Winter Breaks in Vancouver
A wonderful time to experience a Vancouver city break is in the winter months, when the city comes alive with festive lights and the nearby Grouse Mountain offers an abundance of snowy outdoor activities, from skiing to snowshoeing.
Why We Love Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal gem of natural beauty, nestled in an idyllic setting between the Pacific Ocean and the Coastal Mountain range. This is far from your average holiday destination: nowhere else enables you to sail in the morning and ski in the afternoon, shop in world-class shopping districts and indulge in out-of-this-world culinary adventures. There are few places in the world where you can have so many different types of experiences in one trip and the perfect holiday to Vancouver includes them all.
Click one of the links below to discover our Vancouver highlights or keep scrolling to view the full selection of ideas:
Vancouver City Break
Head to the cosmopolitan coastal city of Vancouver, nestled perfectly between the Pacific coast and Coastal Mountain Range. A downtown hotel is an ideal base to discover the top attractions, enjoy the vibrant night life in the downtown area or even head over to Vancouver Island. This city offers both all the amenities of a world class city and outstanding outdoor adventure opportunities.
The 4 day trip starts at £1,005 per person based on 2 people sharing and includes…
* International Flights from the UK based on economy class
* 3 nights at a Vancouver downtown hotel
* All taxes and surcharges
Price based on selected dates in 2023.
Enquire now for details
Alternatively, visit Canadian Affair to learn more
Winter experiences in Vancouver
Here’s what we would recommend seeing and doing during a winter break in this dynamic city.
Culinary Adventures
The city is well known for its world-class culinary scene and the options to eat out are both endless and diverse. Excitingly, the city’s first MICHELIN guide has launched this autumn, with 8 restaurants receiving a MICHELIN® star and 12 receiving Bib Gourmands, recognising exceptional food for great value. The full selection, including recommended eateries, totals 60 restaurants and is available free of charge on the MICHELIN® Guide website and app.
Skiing & Snowboarding
Visitors can take to the slopes of the nearby North Shore Mountains for a day of skiing or snowboarding. Grouse Mountain is particularly popular, offering 33 ski and snowboard runs, one of which was named a top 100 run in the world by CNN Travel. The world-class resort of Whistler is also easily accessible from Vancouver, via the scenic Sea to Sky Highway.
Take to the Mountains
The North Shore Mountains offer plenty of activities for the non-skiers out there. A wonderful way to enjoy the winter wonderland of Grouse Mountain is to ascend the mountain via the skyride, admiring the scenic views all around. Upon disembarkation, visitors can explore the 9km of snowshoe trails, strap on their skates and take to the ice rink, soar down the mountain on a sled, or simply kick back and relax in one of the cosy cafés or restaurants.
Canyon Lights at Capilano Suspension Bridge
During the winter months, the popular Capilano Suspension Bridge transforms into a magical world of colour and light with the ‘Canyon Lights’ display. Visitors can cross the world-famous bridge, lit end-to-end with a changing multi-colour display, before journeying into a glowing rainforest and walking high above the forest floor on Treetops Adventure’s seven suspended bridges. Next, visitors can walk through the mesmerizing “Arc de Lumina” light tunnel, which wraps along a portion of Cliffwalk.
Seasonal Events
There are plenty of exciting events in Vancouver throughout the year, and the winter is no exception. Visitors to the city in December can experience the Vancouver Christmas Market – the perfect place to buy some holiday treats, indulge in delicious foods and festive drinks, and enjoy the entertainment on offer. Another popular event is the Festival of Lights at VanDusen Garden, which typically features over 1 million lights spread out over 15 acres of gardens.
Museums & Galleries
Vancouver boasts a wealth of museums and galleries, perfect to explore on a crisp winter’s day. The Museum of Vancouver allows visitors to gain a deeper understanding of the city through stories, objects, and shared experiences, whilst the Vancouver Maritime Museum is a fun, family-friendly place to explore and learn about the sea and the ships that sail it. For those who like art, the Vancouver Art Gallery and the Museum of Anthropology are must visits.
Enquire now for details
Alternatively, visit Canadian Affair to learn more
