A Holiday Weekend Getaway in One of North America’s Most Romantic Cities

What makes a city feel romantic during the holidays? Is it historic luxury hotels and world-class dining? Festive light displays and ski hills with ocean views? Whether you’re seeking a glittering urban getaway of holiday markets and Michelin-recommended restaurants or a tranquil escape to nature with forest walks and private spa circuits, Vancouver delivers.

For couples seeking a quick escape during the busy holiday season, a weekend in Vancouver is the perfect spot to do it. This itinerary combines fine dining and festive fun with time outdoors appreciating the city’s beautiful natural surroundings.

Three Days in Vancouver

On arrival, settle into your hotel. There are plenty of wonderful options for luxury in the downtown core.

For a cozy bed and breakfast experience in a charming heritage house, try Barclay House Bed and Breakfast. Built in 1904 in Vancouver’s West End, the home features six comfortable guest rooms with a mix of classic and contemporary furnishings.

Friday: Fine Dining in Historic Gastown

First stop: seasonal fun in the heart of the city. Skate hand in hand at the free seasonal outdoor ice rink in Robson Square. It’s covered with a large plexiglas dome for enjoyment in any weather.

For dinner, head to L’Abattoir. Named in part for its location (the neighbourhood was once a meatpacking district), the 19th-century brick-and-beam building has been updated with French tile and warm wood finishes for an elevated industrial feel. This Michelin-recommended restaurant serves West Coast ingredients prepared using classic French techniques. Foie gras and steak, yes, but also, barbecued octopus and wild Pacific Halibut.

After your meal, take a stroll through Gastown, Vancouver’s oldest neighbourhood. Always scenic, it is especially so in the winter, when the warm glow of vintage-style streetlights and holiday additions are doubled by their reflections on the charming cobblestone streets.

Saturday: Sparkling Slopes and Forests on Vancouver’s North Shore

Start your Saturday with a bite to eat at Medina Café, long considered one of the best brunch spots in Vancouver. A hearty Moroccan-inspired meal, coffee and liège waffle will fuel you for a day of fresh air on the North Shore, accessed via forested road through Stanley Park and over the beautiful Lions Gate Bridge.

Spend your afternoon skiing on Cypress Mountain, where you can snuggle up on the chairlift and pause on the way down to admire the incredible views of Vancouver and the Pacific Ocean from above. It’s the perfect spot to enjoy the sunset.

As darkness settles in, head to Capilano Suspension Bridge for their seasonal Canyon Lights display. The world-famous bridge and surrounding forest are aglow with millions of twinkling lights, making for a magical walk. Live music and hot chocolate complete the festive atmosphere.

Descend to sea level to wander through the charming wooden stalls of the Shipyards Christmas Market on Lonsdale Quay. Start your holiday shopping with locally made gifts and souvenirs, and grab a bite to eat from one of the many food trucks on site.

Sunday: West Side Wellness and Winter Wonderland

Spend your morning relaxing in complete privacy with a self-guided spa circuit at Circle Wellness (book well in advance via their website). The tranquil space presents an open-air shower, cedar soaking tub, multi-sensory sauna with Himalayan salt walls, cold water plunge pool and heated stone bed.

The spa is located on Granville Island, a former industrial site transformed into the city’s premier destination for arts, culture and local food. Explore the sights, sounds and scents of the vibrant Public Market, shop from local artisans in the Net Loft and watch craftspeople at work in Railspur Alley.

As darkness falls, head south to VanDusen Botanical Gardens for their Festival of Lights (book online, no tickets on site). Every year from late November to January, fifteen acres of this beautiful botanical garden are transformed into a wonderland of twinkling lights. Stroll through the winding garden paths and enjoy themed light displays, festive photo ops, a cozy fondue station and seasonal music.

Nearby Queen Elizabeth Park offers a final scenic viewpoint for your stay. Gaze out over the glowing city backdropped by mountains, with constellations of lights dotting the ski hills. Chilly? Keep absorbing the view from a window table at Seasons in the Park restaurant, where you can toast your romantic getaway with a glass from their extensive wine list.