The best times to visit Vancouver, Canada

Home to some 2.5 million residents, the Vancouver metropolitan area is brimming with big-city amenities like museums, pro sports teams, skyscrapers, and nightlife. But Vancouver is also surrounded by mountains and water—the North Shore Mountains and the Burrard Inlet, the Fraser River, and the Strait of Georgia, to be exact—making it a hub for outdoor recreation.

These two seemingly different sides of Vancouver combine to give this city in British Columbia its unique personality and flair. Want to see what all the hype is about? Plan a trip to Vancouver ideally timed for your interests and travel preferences—whether you're looking to commune with whales or hit the slopes—with the below guide.

Vancouver is home to more than 400 species of freshwater and saltwater fish, more than 140 different types of mammals, and nearly 500 species of birds.

Whether you’re a pro birder or just a casual dabbler, Vancouver’s abundant bird-watching opportunities are worth planning a trip around alone. Head to Stanley Park to see one of the largest great blue heron colonies in all of North America. Adults arrive each February to lay their eggs, with fuzzy chicks poking their heads out of their nests starting around April (and if you miss these graceful birds when you go back home, you can always check in on them via the Vancouver Park Board’s heron cam).

Bald eagles also tend to congregate in the Vancouver area in January and February, when they feast on salmon and waterfowl. Nearby Brackendale hosts its annual winter eagle festival and count every January.

Other great spots to go birding near Vancouver include George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary and Boundary Bay. You can also observe grizzly bears, owls, and hummingbirds at the Grouse Mountain Wildlife Refuge. Year-round, the Vancouver Aquarium—the largest in Canada—offers a front-row seat to a variety of creatures, from rescued seals and sea lions to penguins, sea otters, and fish.

Catch a glimpse of a humpback’s tail or watch orcas race through the water by timing your Vancouver trip to coincide with the city’s peak whale-watching season, which typically runs from April to October. Every year, thousands of massive marine mammals migrate through the waters off the coast of Vancouver, giving residents and visitors an up close and personal view of their majestic movements. In addition to humpbacks and orcas, you may spot gray whales and minke whales.

Tour operators—like Prince of Whales, Vancouver Whale Watch, and Steveston Seabreeze Adventures—can help you get a better view of the whales by taking you out on seaplanes, kayaks, and cruisers.

Summers are glorious in Vancouver, with sunny skies and temperatures in the low 70s. The mild weather is a big reason why so many travelers flock to Vancouver to hike, camp, boat, fish, mountain bike, and more.

Surrounded by the waters of English Bay, the Georgia Strait, and Burrard Inlet, the Vancouver area is an ideal spot for watersports like paddleboarding, windsurfing, kiteboarding, kayaking, and even cold-water snorkeling and scuba diving. It’s also home to dozens of golf courses—though be forewarned, you may find yourself distracted by the beautiful scenery.

In keeping with the revelatory mood that permeates the city in the summer, Vancouver hosts an array of events and festivals, including the Vancouver Folk Music Festival, the Vancouver International Jazz Festival, Bard on the Beach, and the Vancouver Pride Parade, to name a few.

As fun as Vancouver is during the summer months, be prepared to encounter lots of other travelers—including thousands from various cruise ships docked at Canada Place. That means if you’re coming to Vancouver during the summer, you’ll want to plan ahead and book a Vancouver hotel, vacation rental, or other accommodation well in advance. Plus, brace yourself to pay a premium during Vancouver’s peak tourist season. On the bright side, frothing up the water on water skis followed by an epic jazz concert? We’ll take it.

Though snow doesn’t fall often in Vancouver itself, the city regularly attracts powderhounds from around the world, thanks to its proximity to various downhill and cross-country ski and snowboard areas. For quick runs just outside the city, head to Mt. Seymour, Grouse Mountain, or Cypress Mountain, which are all within 45 minutes of Vancouver by car. For an adventure a little farther afield, head to Whistler Blackcomb, which boasts a whopping 8,171 acres of skiable terrain. (If you go to Whistler Blackcomb, you may want to book a hotel for the evening, as it’s just shy of two hours northwest of Vancouver by car; try Travelers’ Choice Award winners Four Seasons Resort and Residences Whistler and Aava Whistler Hotel.)

The holidays are also magical in Vancouver. Dazzling twinkle lights illuminate VanDusen Botanical Gardens and the Capilano Suspension Bridge, and the cheery Vancouver Christmas Market is in full swing. Throughout the winter, Vancouver welcomes an array of festivals, including the Winter Solstice Lantern Festival, the PuSh International Performing Arts Festival, and Dine Out Vancouver.

Bonus: Winter is one of the best times to visit Vancouver if you love watching sports—more specifically, hockey. Join thousands of screaming fans at Rogers Arena to watch the city’s National Hockey League team, the Vancouver Canucks. The season runs from October to April.