10 Best Things to do during Winter in Vancouver

This is ‘on-mountain’, but it was too good to leave out. Grouse Mountain, one of the three major ski hills closest to Vancouver, offers snowshoe tours with a snow cave experience where you can snowshoe your way to pre-built igloos for some inspiration before getting down and dirty to build your own. This is a fun activity to do with a few friends or your family! Cypress and Seymour also offer snowshoe tours but without the igloo. All three mountains are a one to two hours drive from Vancouver.

Zip-lining (open depending on weather conditions), sledding, skating, and sleigh rides are also available at Grouse, so you might as well check them out if you’re already there! Or for the less-adventurous members of the pack, head up to The Eye of the Wind and see a 360-degree view of Grouse Mountain. This is the world’s first and only view pod located at the top of a massive wind turbine. It’s a pretty sweet view!

Vancouver Brewery Tours takes you on a three-hour craft beer adventure to taste some of Vancouver’s finest beers at three different breweries. Don’t worry about having a designated driver because you’ll be driven in a 14-seater van to different unique breweries around Vancouver with a behind-the-scenes tour at each. The tour includes 1 beer flight per stop, VIP access and entrance fees, transport between the breweries and a few other bonuses. If you’re not one to drink on an empty stomach, check out their Craft Beer & Food Tour.

Robson Square isn’t only famous for shopping, but also for its skating rink. It’s located in downtown Vancouver (super convenient), where you can enjoy an open-air skating rink built with a dome-like roof and no walls. The dome lights at night make it look extra nice! Skating is free if you have your own skates, but chances are your luggage is packed with more important things. Not to worry, you can hire skates and helmets at the ice rink.

One of Vancouver’s stunning light displays that you have to see is Canyon Lights at the Capilano Suspension Bridge (an attraction on its own without the lights). The bridge is 450 ft long and 230 ft high with twinkling lights draped across it. There are also lights along the TreeTop Adventure, Cliffwalk, and the rainforest. So if you love a bit of nature or if you need a great backdrop for your Instagram photos, then you have to come here!

For a different kind of light display, visit the Secret Lantern Society’s Winter Solstice Lantern Festival, located across three neighborhoods (Yaletown, Granville Island and Strathcona) in Vancouver. Join in with the locals at this free community event (donations welcome) with lanterns, fire performances, music, and dancing.

Vancouver Christmas Market is another good one to check out, it’s on from late November - late December in Downtown Vancouver. The Christmas Market offers up amazing food and drinks stalls, Christmas gift vendors (for all that last minute shopping), live entertainment and activities for the kiddies. It’s like being in a winter wonderland with Vancouver’s first walk-in Christmas tree, carousel and lights display.

Now, this next one truly feels like being in the North Pole. For a unique high-altitude experience, I’d suggest heading up to the Peak of Christmas at Grouse Mountain. Grouse offers up a ton of Christmas activities including Santa’s Workshop, Breakfast with Santa, skating under the stars, a Light Walk, Reindeer Habitat, Gingerbread Village and more!

For something a bit fancier, Vancouver’s Goh Ballet puts on a spectacular performance of The Nutcracker. Stay warm and watch this iconic performance in the week leading up to Christmas Day. They’re family-friendly, so I’d bring the kids along!

Want to fly across Canada in 8 minutes? Fly Over Canada is a simulation ride in which visitors hang suspended over a spherical screen experiencing amazing views of Canada. I know it’s not a real flight but the ride simulates the feeling of wind, scent, and flight making it feel realistic. During the Christmas season you can fly over Christmas markets, light displays and more!

Ring in the New Year with Spirit Cruises and see the fireworks from the best seats in the house. You can choose from a cocktail and canapé cruise with plenty of room to dance the night away or go for the traditional dinner cruise with a gourmet buffet cooked to perfection!

Vancouver’s Science World also knows how to throw a good party at their large venue. There’s room for over 1,000 guests, plus multiple DJs and five bars! Event details are released closer to the date so keep your eyes out.

You can also see the New Year’s Eve fireworks downtown near Canada Place. This is a free and family-friendly event with 9:00pm fireworks (plus mini countdown) for the little ones and midnight fireworks to call in the new year. It does get pretty busy though, with some venues around offering tickets to escape the crowds. But if you don’t mind the crowds, I’d say this place is pretty good for getting up and close to the fireworks for free.

You know those crazy things you do when you travel? Well, this is one of them. We like to start the ‘new year, new me’ thing by jumping into icy cold water with 2000 other brave souls. The Polar Bear Swim is a Vancouver tradition, so if you want to really fit in with the locals then you have to come swim with us! Come in a costume (if you want) and take the plunge into the icy Pacific waters at English Bay! Adventurous swimmers can also participate in a 100 yard swim race.