For couples · Vancouver · Canada
Romantic things to do in Vancouver
Ideas for a couples' trip, from small moments to a special day out.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Stan Shebs, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Vancouver's romance comes from its setting: sunsets over English Bay, mountains across the harbour and seaside walks that end at a wine bar or oyster bar. Plan an evening by the water and a day in the mountains. Couples tend to stay in West End.
Key facts
- Romantic ideas
- 6
- Couple-friendly sights
- 4
- Area for couples
- West End
- Best months
- June–September
Romantic ideas
1.Sunset at English Bay
Sit on the driftwood logs at English Bay Beach as the sun drops behind the mountains of Vancouver Island, then dine on Denman Street.
2.Seawall bike ride
Rent two bikes and circle Stanley Park, stopping at Third Beach and Prospect Point.
3.Dinner on Grouse Mountain
Ride the Skyride at dusk and watch the city lights come on from the mountain-top restaurant.
4.Seaplane to Victoria
Fly from the downtown harbour to Victoria's Inner Harbour for a day of gardens and afternoon tea.
5.A quiet hour in the Chinese garden
Walk the pavilions and covered paths of the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen garden in Chinatown.
6.Kayak at Deep Cove
Paddle together along the forested shores of Indian Arm on a calm morning.
Sights couples love
Garden · Chinatown
Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden
Join a guided tour to understand the symbolism of the rocks, water and plants.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Couples
- Architecture
- Off the beaten path
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
Garden · Shaughnessy
VanDusen Botanical Garden
Visit in May for rhododendrons and magnolias, or in December for the lights, booking evening slots ahead.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Nature
- Kids
- Couples
- Outdoors
Nature · West Vancouver
Lighthouse Park
Arrive early on sunny weekends, when the small car park fills, and bring a picnic for the rocks.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Nature
- Views
- Couples
- Off the beaten path
Where couples should stay
$$$ · Best for couples, beach, nightlife and solo travellers
West End
One of Canada's most densely populated neighbourhoods still feels green, with tree-lined streets, Davie Village's LGBTQ+ bars and rainbow crosswalks, and Denman Street's casual restaurants leading to English Bay Beach and Stanley Park. Smaller hotels and apartment rentals make it a good base for walkers.
- Good
- Beach and Stanley Park on the doorstep; Good casual restaurants; Lively but residential
- Watch out
- Few large hotels; A bus ride or long walk to SkyTrain
- Nearby
- English Bay Beach, Stanley Park, Davie Village, Denman Street
Romantic day trips
- Whistler (About 2 hours by car or coach) — The resort town that co-hosted the 2010 Winter Olympics has one of North America's largest ski areas and, in summer, mountain biking, hiking and the Peak 2 Peak Gondola between Whistler and Blackcomb mountains.
- Victoria (About 3.5 hours each way by transit and ferry) — British Columbia's capital on Vancouver Island centres on the Inner Harbour, the domed Parliament Buildings and the Fairmont Empress hotel, with the Butchart Gardens nearby.
- Squamish and the Sea to Sky Gondola (About 1 hour by car) — Squamish sits between Howe Sound and the granite walls of the Stawamus Chief, a famous climbing and hiking peak.
- Bowen Island (About 20 minutes by ferry from Horseshoe Bay) — A relaxed island community in Howe Sound with a walkable harbour village of cafés and galleries, trails through Crippen Regional Park to Killarney Lake, and calm bays for kayaking.
For dinner
Share local specialities such as Sushi and the BC roll, Wild Pacific salmon and Spot prawns. The legal drinking age in British Columbia is 19, and ID is checked.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Vancouver romantic?
Vancouver's romance comes from its setting: sunsets over English Bay, mountains across the harbour and seaside walks that end at a wine bar or oyster bar. Plan an evening by the water and a day in the mountains.
+What is the most romantic thing to do in Vancouver?
Sunset at English Bay: Sit on the driftwood logs at English Bay Beach as the sun drops behind the mountains of Vancouver Island, then dine on Denman Street.
+Where should couples stay in Vancouver?
West End: Leafy residential streets between Stanley Park and English Bay.