What to do in Vancouver in Spring

Having lived in Vancouver for around 7 years, I know exactly what to expect when it comes to spring in Vancouver.

Vancouver in spring is when the city comes alive again after what’s usually many months of rain. Sure, the spring is still rainy too (there’s a reason we refer to June as June-uary!), but you start to get cherry blossoms in Vancouver, more sunshine, and the days are longer.

When I say the city of Vancouver in spring is when the city comes back to life I mean it’s when you’ll start to see the patios open up again, people hit the water on paddleboards and kayaks, and the seawall is once again alive with bicycles, runners and walkers.

I think it’s the best time to visit Vancouver for off-peak travel deals on places to stay in Vancouver while still getting some nice weather and the chance for outdoor activities.

If you’re visiting Vancouver this spring you’re in for a treat. It’s one of my favourite seasons in Vancouver. Summer in Vancouver is great, but it’s often smokey and in recent years it’s too hot! Fall in Vancouver is rainy, winter is well very rainy and spring? Spring can be perfect.

From cherry blossoms to hikes, spring skiing and road trips, below is your guide to the best things to do in Vancouver in spring from a local for your Vancouver itinerary!

Best things to do in Vancouver in Spring

Cherry Blossom Festival

Cherry blossom season in Vancouver is one of my favourite times to be in the city. The season varies depending on the weather conditions that year, but usually by early-mid April the trees are in full bloom.

Vancouver has 10 000s of cherry trees all over the city. Some of my favourites are around David Lam Park in Yaletown, but you’ll find them on the streets in the West End, around Queen Elizabeth Park and out towards Richmond as well as pretty much everywhere in between.

Every year, there’s also the Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival where you’ll find events like picnics in the park, storytelling events and walks to discover the most colourful streets in the city. I highly recommend checking out a couple of the events during the festival!

Go hiking near Vancouver in Spring

Spring can be a bit of a tricky time for hiking in Vancouver as the higher-elevation hikes still have snow on them. The higher elevation ones are typically those with the best views like Mt Strachan over near Cypress Ski Area.

However, in lower-snow years even some of those are snow-free by June and the lower-elevation hikes can be snow free practically all year round.

Spring is a great time for hiking in Vancouver as in my experience the trails are quieter than they are in summer and the weather isn’t quite so hot. Plus, there are typically fewer bugs in certain areas. You will need to carry bear spray though as the bears start to come out and look for food!

If you’re looking for some great spring hikes in Vancouver I recommend Quarry Rock which is virtually always snowfree. Other great hikes include Tunnel Bluffs in Lions Bay, and these Squamish hikes can be great too.

If you don’t have a car in Vancouver you might like these hikes accessible by public transit in Vancouver.

Go skiing near Vancouver

Depending on the snowpack that year, you can still go skiing just 30 minutes from downtown Vancouver at three of the local resorts: Cypress, Grouse and Mt Seymour.

These resorts often have skiing going on until easter but always check beforehand as it varies from year to year.

Cypress is the biggest ski area out of the three and my preferred option. If you go for sunset you can get the most incredible sunset views as you ski or ride the chair lifts. However, Seymour is cheaper than Cypress and a good option if you’re a beginner as it can be quieter and the terrain is more gentle overall.

If the local ski hills don’t have any snow, then head up to Whistler. Whistler offers spring skiing and is the perfect place to enjoy the longer daylight hours in the resort or on touring skis.

We did our trip on the Spearhead Traverse in Whistler towards the end of April with a guide and the weather was amazing!

Check out Vancouver’s Botanical Gardens

The spring flowers in Vancouver start to bloom and that means it’s one of the best times of year to visit the botanical gardens in Vancouver.

The Dr. Sun Yat Sen Classical Chinese Garden in China Town in Vancouver has some great cherry blossom plants as well as other flowers in bloom during this time. You can visit half of the gardens for free, but you’ll have to pay for part of them.

There’s also the VanDusen Botanical Garden nearer Vancouver’s Main Street neighbourhood. This is the main botanical garden and well worth visiting. They have loads of different curated gardens, waterfalls and it’s just super pretty in spring in Vancouver Canada!

You could also take a day trip to Victoria on Vancouver Island and visit Butchart Gardens if you want to try something different.

Visit the Harrison Tulip Festival (Chilliwack Tulip Festival)

One of my favourite spring time road trips from Vancouver was to the Chilliwack Tulip Festival with a friend a few years back.

For 2024, the Chilliwack Tulip Festival has moved and is now the Harrison Tulip Festival. This way you can combine tulips with a fun trip to Harrison Hot Springs too.

The festival allows you to discover fields and fields of beautiful coloured tulips and there are also refreshments and photo spots. It’s not just tulips either, you can usually see daffodils and hyacinths too. Taking a road trip here is one of my favourite spring activities.

Run a Vancouver running event

People in Vancouver are very active and it’s one of the things I love about this city. In spring, there’s an increase in the running events happening throughout the city and if running is your thing, be sure to check them out.

For road running races in Vancouver, there’s the 1st Half which sells out pretty quickly, so you’ll need to have registered in advance. There’s also the Vancouver Sun Run which is a 10 km running race on Vancouver’s Seawall. Despite the name, I remember watching the poor runners taking part one year in a torrential downpour from my kitchen window!

Both these events are great if you’re training for a half marathon or the full marathon at the Vancouver marathon event which takes place in early May.

For trail running, be sure to check out the Coast Mountain Trail series as they have events in SPring like the Buntzen Lake Ultra. There’s also the 5 Peaks Running series in Vancouver and the earlier spring events usually involve running at Alice Lakes in Squamish and Golden Ears Provincial Park. I’ve taken part in events under both companies and they’re always super well managed and everyone is so friendly and welcoming.

Bike Stanley Park Seawall

The Stanley Park seawall runs for about 11 km around the famous Stanley Park, arguably Vancouver’s top attraction.

Spring is the best time to cycle the seawall in my opinion as in the summer it gets super super busy and can just be annoying to cycle.

In spring, you’re visiting before most of the other tourists and cruise ship traffic and so you’ll get a quieter experience.

Take your time biking Stanley Park past the aquarium and totem poles, the lighthouse at Brockton Point and soak in the views of Vancouver’s North Shore and the beaches.

If you’ve already biked the seawall and are looking for more bike rides in Vancouver, Arbutus Greenway is another option to try.

Go whale watching in Vancouver BC

Vancouver’s whale watching season runs from April – October and so late spring can be an awesome time to head out onto the water with a whale watching tour from Vancouver.

There are a couple of different companies that run whale watching trips from Granville Island such as Prince of Whales and you usually get a free second go if you don’t see any wildlife.

Generally, you’ll be able to see seals and if you’re lucky orcas, humpback whales and possibly even sea lions!

Though I haven’t done whale watching trips from downtown Vancouver (we did ours from Campbell River off of Vancouver Island), I do have friends and family who have and they’ve loved it. One of our friends got to see orcas breeching right in front of their boat and their photos looked incredible!

This is one of the most fun activities Vancouver has to offer in spring.

Visit Grouse Mountain

In the latter half of spring in Vancouver I recommend taking a trip up the Grouse Grind or the Gondola to the top of Grouse Mountain.

Once the ski season ends, Grouse Mountain opens up for hiking, lumberjack shows, and bird shows and the resident Grizzly bears – Grinda and Coola – come out of hibernation. There’s also the opportunity to try disc golf, ziplining and paragliding which we did for my husband’s birthday one year and it was so much fun!

Grouse Mountain is a great place to spend a day in Vancouver and I highly recommend it if you’re visiting Vancouver with kids too as there’s so much to do up there.

Take a road trip to Whistler

A road trip from Vancouver to Whistler is an absolute must do if you’re visiting the city or just looking for something to do one weekend.

Driving the Sea to Sky highway to Whistler from Vancouver takes you along a beautiful road where you’ve got the ocean on your left, the forest and mountains on your right and even more mountains straight ahead.

Along the way, check out places like Porteau Cove, these fun things to do in Squamish, or picturesque hiking areas like Murrin Lake Provincial Park.

One of the reasons I love this road trip in Spring so much is because you’ll still see snow-capped mountains. And, I don’t know about you, but snow-capped mountains are that much pretty than your everyday mountain.

Go kayaking in Deep Cove

Deep Cove is synonymous with Honey’s Donuts, hiking Quarry Rock and kayaking.

One of the best kayaking trips from Deep Cove is out to Twin Islands which is a popular spot for camping in Deep Cove.

However, there are plenty of other great spots to kayak in the Indian Arm from Deep Cove too if you don’t want to camp. You can rent a kayak from Deep Cove Kayaking but be sure to book in advance if you’re planning to kayak on the weekend as it gets very busy.

If you failed to book in advance and are in Deep Cove, I have a guide to the best things to do in Deep Cove like Cates Park and the Baden Powell trail that’ll make sure your journey didn’t go to waste.

Take a trip to the Gulf Islands

The Southern Gulf Islands are the group of islands that lie between the mainland and Vancouver Island.

Some of the most popular islands here are Salt Spring Island, Galiano Island and Gabriola Island but there are others too.

In general, they’re pretty artistic places with a strong sense of community. In the case of Salt Spring Island, they’re foodie hot spots where you’ll find loads of locally made goods like Salt Spring Island Cheese or Salt Spring Island Coffee as well as great Salt Spring Island restaurants.

Galiano Island has some super cute cabins and Hornby Island is often referred to as Little Hawaii due to how clear (and relatively warm) the water is.

Check out the Richmond Night Market

Another super popular activity in Vancouver that reopens annually during spring in Vancouver is the Richmond Night Market.

Outside of downtown Vancouver, but still within Metro Vancouver is Richmond which is also where you’ll find Vancouver’s airport.

You can get the Sky Train to Bridgeport Station from downtown in about 20-30 minutes and then it’s a short walk to the market.

At the market, you’ll find 100s of stalls selling different types of international foods. You’ll find things like churros and butter beer, as well as food from Indonesia, China and Turkey.

There are also stalls selling Canadian souvenirs and gifts. There’s live music most nights and even a fair.

I’ve been to the Richmond Night Market a few times and while I don’t like how busy it gets, or the fact that you have to buy a ticket to enter the market, it is a fun thing to do once or twice just to sample some different foods all in one place.

Attend Italian Day on The Drive

In June, the Italian Days Vancouver festival comes to Commercial Drive in Vancouver; the area of the city known as Little Italy.

During this day, Commercial Drive is blocked off to cars and a whole load of stalls are set up along the road instead. They serve food like arancini and Italian ice creams, cannelloni, and other goods. There’s live music, DJs, raffles, and even a fashion show!

It’s a great way to spend a day in Vancouver if you happen to be in the city during the festival.

Check out the Vancouver Farmers’ Markets

Vancouver’s Farmers’ Markets are great fun to browse and do some light shopping. While some of the farmers’ markets are year-round, most of them are seasonal and usually start back up again in May.

The West End Farmer’s Market is my local one and I love spending an hour or so exploring what’s on offer each week. It’s here that I found the best croissant in Vancouver from Ça Croustille, and I’ve bought beautiful flowers here as well as tasty produce.

Check out the Capilano Suspension Bridge

Capilano Suspension Bridge is one of Vancouver’s best and most popular attractions. If you’ve never visited before it’s worth checking out and, if you’re a local, be sure to trade in your ticket for the annual pass and come back again during winter in Vancouver to see the canyon lights!

Though expensive, the Capilano Suspension Bridge is worth the price if you’ve not done similar suspension bridges. It’s got a huge suspension bridge as well as canyon cliff walks, a treetop walk and other entertainment such as axe throwing which is great for kids.

If you decide it’s not worth it, be sure to check out Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge instead which is free.

Eat Spot Prawns on Granville Island

Spring in Vancouver is the season for spot prawns.

This season is quite short, lasting for only about 6 weeks, and usually starts in May. During this time they’ll start to appear on menus in restaurants throughout the city.

Granville Island is the best place to sample spot prawns in Vancouver as there’s an annual Spot Prawn Festival held towards the end of May. You’ll be able to buy the freshest prawns straight off the boats or buy them from the stalls in Granville Island Market.

Enjoy Vancouver’s best patios when the sun shines

When the sun comes out, Vancouver’s patios and rooftops begin to open up which means there’s no better time to enjoy a happy hour.

When living in Vancouver, my favourite time of year was when the Frozés were back on the menu at Cactus Club. I may be basic, but they taste great.

The Cactus Club on English Bay Beach has arguably one of the best views but you’ll usually have to queue for a table on their patio if you’ve not been able to book, especially at happy hour. Otherwise, check out my list of the best patios in Vancouver.

What’s Vancouver in spring like?

Vancouver in spring can be beautiful! But, Vancouver spring weather can also be pretty rainy and grey. If you’re in Vancouver for a few days you should get at least one day of nice weather.

Over 7 years or so of living in Vancouver I’ve found the weather in May is best during springtime in Vancouver. June is nicknamed June-uary as it can be like the typical January gloomy weather in June.

However, this isn’t always the case.

On average, here’s what you can expect in Vancouver in Spring:

• March in Vancouver: Cool and mild weather, with average temperatures ranging from 6°C to 10°C Expect rain and cloudy days, with occasional sunny spells.
• Vancouver in April: Generally cooler and wetter than May and June, with a gradual shift from the wetter winter months to the drier summer period. Expect mild temperatures averaging around 9°C, and highs of about 14°C,
• Vancouver in May: The average high temperature is around 14°C to 16°C, with the average low temperature being approximately 8°C to 9°C. The weather typically includes some rainfall interspersed with sunnier days.
• June in Vancouver: Typically warmer temperatures with average highs between 20°C and 23°C, June marks the beginning of summer and tends to be warmer compared to previous months.

Wrapping up on what to do in spring in Vancouver

As you can see from this list, there are so many fun things to do in Vancouver in Spring.

If you happen to be visiting during a wet and rainy spring, be sure to check out these fun things to do in the rain in Vancouver which include some of Vancouver’s best museums like the Anthropology Museum and the Vancouver Art Gallery.

Or, if you want more ideas, I’ve plenty of information in my Vancouver travel guides which I’ve developed over the 7 years or so of living in Vancouver.

Last Updated on January 27, 2024 by Hannah