Month guide · Vancouver · Canada
Vancouver in January
What January is really like in Vancouver: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
.jpg){kind=link}
Quick answer
January is a quieter month with trade-offs. Expect average highs of 7°C (45°F), lows of 2°C (36°F), about 16 rainy days and roughly 8.6 hours of daylight. Cool, wet and grey with short days; snow is rare in the city, but the North Shore ski hills are in full swing.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 7°C (45°F) / 2°C (36°F)
- Rainy days
- About 16
- Daylight
- About 8.6 hours
- Sea temperature
- 8°C (46°F)
- Crowds
- Quiet
- Hotel prices
- Low
Weather in January
January is the 11th-warmest month in Vancouver: days average 7°C (45°F) against a yearly average high of 14°C (57°F), and nights fall to about 2°C (36°F). Rain falls on roughly 16 of its 31 days. Compared with December (7°C (45°F)), January is about as warm; by February highs stay near 8°C (46°F).
- Sunrise (15 January)
- About 08:02
- Sunset (15 January)
- About 16:41
- Daylight
- About 8.6 hours
- Sea
- 8°C (46°F)
Winter (December–February). Mild and very rainy at sea level, with snow on the North Shore mountains for skiing within about 30 minutes of downtown.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, January rates 2 for crowds (the peak is July at 5) and 2 for hotel prices (highest in July). That makes January one of the better-value months to book.
Events in January
- Polar Bear Swim at English Bay (1 January)
- Dine Out Vancouver — city-wide restaurant festival (usually late January to early February)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in January
With cold days, plan around indoor sights and keep outdoor time flexible.
.jpg){kind=link}
Aquarium · Stanley Park
Vancouver Aquarium
Plan your visit around the sea otter feeding and talks listed on the daily schedule.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Nature
Museum · University of British Columbia
Museum of Anthropology at UBC
Arthur Erickson's concrete-and-glass building at the University of British Columbia holds one of the world's finest collections of Northwest Coast First Nations art, with towering totem poles in the Great Hall and Bill Reid's yellow-cedar sculpture The Raven and the First Men.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Art
- History
- Architecture
- Rainy day
- Iconic
Garden · Little Mountain
Queen Elizabeth Park and Bloedel Conservatory
The park is free; pay only for the conservatory, which makes a warm rainy-day stop.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Views
- Rainy day
- Kids
- Nature
- Couples
Museum · False Creek
Science World
The silver geodesic dome built for Expo 86 houses a hands-on science centre with galleries on the body, nature and engineering, an outdoor science park and a large dome cinema at the eastern end of False Creek.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Architecture
What to pack
For highs near 7°C, lows near 2°C and 16 wet days: a warm coat, hat, gloves and thermal layers; shoes with good grip for icy pavements; a compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent; comfortable walking shoes.
Is January a good time to visit Vancouver?
A quieter month with trade-offs, with 2 notable events on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, June–September are better overall. Compare every month.
Vancouver in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is January a good time to visit Vancouver?
It is a quieter month with trade-offs. Cool, wet and grey with short days; snow is rare in the city, but the North Shore ski hills are in full swing.
+How warm is Vancouver in January?
Average highs are around 7°C (45°F) and lows around 2°C (36°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Vancouver in January?
Expect rain on about 16 days of the month, so pack for wet weather.