Vancouver offers a number of fun dates to choose from. Whether you want to treat your special someone with adventure, picturesque views, high-end dining or cheap-and-cheerful romance, there are plenty of activities right on our doorstep. Here’s our pick of 25 unique date ideas in Vancouver that will keep the spark alive all year round.
Indoor Date Ideas in Vancouver
Vancouver Aquarium
Price: $16 for children - $31 for adults
Address: 845 Avison Way (Stanley Park)
Hours: Daily 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Phone: (604) 659-3474
Website: vanaqua.org
The Vancouver Aquarium is the perfect rainy day date. Get up close with over 50,000 animals from across the world at one of the city’s best attractions. Check out the Amazon Gallery, catch a beluga show and learn about the marine animals that live on the British Columbian coast.
Dinner With a View
Price: $22 - $60 (single entree)
Address: Harbour Centre, 555 West Hastings Street
Hours: 11:30 a.m. - 11 p.m., closed Sundays
Phone: (604) 669-2220
Website: topofvancouver.com
Experience dinner with the ultimate view at the Top of Vancouver Revolving Restaurant. The combination of fine food and stunning panoramic views of the city, coastal mountains and ocean make this place a pretty unique date spot.
Granville Island Comedy
Price: $8 - $22 depending on show time
Address: 1502 Duranleau Street
Hours: 7:30 p.m. shows Wednesday - Sunday, 9:15 p.m. shows Wednesday - Saturday, 11:15 p.m. shows Friday - Saturday
Phone: (604) 738-7013
Website: vtsl.com
Enjoy hilarious comedy at the Improv Centre on Granville Island. The Vancouver Theatre Sports League produces daring improv that’s bound to leave you in stitches.
Dessert & Cocktails in Romantic Gastown
Price: $7 - $20
Address: 32 Water Street
Hours: 5 p.m. - 12 a.m. Wednesday - Saturday, 5 - 11 p.m. Sunday, closed Monday - Tuesday
Phone: (604) 398-3188
Website: mosquitodessert.com
Skip straight to dessert and take your date for a sweet treat with a twist. Mosquito in Gastown is a great intimate spot that offers decadent desserts along with champagne, cocktails and beer.
Catch a Game
Price: $40 - $200
While you may not think it’s the most romantic kind of date, a sports game is always good fun. Spend date night watching the BC Lions, Canucks, Whitecaps, Canadians or Giants and enjoy an evening of excitement with your lover.
Blind-Dining
Price: $33 - $39
Address: 2611 West 4th Avenue
Hours: Seatings from 5:45 p.m. - 8:45 p.m.
Phone: (604) 739-3275
Website: darktable.ca
Spend your date in the dark and experience a whole new dining experience at Dark Table. Blind dining offers a completely different culinary journey as you get to sample what it’s like when your sense of sight is removed.
Outdoor Date Ideas in Vancouver
Camping
Escape to the wilderness on a romantic camping date. Hike to the back country campsites around Joffre Lakes or Garibaldi Park, drive over to Golden Ears Park or Alice Lake for car camping, or if you’re feeling adventurous, kayak from Deep Cove around the Indian Arm and camp out at the stunning Granite Falls.
Scuba diving
Explore BC’s wildlife from another perspective and take your date underwater. The water will be pretty chilly year-round but the area offers amazing diving for both pros and beginners, not to mention the abundance of stunning aquatic life. You have to be certified to dive but there are many agencies that provide this kind of training and experience. Whytecliff Park is a particularly easy spot to get started.
Hiking
You’ll find tons of hiking trails on the Sea-to-Sky stretch between Vancouver and Whistler along with seriously beautiful views of the coastal mountains, city and ocean. The Chief is only a short drive away and provides a good workout with an even better view.
Beach Picnic
Take your food to go and enjoy a cute picnic date with ocean views from Sunset Beach, English Bay or Kitsilano.
Snowshoeing
Price: $10 trail pass, $27 snowshoe rental
Hours: 9:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Saturday - Sunday
Phone: (604) 986-2261
Website: mountseymour.com/snowshoe
Wrap up warm and explore the North Shore Mountains trails via Snowshoe. If you want to make it extra special, why not enjoy a Chocolate Fondue Snowshoe Tour at Mount Seymour and explore the magic of the mountains under the stars.
Food Truck Crawl
While you can’t count on dry weather in Vancouver, you can count on good food. Spend your day food truck hopping and sample delicious cuisine from all over the world.
Day Time Date Ideas in Vancouver
Tandem Ride
Price: $14 per hour
Address: 745 Denman Street
Hours: 9 a.m. - dusk
Phone: (604) 688-2453
Website: bayshorebikerentals.ca
Explore the city’s best asset via tandem bike. Pedal around the 10km-stretch of seawall that circles the entire park, or cut through and cycle around Stanley Park’s gigantic forest. There are many shops to rent bikes from, including Bayshore Bike Rentals right by Stanley Park.
Go Paddleboarding
Price: $20 per hour
Address: 1812 Boatlift Lane
Phone: (604) 736-5155
Website: vancouverwateradventures.com
Soak in the sun and glide around English Bay, False Creek or Sunset Beach. Paddleboarding is a great way to explore the coast and escape the hustle of the city.
Farmers’ Market
Address: 1661 Duranleau Street (Granville Island)
Phone: (604) 666-6655
Website: granvilleisland.com
You’ll find a number of farmers’ markets dotted around Vancouver that offer seasonal foods, artisanal products and baked goods. The majority of markets run from May through October, but there are a couple that pop up in the winter months. Alternatively, head over to Granville Island Market, which is open every day, all year round.
Go Kayaking
Price: $39 for 2 hours in a single kayak, $55 for 2 hours in a double kayak
Address: 2156 Banbury Road (Deep Cove)
Website: deepcovekayak.com
Jump in a kayak off one of Vancouver’s shores and explore the ocean that fringes the coastline. Rent a single or double kayak and admire the views of the city and mountains. The area around Deep Cove and the Indian Arm offers pristine waters and tons of wildlife, including harbour seals and black bears.
Cheap Date Ideas in Vancouver
Walk The Seawall
Tourism Vancouver/ Canadian Tourism Commission (CTC)
Cute dates don’t have to be expensive. Grab a coffee and take a stroll around Vancouver’s iconic seawall for breath-taking scenic views.
Queen Elizabeth Park
Price: $7
Address: 4600 Cambie Street
Hours: 9 a.m. - 8 p.m. Monday - Friday, 10 a.m. - 8 p.m. Saturday - Sunday
Website: vancouver.ca/parks-recreation-culture/bloedel-conservatory
Soak in the sights of the city and mountain backdrop at the highest point in Vancouver. For $6.50 each, you can explore the Bloedel Conservatory - a lush paradise of exotic plants, birds and flowers - or keep it super low-cost and simply wander around the greenery.
Vancouver Art Gallery
Price: $20 (by donation Tuesdays from 5 - 9 p.m.)
Address: 750 Hornby Street
Hours: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. (9 p.m. Tuesdays)
Website: vanartgallery.bc.ca
Get cultural and take your date to the Vancouver Art Gallery. The attraction offers by-donation admission on Tuesdays between 5 and 9 p.m.
Summer Night Market
Address: 8351 River Road
Hours: 7 p.m. - 12 a.m. Friday - Saturday, 7 p.m. - 11 p.m. Sunday and holidays
Website: richmondnightmarket.com
Spend as little or as much as you like at one of Vancouver’s summer night markets. Enjoy an evening of good (and cheap) food, craft beer and live music. Markets run from May onwards and can be found in Metro Vancouver and North Vancouver while the most famous is in Richmond.
Sunset Stroll
Tourism Vancouver/ Clayton Perry
The best things in life are often free, and that definitely applies to sunsets. Take your date for a stroll around English Bay, Kits or UBC and enjoy a beautiful beach sunset at no cost.
Double Date Ideas in Vancouver
Brewery Tour
Price: $75 -$85
Website: vancouverbrewerytours.com
Vancouver’s known for its epic selection of craft beers, and there are many breweries around the city that offer tasting rooms and full tours.
Bowling
Address: 838 Granville Street
Hours: 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 p.m. Monday - Thursday, 11 a.m. - 12:30 a.m. Friday - Saturday, 11 a.m. - 11:30 p.m. Sunday
Phone: (604) 681-1531
Website: commodorelanes.com
A night at the bowling alley is underrated, but it's always good fun. Plus, it's is the perfect icebreaker if you’re heading out on your first double date. Commodore Lanes is popular and right in the heart of down town.
Prohibition Cocktails
Address: 801 West Georgia Street
Hours: 5 p.m. - 1 a.m. Tuesday - Thursday, 5 p.m. - 2 a.m. Friday - Saturday
Phone: (604) 673 7089
Website: rosewoodhotels.com/en/hotel-georgia-vancouver
Throw it back to the era of Prohibition at Rosewood Hotel Georgia. Enjoy live entertainment, bespoke cocktails and a touch of glamour and prosperity at one of Vancouver’s coolest bars.
Play an Escape Room Game
Address: 309 West Broadway
Hours: 12 - 10:45 p.m. Sunday - Thursday, 12 - 11:45 p.m. Friday - Saturday
Phone: (778) 379-4730
Website: e-exit.ca/vancouver-west-broadway
Test your teamwork skills at Exit. Choose from a number of room themes and solve puzzles and clues before your time runs out.
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