Looking for Vancouver rainy day activities? In this post, you can find the best things to do on a rainy day in Vancouver.
Vancouver is a city located on the West Coast of Canada. When asked about Vancouver or British Columbia, rain is among the top things many locals and Canadians mention.
While you may think a rainy day may spoil your plans, as a local with experience navigating rainy Vancouver, I can tell you that exploring in the rain is better than it seems.
How do you spend a Rainy Day in Vancouver? 24 Things To Do On A Rainy Day In Vancouver
While you may wonder, is Vancouver worth visiting, especially when it rains? Yes! There are many things to do and experience while it rains in Vancouver. Below is a list of many things you can do to get yourself out of the rain.
1. Vancouver Aquarium
Something that you can do with the family is hang out at the Vancouver Aquarium. Located in Stanely Park, The Vancouver Aquarium focuses on the rescue, rehabilitation, and release of mammals, conservation for marine life, climate activism, and ocean literacy education.
2. Vancouver Art Gallery
Another location that you can check out on a rainy day is the Vancouver Art Gallery. The largest Western Canada public art museum showcases history and contemporary art from BC and worldwide. There are many events and changing exhibits to check out.
3. Museum of Vancouver
The Museum of Vancouver, or MOV, is a civic history museum in Vanier Park in Kitsilano. You will get a deeper sense of understanding the city through stories and experiences. Exhibits rotate or are only displayed for a limited amount of time.
4. Bloedel Conservatory
If you are looking for a tropical paradise in the rain, look no further than the Bloedel Conservatory. On top of Queen Elizabeth Park, you will find a domed aviary with hundreds of plant species and many tropical birds that have been surrendered or rescued.
5. FlyOver Canada
An activity to do in the rain in Vancouver is experience FlyOver Canada. You will be sitting suspended, feet dangling with flight-motion seats with a wrap-around screen to make you feel like you are flying over Canada.
Special effects include wind and mist whenever you fly over water or soar into the clouds. There are also minor scents that you will be able to smell during the duration.
6. H.R. MacMillan Space Centre
One of the most fantastic museums in Vancouver is the H.R. MacMillan Space Centre, right next to the MOV. Also known as the Planetarium, the space-focused museum is an excellent place to learn about space uniquely through public lectures, speakers, events, and school field trips.
7. BC Sports Hall Of Fame
If you are a sports enthusiast, check out the BC Sports Hall of Fame. They showcase extraordinary achievements and accomplishments by British Columbian athletes, teams, and builders of sport.
The BC Sports Hall of Fame is located by Gate A at BC Place, and it is open every day from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, with the last entry at 4:15 PM. Subject to change if there is an event happening at BC Place.
8. Granville Island Public Market
One of the best places for tourists to experience lunch in the rain or shine is the Granville Island Public Market.
Many local vendors sell everything from produce to meats, sweets to soaps inside the market. Local food vendors in the food court area sell burgers, chicken pot pies, sandwiches, and more.
9. Rio Theater
Suppose you are a die-hard movie lover or into old-school, unpopular movies and entertainment, then the Rio Theater is for you.
The independent movie theatre hosts many mainstream, cult-classic cinemas and arthouse and live entertainment.
10. Coffee Shops/Cafes
Suppose you are traveling for business in Vancouver or looking for a place to grab brunch and hide from the rain. In that case, many coffee shops and cafes are located around Vancouver, and you will find somewhere to hang out for a while.
11. Watch A Sports Game
Vancouver has many professional sports games to watch. Most notably, for the Vancouver Canucks (National Hockey League), the season always starts during the fall and through winter, the rainiest months.
The Vancouver Warriors (Lacrosse) also begins around the same time, so you could also watch our professional lacrosse team.
If you are in Vancouver during the late winter, when there is still lots of rain, you can catch a soccer game from the Vancouver Whitecaps (Major League Soccer).
12. Castle Fun Park
Another activity with children is heading to Castle Fun Park (Abbotsford), with over 200 arcade games, go-karts, and more. You and your children will have a fun time playing games indoors while it is raining outdoors.
13. Extreme Air Park
Are your children not into arcade games? That is okay! The Extreme Air Park (located in Richmond, Langley, or New Westminster) is an indoor trampoline park with various other activities, such as a glow-in-dark park, dodgeball, foam zone and more.
14. Watermania
On the other hand, if you want to avoid the rain but have fun in the water, another indoor activity to do with your children is Watermania, an indoor waterpark with slides, whirlpools, and a wave pool.
15. Escape Room
Now if you do not have children or have children who are in their teens, something everyone can enjoy trying to escape a room. If this is your first time trying an escape room, you must solve riddles and clues to escape the room in a limited amount of time.
16. Casino
In British Columbia, you have to be 19+ to enter a casino. A few casinos around the lower mainland (outside of Vancouver) include the Parq Vancouver Casino Resort, Starlight Casino, and River Rock Casino.
17. Brewery Tour
The lower mainland has many local breweries and tours you can do while in Downtown Vancouver. Or, if you are in the Okanagan, there are many top-notch wineries to stop at on a winery tour.
18. Hit The Mountains
Most of the time, especially in winter, when it rains in Vancouver, it snows in the mountains. During this time, it is the best time to experience the best things to do in Vancouver in winter in the mountains.
Cypress, Grouse, and Seymour Mountains cater to different winter activities. Cypress is the cross-country mountain, Grouse is the popular snowboarding and downhill skiing mountain, and Seymour is the snowshoeing and tubing mountain.
Or you can drive to Whistler, the award-winning ski resort for all types of skiing.
19. Go Shopping
There are many shopping malls in and around Vancouver. And something that many locals do when it is raining out is head to their nearest mall. Pacific Centre, Richmond Centre, Metrotown, and Brentwood, are only some of the many malls around Vancouver.
20. Indoor Rock Climbing Gyms
If rock climbing the famous Stawamus Chief or “The Chief” was on your plan while visiting Vancouver or try something out of your comfort zone. Do not worry; there are indoor rock climbing gyms and bouldering locations for you to practice before conquering The Chief.
21. Vancouver Public Library (Downtown)
The Vancouver Public Library has architecture reminiscent of the Roman Amphitheatre. While going to the library may differ from everyone’s cup of tea, if you are into books, the Vancouver Public Library will be your new favorite place in Vancouver.
22. VIP Cineplex
While going to a regular movie theatre is fun, nothing compares to a VIP movie experience. Oversized Lazy Boy-like chairs where you can adjust the incline or footrest. Also, you can order food from the comfort of your seat before the movie starts.
Five locations have VIP locations, Marine Drive, Brentwood in Burnaby, Park Royal in West Vancouver, Coquitlam, and Abbotsford.
As a note, the VIP movie theatres are much smaller in capacity compared to regular movie theatres, so timeslots will fill up faster if a popular movie comes out.
23. Ice Skating
One of the most Canadian things and rainy-day activities to do during the winter in Vancouver is going ice skating. Many local community centers have ice rinks, or you can enjoy the Robson Square Ice Rink, where many tourists try ice skating for the first time.
A few community centers to name with ice rinks that may have open public skating are Trout Lake, Hillcrest, and Kitsilano.
24. Camping
While this seems far-fetched for most people and may sound like an awful suggestion, camping in the rain can be fun with the proper preparations. I have been camping in the rain before, and some of my best memories came from rainy camping experiences.
A few tips for camping in the rain are first, bring at least five large waterproof tarps and keep a couple as a backup. Use the largest trap to cover your tent and another to lay it on the ground to keep the bottom of your tent dry. Not all tents and tent flies are waterproof or may lose their waterproofness.
To avoid pooling water under your tent from the trap, roll the edges of the tarp and tuck it underneath your tent so the water does not have a place to pool.
Next would be purchasing a screen house or tent to cover your picnic area. That way, you will be out of the rain when cooking, eating, and hanging out. And the last tip is to bring waterproof bags to keep your things inside the tent dry as an extra precaution.
And if tent camping in the rain still has you on the fence, you can always do a glamping trip by staying in a cabin instead. It will be as cozy and fun.
Where To Eat In Vancouver On A Rainy Day
These are some coffee shops and restaurants’ suggestions for where to eat in Vancouver on a rainy day.
Aperture Coffee Bar (Main Street)
While it does have a front area, there is also the back, where it is quieter, and you could get your work done while drinking a coffee. It is cozy during the rain, and when I went to school, my friends and I spent some time doing our homework at Aperture.
Maxine’s Cafe and Bar (Burrard Street)
Maxine’s Cafe is an excellent brunch spot. Corner bistros of Europe and Soho inspired the retro-style decor. The aesthetic restaurant is a perfect place to hide from the rain.
There is also a happy hour for those looking for a place to grab a drink. Also, many people liked having the Dutch Baby or the Smoked Salmon Rosti.
A la Mode
If you are checking out Granville Island and looking for warm comfort food, A la Mode in the Granville Island Market is a popular spot selling signature pot pies like clam chowder or French onion pot pie.
Where To Stay In Vancouver
These are a few suggestions for places to stay in Vancouver. While Vancouver is an expensive city, keep in mind what months you visit as the prices change between the summer and shoulder months.
One of the most luxurious hotels in the center of Downtown Vancouver is the Rosewood Hotel Georgia. Known for its excellent hospitality and customer service, the five-star hotel has everything from its spa for those seeking a tranquil retreat to its 52-foot heated saltwater indoor pool.
The hotel has 156 rooms, and suites are decorated with style, elegance, and comfort. There are four different dining locations within the hotel as well.
The St Regis Hotel is in an excellent location if you plan to explore Downtown Vancouver. The hotel has complimentary breakfast for up to two guests ($60 value), free worldwide long-distance calling, umbrellas available for guests, and more.
While it does not have all the amenities like the Rosewood, it is a fantastic option if you want somewhere in the mid-range.
Suppose you are on a tight budget while visiting Vancouver because Vancouver is expensive. In that case, the Best Western Plus Sands is an option.
It will not have all the bells and whistles compared to other hotels. However, it is considered in the more affordable hotels category, in an excellent area where you can access public transit, and it is only steps away from English Bay Beach.
Booking.com
Why Does Vancouver Get So Much Rain
British Columbia is a Temperate Rainforest, a forest in a temperate climate, meaning we will get ample annual rainfall.
Typically this happens during the fall, winter and spring months, while it is dry and hot in summer.
3 Rainy Day Vancouver Tips
Here are three tips from a local suggestion to help you on a rainy Vancouver day.
Wear rain boots
I recommend investing in rain boots when visiting or adventuring in Vancouver during the rainy season.
There are days when it pours, your sneakers and socks will get wet, and nobody wants to be miserable walking in damp clothing.
Bring an umbrella
I also recommend using an umbrella when venturing out in the rain in Vancouver. Most of the time, the hotels you are staying at may have umbrellas handy for guests. However, you can always buy a small travel umbrella if they do not.
Leave earlier than you expect
Sometimes, the local transit systems, like the SkyTrain or buses, are delayed because of the rain.
Often, people are trying to cram to get out of the rain, so they end up full. However, with that being said, allow yourself an extra 5-10 minutes of spare time to leave for your destination.
Conclusion
As you can see, a rainy day in Vancouver does not have to rain out your plans, as there are many things to do around the city. Whether drinking coffee in a cafe or exploring local and tourist locations, I hope you enjoy your rainy day in Vancouver.
Author’s Bio: Kelena is a curious Canadian travel blogger who loves exploring her backyard and traveling to other countries worldwide. Sharing her experiences and details for others to enjoy is what she loves to do through her writing at writtenbykel.com.
