Vancouver Holidays

Vibrant Vancouver offers all sorts of exciting things to do. At the top of the list, Stanley Park is a must-visit. Bigger than New York’s Central Park, this sprawling green space boasts botanical gardens, dozens of trails, and some colourful First Nations totem poles. To cover as much ground as possible, why not hire bikes and cycle through the park and along the seawall?

Downtown, meanwhile, you can see the famous Gastown Steam Clock, which ‘toots’ on the hour and shoots out steam every 15 minutes. Cheer on the Vancouver Canucks at a hockey match at the Rogers Arena in the winter. Chill out on one of Vancouver’s blonde beaches in the summer. Or, if you want to see some local wildlife, go on a whale-watching trip in search of wild orcas between March and October.

For sweeping vistas over the city, head to Vancouver Lookout. Or get your heart pumping on a hike to the top of Grouse Mountain – known as the “Peak of Vancouver” – for sweeping panoramas. If you’d prefer to look out over ancient rainforest, head north of the city to Capilano Suspension Bridge.

Culture-seekers will be in their element on a Vancouver holiday, as this city has many brilliant museums, markets and galleries. The Museum of Anthropology (MOA) is a must (currently closed until January 2024). Built on the traditional territory of the Musqueam people, this museum has thousands of First Nations artefacts, including masks, textiles and totem poles. If you’d like a souvenir of your trip, browse the Pacific Arts Market for handcrafted ceramics, jewellery and paintings.

The Vancouver Museum guides you through the city’s history, while Vancouver Art Gallery showcases a variety of modern art. Alternatively, if nature’s more your thing, visit Beaty Biodiversity Museum to learn about Canada’s flora and fauna. This natural history museum has exhibitions on whales, dinosaurs, indigenous communities, and more.

Vancouver holidays are a delight for foodies. You can browse market stalls piled high with local produce, hop between lively bars, and dine in world-class restaurants. And the city’s calendar is packed with festivals celebrating food, wine and beer.

Granville Island is a must. Lying southwest of Downtown, this peninsula is crammed with places to eat. In the market itself, you can pick up fresh breads, cheeses and meats, then have a picnic by the water. Alternatively, tuck into fresh fish at one of the seafood restaurants. Then wash it all down with a local beer at one of Granville Island’s craft breweries.

Downtown Vancouver, meanwhile, is a hubbub of fantastic restaurants and bars. The city’s oldest neighbourhood, Gastown, is home to wine bars and beer halls. Yaletown is all about swanky cocktail bars. And then there’s Granville Street. Effectively ‘the strip’ of Vancouver, this neon-lit area is where you’ll find energetic clubs, pubs and live music venues.

Whilst the food scene in Vancouver has always been very high quality there is now also a host of MICHELIN accredited venues including 8 one starred MICHELIN restaurant, 12 Bib Gourmands and 40 other MICHELIN recommended restaurants. 

Summer is a great time to visit Vancouver, as you can look forward to dry, warm days. Temperatures hover in the low-to-mid-twenties – ideal weather for sightseeing and outdoor activities. A lot of festivals also take place in summer, such as the International Festival of Jazz and Vancouver Craft Beer Week.

July and August tend to be Vancouver’s busiest months, so consider travelling in June or September if you’d prefer to avoid the crowds. Or if you want to experience the cherry blossom then spring is a great time to be in this vibrant city, and it's often quieter so you'll feel like you have the city to yourself. 

Generally speaking, Vancouver’s winters are a little cold and wet, but thanks to the cities position on the coast it means it's warmer than other areas in Canada during the winter. November and December, in particular, can see a lot of rain. You could plan your Vancouver trip for January to coincide with the Dine Out Vancouver Festival. Ideal for foodies, this 17-day event celebrates the city’s dining scene with tastings, classes and special menus. Late-February also sees one of the world’s biggest wine events, Vancouver International Wine Festival.