Best Time to Visit Vancouver

July and August: the sweet spot

These are the two best months, and they're nearly twin months. Highs sit around 22°C, and rain is rare, with only five or six wet days each. The days feel long and dry, and the evenings are mild enough for a patio.

This is also peak season, so expect crowds. Beaches like Kitsilano and English Bay fill up, and the Stanley Park seawall gets busy with walkers and cyclists. Cruise ships dock at Canada Place on their way to Alaska. Fireworks fill English Bay during the Celebration of Light in late July and early August. Pride week in early August brings a big parade through the West End. Hotels cost more, so if you hate crowds, aim for the edges of these months.

May, June and September: the smart shoulder

Want good weather without the summer rush? Try June or September. Both are rated Excellent. Highs are around 18°C, and you'll get dry spells with a light jacket in the evenings. June has about 11 rainy days, so keep a hood handy.

September is great for walking the Capilano or Lynn Canyon trails, or cycling around Stanley Park once the school holidays end. Early in the month, the Vancouver Fringe Festival fills the stages on Granville Island. In late September, the Vancouver International Film Festival starts. May is a Good month, with cherry blossoms finishing in April and gardens like VanDusen in full bloom.

October to April: the wet months

Let's be honest. From October to April, it's grey and damp. January and November are the wettest, with rain on 20 days or more and about 1.7 hours of sun a day. November is the wettest at 210 mm. Days are short, and the mountains often hide in cloud.

It's not all bad. Hotels are cheaper, and the city turns cosy, with coffee shops in Gastown and dim sum in Richmond. Ski fans can take the short drive to Cypress or Grouse Mountain, where the rain in town often falls as snow up high. Early winter brings the Bright Nights train in Stanley Park and the Christmas market at Jack Poole Plaza. Pack a proper rain jacket and waterproof shoes, because an umbrella won't cope with the wind on the waterfront.