Amazing Things to do in Vancouver BC in Winter

You are probably thinking that the only things to do in Vancouver in Winter is shop, eat and drink. You couldn’t be more wrong! There are SO many fun things to do in Vancouver in Winter that involve getting outdoors both inside the city and outside the city.

Winter in Vancouver can be absolutely magical! It doesn’t snow consistently in the city during Winter, however you don’t have to go far to find the snow. In fact there are a couple of really magical snowy places in Vancouver that I can’t wait to tell you about! One of the nice things about Vancouver in Winter is that the temperatures don’t get nearly as low as in other parts of Canada.

Dave and I have spent the past few years in Vancouver trying new things and getting outside to explore in the Winter. In this guide, I will be sharing the best things to do in Vancouver in Winter which include some great Winter hikes and snow shoe adventures, some fun Christmas activities and also a few indoor activities.

Things to Know About Winter in Vancouver

How to get to Vancouver

Vancouver is located on the West Coast of Canada, right next door to Seattle in the USA. Vancouver has its’ own international airport so you can fly directly into the city or you can drive across the US border from Washington State.

Click here to open the map in Google Maps!

How Cold Does it Get in Vancouver in Winter?

Vancouver’s temperatures are some of the mildest in Canada so Winter is much more pleasant in Vancouver as opposed to some of the other Canadian cities.

On an average Winter day, the maximum temperature is usually around 4-8 degrees Celsius with a minimum of -2 to -4. This of course can change depending on weather extremes, so if you are visiting, it is good to be prepared and have a warm Winter coat with you.

Which month is the coldest in Vancouver?

The coldest month in Vancouver is January so if you love being cold, then definitely visit Vancouver in January!?

👉 Create your Vancouver Winter Itinerary: How to Spend 4 Unforgettable Days in Vancouver in Winter (Mountains, Forests, Breweries)

Does it Snow in Vancouver?

The short answer is yes, it does snow in Vancouver, however when it snows in the city, it is usually not enough for the snow to settle. Because of Vancouver’s more mild climate, it is more likely to rain in the city than snow during the Wintertime.

If you are in Vancouver and want to spend some time frolicking in the snow, you can head up to the local mountains, either to Cypress Mountain, Mt Seymour or Grouse Mountain.

Where to Stay in Vancouver in Winter?

There are plenty of hotel options in Downtown Vancouver or if you prefer to be a little closer to nature, we recommend staying in North Vancouver which is closer to the mountains.

Downtown Vancouver

The Sutton Place Hotel Vancouver – We stayed here for a couple of nights when we first arrived in Vancouver. The hotel is in a great location downtown and is really beautiful.

Grand Park Hotel & Suites Downtown Vancouver – A more budget option but still very central with great facilities. We actually lived in this hotel for around 3 weeks while we were looking for an apartment.

North Vancouver

Riverfront Bed and Breakfast – This is the cutest bed and breakfast with an amazing Full English/Irish breakfast every morning!

SureStay Hotel by Best Western North Vancouver Capilano – This is a great option if you are on a budget and is only around 2km from the Capilano Suspension Bridge

How Many Days Should You Spend in Vancouver

This is completely personal choice depending on what you are wanting to do in Vancouver. We think about 3-4 days during Winter in Vancouver would be a good amount of time to enjoy some Christmas vibes and have some fun in the snow.

24 Things to do in Vancouver in Winter

Here is a list of my favourite things to do in Vancouver in Winter. Vancouver is an adventurers paradise in Summer and Winter so this list includes both city and outdoorsy Winter activities.

Visiting in December?

👉 Read this next: Get a little festive and see some of Vancouver’s Best Christmas Lights!

Book a Seaplane Flight to see the Views

One of the things that we did when we first moved to Vancouver was a Scenic Flight!

Seeing Vancouver from a birds eye view is something you shouldn’t miss out on! This flight takes you up and over the city and surrounding parks and beaches. We did this when we first moved to Vancouver and it really made us realise just how beautiful Vancouver is!

👉 Book your flight ahead of time here to make sure you don’t miss out!

Hike or Snow Shoe to Bowen Lookout

Distance: 4km 
Time: 1.5hrs 
Elevation: 110 metres 
From Vancouver: 30mins 
Dog Friendly: Yes 
Toilets: Yes, at the Cypress Mountain Resort

Bowen Lookout is a great hike for those that don’t want to hike too far. The hike is 4km out and back located in Cypress Provincial Park in Vancouver. The view at the end is pretty awesome for such a short hike! This is one of the first Winter hikes that we did in Vancouver and it is a good one!

Go to a Canucks Ice Hockey Game

If you are in Vancouver for a few days during Winter, we highly recommend purchasing tickets to a Canucks game! You can watch the Canucks play in Rogers Arena.

Ice Hockey is one of the most entertaining sports we have ever watched! In Canada at an Ice Hockey game, everyone boo’s when the opposing team scores and when the home team (the Vancouver Canucks) scores there is a horn blasted and party music as well as lots of cheering. It is a lot of fun and definitely an experience that you should not miss!

Search for the Cypress Mountain Cabins

Up in Cypress Mountain, there are magical cabins that you can hike to find! Okay so not really completely magical. They are privately owned and there are around 100 of them located around the Hollyburn Nordic Ski area trails. It makes for a really fun day out to pop on some snow shoes or hiking boots and micro spikes and walk around the trails looking for the cute cabins!

If you do decide to do this, remember that they are owned by people so be respectful of the cabins and other people’s privacy.

Walk around the Spirea Trail and look for the Magical Light Rays

Distance: 0.8km 
Time: 15-20 mins 
Elevation: nil 
From Vancouver: 1hr 10mins 
Dog Friendly: Yes 
Toilets: Yes

The Spirea Nature Trail is a walk located in Golden Ears Provincial Park that takes you through the most magical mossy forest you probably have ever laid eyes on. During the colder months of the year there is a chance that you might be able to catch the magical light rays streaming through the trees in the forest.

Tips for catching the light rays include:

1. Visit the Spirea Trail in the colder months – Fall, Winter or early Spring. The temperatures need to be 0 C degrees or colder.
2. Visit first think in the morning shortly after the sun has come up. In the Winter, it will be later and in the Spring it will be earlier.
3. The humidity will need to be 90% or higher. Check the Weather Network website for Alouette Lake, Golden Ears Provincial Park as this will be the most accurate weather reading.

Go Snow Shoeing

Snow shoeing is an activity that is getting more and more popular every Winter. These are 3 of the best places that you can go snow shoeing in Vancouver.

Grouse Mountain

Grouse Mountain has the easiest snow shoeing trails so is a great place to start. You will need to get the gondola to the top of the mountain which you will need to purchase tickets for. The best snow shoe trail in Vancouver for beginners is Grouse Mountain’s Blue Grouse Loop.

Mount Seymour

Mount Seymour has both free snow shoeing trails such as the incredible Pump Peak, and paid trails and they also offer tours!

Lights to the Lodge at Hollyburn Lodge Cypress Mountain

This is a great activity for beginners and families. The trail is a safe and easy 2.5km loop or 2km return to the historic Hollyburn Lodge along a self-guided trail through the Old Growth Forest. The trail is lit up by fairy lights through the forest. My parents LOVED this one!

Go Skiing at one of the Local Mountains

There are 3 local Vancouver mountains that you can ski at. These mountains are Grouse Mountain, Cypress Mountain and Mount Seymour.

Mount Seymour is the best mountain for beginners and the one where I have been skiing for the past 3 years. Cypress is the best for the more advanced skiers and has the most runs. Dave and I have our ski passes there this year and I’m a little nervous but excited because I’m nowhere near what you would called advanced.

You can get season passes or choose at each mountain or choose to go casually which is more expensive per visit. You can get ski rental gear at each of the mountain ski resorts, however, you will need to have your own ski clothing as you cannot rent this.

Hike through the Snow to Dog Mountain

Distance: 5km 
Time: 2.5hrs 
Elevation: 150metres 
From Vancouver: 40mins 
Dog Friendly: Yes 
Toilets: Yes There are toilets located near the end of the parking lot by the North Shore Search and Rescue office.

Dog Mountain, on Mount Seymour is a pretty easy hike that is great for the whole family! The trail leads you to a beautiful view overlooking Vancouver. We also love doing this hike at sunset.

Before hiking Dog Mountain you will need to book a backcountry day use pass which you can do here.

Visit a Brewery

If you like craft beer, you are in the right city! Vancouver has LOADS of breweries. A couple of the best spots for brewery hopping are in North Vancouver and East Vancouver. Check out Parallel 49 Brewing which is a brewery with a large variety of beers and a built in food truck in side of the brewery! Another few great breweries nearby to make note of are Container Brewing, East Van Brewing Company and Bomber Brewing.

In North Vancouver you should check out North Point Brewing Co, House of Funk Brewing and Beere Brewing Company. I love Beere because it has a lovely patio where you can soak up the sun.

Wander around the VanDusen Gardens to see the Christmas lights

VanDusen Botanical Gardens, like Stanley Park sets up their own Festival of Lights at Christmas time from late December until the beginning of January. You will need to book your tickets online.

This is a great night out for the whole family. I felt like I was at Disneyworld with the fun music playing and the Christmas lights absolutely everywhere!

Go Up the Sea to Sky Gondola

The Sea to Sky Gondola is located near Squamish along the Sea to Sky Highway. It is around a 50 minute drive from Vancouver to the gondola and the gondola is open all year round.

The gondola takes you up to 885m above sea level to the Summit Lodge where you can enjoy some yummy food and craft beer whilst taking in the amazing views of from the platform overlooking Howe Sound. My parents absolutely loved it up there during Summer! The views are awesome!

At the top of the Sea to Sky Gondola there is an awesome suspension bridge and some walking trails. During Winter, the Sea to Sky Gondola has snowshoeing, snow tubing and ski touring available.

👉 Check availability and book The Sea to Sky Gondola here

Watch the Sunset from Quercus Viewpoint

Distance: 1.8km loop 
Time: 1.5hrs 
Elevation: 160metres 
From Vancouver: 45mins 
Dog Friendly: Yes on leash, however prohibited from the main beach and picnic area 
Toilets: Yes at the carpark

The Murrin Loop Trail to Quercus Viewpoint is one of our favourite short and easy hikes to watch the sunset from! The incredible viewpoint looks over Howe Sound with mountains lining each side and the hike is just South of Squamish along the Sea to Sky Highway. The Murrin Loop Trail is located in Murrin Provincial Park and starts at Browning Lake which is a popular spot for picnics and water activities on the lake.

🎄 Take a Christmas Themed Tour!

Don’t feel like roaming around the city by yourself? Book yourself into a Christmas Themed Tour like this fun filled Christmas Lights Karaoke Trolley Tour so that all of the organisation is done for you.

Tips For Visiting Vancouver in the Winter

If you visit Vancouver in Winter as opposed to Summer, you will need to be aware of a few things that will help you to have a smooth and enjoyable trip.

What to Pack For Spending Winter in Vancouver

Although Vancouver in the Winter is quite mild, if you plan on venturing into the mountains for some outdoor activities you will need some extra clothes. The below list should hopefully help you get some ideas on what to pack.

• Lots of layers! Bring along all of the layers – thermals, base layers, a nice warm fleece and puffer jacket.
• Winter accessories – gloves and beanies! I don’t know about you but my hands get so cold in Winter, especially when I’m trying to take photos.
• Waterproof outer layers – waterproof jacket and pants
• Ski or Snowboarding Clothes – If you have clothes for the snow, bring them! There aren’t any places that I know of where you can hire the clothing for skiing.
• Skis, snowboards or snowshoes if you have your own – If you don’t have these, you can hire them in town or at any of the local ski hills.
• Hiking boots that are waterproof and insulated. There’s nothing worse than having cold, wet feet!
• Snow traction devices like micro spikes – When hiking in the snow it is likely that you will come across icy sections, especially on the more popular trails.
• Sunglasses and sunscreen – Don’t be fooled by the fact that it is Winter. Even on a cloudy day, the sun can reflect off the snow and give you a really nasty burn!
• Casual Clothes including a nice warm Winter coat for wandering around the city.
• A swimsuit for hot spring adventures!
• Your camera – here is a list of our camera gear.

Vancouver Snow Hiking Tips

When hiking in the snow, you should plan accordingly to ensure that you don’t get cold or lost.

• Dress for snow – A base layer, fleece sweater and puffer jacket as well as a waterproof jacket and pants if you have them. Also make sure you bring along a pair of gloves and a beanie. You will probably get hot while walking but if you stop for photos it can get cold quite quickly. Here is a full guide on what to wear hiking in Winter.
• Always let someone know where you are going. This should be the same in any season but in Winter getting lost can be much more dangerous due to the freezing conditions.
• Bring along a pair of micro spikes or snow shoes. This will depend on where you are hiking and what the trail conditions are like. More often than not, the trails can become very slippery and so micro spikes are such a great investment!
• Research the trail before you go. Know what you are in for, how much snow there is going to be and what the weather is going to be like.
• Wear sunscreen! The sun reflects off the snow and can give you such worse sunburn than in Summer even if it is overcast.

Winter Driving Tips

Although, most of the time you probably won’t have any issues driving in the city of Vancouver in Winter due to the mild climate, if you choose to leave the city and venture to the local mountains or further, you should know the rules of driving in Winter in British Columbia.

Make sure you have the right tyres for the roads you will be travelling on. If you leave the city, usually you will need Mud and Snow (M&S) or Winter tyres during Winter. If you are not sure of the rules or what tyres your hire car has, ask the rental company.

Our Thoughts on Visiting Vancouver in the Winter

We are not going to lie, our favourite season is and always will be Summer in Vancouver because of all the amazing hikes, however, Winter is magical. The fact that the Winter is actually bearable in Vancouver definitely makes it a great city to spend a Christmas full of adventure in.

You might also enjoy:

• Best Vancouver Snowshoeing Trails
• Pump Peak Hike in Winter – Mount Seymour
• Stunning Winter Hikes in Vancouver
• How to Spend a Magical Christmas in Leavenworth
• How to Visit Scenic Hot Springs in Washington
• Is the Capilano Suspension Bridge Worth it
• The Ultimate 4 Day Vancouver Winter Itinerary
• How to Spend a Magical Christmas in Vancouver
• Where to Stay in Vancouver: Breakdown by Area
• Where to See the Best Christmas Lights in Vancouver
• Best Winter Hikes in Vancouver

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