Ways to enjoy Vancouver when it rains (because it always does)

But backpackers planning on outdoor adventures in dry conditions might find themselves a little stumped. So, what is a backpacker to do? Don’t wait for clear skies to make the most of your trip to Vancouver. Here are ten ways to spend the day—no matter how hard it’s pouring down:

1. Appreciate Contemporary Indigenous Art

One way to create a memorable trip in Vancouver is to spend time learning about and appreciating local Indigenous culture. Luckily, there are plenty of galleries for that! The Bill Reid Gallery of Northwest Coast Art is a ticketed public art gallery with a focus on Northwest Coast Indigenous artwork. Equally impressive and within a two-minute walk from the gallery is the Coastal People’s Fine Arts Gallery shop. If you’d like to view and support more of the work of emerging and established Indigenous artists, head to the South Granville Gallery District. There, you will find the carefully curated Douglas Reynolds Gallery and Lattimer Gallery, which feature the work of multiple incredibly talented Northwest Coast artists.

2. Eat Sushi

Vancouver is known for its high-quality, authentic Asian food—with the sushi and its fresh-from-the-ocean flavours being a hallmark of Vancouver’s cuisine. And if you’ve never tried it? This is your chance! Across the city, sushi restaurants cater to every budget and palette. From sushi cafes like VanLove Sushi & More to Japanese restaurants like Akira Sushi, to all-you-can-eat places like Shabusen Yakiniku House, Vancouver’s sushi scene has something for everyone. 

3. Put the “Rain” in Rainforest 

Vancouver’s rainforests provide the perfect setting for an outdoor rainy day adventure—as long as you’re equipped with the right gear. (As the saying goes: No bad weather, just bad gear!) Wander the forested trails in Stanley Park and take in the lush greenery. Or, take the bus or Poparide to Lynn Canyon Park, and make sure to check out the Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge, Twin Falls Bridge, and 30-Foot Pool. Remember to wear closed-toe, waterproof footwear with a good tread to prevent slipping. You should also wear a waterproof outer layer and bring a rain cover for your backpack and a dry sack for important belongings.

4. Savour the Flavours at Granville Island Public Market

If you decide to visit the Granville Island Public Market, your taste buds will thank you. This is where you get a chance to sample local fruits, vegetables, meats, chocolates, macarons, seafood, and the infamous Nanaimo bars. The Granville Island Public Market is a bustling indoor market with over 50 food vendors, open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. Wander from stall to stall or take a seat at one of the indoor picnic tables. Use your compass card to get there by sea bus to feel like a true Vancouverite.

5. Watch Seaplanes Take Off at Coal Harbour

Sit by the window at the Flying Whale Waterfront Cafe or the Canada Place location of Cactus Club Cafe to watch seaplanes glide across the water. Seriously, is there anything an avid traveller loves more than takeoff and landing? Watching these planes take off is so… thrilling. Plus, they take flight in such a beautiful setting—and who doesn’t love a gorgeous Vancouver view? While you’re in the area, stop in at Canada Place’s free Discovery Centre to learn more about the port of Vancouver. And, if what you see makes you eager to fly yourself, visit Flyover Canada for a video-sensorial aerial experience, also located in Canada Place. Show your HI Canada membership card for a discount at the ticket gate.

6. Tour a Brewery

With over 70 breweries in the city, craft beer culture is huge in Vancouver! Vancouver Brewery Tours offers a highly-rated tour that includes transportation between breweries, so you won’t get wet. Or, visit Faculty Brewing, a brewery which, as its name might suggest, brings education and teaching to the forefront by showing visitors all about its brewing process and recipes. Just eager to taste something new while it’s teeming down? Visit Parallel 49 Brewing to enjoy unique local flavours or Storm Brewing to sample brews you won’t find in a store.

7. Check out the Film Scene

Rainy days call for movies inside! Even outside of the Vancouver International Film Festival, held annually in late September and early October, there are plenty of opportunities to discover why Vancouver is known as “Hollywood North.” The VIFF Centre screens internationally-acclaimed films every day of the week and offers various accessibility options. Media education centre Cinematheque also plays classic and contemporary films, but at a slightly lower ticket cost.

8. Cozy up in a Cafe

Vancouver is full of cafes to duck into when the weather gets gloomy. If you’re not from West Coast Canada, Blenz is a great place to start. This B.C. coffeeshop chain crafts delicious tea lattes and coffee beverages and offers a unique vibe in each of its locations (often complete with comfy chairs). If coffee isn’t your thing, local vegan and dairy ice cream parlour Earnest Ice Cream is another recommended rainy-day option. On your way to either establishment, stop at one of Vancouver’s independent bookshops, such as Massy Books, to pick up your entertainment for the day. Nothing beats reading indoors with a cup of coffee on a chilly, wet day.

9. Namaste Indoors

Vancouver has a huge yoga culture. Although most free, one-time yoga events are held outdoors, many studios also offer free or reduced price indoor trial classes—perfect for a traveller on a rainy day. Roundhouse and Modo Yoga are two examples that offer single drop-in classes for under $20. If you’ll be in town a bit longer, Oxygen Yoga & Fitness also often offers a one-to-two-week hot yoga trial pass for as low as $14.

10. Learn Something New

No rainy day itinerary would be complete without a visit to a museum—and Vancouver has many. The world-class Museum of Anthropology at UBC is a solid way to spend the day while learning and possibly shaking up your world view (that’s what travelling is for, right?) If you would prefer to learn about Vancouver’s non-human residents, visit the Vancouver Aquarium, Bloedel Conservatory or Beaty Biodiversity Museum. Or, if Chinatown was on your itinerary for the day, head to the Chinese Canadian Museum or Chinatown Storytelling Centre.

And if you don’t get to them all today? The good news is that it might be raining tomorrow too…