How to Plan the MOST ROMANTIC Vancouver Honeymoon

Your honeymoon will be a memorable occasion no matter where you go, but it can also be stressful and challenging to plan something! We don’t want you to have any stress when planning, so we’ve put together a bit of a guide for how to plan a romantic honeymoon in Vancouver, BC. 

Vancouver is known for its stunning natural beauty. It’s a city set right on the west coast of British Columbia, with the Pacific Ocean on one side and the mountains on the other side. This stunning location holds a world-class city with great hotels, restaurants, and places to relax and pamper yourself – all necessary for a romantic honeymoon! 

Here are some of the top places to stay, eat, and relax in Vancouver for your romantic honeymoon. This is your ultimate guide to enjoying Vancouver with your loved one.

3 Most Romantic Honeymoon Hotels in Vancouver 

Vancouver has a lot of amazing hotel options to choose from, but it can be overwhelming to sift through all the information online! Here are the top three romantic hotels to choose from when planning your Vancouver honeymoon. 

Shangri-La (Most Luxurious)

The Shangri-La Hotel stands tall amongst the skyscrapers of Vancouver and boasts a stunning, luxurious interior. Every inch of the hotel is beautiful, from high ceilings with chandeliers in the lobby to gorgeous artwork and grand pianos in the common areas.

Rooms are equally luxurious with comfortable beds and all the amenities you need. It is perfect for a honeymoon because of the amazing spa, the CHI, where you can relax with a couples massage!

This is a bit of a splurge at approximately $450/night, but it’s your honeymoon, so splurge away! You won’t find a more luxurious hotel for your Vancouver honeymoon, that much is for sure.

Check availability and price of the Shangri-La.

Pan Pacific (Best Views)

This Pan Pacific Hotel is one of the best honeymoon stays in Vancouver because of its location right on the water. The Pan Pacific is located under the iconic white sails of the Canada Place cruise ship terminal. It has stunning views of the ocean, harbor, and mountains from just about every room.

It’s the perfect romantic getaway with a heated outdoor pool and hot tub and a beautiful roof-top terrace restaurant, Oceans 999.

Prices for the Pan Pacific are around $300 CAD/night. 

Granville Island Hotel (Best Location and Budget)

The Granville Island Hotel is the perfect honeymoon hotel for couples who enjoy being close to restaurants, shops, and interesting places to walk and explore. As the name suggests, this hotel is located right in Granville Island, which has no shortage of things to see.

It also has a swimming pool and great views of the surrounding harbor. It is the most budget-friendly option on this list, around $200 CAD/night. 

Related Read: For detailed information on all of the best areas to stay in Vancouver, check out our blog about where to stay in Vancouver!

Romantic Things to do on your Vancouver Honeymoon

Now that you’ve got somewhere to stay, you need to find some of the best things to do in Vancouver. It’s true, there is no shortage of activities in Vancouver, but not all of them are suitable for a honeymoon. Below are some romantic things to do – perfect for your Vancouver honeymoon!

Take in the views from Grouse Mountain

Grouse Mountain is one of the ski hills in Vancouver. In the winter months, you can hit the slopes and enjoy a day or two of shredding.

But don’t be fooled, Grouse Mountain is equally as popular in the summer months when you can ride the gondola to the top and enjoy some of the best views in all of Vancouver.

For those looking for a challenge (a little relationship-building activity if you ask me), you can tackle the” Grouse Grind” which is one of the best Vancouver hikes that takes you to the top instead of riding the gondola. The hike is just under 3 kilometers long and gains over 800 meters in elevation – it isn’t one of the easiest hikes in Vancouver, that’s for sure!

But it’s worth it because once you’re at the top, you can enjoy the absolutely stunning views. Here you can overlook the city, ocean, and surrounding mountains. Luckily, there’s also a café and bar at the top, so grab a drink and relax a bit with your loved one.

For something especially romantic, consider enjoying sunset up there!

Visit the Capilano Suspension Bridge

By far one of the most popular attractions in Vancouver is the Capilano Suspension Bridge. Here, you can cross a huge suspension bridge conquering any fear of heights.

But it isn’t just one bridge. In fact, there are a series of bridges here and it is a full tree canopy walk that takes at least an hour to explore properly. You’ll admire some amazing views and enjoy being up high amongst some huge Canadian pine trees. It is one of the most popular things to do in Vancouver, and an attraction most include in their Vancouver itinerary (even if they’re visiting for just one day!)

If you’re visiting Vancouver in the winter months for your honeymoon, then consider visiting the Capilano Suspension Bridge at night when they light it all up in the Christmas lights. Not only is this a unique and festive activity, but it’s also beautiful and romantic too!

The Capilano Suspension Bridge is located about 15-20 minute drive from downtown Vancouver, but they do offer a free shuttle that departs regularly from a couple of different locations around Vancouver and is free.

Go on a food tour

There isn’t anything more romantic than winning and dining, right? To ensure you get to try some of the best food Vancouver has to offer you should consider joining a guided food tour!

Dan and I actually did a food tour in Vancouver the last time we were there and we loved it. Although our tour was a group tour, it was lots of fun and we had a few drinks and laughs throughout the day. Our guide taught us all about the food and the history of Vancouver and Gastown (where we toured.)

For something a little fancier or romantic, you could do a private food tour such as this one. Or even a sunset dinner cruise – which would be particularly fun! There are plenty of options for great tours in Vancouver to choose from.

Hot Tip: A food tour is a great activity in Vancouver when it’s a rainy day since all of the stops are indoors!

Get out on the water

Vancouver is a beautiful coastal city, so it should come as no surprise that one of the best things to do in Vancouver is getting out on the water. Rent a kayak (another relationship-building activity), a boat, or join a guided boat tour.

I personally recommend this half-day whale watching tour if you’re in Vancouver between May and October. There are many different kinds of whales you can see near Vancouver and for many, spotting a Humpback whale or Orca in the wild is a bucket-list activity. These kinds of memorable experiences are ideal for honeymooning!

Go on a scenic flight

Another memorable bucket list activity in BC is going on a scenic flight. Seaplane tours are popular in Vancouver. Take off and land on the water while enjoying incredible mountain, city, and ocean views! Honestly, could you think of anything more special and romantic?!

Unfortunately, scenic flights in Vancouver aren’t cheap and you can expect to pay upwards of $140 CAD per person. This particular seaplane tour is highly rated and one of the most popular scenic flights in the area.

You can also book a seaplane tour as a mode of transport to get to other nearby destinations. This scenic flight will take you to Victoria, whereas this one will take you to stunning Whistler. If you only have one day to spend in Vancouver then a flight is a great option to maximize your time before heading to your next destination.

Heading to Whistler? Be sure to read out blog about planning the most romantic honeymoon in Whistler!

Bike ride in Stanley Park

Did you even visit Vancouver if you didn’t bicycle the Stanley Park Seawall? Stanley Park is huge at over 4 square kilometers, and the seawall wraps around it along the coast. Bicycling is the easiest and best way to explore Stanley Park with the seawall having dedicated bike lanes. You’ll pass plenty of beautiful viewpoints and even beaches to relax at.

The cycle trail around the Stanley Park Seawall is 12 kilometers long and takes about 1.5 to 2 hours to cycle at a moderate pace. There are many different bicycle shops near the entrance to Stanley Park where you can rent a bike. Expect to pay around $20 CAD for an hour and a half of riding.

Alternatively, you can join a Vancouver city tour on a bike. This particular bicycle tour includes cycling around Stanley Park, but also includes going to a few other main attractions such as Gastown, Chinatown, and taking the Aqua Ferry over to Granville Island!

Related Read: Visiting Stanley Park is just one of the many free things to do in and around Vancouver.

Spend an afternoon on Granville Island

Another iconic place to visit in Vancouver is Granville Island. Located in downtown Vancouver, there are plenty of fun things to do on Granville Island. My personal favorite? Visiting the Granville Island Public Market. Here, you can browse hundreds of different market stands selling everything from fresh fruit and veggies to jewelry to pasta!

Fun date idea – grab some of the fresh pasta and homemade sauce to-go and cook it up at your hotel (if you have a kitchen, that is.)

You’ll also find the famous Granville Island Brewing just steps away from the market. Stop in for a guided brewery tour, or just buy a flight of tasters to sample some really delicious beer.

If seafood is your thing, then you’ll have your fair share on Granville Island with plenty of seafood restaurants to enjoy. The Vancouver Fish Company is a beautiful restaurant, perfect for honeymooning couples in Vancouver.

3 Best Places to Eat on Your Vancouver Honeymoon 

Vancouver is an amazing food destination with culinary influences from all over the world! For your honeymoon, you want to eat somewhere special, so here are the top three places to try: 

CinCin Ristorante + Bar (Best Food)

You can’t go wrong with Italian food and wine for a romantic night out, and CinCin is one of the top-rated Italian restaurants in the city! Their selective menu has a variety of pasta and risotto dishes as well as mouth-watering mains like scallops, lamb, or truffle roast chicken. CinCin is an upscale restaurant located on Robson Street (an excellent shopping area), with world-class service and a beautifully decorated interior.  

Although a little on the pricier side, they do offer specials and fixed price menus on certain days of the week. Their $49 CAD three course fixed menu is a favorite that you can enjoy on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays.

Water Street Café (Best Location)

This romantic restaurant is one of the best restaurants in Gastown. This historic neighborhood in the city with cobblestone streets and brick buildings. It is a romantic spot to try some delicious food; Water Street Café is known for their local and fresh Italian-inspired meals with a West Coast twist!

To add to the romantic mood, they have live jazz music a few days a week, so check ahead and enjoy your evening there.  
 

Teahouse Restaurant (Best Views)

There is nothing more romantic than a beautiful patio with sweeping views of the ocean and mountains. At Teahouse Restaurant in Stanley Park, you can have some of the best food with the best views! They actually earned the title, “Best Sunset in the City.” 

The Teahouse serves a wide variety of meals with an emphasis on Canadian and West Coast dishes. After eating, you can take a romantic stroll along the sea wall in Stanley Park.  

Spas and Wellness Centers in Vancouver to Spoil Your Loved One 

The most relaxing and romantic way to spend a day on your honeymoon is at the spa. There are a few great options in Vancouver where you can treat yourself to a relaxing couples massage. Here are the top choices: 

CHI, The Spa (Most Luxurious)

CHI, The Spa is located in the Shangri-La Hotel, as mentioned earlier. They offer a variety or spas, facials, and body treatments. The obvious choice here is a romantic couples massage! Because this is one of the most upscale hotels and spas, you should expect to spend at least $150-200 CAD on a massage. It will be worth it for the total bliss experience! 
 

Smile Thai Wellness (Most Budget-friendly)

Here you will have a touch of Thailand in the heart of Vancouver. Smile Thai Wellness offers a number of services including a relaxing Thai oil massage, Thai Herbal Spa Treatments, and Couples Massages. Prices begin at $100 CAD for a 60-minute massage. They are located right downtown in the shopping district of Robson Street.  
 

Miraj Hammam Spa (Most Unique)

This hammam is a Middle Eastern spa and the first of its kind in Canada. All treatments at Miraj Hammam Spa start with a hammam (steam room) and then move to a gommage (full-body exfoliation). After, you can receive a relaxing massage and then chill out in the Sultana Lounge. The spa is very opulent and beautiful with velvet beds and silk pillows. Prices start at $100 CAD and it is located just across the Granville Street Bridge from downtown on West 6^th Avenue.  

Other Places to Visit near Vancouver on your Honeymoon

If you’re visiting Vancouver on your honeymoon, the exploring doesn’t have to stop in the city. You can explore a few other nearby areas too for an even more epic trip. Some places you can consider visiting include:

• Whistler – This small mountain town is stunning. A skiing destination in the winter and a hiking and biking destination in the summer, Whistler offers plenty of fun things to do. Drink craft beer, enjoy beautiful views, and just relax!

• Vancouver Island – Jump on the ferry and head over to Vancouver Island. There isn’t anything more romantic than exploring the world-famous Butchart Gardens in Victoria. Or, for those a little more active, head to Tofino for surf lessons or tower high above the island on the Malahat Skywalk!

• Sea to Sky Highway – Rated as one of the most scenic drives in Canada, this highway is a noteworthy destination in itself. This highway connects Vancouver with Whistler as it winds its way around mountain peaks and along the coast. Be sure to visit the Sea to Sky Gondola and visit Garibaldi Lake – you won’t be disappointed! You can do this drive on a guided tour, or if you don’t have your own wheels, rent a car.

Getting Around Vancouver 

Transportation and ease of navigating a new city are super important to consider when planning a trip. It will help you determine where to stay and what you’ll be able to visit while in the city. In Vancouver, there are a few different options for transportation in and around the city.

Driving

This is probably the best form of transportation if you want to explore anywhere outside of downtown Vancouver and participate in activities like hiking or skiing, which require getting a bit further away. Traffic in downtown Vancouver can be fairly busy, just like any city center.

There is ample parking available both on the streets and in parkades, though it can be expensive. Some hotels provide parking, so check ahead of time. 

If you can rent a car so you can explore Vancouver with ease! Just be prepared to pay for parking unless your hotel includes it.

Car share

A great option besides renting a car is using a car share service like Modo or Evo. These services allow you to rent a car and pay based on the time it’s used (i.e., pay for 30 minutes, two hours, or the full day, depending on how long you drive for).

You can pick up and drop off the car at specific checkpoints around the city and the best part is they get lots of free parking. This makes it super easy to use a car for just the time that you need it. 

Public transportation

Vancouver’s public transit system is not as extensive as many other major cities, but it is still a good way to get around to main attractions. The SkyTrain provides excellent access to some of the neighboring cities, such as Burnaby, New Westminster, or Surrey, so it offers a good option if you plan on exploring outside of downtown. It also runs from the airport, so again, a good option to get into the city from the airport. 

There are also many buses in the city that run frequently. Note that public transportation options are extremely limited overnight, with only a couple of night buses and no SkyTrian options after around 1:00 am. All public transportation is run by the company TransLink and is fairly affordable; a single trip costs $3.05, and a day pass costs $10.75 CAD.

Taxis and rideshares

Taxis are available throughout the city, as are Uber and Lyft. These are good options in the downtown core but can get pricey if you are going further outside of that region. For example, the taxi cost from YVR to Vancouver is about $30-50.

Aquabus

The Aquabus is one of the more unique ways to get around Vancouver. These small boats visit 8 locations in the harbor all the way from The Village to Granville Island. The Aquabus costs $17 for a full day pass or round trip tickets start at $3.85 but prices vary depending on the route you take. You can check out all their routes and prices here.

Walking and biking

Vancouver is a very walkable city, and it is possible to walk just about anywhere in the downtown core.

Biking is also a good option, as there are dedicated bike lanes throughout most of the city. You can rent bikes all over the city and pretty much ride everywhere you want to downtown. I love doing this, especially on a beautiful day!

Renting a Car in British Columbia

If you’re arriving in British Columbia via plane, then I can’t recommend getting a rental car enough. British Columbia is a large province and traveling between the best places to visit in BC requires transport. Although you can use public transport on some occasions, this means your trip will not only require more time but more planning.

Car rental in Canada isn’t relatively cheap, but it’s not that expensive either, especially if you get a budget car. The cheapest car with a pick-up and drop-off in different locations is around $100 CAD per day. The price does vary though, depending on the time of year. For car rentals, I use the website Discover Cars. It’s a search engine with lots of deals with good customer service. In fact, I’ve used Discover Cars all over the world, including in Chile, New Zealand, and Australia.

Another popular option is to rent a campervan or motorhome (only for the brave in winter.) Using Motorhome Republic, you can search hundreds of deals across multiple companies to pick a great vehicle and the cheapest price. Having a motorhome is a stunning way to see Canada, and using crown land and campsites, you can often camp for free or very cheap in the most beautiful places imaginable!

Canada Travel Essentials

Before you decide to head off and explore the gorgeous mountains, lakes, towns, and cities around Canada it’s important to have the right equipment. Of course, it’s likely you’ll have most of the basics already but there are some common items people forget that I never travel without.

Crampons: In winter, crampons are super handy, but what people don’t realize is that they come in handy in summer too. In fact, up until mid-July, you can still expect icy conditions in the mountains. The pair I use is only $37 CAD and they have lasted me 3 seasons so far!

Waterproof shell: Most people will have this item but I thought I’d include it anyway since it’s so handy in Canada. The Columbia waterproof jacket is a lightweight windproof jacket that will seriously save you in many situations. The best part, though? It comes in pink!

Bear bells: These are a must, and for the price, you shouldn’t hike without them. The bear bells I use are only $9 CAD and they come with a silencer (a must) so you can easily travel with them.

Scent-proof bag (for bears): Most people think you only need to keep the smell of food away from you when you’re overnight camping. However, bears can smell the food in your bag while you’re hiking and the best way to avoid an encounter is to use a scent-proof bear bag. Basically, you put your food in the bag and the bear cannot smell it while you’re hiking. This is one item most people never have (I never hike without it) but it could save you and the bear.

Buff: I love my buff! Seriously, I go nowhere without it both in winter and summer. There are a few brands around but I always buy the original Buff (you know, the one from Survivor!) They’re a little more expensive but the material is good quality and both breathable and quick drying.

Dry bag: I have expensive camera equipment, so I always travel with a dry bag large enough to fit some of my equipment. It can be a camera, book, binoculars, or even my keys. Regardless, a dry bag gives me peace of mind! The MARCHWAY bag is really good quality, and when not in use, takes up only a small amount of room.

Binoculars: I love my binoculars! Seriously they have come in handy so many times, especially when I’m looking for wildlife. The best part is, I use a set that only costs $25 CAD and they serve my basic needs without any issues!

Before you go… 

Your honeymoon will be one of the most memorable trips you and your spouse will ever take! Vancouver is an amazing city and the perfect place for a romantic honeymoon getaway. We hope this guide helps you as you plan. Congratulations on your marriage and enjoy your romantic honeymoon in Vancouver! 

For more blogs that you’ll probably find very helpful, check out our other BC blogs, or some similar blogs below:

Guide to Planning a Romantic Honeymoon in Jasper

Guide to Planning a Romantic Honeymoon in Banff

50 EPIC Things to do in Vancouver