Looking for fun things for couples to do in Vancouver? We have a list of romantic date ideas in Vancouver you can try!
Surrounded by ocean and mountains, offering natural beauties, diverse food and plenty to do both indoors and outdoors, Vancouver is a city you can’t help falling for.
Guest Post by Bea from “In Love With BC”.
Maybe it’s not the first city that comes to your mind when looking for romantic getaways, but it very well can be.
Whether you’re after active, entertaining or relaxing things to do, Vancouver has something for you. In this post, we’ll be taking a look at lots of different romantic things for couples to do in Vancouver.
Date Night Ideas In Vancouver
Visit Granville Island
How about combining good food with shopping and pretty views? Granville Island is your place to go.
Take the tiny AquaBus from Vancouver Downtown over to Granville Island across False Creek, and enjoy the views of the bay and the bridges. You’ll arrive at the entrance of the Granville Island Public Market.
Spend a few hours wandering around the market, hunting for fresh fruits, sweets or baked goods.
Don’t miss the handmade chocolate glazed cake donuts at Lee’s Donuts, the special bread and pastry selection at Terra Breads or pick something from the variety of sweet, savory and pot pies at A La Mode.
Take all your findings to the benches and tables in front of the market hall where you can have a scenic picnic with Vancouver and bay views.
Granville Island Public Market is an exciting place to explore, but not the only one on Granville Island.
Once an old industrial district, it was turned into a quirky, colorful neighborhood with restaurants, shops and parks.
Stroll through Sutcliffe Park, and get to the top of hilly Ron Basford Park.
Bike the Stanley Park Seawall together
You can hardly read an article about Vancouver that doesn’t mention Stanley Park, and it’s for a good reason.
It’s one of the coolest urban parks in the world, located on its own peninsula, surrounded by English Bay and Burrard Inlet.
It offers ocean views, Vancouver’s most romantic beaches and about 27 km of walking trails.
Hiring a tandem bike and cycling around the Stanley Park Seawall is one of the best active date ideas in Vancouver.
Since the Seawall is about 10 km, you need a few hours for this scenic bike ride, especially if you haven’t tried tandems before.
It’s a fun exercise for couples! You can rent tandems at Spokes Bicycle Rentals at the northern end of Denman Street in Coal Harbour, only a stone’s throw from the Stanley Park entrance.
Honestly, the views around the Stanley Park Seawall are stunning all the way.
But make sure not to miss the Stanley Park Totem Poles, Brockton Point, Prospect Point, Siwash Rock and Third Beach – they are the most iconic stops on the way.
Skate at Robson Square
Winter is not the most popular month to visit Vancouver, because it’s rather rainy and not much of a white wonderland.
But winter comes with its own specialties, and the lovers of winter sports will find plenty to do.
You don’t need to be a skier, or even leave downtown to enjoy winter sports.
A great active date idea in the winter months is skating on the outdoor ice skating rink on Robson Square.
It’s open from early December to the end of February. What’s more, it’s a free ice rink – if you have your own skates, otherwise you can rent them.
Robson Square is in the heart of the Business District, so you can walk around in the nearby streets or go shopping afterwards.
Take in the views of the Vancouver skyline at night
Looking for a traditional date night when nothing special happens, it’s just the two of you walking hand in hand, talking and getting mesmerized by fabulous city views?
Let me share my favorite night walking route in Vancouver with you.
It’s right across downtown, along the False Creek Seawall, and it offers the very best Vancouver skyline views.
Start your stroll at Charleson Park, and head south.
Pass the Heather Civic Marina, Cambie Bridge, Habitat Island, and walk all the way to Science World, the giant ball shaped museum at the end of False Creek.
You can’t go wrong as the False Creek Seawall runs all along the way (and even further), and it’s a wide pathway with separate lanes for pedestrians and cyclists.
Mahony’s Tavern False Creek is at the Heather Civic Marina, and it’s a great place to have dinner with False Creek views, in case you get hungry for more than just pretty views.
Do a sunset hike in Lighthouse Park
The Stanley Park Seawall is great for taking a walk with ocean views, but if you’re looking for the most beautiful coastal hikes in Vancouver, head to Lighthouse Park.
It’s only about a 20 minutes drive from Stanley Park, but it feels so quiet and unspoilt that it would make you forget you’re actually still in Metro Vancouver.
Time your hike for the late afternoon so that you can enjoy sunset views from the rocky bluffs in the park – what could be more romantic?
Where to go exactly?
Once you park at the parking lot at the end of Beacon Lane, take the Juniper Loop to Juniper Point for a very short hike (1.2 km loop). Juniper Point is a large rocky bluff, overlooking Howe Sound and facing the sunsets.
You can continue your hike on the Shore Pine Trail, with several rocky outcrops on the way.
Keep your eyes open for seals, as well, swimming around the coastal rocks. For the iconic lighthouse view, take the steep, but short West Beach Trail.
If you’re done with the coastal viewpoints, the quickest way to get back to the parking lot before dark is the Beacon Lane Trail, a wide, well-established path in the middle of Lighthouse Park.
The trail network is altogether 6 km in the park, so you can easily explore several of the trails.
Drink cocktail with an English Bay sunset
Strolling on the Seawall along English Bay Beach at sunset is romantic by itself, but why not top it with a cocktail?
You’re spoilt for choice when it comes to having a cocktail in Vancouver, but Cactus Club in English Bay combines the best cocktails with the best sunset views.
It has direct beach access as well as countless traditional and special cocktails, wine and beer.
Their food is made of local, fresh ingredients, and the choice satisfies both meat lovers and vegetarians.
Look at the stars at HR MacMillan Space Centre
If you’re into sciences, Vancouver’s HR MacMillan Space Center is an exciting place to visit, see the planetarium and take a peek at the sky through a telescope in the Gordon MacMillan Southam Observatory.
Even if you’re not science nerds, what’s more romantic than stargazing together?
With knowledgeable staff around who helps you find the most exciting stars, planets and moons up there.
Just make sure to visit on Wednesday or Friday when it’s open until 11 pm.
Visit the VanDusen Botanical Garden
VanDusen Botanical Garden is the largest one in Vancouver, with over 7500 plant species from around the world.
Cliché or not, a beautiful garden full of flowers is an ideal scene for a date.
The most romantic time for a visit is either May, when the spectacular Rhododendron walk is in bloom, or December, when the garden is decorated with thousands of fairy tale lights.
Take a picnic basket, if you visit in the warmer months, because the large lawns, surrounded by flowers, are the best place for having lunch.
Enjoy a drive-in movie night
Get nostalgic and go for a drive-in movie night at the Lansdowne Centre parking lot in Richmond.
It’s a summer event, taking place roughly from the end of August until the end of September, with a weekly movie night. And it’s even free. The movie begins after sunset, make sure to drop in to the mall for snacks and drinks beforehand.
Rent a kayak at Deep Cove
Are you looking for an active date in nature, but something more special than hiking? (Though Vancouver has some pretty special trails.)
Rent a kayak at Deep Cove, a bayside community in North Vancouver which is the most beautiful place for kayaking in Vancouver.
The calm waters of the Indian Arm are surrounded by mountains, and you can kayak to some of the islands.
But it’s an activity to plan well in advance.
Don’t expect to simply show up and rent a kayak, they’ll likely all be booked, because kayaking in Deep Cove is extremely popular during the summer months.
About the author:
Bea is a passionate traveler, hiker and founder of In Love With BC, a blog that focuses on traveling and outdoor activities in British Columbia.
Sara, a seasoned expert in wedding planning and date ideas, brings a wealth of experience to our couples blog. With a background in the television industry and hands-on involvement in a dozen weddings, including working as a wedding assistant on "My Fair Wedding with David Tutera," Sara has an innate understanding of the magic that makes weddings truly special. Growing up with four sisters has given her unique insights into the dating world, making her a go-to source for practical and heartfelt dating advice. Her knowledge and enthusiasm make her the perfect guide for couples seeking to infuse their relationships with creativity and love.