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Canada🇨🇦 | attractionsMuseum of Anthropology at UBCHaida poles, open storage drawers, Raven sculpture, Point Grey bluff | things to do and best time to go

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Backpacking in Museum of Anthropology at UBC
👀 For curious travelersattraction ranked #13
By Johan Kruseman 🇳🇱 | Updated October 22, 2026

The museum is not a collection of dusty artifacts behind glass; much of it is open storage you can walk through and pull drawers from. It sits at the tip of Point Grey in Vancouver, Canada, on the University of British Columbia campus, west of downtown. Cedar smell hits you in the Great Hall, where Haida poles tower against floor-to-ceiling glass. I bought a US$4 coffee at the campus cafe and sipped it among the poles while rain ticked on the windows. Budget US$15 to 20 for entry, and go on a discounted evening to save. Unlike the Royal BC Museum in Victoria, which covers all of provincial history, this one concentrates on Indigenous art.

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✨ Why go?
Ranked #13 attraction in CanadaWhat makes it a must-see attraction

The Museum of Anthropology at UBC holds one of the finest displays of Northwest Coast Indigenous art anywhere, and you see it up close rather than through a wall of labels. The Great Hall alone justifies the trip, with Haida, Gitxsan and Kwakwaka’wakw poles set against a glass wall that faces the water. The Multiversity Galleries add a second reason: about 10,000 objects sit in open drawers and cases, so you can browse like a researcher. Outside, Haida houses sit on a grassy bluff facing the mountains. For a backpacker working through Vancouver on a tight schedule, this is the place that explains whose land you are standing on, and it does so with real objects and living-culture context rather than summary panels.

💡 HighlightsTop highlights of Museum of Anthropology at UBC

  1. The Great Hall: Monumental poles, house frontals and canoes rise under tall glass walls, lit by daylight that shifts through the afternoon.
  2. Bill Reid’s The Raven and the First Men: A carved yellow cedar sculpture of Haida origin story figures, displayed in its own rotunda and the museum’s best-known single piece.
  3. Multiversity Galleries: Thousands of ceramics, textiles, masks and tools stored in glass cases and pull-out drawers, with a database to look up each object.
  4. Koerner Ceramics Gallery: A huge European ceramics collection packed floor to ceiling, an odd and striking contrast to the Northwest Coast halls.
  5. Outdoor Haida houses and poles: Replica houses and memorial poles stand on the bluff, with views to the North Shore mountains.
  6. Audain Gallery: Rotating exhibitions, often with contemporary
… read more 👉
  1. The Great Hall: Monumental poles, house frontals and canoes rise under tall glass walls, lit by daylight that shifts through the afternoon.
  2. Bill Reid’s The Raven and the First Men: A carved yellow cedar sculpture of Haida origin story figures, displayed in its own rotunda and the museum’s best-known single piece.
  3. Multiversity Galleries: Thousands of ceramics, textiles, masks and tools stored in glass cases and pull-out drawers, with a database to look up each object.
  4. Koerner Ceramics Gallery: A huge European ceramics collection packed floor to ceiling, an odd and striking contrast to the Northwest Coast halls.
  5. Outdoor Haida houses and poles: Replica houses and memorial poles stand on the bluff, with views to the North Shore mountains.
  6. Audain Gallery: Rotating exhibitions, often with contemporary Indigenous artists, that keep repeat visits fresh.
  7. Nitobe Memorial Garden: A short walk away, a traditional Japanese tea garden with a pond and teahouse, entry about US$5 to 8 in season.
The museum itself charges admission at the door, and tickets can be bought online ahead for busy summer days and special exhibitions.
Spotted a mistake or missing something? Contact us.

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Ratings based on Tripadvisor reviews. When you book through this link, you support our work at no extra cost to you.

🌤️ When to go?Choosing the right time of year

  • Summer (June to September): Dry, sunny days of 18 to 24°C (64 to 75°F) and daylight past 9 p.m. in midsummer. Tour buses and cruise crowds peak midday, and Vancouver beds cost the most.
  • Spring and Fall (April to May, October): Highs of 11 to 17°C (52 to 63°F) with showers. Lines are shorter, rates drop, and the Pacific Northwest cedar and totem poles look best under soft gray light.
  • Winter (November to March): Rain is frequent, highs sit at 5 to 9°C (41 to 48°F), and daylight fades before 5 p.m. Crowds are thinnest and hotel rates lowest.
Arrive at opening on a weekday, and go on Thursday evenings after 5 pm, when entry is half-price.

source: climatestotravel.comJANJanuary: fair for travelingFEBFebruary: fair for travelingMARMarch: good for travelingAPRApril: highly recommended for travelingMAYMay: excellent for travelingJUNJune: excellent for travelingJULJuly: good for travelingAUGAugust: good for travelingSEPSeptember: excellent for travelingOCTOctober: highly recommended for travelingNOVNovember: fair for travelingDECDecember: fair for traveling
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🛏️ Where to stay?Where staying makes the most sense

The best base for the Museum of Anthropology at UBC is Kitsilano or Downtown Vancouver, since the campus itself has few beds for backpackers. Kitsilano is a relaxed beach neighborhood with cafes, a youthful crowd and frequent buses running straight to campus in about 20 to 30 minutes. It feels safe at night and suits solo travelers who like walking to Kits Beach. Downtown, especially around Granville and Gastown, has the most hostels and the best social scene, plus easy transit connections to the 99 B-Line or 14 bus routes toward UBC (about 40 to 50 minutes). Expect busier streets and some rough … read more 👉
The best base for the Museum of Anthropology at UBC is Kitsilano or Downtown Vancouver, since the campus itself has few beds for backpackers. Kitsilano is a relaxed beach neighborhood with cafes, a youthful crowd and frequent buses running straight to campus in about 20 to 30 minutes. It feels safe at night and suits solo travelers who like walking to Kits Beach. Downtown, especially around Granville and Gastown, has the most hostels and the best social scene, plus easy transit connections to the 99 B-Line or 14 bus routes toward UBC (about 40 to 50 minutes). Expect busier streets and some rough edges near East Hastings, so stay west of Main Street. In summer, UBC residences sometimes rent budget rooms on campus, which puts you a short walk from the museum and Pacific Spirit Park.
Best hostels in Canada


Best quality hotels in Canada

👛 Costs (as of 22 October 2026)How expensive it really is

Museum of Anthropology at UBC costs about US$38 for a realistic day when you include a bed in Vancouver, though the museum visit itself is only around US$59 to 101.
CategoryBudget RangeLocal Reality
Adult admissionUS$14 to 18Students and seniors pay less. Thursday evenings after 5 pm are half-price. Payment is in Canadian dollars, cards accepted.
TransportUS$4 to 6Day fare on TransLink buses from downtown, usually the 99 B-Line or 14, then a short walk or connecting bus on campus.
FoodUS$6 to 12Campus cafeterias and food courts near the Student Union Building are cheaper than the museum café.
Accommodation (high season)US$35 to 55A hostel dorm bed in Vancouver in summer. Off-season, expect US$25 to 40.
ExtrasUS$0 to 10Walking around Museum of Anthropology at UBC’s outdoor Haida houses and totem
… read more 👉
Museum of Anthropology at UBC costs about US$38 for a realistic day when you include a bed in Vancouver, though the museum visit itself is only around US$59 to 101.
CategoryBudget RangeLocal Reality
Adult admissionUS$14 to 18Students and seniors pay less. Thursday evenings after 5 pm are half-price. Payment is in Canadian dollars, cards accepted.
TransportUS$4 to 6Day fare on TransLink buses from downtown, usually the 99 B-Line or 14, then a short walk or connecting bus on campus.
FoodUS$6 to 12Campus cafeterias and food courts near the Student Union Building are cheaper than the museum café.
Accommodation (high season)US$35 to 55A hostel dorm bed in Vancouver in summer. Off-season, expect US$25 to 40.
ExtrasUS$0 to 10Walking around Museum of Anthropology at UBC’s outdoor Haida houses and totem poles costs nothing extra. Guided tours and the gift shop are optional.
Total Daily BudgetUS$59 to 101Roughly US$80 in the middle for one day including a hostel bed.


source: moa.ubc.ca
⚠️ Prices can change and everyone travels differently, so take this as a rough guide. Hope it helps you plan your adventure!

FAQCommon questions from travelers

Plan on 2 to 3 hours at Museum of Anthropology at UBC, which is enough for the Great Hall, the Multiversity Galleries and the outdoor Haida houses. Serious art fans can stretch it to 4 hours, especially with a guided tour. Adding the nearby Nitobe Memorial Garden makes a pleasant half-day on campus.
Museum of Anthropology at UBC is worth the fee of about US$14 to 18 if you want to see Northwest Coast Indigenous carving up close, including Bill Reid’s huge cedar sculpture The Raven and the First Men. Thursday evenings after 5 pm are half-price, and the grounds with their totem poles and Haida houses can be seen outside the building. Students and seniors get reduced rates.
From downtown Vancouver, take the 99 B-Line or the 14 bus to the UBC campus, about 35 to 50 minutes, then walk or transfer for roughly 10 to 15 minutes. A single TransLink fare is around US$2.50 to 3.50 and a day pass about US$7 to 8. A taxi or rideshare from downtown costs roughly US$35 to 50, and driving is possible but campus parking is paid.
⚠️ Things can change over time, so always validate details locally before you go.

Other Canadian attractions near Museum of Anthropology at UBC

Explore more nearby:

  • Vancouver Aquarium—Sea otters, Steller sea lions, Pacific tank, Amazon sloths| 10 km away
  • Royal BC Museum—Old Town street, First Peoples gallery, Ice Age mammoth, Thunderbird Park| 95 km away
  • Banff Upper Hot Springs—Outdoor thermal pool, Mount Rundle view, 1930s bathhouse, evening soak| 586 km away

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We 💚 feedbackSumming up the experience

The Museum of Anthropology at UBC is best on a weekday afternoon, when low sun pours through the Great Hall glass and school groups have left. I would aim for the last two hours before closing, then walk the outdoor poles while the light is soft.

✈️ When did I visit Canada?
As part of my 1.5 year travel around the world trip, I visited Canada in 2016.

✍️ Help improve this page!
The information on this page is based on my own backpacking experience in Canada, supplemented with up-to-date research and feedback from other travelers. Travel details can change, so if you notice anything outdated or incomplete, feel free to let me know.



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