How to Spend a Rainy Day in Vancouver (and still have fun!)

Last updated on October 20, 2022 by Sophie Nadeau

If you need to know one thing about Vancouver, it’s that it has a temperate climate. This means that the city receives quite a bit of rain throughout the year, making it likely to rain at least once during your visit to the Canadian destination. Here is how to spend a rainy day in Vancouver and still have fun!

Vancouver itself is a fun and vibrant city on Canada’s west coast, best known for its friendly people, easy access to nature and breathtaking views. The city of around 675,000 people receives over 8 million visitors a year, making it one of the most popular travel destinations in Canada.

How often does it rain in Vancouver?

It actually rains quite a lot in Vancouver, and there’s often a light drizzle throughout the year. Although there is less rain in the summer, there is a lot of rain in the winter, and during the off-season (i.e. spring and fall) there are many spring and fall showers. In an average year there are over 190 rainy days, most of them in winter.

What is the rainiest month in Vancouver?

November and December are the rainiest months of the year in Vancouver. So if you’re planning a trip to the city in winter, be sure to pack an umbrella and dress warmly.

If I’m traveling to a place where I know it’s going to rain a lot, I make sure to pack two pairs of shoes in case one gets too wet to walk in.

Unlike Toronto winters, heavy snowfall is fairly rare in Vancouver, and there is about 4 inches of snowfall per year. The season when the city is most likely to snow is from December to March, although in particularly cold years it can snow as early as October or November.

Things to do in Vancouver when it rains

Breweries of East Vancouver

Trying some of the local brews in East Vancouver, particularly in the Yaletown or Main Street areas, is one of those rainy-day activities that doesn’t require much advance planning, but is a great way to while away a few hours with friends.

Microbreweries have proliferated in the city over the past decade or two, and today there are dozens to visit. Some of the city’s best breweries include Main Street Brewery (although they don’t serve much food) and Faculty Brewing, which offer a tasting tray where you can sample a range of their different beers.

Museum of Anthropology

Housed in a fairly modern-looking building on the University of British Columbia campus, the Museum of Anthropology was established in 1949 and takes a few hours to visit, making it the perfect spot to shelter from the rain.

The exhibits feature primarily First Nations artworks of the Pacific Northwest. In total there are 50,000 works of art from all over the world, including porcelain exhibitions and gold and silver jewellery.

Climbing in the hall

Over the past decade, bouldering has grown in popularity in Vancouver, and there are many places throughout the city where you can go indoor rock climbing.

Some of the most popular spots in town are The Hive Heights Vancouver (which caters especially to newcomers) and
Richmond Olympic Oval (rope climbing and bouldering are both available).

Board Game Cafe

There is a surprising number of board game cafes scattered across Vancouver. Some of the best places where you can have a drink, eat and play to your heart’s content with friends are Pizzeria Ludica and Glitch Retro Arcade Bar.

Art Gallery Vancouver

For the art lovers out there, a visit to the Vancouver Art Gallery is an absolute must. Established in the 1930s, the museum occupies a stunning 15,300 square foot building, meaning it is the largest museum in western Canada.

It’s worth noting that the museum is actually free on Tuesday nights between 5pm and 9pm. Admission is by donation only on this day of the week, meaning you can pay whatever you like to visit Vancouver’s cultural institution. People usually spend at least a few hours in the museum.

Rio Theater

The Rio Theater is Vancouver’s most famous and largest independent arts venue. In addition to art and theater performances, there is a cinema on site, so there is always something to see on site when it rains.

Capilano Suspension Bridge Park

If you head to Capilano Suspension Bridge Park, you won’t be completely dry, but some of the suspension bridges around the wooded area are under trees, meaning you’ll be partially sheltered from the elements.

The park is named after the main simple suspension bridge that crosses the Capilano River and is one of the main attractions that draws people to visit Vancouver. It’s also worth noting that the area might be even more beautiful when it rains.

Go shopping at independent stores

From one-of-a-kind booksellers to vintage clothing stores, Vancouver’s status as one of North America’s premier tourist destinations means there’s no shortage of independent shops to explore in the city.

Some of the most popular souvenirs people bring back from Canada are maple syrup (the good quality stuff, of course!), BC wines, and chocolate gifts. Some of the best vintage clothing stores in town are Bohemia Gallery Inc. and Woo Vintage Clothing.

Explore Vancouver’s coffee scene

One of the coziest ways to escape the rain in Vancouver is to visit a nice coffee shop. Much like the craft brewing scene, Vancouver’s coffee scene has exploded over the past decade or two, resulting in a fair number of specialty coffee shops offering quality roasts in a tranquil setting.

Granville Island

Granville Island is a bit misleading as the area is actually a peninsula/sandpit in the Fairview neighborhood and not far from downtown Vancouver. Mainly a shopping district, much of the area is covered as there is a large public market under the bridge and many shops to explore.

Stupid conservatory

Located at the top of Queen Elizabeth Park, the popular Bloedel Conservatory is the perfect place to visit when it rains as it is entirely indoors. The botanical garden was created in a large dome in 1969 and today offers a wide range of tropical plants, birds and flowers.

Vancouver lookout

For one of the best views in the city, you simply have to go to the Vancouver Lookout. As long as the cloud cover isn’t too low, you can still marvel at fantastic views of the city from the 168-meter high observation deck, which offers a 360° view of the city.

Vancouver Maritime Museum

As you can see, one of the best ways to spend a rainy day in Vancouver is to visit at least one (or even a handful) of the many museums located throughout the city. One of the most unique museums is the Vancouver Maritime Museum.

Dedicated to all things seafaring, this museum opened in 1959 and is dedicated to preserving British Columbia’s maritime history. Visitors typically spend around one to two hours exploring the museum.

Vancouver Public Library

The central library is surrounded by colonnades and is intended to resemble a Roman amphitheater. As you can imagine, the library is peaceful and tranquil and even has its own roof garden which is a secluded area of ​​tranquillity.

Catch a ferry to Victoria

Even when it rains in Vancouver, due to the fickle nature of the weather in the area, it can be quite dry in Victoria thanks to the proximity to the ocean across the water. Victoria itself is on Vancouver Island, 107 kilometers southwest of Vancouver.

Some of the top highlights of Victoria, the capital of British Columbia, are the Victorian-era mansion Craigdarroch Castle, touring the British Columbia Legislative Assembly and visiting the Royal BC Museum.

Christmas Market

If you’re visiting Vancouver in the winter, the Vancouver Christmas Market is one of the coziest spots. This festive event features 80 vendors selling traditional Christmas market dishes and related products. However, unlike most Christmas markets in Europe, you should note that you have to pay a fee to visit.

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