Burnaby

Burnaby is the city in the middle of Metro Vancouver, and it is far more interesting than most visitors expect. Within a few kilometres you can paddle a lake, walk a mountaintop sculpture park with views toward Deep Cove, step into a recreated 1920s village, browse a public art gallery in a heritage house, shop at the largest mall in British Columbia and finish the night at an arcade. The city also has real history, from Coast Salish homelands to the electric interurban tram that put Burnaby on the map in the 1890s.

This guide brings together every Burnaby page on ExploreVancouver.org, with the history of the city, the best things to do, family ideas, seasonal events, sample itineraries and practical tips for getting around. Hours, fees and event dates change, so always confirm details on the official sites linked from each guide.

History of Burnaby

Burnaby looks like a modern city of towers and shopping centres, but its story stretches back thousands of years. Understanding that history makes a visit richer, because so many of the places in this guide are tied to it.

The First Peoples of Burnaby

Long before it had a name on any map, this land was home to Coast Salish peoples, including the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. Landmarks such as Burnaby Mountain, Deer Lake and the Brunette River hold an important place in Indigenous history passed down through oral traditions. The forests, lakes and waterways that people enjoy in parks today were once part of a living network of travel routes, fishing places and villages.

How Burnaby Got Its Name

The name comes from Burnaby Lake. In 1859, Royal Engineers commander Richard Moody heard from local people about a freshwater lake north of the new colonial capital at New Westminster and set out with a survey party. Robert Burnaby, a businessman and explorer who later became a legislator, joined the expedition, and Moody named the lake after him. When the area was organized as a municipality, pioneer residents chose the same name for the whole community.

The Interurban Tram and Incorporation

Burnaby grew up along a rail line. In the early 1890s an electric interurban tram was built between Vancouver and New Westminster, passing through what is now Central Park. Land along the route suddenly became valuable, settlers and businesses followed, and Burnaby was incorporated as a district municipality on September 22, 1892. Central Park, which dates to the same early period, is one of the oldest parks in the city and still follows the story of those first years.

You can still see that tram era at the Burnaby Village Museum, where a restored Interurban car is part of the 1920s streetscape.

Growth, Neighbourhoods and Higher Education

The early municipality was heavily forested and made up of small settlements, many of them clustered around the tram stops. Neighbourhoods such as Burnaby Heights (originally Vancouver Heights), Capitol Hill and the Burnaby Lake area took shape in this period. In the 1960s Simon Fraser University opened on top of Burnaby Mountain, bringing a major university and some of Canada’s best-known modern architecture to the city.

Through the 1970s and 1980s, many new residents arrived from around the world. Metrotown began to rise beside the old interurban tracks, and that same corridor became the route of the Expo Line SkyTrain. Burnaby officially became a city on September 22, 1992, exactly 100 years after it was incorporated as a municipality.

See Burnaby’s History in Person

• Burnaby Village Museum, a 1920s heritage village with more than 30 buildings, costumed interpreters and an Interurban tram
• Central Park, one of Burnaby’s oldest parks and the original interurban route
• Burnaby Art Gallery, set in the heritage Ceperley house beside Deer Lake
• The Nikkei National Museum and Cultural Centre, which preserves Japanese Canadian history and culture
• The Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology at Simon Fraser University, home to an important collection of First Nations belongings
• Burnaby Mountain Park and its Playground of the Gods sculptures

Burnaby at a Glance

• Incorporated as a municipality on September 22, 1892, and as a city on September 22, 1992
• Named after Burnaby Lake, which was named after explorer and businessman Robert Burnaby
• Highest point: Burnaby Mountain, at roughly 370 metres above sea level
• Major green spaces: Deer Lake, Burnaby Lake, Central Park, Robert Burnaby Park, Kensington Park, Burnaby Mountain and Barnet Marine Park
• Home to Simon Fraser University and Metropolis at Metrotown, the largest shopping centre in British Columbia
• Served by the Expo Line and Millennium Line SkyTrain, with stations at Metrotown, Brentwood Town Centre and Lougheed Town Centre

Burnaby Neighbourhoods Explained

Burnaby is a collection of distinct town centres and districts, so where you stay or start your day changes the feel of the trip.

• Metrotown: the busiest urban centre, with Metropolis at Metrotown, restaurants, hotels and easy access to Central Park
• Brentwood: a modern town centre built around The Amazing Brentwood, with dining, a plaza and The Rec Room
• Deer Lake: the cultural heart, with the art gallery, performing arts centre, heritage village and lakeside paths
• Burnaby Mountain and SFU: forest trails, viewpoints, Kushiro Park and the Playground of the Gods
• Burnaby Heights: a walkable neighbourhood in North Burnaby known for independent cafes, restaurants and small shops
• Burnaby Lake and Big Bend: wetlands, flat walking trails and the Fraser River foreshore
• Lougheed and Edmonds: transit hubs with shopping, local food and quick connections to Coquitlam and New Westminster

Best Parks and Nature in Burnaby

Burnaby has an unusually large amount of green space for a city this central. Temperate rainforest, lakes, ponds, formal gardens and mountain viewpoints are all within a short bus ride or drive of each other, which makes it easy to pack more than one park into a day.

Deer Lake Park

Deer Lake Park is the best all-round park in Burnaby, and the place most first-time visitors should start. The easy loop around the lake is flat and suitable for most ages, there are picnic spots and play areas along the shore, and you can watch kayaks and paddlers drift across the water. Anglers fish from the dock, and photographers come for the sunsets over the lake.

What makes Deer Lake special is how much culture surrounds it. The Burnaby Art Gallery, the Shadbolt Centre for the Arts, the Nikkei National Museum and Burnaby Village Museum are all within walking distance, and Hart House Restaurant sits in a historic home overlooking the water. Our guide covers parking, paddling, fishing, trails and what else to see nearby.

Read the full Deer Lake Park guide

Burnaby Mountain Park

Burnaby Mountain Park is the high point of the city in every sense. Forest trails lead to open lookouts with views across Burrard Inlet and toward Deep Cove, and the park is full of public art, with the Burnaby Mountain Conservation Area on the same mountain. The best known is the Playground of the Gods, or Kamui Mintara, a collection of carved wooden poles by Japanese sculptor Nobuo Toko and his son, inspired by Ainu stories of gods who came to earth.

Allow time to wander between the sculptures, the viewpoints and the Centennial Rose Garden, and look for the colourful murals on the water tower. Simon Fraser University is at the top of the mountain, which makes it easy to add a campus walk or a visit to the Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology.

Read the full Burnaby Mountain Park guide

Kushiro Park

Kushiro Park is a small Japanese-inspired garden on Burnaby Mountain, named in honour of Burnaby’s sister city of Kushiro, Japan. Sculptures, flower beds and quiet paths make it one of the prettiest short stops in the city, and it is especially colourful in spring when the tulips bloom. It pairs perfectly with the nearby Playground of the Gods.

Read the full Kushiro Park guide

Central Park

Central Park is a 90 hectare green space beside Metrotown, and it shows how much nature Burnaby has kept inside its busiest district. Tall second-growth forest, a pair of ponds, wide walking trails and open fields are all here, along with a pitch and putt course, tennis courts, a playground, an outdoor pool, Swangard Stadium and plenty of squirrels. It is also the old route of the interurban tram, so you are walking through the story of how Burnaby began.

Read the full Central Park guide

Burnaby Lake Regional Park

Burnaby Lake Regional Park is a regional park of roughly 300 hectares and the largest lake in the city. It is a top spot for birdwatching, flat walking and running trails, rowing and paddling, and it has a large wooden playground that kids love. Turtles, herons, ducks and songbirds make it a rewarding place for a slow morning walk. A full ExploreVancouver.org guide is on the way. In the meantime, see our list of the best places for bird watching in Metro Vancouver.

More Burnaby Parks and Waterfront

• Barnet Marine Park: a beach and waterfront park on Burrard Inlet with picnic areas and views of the working harbour
• Robert Burnaby Park: a quieter park with gardens and green space near Deer Lake
• Confederation Park: a large park with fields, a playground and family events
• Burnaby Fraser Foreshore Park: a riverside park with trails and views of the Fraser River
• Kensington Park and Squint Lake Park: neighbourhood parks with trails and pond views

Museums, Art and Culture in Burnaby

Burnaby’s cultural attractions are concentrated around Deer Lake, so you can easily build a full day around art, history and live performance.

Burnaby Village Museum

Burnaby Village Museum is one of the best family attractions in Metro Vancouver. The 10 acre open-air museum recreates a community from around 1925, with more than 30 heritage buildings, costumed interpreters, a blacksmith shop, a salon, a cake store, a restored Interurban tram and the classic Parker Carousel. It is a hands-on way to understand how Burnaby grew from a tram-stop community into a city.

The village also puts on seasonal events, including the Haunted Village in October and the Heritage Christmas lights in winter.

Read the full Burnaby Village Museum guide

Burnaby Art Gallery

The Burnaby Art Gallery is set in a heritage house beside Deer Lake Park, and its rotating exhibitions feature contemporary and historical work by local, national and international artists. The gardens and lakeside setting make it a calm and rewarding stop, especially paired with a walk around Deer Lake.

Read the full Burnaby Art Gallery guide

Shadbolt Centre for the Arts

The Shadbolt Centre for the Arts is Burnaby’s main performing arts venue, opened in 1995 and named after local artists Doris and Jack Shadbolt. Its wood and stone design sits on the edge of Deer Lake Park, and its calendar covers theatre, music, dance, family shows and classes. Pair it with dinner at Hart House for an easy evening out.

Nikkei National Museum and Cultural Centre

The Nikkei National Museum and Cultural Centre honours, preserves and shares Japanese culture and Japanese Canadian history. Exhibitions explore art, community and the stories that have shaped Burnaby and the wider region, and it is one of the most thoughtful museum visits in the city.

SFU Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology

On top of Burnaby Mountain, the Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology at Simon Fraser University holds a significant collection of First Nations belongings and cultural material. It is an excellent add-on to a Burnaby Mountain visit, and a good place to learn about the Indigenous peoples of the region. For more options across the region, see our list of the best museums in Vancouver.

Shopping, Food and Indoor Fun in Burnaby

Burnaby has long been Metro Vancouver’s shopping hub, and both main shopping districts are right on the SkyTrain line, which makes them easy rainy day choices.

The Amazing Brentwood

The Amazing Brentwood is a large retail, dining and entertainment complex built around an open plaza with a fountain that becomes a gathering place for events and seasonal activities. You can shop, eat your way through a long list of restaurants and cafes, or just walk the plaza. It is directly connected to Brentwood Town Centre Station, so it works well for visitors without a car.

Read the full Amazing Brentwood guide

The Rec Room Brentwood

The Rec Room is one of the best indoor entertainment venues in Metro Vancouver, with racing simulators, retro and modern arcade games, group games and a full food menu all under one roof. Teens, couples, families and groups of friends all find something to do, and it is a dependable plan when the weather is bad.

Read the full Rec Room Brentwood guide

Metropolis at Metrotown

Metropolis at Metrotown is the largest shopping centre in British Columbia and one of the busiest places in Burnaby. It has a huge range of stores, a food court, restaurants and entertainment, and it sits right next to Central Park, so you can balance a shopping trip with a forest walk.

Burnaby Heights and Independent Food

For a more local feel, head to Burnaby Heights in North Burnaby, where independent cafes, bakeries and restaurants line the main street. Metrotown, Edmonds and Kingsway are also known for a wide range of Asian restaurants, bakeries and bubble tea shops.

Best Things to Do in Burnaby With Kids

Burnaby is one of the most family-friendly cities in the region. These are the easiest wins for a day with children:

• Burnaby Village Museum for the carousel, costumed interpreters and heritage buildings
• Central Park for the playground, ponds, trails and squirrels
• Central Park Pitch and Putt for a beginner-friendly round of golf
• The Rec Room Brentwood for arcade games on a rainy day
• Deer Lake Park for picnics, playgrounds and watching boats
• Burnaby Lake Regional Park for the big wooden playground and wildlife spotting
• The Burnaby Central Railway for a miniature train ride, with seasons and days confirmed on the official site
• Burnaby Mountain Park for sculpture spotting and short trails

Golf and Active Outings in Burnaby

Central Park Pitch and Putt

Central Park Pitch and Putt is a short, relaxed course among tall trees, ideal for families, first-time golfers and anyone who wants a quick round without a full-length course. It is easy to combine with a walk through Central Park.

Read the full Pitch and Putt guide

Burnaby also has two public golf courses, Riverway and Burnaby Mountain, and strong options for paddling and fishing. Deer Lake is one of the easiest places in the city to try a kayak, and our guide to the best places to kayak in Vancouver covers more routes. Anglers can check the best fishing spots in Metro Vancouver and walkers will like our list of easy walks in Metro Vancouver.

Seasonal Things to Do in Burnaby

Spring

Spring is the season for flowers. Head to Kushiro Park on Burnaby Mountain for tulips and flower beds, then walk the nearby viewpoints. Central Park and Deer Lake are fresh and green, and quieter than in summer.

Summer

Summer is for the water and long evenings. Paddle at Deer Lake, picnic under the trees at Central Park, play a round of pitch and putt, or watch the sun go down over the lake. Burnaby Mountain stays cooler thanks to the elevation and forest cover.

Fall and Halloween

Fall brings colour to Central Park, Burnaby Lake and Deer Lake, and one of the region’s most atmospheric Halloween events. The Haunted Village at Burnaby Village Museum transforms the heritage buildings into a spooky evening outing on select nights in October. Check the event page for current dates and the official ticket link.

Read the Haunted Village guide

For more ideas, see our guides to the best Halloween events in Vancouver and the best places to take fall pictures in Vancouver.

Winter and Christmas

In winter, Burnaby Village Museum is wrapped in Christmas lights, with lit trees, a light tunnel and bridges decorated for the season. It is one of the best holiday outings in the region. See how it compares in our list of the best Christmas lights in Vancouver.

Sample Burnaby Itineraries

One Perfect Day in Burnaby

• Morning: walk the Deer Lake loop and visit the Burnaby Art Gallery
• Midday: explore Burnaby Village Museum and ride the carousel
• Afternoon: drive or bus up to Burnaby Mountain for the Playground of the Gods, Kushiro Park and the views
• Evening: dinner at Hart House by the lake, or a show at the Shadbolt Centre

Rainy Day in Burnaby

• Morning: Burnaby Art Gallery and the Nikkei National Museum
• Midday: lunch and shopping at The Amazing Brentwood
• Afternoon: games and arcade at The Rec Room
• Evening: Metropolis at Metrotown for dinner and a movie

Free Day in Burnaby

• Walk the trails of Central Park and visit the ponds
• Stroll Kushiro Park and the Playground of the Gods on Burnaby Mountain
• Wander the plaza at The Amazing Brentwood
• Take an easy lap around Deer Lake and watch the kayaks

More Burnaby and Metro Vancouver Guides

Burnaby spots also appear in several of our regional guides, which are useful if you want to compare Burnaby with the rest of Metro Vancouver:

• Best Museums in Vancouver
• Best Gardens in Metro Vancouver
• Best Lakes Near Vancouver
• Best Halloween Events in Vancouver
• Best Places to Take Fall Pictures in Vancouver
• Easy Walks in Metro Vancouver
• Best Dog Parks in Vancouver

Getting to and Around Burnaby

Burnaby is easy to reach from Vancouver, Richmond, Coquitlam and New Westminster. The Expo Line serves Metrotown and Edmonds, and the Millennium Line serves Brentwood Town Centre and Lougheed Town Centre, so both shopping districts are reachable without a car. Buses connect to Deer Lake, Central Park and Burnaby Mountain, and driving is easiest for the more spread-out parks.

Parking at popular places such as Deer Lake Park and Burnaby Mountain can fill on sunny weekends, so arrive early or take transit. Check TransLink and the City of Burnaby for current routes, parking rules and closures.

Best Time to Visit Burnaby

Late spring through early fall is the best time for parks, paddling and viewpoints. Fall adds colour and Halloween events, December brings the Christmas lights, and the indoor attractions work well in any rainy month. Burnaby Mountain is usually a few degrees cooler than the lowlands, so bring a layer. For more planning help, read our guide to the best time to visit Vancouver.