except perfect summer days), bbq pits, fishing pier, running/walking paths, and one of the best views of Vancouver's skyline, this is the beach to be.
Impress your lover (or lover to be), induce meat comas to your friends & family with your bbq mastery or sweat buckets spiking your volleyball. Whatever your beach mission is, Spanish Banks is won't let you down. -
Review from Mimi C.
8/19/2010
AHHHH...so incredibly beautiful!!!!
This body of water is located slightly off the beaten path... fairly secluded...
and upon stepping into it.. you're greeted with large pieces of logs just sitting around... very random... the waters and the city in the distance.
The only thing I would've preferred was if it were less windy (nothing that I could really do...) and those huge shipping boats weren't sitting off in the distance obstructing views of the island. -
Review from Crystal H.
Vancouver, BC
Sure, I love a hot summer day at the beach--screaming kids, thumping tunes, frisbees, footballs, barbecues, stacks upon stacks of people (who doesn't?)...
But the best time to go is a day like today--overcast, a bit of wind, and a full moon (on the lowest low tide of the day). Walk out along the flats for ages to where it feels like you could touch a barge. The view of downtown and the Lions Gate Bridge is second only to that of being on a boat...
Seagulls playing, a few crabs scurrying, a heron, a lot of peace and quiet...and all of the cares in the world...all of a sudden just fade away. -
Review from Bev H.
Vancouver, BC
4/11/2011
This is the best beach in Vancouver, in my books~it offers so much!
Very long stretch of beach, slightly tucked away, and away from the crowds at Kits Beach- the view of the city makes you feel a long ways away, but you aren't....Grass, picnic tables, excellent washroom/change rooms, and good concession stands, with coffee, ice cream, and both hot and cold food available make it the best. There is tons of parking, all the way to pacific spirit park, free, in several grouped lots all the way down the beach strip. I come for walks here even during rainy winter weather, this place always picks my spirits up. -
Review from Sabrina S.
Montréal, QC
6/19/2009
When I first came to vancouver to visit, I went to visit Spanish Banks beach becasue I couldn't beleive there was a REAL beach in Canada. So my boyfriend picked me up from the airport, and drove me there ( after I saw hastings and main.. another story folks.)
It was such an unforgettable experience... the vibe is relax, there's so much room and it is much cleaner than Kits beach. You can also do some skimboarding, and if you want to spend a special day with a special someone, I suggest you go to Spanish Banks :)
So, after I saw Spanish Banks, I went back to Montreal, packed up my life in 2 weeks and moved to Vancouver. -
Review from Evilyn T.
7/27/2010
I love Spanish Banks and so does little Bruno! Its one of the few places in the city where he gets to go swimming! At the very end of the beach there is a small off-leash area for all the dogs to get their ya-yas out. The only problem is that Bruno NEVER gets tired. I believe this is because he is a crazy Boston Terrier.
The best time to go is when the tide is out, then Bruno can splash around, since he is not a very good swimmer, and I can walk through the sand barefoot. If you're on the dog beach be careful where you step, I have seen some unworthy dog owners ignore their dog dropping a duke, and the first part of the beach does have some clay pockets so your feet sink and get stuck.
If you go on a weekend, good luck finding parking after 11am, the place gets so packed people make their own parking spots which usually results in cars being towed and tickets being issued, and there is nothing like ending a great day of not-drinking-sangria-on-the-beach--cuz-its-illegal to find a ticket on your dash, or your car missing. Also, don't come down late at night for a bonfire in hopes that the police will not patrol the beach because they do, and they are not very nice about you having more fun than they are on a Friday night. Be prepared to make a human chain to the water while one person fills up their empty vodka bottle and the last person gets to pour it on the fire to put it out. Not so good times.
P.S. do not suggest to pee on the fire to put it out, as funny as it may seem when you are drunk, you have to remember these officers have no sense of humour.Listed in: Parklife
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Review from Cameron M.
Toronto, ON
11/28/2008
This, beyond a shadow of a doubt, is THE beach to go to in Vancouver. Unless, maybe you are really into the nudity of Wreck Beach. Otherwise, Spanish Banks is the best beach there is. It has the best sand, the best water and is far from the hustle and bustle that ruins a lot of fun at Kits Beach and English Bay.
The secret is that Spanish Banks is pretty damn inaccessible. By bus, you need to climb down quite a hill, by foot it's far along the water to get to and even by car it's a bit isolated. I will say though it's absolutely worth the trek because the little extra privacy and less people make all the difference. This portion of the beach is a bit more untouched and clean and really just looks and feels better than most of the other clogged areas. It doesn't even feature the yacht clubs and BBQs of Jericho to get in the way.
I played volleyball pretty regularly along here last summer and there are numerous leagues that call this portion of the beach home. Its clean sand and surf make it a lot more open for sports without worrying about jabbing your foot on a bottle. I've even gone for a little unfettered night swimming here and it's a lot less shady feeling. Heck, the back view of the crazy mansions along the beach is almost as good as the water itself.
Don't let all the rich folk keep Spanish Banks for themselves. It's Vancouver's greatest beach and the effort it takes to get there will be rewarded tenfold. -
Review from Gelsey B.
1/27/2011
Ahhhh so many great memories from the summer! I love this beach... sitting on the sand or in the grassy area with friends, grilling out and playing night frisbee. The dog section of Spanish Banks is great. Our dog is so happy playing with the other dogs, roaming around, and playing in the ocean. It is awesome! All the other dog owners are very chill and happy to be able to be there with their dogs. I like the vibe of this beach... relaxed & not nearly as busy as Kits Beach or Jericho.
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Review from Vanessa G.
6/27/2010
I am trying to find out if there is a beach in Vancouver that actually sucks..? I don't think i can find one.
Spanish banks is an awesome place because it's far enough away from the city and on some days you can be the only person out there. Other days you feel like you one of thousands enjoying the epicness of summer in Vancouver. Low tide provides a endless walk, and a perfect place for skim boarding or a place to let you furry friend run free.
There is tons of parking, and also public washrooms which do come in handy. Volleyball nets get set up all summer long
Spanish Banks provides the perfect ambience for almost any mood. -
Review from Chloë E.
Vancouver, BC
1/9/2009
Spanish Banks is divided into three sections: east, west, and extension. At low tide there is a sand bar that appears out in the bay and you can wander out the .5km or so and act like it's a desert island. It only appears, though, when Vancouver has its once-daily true low tide.
Extension remains my favorite section of the beach. It's the dog beach and also where you'll find summer drum circles. The grassy fields between extension and Spanish west are also great for barbecuing, should you be so lucky as to have a summer birthday.
A new bus route, C19, travels from Alma down northwest marine to the beaches. Good to know about it you're planning on being a frequent visitor this summer. The only problem is that it's a little tricky to bring a barbecue on the bus.
My take, though, is it is far too accessible and popular to be Vancouver's best beach. I prefer the secret feeling of Third Beach. -
Review from Robert Z.
1/7/2011 2 photos
Being from the central coast of California, I'm always drawn to the beaches and this was the first place we went in Vancouver. Unbelievably beautiful. I live in a place where everyone is outdoors, but it's also hell of a lot warmer. It was January sunny and near if not freezing when we were there, but it seemed like everybody was out either walking their dog, running or riding their bike. It was great! The views of downtown were nothing short of spectacular. I would recommend this place to anyone who wanted to get away from the city and just chill out.
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Review from Reena M.
I can imagine this place is gorgeous on a hot summer day! But it's also amazingly beautiful on a sunny (but somewhat chilly) autumn morning! And a lot quieter! It's an awesome place to go with a cup of coffee or hot chocolate and take a walk with your best friend. Or a nice drive detour if you're heading to UBC via W. 4th Ave.
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Review from David L.
1/23/2010
This park is minutes away from UBC, and the parking is free and there is a lot of green space to have a picnic, run, jog, and just have some fresh air of the Spanish banks. The roads aren't the best, so I would advise wear running shoes. There are two roads on the park, one of walkers and joggers and the other one is for cyclist. I would advise people not to go here during the winter time or when it rains as there are huge puddles on the trails. I ended getting my pants all dirty.
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Review from J G.
Vancouver, BC
8/27/2008 2 photos
There's nothing like spending a sunny afternoon on the beach that is Spanish Banks. The view is stunning, there's lots of space, and if you stay for sunset, you're in for a spectacular treat as the sun sinks behind the North Shore Mountains. Parking here on a hot day is next to impossible, so you might want to bring your bike instead, or get here good and early to avoid the parking bedlam. Of all the beaches in Vancouver, this is possibly the best!
