Vancouver is a true year-round destination, as each season brings a fresh perspective to this vibrant city. It offers a variety of activities, attractions, and natural beauty that caters for all types of travellers throughout the year.
From the world-famous cherry blossom season in spring to skiing and snowboarding in the winter months, this guide looks at the different things you can do in each season.
Top things to do in spring in Vancouver
- VanDusen Botanical Garden
- Stanley Park's Seawall
- Cherry blossom season
VanDusen Botanical Garden
The VanDusen Botanical Garden is a 55-acre oasis in the heart of Vancouver. It is home to more than 7,500 plant species from all over the world.
In the spring, the gardens burst to life with a stunning variety of flowers and plants. Spring is one of the best times to visit as you’ll be able to see its extraordinary collection of rhododendrons, azaleas, and magnolias, which create an explosion of colour throughout the garden.
There are cherry blossoms dotted around the gardens, and daffodils, tulips, and crocuses carpet the ground, adding vivid splashes of colour amid the lush greenery.
The water features, ponds, and lakes in the garden reflect the blooming surroundings, creating serene spots for you to relax and enjoy nature at its best. Springtime is also when you may notice more wildlife.
Stanley Park's Seawall
At 28 kilometres, Stanley Park’s seawall is the world’s longest uninterrupted waterfront, and it skirts along the edge of the park and the coast, flirting with beaches and waves along the way.
If you want to experience one of the most scenic aspects of Vancouver’s coastal position, then you need to walk along the path or hire a bike and cycle along it.
Debbie O'Boyle, who along with John, are the writers behind The Empty Nest Explorers travel blog, spoke about their experience cycling along the seawall.
“We thoroughly enjoyed biking the mostly flat, paved, and easy-breezy ride with absolutely stunning views of beaches and gorgeous old-growth forests, as well as the sparkling waters of English Bay and the harbour of Vancouver with its impressive city skyline.
“As scenic bike rides go, the Seawall Bike Route is truly a great one; not only is it fun and beautiful - its claim to fame is being the longest uninterrupted waterfront path in the world.”
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Cherry blossom season
If you are looking for the best Vancouver attractions in spring, then seeing the cherry blossom trees should certainly be near the top of your list.
Cherry blossoms bloom in Vancouver from late February to early May, and whilst you can see them anytime during this season, peak bloom typically occurs during the Cherry Blossom Festival in late March or April.
But where are the best places to see the cherry blossoms in Vancouver? We’ve listed some of the best places to see these beautiful trees:
- Queen Elizabeth Park
- Stanley Park
- Nitobe Memorial Garden at the University of British Columbia
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Top things to do in summer in Vancouver
- Enjoy whale watching season
- Kitsilano Beach
- Take a scenic boat ride around Granville Island
Enjoy whale watching season
There is a reason why whale watching holidays in Canada are so popular; with over 202,000km of coastline and more than 30 species of whales living off its shores, the country is regarded as one of the best destinations to view the giants of the sea.
The waters around Vancouver and Vancouver Island are particularly abundant, and during the peak season of May to September, you can see minke whales, huge humpbacks and grey whales. There are resident orcas that live there year-round, but to see a variety of species, the summer is the best time to go whale watching in Vancouver.
Greta, a travel writer who runs the Greta’s Travels blog, recommends going on a guided tour: “When you decide to go whale watching from Vancouver, it’s far easier to go on a guided tour. Your guides have a wealth of information for you to tap into, and they know the best spots around Vancouver for whale watching.”
Going whale watching is one of Vancouver’s best attractions in the summer, and it is something you will never forget.
ALSO READ: Everything you want to know about whale watching in Canada
Kitsilano Beach
Kitsilano Beach, which was formerly known as Greer's Beach, is one of Vancouver's most popular urban beaches, located in the vibrant Kitsilano neighbourhood. From the beach, you can enjoy stunning views of the city skyline and North Shore mountains, with a sandy shoreline perfect for sunbathing, swimming, beach volleyball, and picnicking.
The area also features the Kitsilano Pool, Canada's longest outdoor saltwater pool, and nearby green spaces, walking paths, and cafes. The beach is a favourite spot for locals, and it perfectly blends outdoor recreation with a laid-back, lively atmosphere.
Take a scenic boat ride around Granville Island
Regarded as one of Vancouver's most colourful and vibrant neighbourhoods, Granville Island is famous for its markets, which offer the finest locally sourced, independently made produce.
One of the food tours on the island is a great way to sample all the fruit, cheeses, doughnuts and other tasty treats that are made in and around Vancouver.
One of the best ways to experience Granville Island is to take a scenic boat ride around it, and there are sightseeing tours that leave regularly from the dock on Granville Island.
These boat tours can range from 20-minute excursions to 40 minutes, and you will see attractions such as Sunset Beach, the North Shore mountains, the West End skyline, Vanier Park, and Heritage Harbour, to name just a few.
ALSO READ: Canada Through The Seasons
Top things to do in autumn in Vancouver
- Admire the fall foliage in Lynn Canyon Park
- Visit the Museum of Anthropology at the University of British Columbia
- Experience the Vancouver International Film Festival
Admire the fall foliage in Lynn Canyon Park
In North Vancouver, Lynn Canyon Park is a popular place to visit, but it is extra charming in the autumn as you get to see the contrast in colours of the trees as their leaves turn from green to yellow, brown, and red.
The park is home to many attractions, but one of the jewels in its crown is the Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge, which opened in 1912. The bridge is in a very scenic canyon next to a waterfall, hanging around 160 feet above the creek.
The suspension bridge is just one of many attractions. The Baden Powell Trail is a 48km (30 mile) trail that runs from Horseshoe Bay in West Vancouver to Deep Cove in North Vancouver, but a section of this trail cuts through Lynn Canyon Park. You can also see the picturesque Twin Falls within the park.
Going on a hike and taking in the colours of the autumn foliage is one of the top autumn attractions in Vancouver, and Lynn Canyon Park is certainly one place you can do this.
Visit the Museum of Anthropology at the University of British Columbia
Just 20 minutes from downtown Vancouver, the Museum of Anthropology at UBC is home to one of the world’s finest displays of Northwest Coast First Nations arts.
Here, you can see spectacular carvings, weavings, and contemporary artworks inside the soaring glass and concrete structure of the museum’s Great Hall. You can also admire the world’s largest collection of works by acclaimed Haida artist Bill Reid.
In total, there are more than 9,000 objects from around the world on display here, which not only includes paintings but a collection of European ceramics unique to North America, examples of traditional Northwest Coast architecture and design, and lots more.
ALSO READ: The most colourful destinations in Canada this autumn
Experience the Vancouver International Film Festival
The Vancouver International Film Festival (VIFF) showcases exceptional cinema from around the world, and over the course of the event, you can listen to talks from some iconic people in the movie industry, watch epic live performances and attend other unique events that celebrate film and film culture.
In previous years, more than 130 films have been shown, and over 100 short films have been shown. A host of filmmakers have given talks on the movie industry. The festival doesn’t just celebrate international cinema; it celebrates Canadian and Indigenous films as well.
The dates for the next film festival have not been announced, but usually, it takes place at the end of September and the start of October, so keep your eyes peeled for the new dates to be announced.
Top things to do in winter in Vancouver
- Grouse Mountain
- Capilano Suspension Bridge Park
- Gastown district
Grouse Mountain
Snowboarding and ski holidays in Canada have become incredibly popular due to the guaranteed snow that the resorts can boast, and one of the best places you can experience is Grouse Mountain.
Grouse Mountain is known as the peak of Vancouver as it is just 15 minutes from downtown, and with 33 ski and snowboard runs, 15-night runs, four chairlifts, six terrain parks, and 9km of snowshoe trails, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that it is one of the most popular winter destinations in the world.
It isn’t just skiing and snowboarding that you can enjoy at Grouse Mountain in the winter, with a Skyride cable car, a theatre in the sky, and a skating pond, which are just some of the other attractions that you can enjoy.
Grouse Mountain hosts an annual event called The Peak of Christmas, where you can meet Santa in his workshop, visit Santa's reindeer, experience the enchanting Light Walk, and glide across the Mountaintop Skating Pond.
If you want to visit in the winter, then Grouse Mountain is one place you should be planning to visit on your holiday to Canada.
Capilano Suspension Bridge Park
If you are looking for the top winter attractions in Vancouver, the Capilano Suspension Bridge Park is undoubtedly one of them.
Every year, you can explore an enchanting winter wonderland by experiencing its winter light display, Canyon Lights. This event sees the world-famous bridge lit end-to-end with a multi-colour display of lights which illuminates the Capilano River.
During this spectacular event, you can journey into the glittering rainforest and walk high above the forest floor on a transformed Treetops Adventure and walk along the twinkling cliffside pathway of Cliffwalk. It really is an experience that you won’t forget!
Gastown district
This is Vancouver’s oldest neighbourhood, but it has become a trendy place in recent years, and now it is home to some of the best restaurants in the city, and it is bursting with bars and clubs too.
The historic brick buildings now mingle with wine bars and boutique shops, and it is the perfect place to warm up during the winter with craft beer or hot chocolate. It is also a short walk from here to the Waterfront or Granville Street.
The Travel Addicted Unicorn blog loved visiting Gastown and, in particular, the famous steam clock.
“One of its most recognisable landmarks is the Steam Clock, which runs on steam and chimes every quarter hour. The Steam Clock is one of the best things to do in Gastown.
“On the hour, the chiming is even more interesting so try and time your visit to hear it. You will spot people standing around the clock, eagerly waiting to hear its chimes.”
ALSO READ: Where to stay in Vancouver
Vancouver: A year-round destination
As this guide shows, Vancouver is a genuine year-round destination, and no matter what season you visit the city, there is so much you can do and lots of attractions you can visit.
If you want to visit one of the world’s best cities, speak to one of our experts about holidays to Vancouver, and we can tailor-make your dream trip.
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