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

Last Updated on 27th June 2024 by Sophie Nadeau

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If you need to know one thing about Vancouver, it’s that it has a temperate climate. What this means is that the city receives a fair amount of rainfall over the course of the year, so chances are that it will likely rain at least once during your visit to the Canadian destination. Here’s how to spend a rainy day in Vancouver and still have fun!

Vancouver itself is a fun and vibrant city on the west coast of Canada that is best-known for its friendly people, easy access to nature, and stunning vistas.

Home to a population of around 675,000 people, the city receives over 8 million visitors on an annual basis, making it one of the most popular getaways in Canada.

How often does it rain in Vancouver?

It actually rains a fair bit in Vancouver, and there is often a light drizzle throughout the year. Though it rains less during the summer, there’s lots of rain in the winter, and there are plenty of spring and fall showers during the shoulder seasons (i.e. spring and fall). In an average year, there are over 190 days of rainfall, with most of these occurring during winter.

What is the rainiest month in Vancouver?

 November and December are the rainiest months of the year in Vancouver and so if you’re planning a trip to the city during the winter, you should be sure to pack an umbrella and wrap up warm.

If I’m travelling to a place where I know that there will be lots of rain, I’ll make sure to pack two pairs of shoes in case one gets too wet to feel comfortable walking around in.

Unlike during the winter in Toronto, heavy snowfall is fairly rare in Vancouver, and there is around 4 inches of snowfall per year. The time of the year when the city is most likely to receive snow is December through to March, though on especially cold years it can snow as early as October or November.

Things to do in the rain in Vancouver

Breweries of East Vancouver

Sampling some of the local beer in east Vancouver, specifically in the areas around Yaletown or Main Street, is one of those rainy day activities that doesn’t take much planning in advance but is a good way to spend a few hours among friends.

Over the past decade or two, more and more microbreweries have sprung up around the city and today there are dozens that you can visit. Some of the top breweries in the city include Main Street Brewery (though there isn’t much by way of food served there) and Faculty Brewing, who offer a taster tray whereby you can sample a number of their different beers.

Museum of Anthropology

Located in a pretty modern looking building on the University of British Columbia campus, the Museum of Anthropology was founded in 1949 and takes a couple of hours to visit, making it the perfect place to shelter from the rain.

The exhibitions primarily showcase works of art by the First Nations of the Pacific Northwest. In total, there are 50,000 works of art from across the world, including porcelain exhibitions and gold and silver jewellery.

Indoor climbing

Over the past decade or so, bouldering has become increasingly popular in Vancouver and so there are plenty of spots across the city where you can go indoor climbing.

Some of the more popular spots in town include The Hive Heights Vancouver (which is particularly geared towards newbies) and
Richmond Olympic Oval (roped climbing and bouldering are both available).

Board Game Café

There are a surprisingly large number of board game cafés scattered across Vancouver. Some of the best places to head to with friends to grab a drink, some food, and play to your heart’s content include Pizzeria Ludica and Glitch Retro Arcade Bar.

Vancouver Art Gallery

For the art aficionados out there, a visit to the Vancouver Art Gallery is an absolute must. Established in the 1930s, the museum covers a staggering a 15,300-square-metre-building , meaning that it’s the largest museum in western Canada.

It’s worth noting that the museum is actually free on Tuesday nights between 5 p.m. until 9 p.m. On this weekday evening, entrance is by ‘donation only,’ meaning you can pay what you like to visit the Vancouver cultural institution. People typically spend at least a couple of hours at the museum.

Rio Theatre

The Rio Theatre is the most famous and largest independent art house in Vancouver. As well as art and theatre performances, there is a cinema on site, meaning that there is always something to watch on site when it rains.

Capilano Suspension Bridge Park

By heading out to the Capilano Suspension Bridge Park, you won’t be completely dry, but a fair few of the suspension bridges around the wooded space are situated under tree cover meaning you’ll be partially protected by the elements.

The park is named for 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 is perhaps even more beautiful when it rains.

Go shopping at independent stores

From unique booksellers to vintage clothing stores, Vancouver’s status as one of the premier tourist destinations in North America means that there’s no shortage of independent stores to explore in town.

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

Explore the Vancouver coffee scene

One of the cosiest ways to escape the rain in Vancouver is to head to a nice café. Much like the craft brewing scene, the coffee scene of Vancouver has exploded in the past decade or two, leading to a lovely amount of speciality coffee shops offering high quality roasts in a calm ambiance.

Granville Island

Granville Island is a bit of a misnomer as the area is actually technically a peninsula/ sandpit in the Fairview neighbourhood and isn’t far from Downtown Vancouver. Largely a shopping district, much of the district is covered as there is a large public market under the bridge and plenty of shops to explore.

Bloedel Conservatory

Located at the top of Queen Elizabeth Park, the popular Bloedel Conservatory is the perfect space to visit in the rain as it is all indoors. The botanical garden was established in 1969 in a large dome and today boasts a wide array of tropical plants, birds, and flowers.

Vancouver Lookout

For one of the best views in the city, you simply must head to Vancouver Lookout. As long as the cloud cover isn’t too low, you’ll still be able to marvel at fantastic views of the city from the 168 metres high observation deck which offers 360° views 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 across the city. One of the more unique museums to see is the Vancouver Maritime Museum.

Dedicated to all things seafaring related, this museum was opened in 1959 and is all about preserving the maritime history of British Columbia. Typically, visitors spend around one to two hours exploring the museum.

Vancouver Public Library

The central library is surrounded by colonnades and is meant to be reminiscent of a Roman amphitheatre. As you might imagine, the library is peaceful and quiet and even has its very own rooftop garden which is a secluded area of calm.

Take a ferry to Victoria

Even if it’s raining in Vancouver, it may well still be dry just across the water in Victoria due to the volatile nature of the weather in the area thanks to its proximity to the sea. Victoria itself is on Vancouver Island which is 107 kilometres southwest of Vancouver.

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

Christmas Market

If you’re visiting Vancouver in the winter, then one of the cosiest spots to head to is the Vancouver Christmas Market. This festive affair boasts 80 vendors selling traditional Christmas Market food and associated products. However, unlike most Christmas Markets in Europe, you should note that you’ll have to pay a fee to visit.

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