Your Holiday Movie Weekend: Experience Vancouver Like a Romcom Star

Weekend getaways should always be coated in a little romance.

Luckily, Vancouver during the holidays drenches every moment in it. Here, you can spend the morning in the sky, flying over dramatic snow-capped mountains, and the evening on the ground, strolling through twinkling holiday markets, mulled wine in hand. Not to mention the endless cozy cafes, candlelit dinner spots and epic treetop trails. Every moment here at this time of year feels like it was scripted for a movie.

For anyone ready to transport themselves from their everyday normal to a real-life winter romcom, here’s your guide to an idyllic Christmas getaway in the city.

Friday: Check in, holiday market and candlelit dinner

Nothing says romantic weekend getaway like a boutique hotel stay. With heritage charm and enchanting details, either downtown Vancouver hotel, The Wedgewood Hotel and Spa or The Victorian, will set the scene for a whimsical weekend.

The city’s downtown core is only 30 minutes from the airport via the Canada Line SkyTrain, so you can go from baggage claim to boutique-hotel check-in before your nose gets cold. Once you’re here, walking, rideshares and other transit options (including mini ferry rides) will get you just about anywhere you want to go.

Once you’ve settled and soaked in all the pristine vibes, bundle up for an evening stroll through town. Gastown’s cobblestone streets are filled with romantic options to pop into for a drink or small bite, and the seaside promenade at Canada Place offers serene views of the harbour, reflecting the city’s sparkle.

Then, pop into the Vancouver Christmas Market. Let fragrant mulled wine and steaming cups of cider warm your hands as you wander, perusing artisanal stalls. Or if you’re up for a little more adventure, take a nighttime seabus ride (an easy 15-minute public transit journey) across the water to the Shipyards Christmas Market and savour the holiday spirit at the base of the North Shore mountains.

An elegant, candle-lit dinner is the perfect close to your first night. Choose a warm, moody spot like L’Abattoir or Water St. Café for an elevated atmosphere, or Nightingale’s elegant setting and farm-to-table fare. By the time you’re back at your hotel, the glow of city lights, the taste of mulled wine and the lingering scent of pine and fire from the markets will have set the tone for a magical Christmas getaway.

Saturday: Harbour Air adventure, Canyon Lights and elegant eats

In true holiday rom-com fashion, a day must start at an elegant cafe. Even if you’re not here for a hopeful meet-cute, a buttery croissant and coffee are a must. And there are a host of options at your fingertips, from Maxine’s to Beaucoup Bakery or Giovanne Café (located right below the Fairmont Pacific Rim). Consider taking it to go, because your next activity deserves a first-class treat.

It’s time to elevate your weekend getaway in the most cinematic way possible. Board a Harbour Air floatplane for a scenic day trip to Vancouver Island. Victoria is just a 35-minute flight, taking you straight from Vancouver’s harbour to the island city’s. On the way there and back, you’ll soar past snow-capped mountains and over the glistening Pacific Ocean and forested islands. Keep your eyes on the view and imagine yourself in a movie. Because in this scene, you really are.

Once you get back to the city, cap off the day with a lavish dinner downtown. Bacchus Restaurant offers red-carpet-worthy sophistication in a refined room. Or the Reflections Terrace at the Rosewood Hotel Georgia is a decadent covered winter terrace hidden inside a lavish hotel where twinkling lights, tapas and an elaborate cocktail list make it a worthy setting for the final scene of your fairytale day.

Or if your ideal night involves a massage followed by room service in a fluffy robe, power to you. Whether it’s the opulent spa at the Fairmont Pacific Rim or the serenity of Vida Spa at the Westin Bayshore, Vancouver knows how to do self-care right.

Sunday: Brunch, market wandering and a final toast

After two big days of festive magic, slow the pace on Sunday.

Start your day at Granville Island Public Market and wander to your heart’s content, stopping to browse whichever local artisans, bakers and makers catch your eye.

After you've had your fill of artisan shopping and taste testing, head across the bridge for an enchanted evening at Capilano Suspension Bridge Park. At this time of year, the annual Canyon Lights display transforms the forest into a sparkling wonderland.

For dinner, head to the Peak Chalet at Grouse Mountain for cozy mountain lodge charm. After a day in the fresh air and with a movie-backdrop worthy view of Vancouver, you’ll be feeling the main character energy.

There you have it, a weekend of magical moments strolling through treetops and markets, soaring over the city and dining your way around town. The only question left is, who’s your co-star?