Having spent most of my life in Ontario, I’m used to seeing beautiful fall colours every October. British Columbia isn’t quite as well known for its autumn foliage, especially along the coast, where evergreen forests dominate the landscape.
So, I was pleasantly surprised by just how much fall colour I found in Vancouver during my October visit! The changing leaves were especially beautiful around the West End, where I spent five nights staying at the locally owned Como Hotel.
I also lucked out with several days of sunshine, which made visiting Vancouver’s parks, beaches, and waterfront paths even more enjoyable.
Of course, October in Vancouver is known for being rainy, and I’ve experienced my fair share of wet weather on previous visits. But with a good raincoat and a mix of indoor and outdoor activities, there’s no reason to let the rain put a damper on your trip.
If you’re planning a trip to Vancouver in October, here are some of my favourite things to see and do in the city during the fall!
- 1. Walk from Sunset Beach to English Bay
- 2. Walk Around Gastown
- 3. Learn About Historic Chinatown
- 4. Visit the Museum of Anthropology
- 5. Walk Down to Wreck Beach [Weather Dependent]
- 6. Bike Around Stanley Park [Weather Dependent]
- 7. Take the Talking Totems Tour in Stanley Park
- 8. Pop Into Granville Island Public Market
- 9. Visit the Roedde House
- Where to Stay in Vancouver? The Como Hotel
- Where to Eat and Drink in Vancouver
- Is Vancouver Worth Visiting in October?
1. Walk from Sunset Beach to English Bay
One of my favourite things to do in Vancouver in October is walk along the waterfront from Sunset Beach Park to English Bay Beach.
Along this walk, you have views across English Bay and toward the North Shore Mountains. And I especially love how on a clear day you can see the colourful fall leaves against the backdrop of the water and mountains.
I was surprised by how much fall colour there was during my October visit to Vancouver, especially around the West End. I spotted trees with brilliant shades of yellow, orange, and red, contrasting with the evergreens and ocean views.
I recommend starting the walk at Sunset Beach Park and following the waterfront pedestrian path toward English Bay Beach. It’s an easy, mostly flat walk, and you can take your time stopping for photos or sitting on one of the benches to enjoy the views.
If you’re lucky enough to have a sunny October day, I’d recommend doing this walk around sunset time. English Bay is one of Vancouver’s best places to watch the sun go down, and the combination of fall colours, ocean views, and golden evening light is beautiful.
From English Bay, you can also continue walking into Stanley Park if you feel like exploring a little further.
Important tip: If you do this walk in the evening, you’ll want to check what time the sun will set. The daylight hours in Vancouver shorten pretty quickly throughout October, so sunset could happen anywhere from 6:50 PM to as early as 5:50 PM, depending on whether you’re there early or later in the month.
2. Walk Around Gastown
Gastown is one of my favourite neighbourhoods to wander around in Vancouver. It’s one of the oldest parts of the city, with historic brick buildings, independent shops, and plenty of restaurants and cafes.
One of the most recognizable landmarks is the Gastown Steam Clock, which looks much older than it actually is! It was built in 1977 by clockmaker Raymond Saunders and whistles every fifteen minutes.
The steam clock runs on weighted mechanisms, with a small steam engine that raises the weights, and every fifteen minutes it whistles and releases steam in a Westminster-style chime.
Aside from seeing the famous steam clock, I really enjoy wandering around Gastown, especially in the fall. There are plenty of independent shops to browse, and if it starts raining, you won’t have trouble finding somewhere to duck inside for coffee.
While wandering Gastown, check out some of the local shops. Old Faithful Shop is a great one for home goods, and I really enjoyed browsing Shop Makers Gastown for handmade jewelry and gifts.
If you like a great cup of coffee like I do, you’ll want to pop into Revolver. It’s one of Vancouver’s most loved coffee shops, and it fits right into Gastown’s aesthetic with its cool, minimalist vibe.
They rotate beans from top roasters and brew everything with care. You can choose which beans are used for your coffee, as well as how your coffee is brewed.
If you’re hungry, head just across the street after your coffee to Meat and Bread for a sandwich. I had an incredible porchetta sandwich there!
3. Learn About Historic Chinatown
Vancouver’s Chinatown is one of the city’s most historically significant neighbourhoods, shaped by Chinese immigrants who arrived in the late 1800s, many of whom worked on the Canadian Pacific Railway.
One of the best ways to understand the history of this neighbourhood is by joining a walking tour with Judy Lam Maxwell, who runs small-group tours through her company Chinatown Girl.
I’ve joined Judy for both her historical walking tour and her hands-on dumpling-making class, and I highly recommend both experiences!
Her walking tours explore the lived history of Chinatown, including the experiences of early Chinese immigrants, the impact of the Chinese Head Tax, and how the community has shaped and sustained the neighbourhood over time.
Along the way, you’ll visit heritage buildings, cultural sites, and community spaces that you might otherwise walk right past.
Judy has strong relationships within the Chinatown community, which allows her to bring visitors into spaces that aren’t typically accessible to the public.
I really appreciated how Judy connected the neighbourhood’s history to the present day. She’s an incredibly engaging and knowledgeable guide, and I left with a much deeper understanding of Chinatown and the people who have shaped it.
Another experience Judy offers is a dumpling-making class! It’s a fun, hands-on opportunity to learn how to prepare and fold traditional Chinese dumplings while learning about the food and cultural traditions behind them. And of course, you get to enjoy the dumplings you’ve made!
Both experiences are great options for visiting Vancouver in October, especially if you encounter some rainy weather.
Much of the walking tour takes place indoors, and the dumpling class is entirely indoors, making them easy activities to work into a fall visit.
4. Visit the Museum of Anthropology
The Museum of Anthropology at UBC is one of Vancouver’s most important cultural institutions. It focuses on Indigenous art, history, and cultural belongings, particularly from First Nations communities of the Northwest Coast.
The Great Hall was my favourite room of the museum. It’s where you’ll find towering totem poles and floor-to-ceiling glass overlooking the surrounding landscape.
You’ll also find galleries that explore global cultures, archaeological collections, and rotating exhibitions that showcase contemporary Indigenous artists.
Plan to spend at least two hours here so that you can visit most of the galleries, from the Great Hall to the European Ceramics gallery.
There are also outdoor exhibits, which are especially lovely to explore on a crisp October day. Behind the museum, you can walk through a quiet outdoor area that includes two Haida Houses created by Bill Reid and Doug Cranmer, modeled after a 19th-century Haida village.
They sit beside the Yosef Wosk Reflecting Pond, which mirrors the sky. Around the pond, you’ll find memorial and mortuary poles carved by artists from several Nations, including Jim Hart, Chief Walter Harris, and Mungo Martin.
I don’t recommend rushing through MOA. You’ll want to take your time wandering through the galleries and absorbing what you’re learning.
It’s also one of my top recommendations for a rainy October day in Vancouver, since you can easily spend a few hours indoors. And if the weather clears up, you can head outside to walk around the grounds before leaving.
5. Walk Down to Wreck Beach [Weather Dependent]
If you luck out with a sunny October day, I recommend heading to Wreck Beach after visiting the Museum of Anthropology.
It’s a beautiful spot to enjoy Vancouver’s coastline in the fall, and it’s just a 10–15 minute walk from the museum to the start of the main beach access trail.
To get there, head toward Trail 6, which is the main access point. Be prepared: the stairs down to the beach are steep, and there are a lot of them!
In October, the steps can also be slippery from rain and fallen leaves, so wear shoes with good grip. There are plenty of benches along the trail, though, so you can take your time on the way down (and definitely on the way back up). The trip down and back up the stairs takes 10 -25 minutes each way.
Once you get to the bottom, you’ll find yourself on a wide beach backed by forest, with views of the Salish Sea and Vancouver Island in the distance.
You can walk along the shoreline of Wreck Beach in either direction. October tends to be quieter than the summer months, making it a lovely time for a peaceful beach walk.
If it’s a clear day, the views are especially beautiful, and you might even catch a sunset over the water! Just check the tide times and leave enough daylight for the climb back up.
Wreck Beach is famously clothing optional. I personally didn’t see any bare bums during my visit, but it’s always a possibility, so just be aware and respectful.
6. Bike Around Stanley Park [Weather Dependent]
Stanley Park is about 400 hectares, making it one of North America’s largest urban parks and even bigger than New York’s Central Park.
The park is located on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh Nations, whose connections to this land go back thousands of years.
It became Vancouver’s first official park in 1888 and continues to hold deep cultural and ecological significance.
October is a beautiful time to visit Stanley Park! While Vancouver isn’t as famous for its fall foliage as Eastern Canada, you’ll find plenty of changing leaves throughout the park, especially along its forested trails.
The combination of golden leaves, towering evergreens, and ocean views is lovely.
I recommend saving your Stanley Park visit for a day when the weather is cooperating. Cycling the seawall is particularly enjoyable on a sunny October day, although you can still walk parts of the park on foot if it’s raining.
Cycle the Stanley Park Seawall
One of my favourite ways to experience Stanley Park is by cycling the seawall, a scenic waterfront path that loops around the park.
The Stanley Park Seawall loop is approximately 9 kilometres long and takes around 1 to 1.5 hours to cycle at a relaxed pace, including stops to admire the views and take photos. If you’re walking instead, allow approximately 2 to 3 hours.
An important thing to know is that cycling on the seawall is one-way, in a counterclockwise direction.
You’ll enter the route near Coal Harbour and cycle around the eastern and northern edges of the park before continuing along the western shoreline toward Second Beach.
Along the way, you’ll enjoy views of Vancouver’s skyline, the North Shore Mountains, Lions Gate Bridge, and English Bay. There are plenty of places to stop for photos, and you might even spot harbour seals or other marine wildlife!
If you need a bike, there are several rental shops along Denman Street near the entrance to Stanley Park.
During my October visit, I stayed at The Como Hotel in the West End, which offers complimentary e-bike rentals for guests. This made it incredibly easy to head out for a ride!
Take a Guided Cycling Tour Around Stanley Park
You also have the option to book a Stanley Park cycling tour.
If it’s your first time visiting Stanley Park, joining a guided cycling tour is nice because you get to see some of the park’s most popular landmarks while learning about its history, ecology, and cultural significance along the way.
The cycling pace is relaxed, with a mix of ocean views, rainforest scenery, and stops at some of the park’s most popular landmarks, including the totem poles.
If you’re visiting Vancouver for the first time, a guided cycling tour can be a great introduction to Stanley Park!
A few tips for cycling Stanley Park in October: Dress in layers, bring a waterproof jacket, and check the weather forecast before heading out. Fallen leaves can make some paths slippery after rain, and daylight hours are getting shorter, so I recommend planning your ride for the morning or early afternoon. Also, be sure to check for any seawall closures or detours before your visit.
7. Take the Talking Totems Tour in Stanley Park
The totem poles at Brockton Point in Stanley Park are one of Vancouver’s most popular attractions.
But despite how many people stop to admire and photograph them, there’s surprisingly little information on-site to help visitors understand their cultural significance.
That’s why I recommend booking the Talking Totems walking tour with Talaysay Tours, an Indigenous-owned tour company that shares First Nations history, culture, and traditions through guided experiences.
I booked this tour along with some friends when I visited Vancouver in October 2026.
Our guide was Gavin Lewis, who grew up in Haida Gwaii and has been guiding with Talaysay for four years. Gavin grew up learning stories and oral histories from his Elders, and throughout the tour, he shared some of that knowledge with us.
What I especially appreciated was hearing the stories behind the poles and learning about the First Nations artists who created them. The collection includes carvings representing several Nations, including the Haida, Kwakwaka’wakw, and Squamish.
For example, there’s a replica of Chief Skedans’ Haida mortuary pole, carved by renowned Haida artist Bill Reid in 1964, and a Thunderbird House Post carved by Kwakwaka’wakw artist Tony Hunt in 1988, based on an original by Charlie James.
We also learned how the carvings reflect family histories, cultural traditions, and oral histories passed down through generations.
Gavin even shared stories passed down through generations that reach back to the Ice Age, explaining how evidence of that history can still be seen in the forests today.
I’ve visited the totem poles before, but the Talking Totems Walking Tour gave me a much deeper appreciation and understanding for what I was looking at.
I think this is a great activity to include in an October trip to Vancouver, especially on a crisp fall day when Stanley Park is full of changing leaves. Just be sure to dress for the weather, since the entire tour takes place outdoors!
8. Pop Into Granville Island Public Market
Granville Island Public Market is one of the most popular food spots in Vancouver, and it’s a perfect place to visit in October, especially if you happen to have a rainy day!
The market is known for its mix of fresh seafood, bakeries, produce, and local artisan foods, all packed into one lively space.
It sits on Granville Island, which used to be an industrial manufacturing zone before being transformed into a cultural and food hub in the 1970s.
Inside the market, you’ll find stalls selling everything from donuts and chocolates to full meals like pad thai, sushi, and fish and chips. October is also harvest season, so it’s a great time to browse the seasonal produce and other fall-inspired treats.
I recommend arriving hungry and doing a lap of the market before deciding what to eat. There are so many food vendors to choose from!
Afterward, you can browse the independent shops and galleries around Granville Island, or head outside to enjoy the views over False Creek if the weather is nice.
9. Visit the Roedde House
Tucked away in Vancouver’s West End Roedde House Museum is a beautifully preserved Victorian-era home built in 1893. It’s a lovely place to spend an hour or so, especially if you’re looking for an indoor activity on a rainy October day!
The house was originally home to Gustav and Matilda Roedde and their family. Gustav was a German immigrant who became Vancouver’s first bookbinder, eventually opening his own business.
The family moved into the house in 1893, and today, it’s been carefully restored and furnished to reflect what middle-class family life looked like in Vancouver during the late 1800s.
What makes this museum particularly special is the passionate volunteers who help bring its history to life. You have the option to wander through the rooms independently, but I highly recommend joining a guided tour with one of the volunteers.
They are incredibly knowledgeable and engaging, sharing stories about the Roedde family, the home’s furnishings, and what everyday life was like in Vancouver more than a century ago.
And unlike many historic house museums, the rooms aren’t roped off, so you can get up close to the furnishings and artifacts.
One thing to know before visiting: Roedde House has limited opening hours, so be sure to check their website for the current operating hours before heading over.
Where to Stay in Vancouver? The Como Hotel
I spent five nights at The Como Hotel, a small, locally owned boutique hotel tucked into Vancouver’s West End neighbourhood.
It’s a fantastic location, within walking distance of Stanley Park, English Bay Beach, and plenty of restaurants, cafés, and shops.
What really stood out to me was the hospitality. The staff were incredibly friendly, personable, and attentive, and it was clear that a lot of thought had gone into the little details that make a stay feel special.
One afternoon, I noticed that a few carved pumpkins had appeared along the walkway leading up to the hotel. When I mentioned the pumpkins to one of The Como’s owners, Thuy Duong, she told me the team had gotten together for a little pumpkin-carving party!
I loved hearing that the staff had spent time together doing something fun. It was a small detail, but it really added to the warm, welcoming atmosphere that I appreciated so much about the hotel.
The Como offers a range of rooms, including the Wellness Suite where I stayed, which has a king-size bed, kitchenette, private outdoor space, Peloton bike, and red light therapy.
Guests can also take advantage of complimentary e-bike rentals, which are perfect for getting around the neighbourhood and nearby Stanley Park.
If you’re looking for a comfortable, independently owned place to stay in Vancouver, I’d definitely recommend The Como!
The Wellness Suite at The Como Hotel
Where to Eat and Drink in Vancouver
Having visited Vancouver several times, I now have several favourite spots to eat and drink, all across different neighborhoods. Here are some of my top picks!
Hitoe Sushi Japanese Restaurant [Kitsilano]
Hitoe Sushi is a cozy Japanese restaurant in Kitsilano, serving a variety of sushi, sashimi, and other Japanese dishes. It’s a great option for a casual lunch or dinner, especially if you’re staying in the neighbourhood and looking for somewhere relaxed to eat. They have vegetarian and gluten-free options available.
Danbo Ramen [West End]
Danbo Ramen is one of the most popular ramen spots in Vancouver, known for its Hakata-style tonkotsu ramen. Expect a bit of a wait, but the line moves quickly, and the rich broth and customizable toppings make it worth it. It’s also a cashless restaurant, so come prepared with a card.
The 515 Bar [Downtown Vancouver]
The 515 Bar is a casual spot for drinks and small plates. I had yucca fries, an arugula and fennel salad, and a whisky sour, and everything was fantastic. It works well as a lighter dinner option, especially if you’ve already been snacking elsewhere.
CRAFT Beer Market [English Bay]
CRAFT Beer Market is a great spot for a casual meal with views of English Bay. They have a heated outdoor patio overlooking the water, which is especially nice on a sunny fall day. I had the Cali Bowl, a vegan option packed with fresh ingredients, and really enjoyed it. They also have an extensive selection of craft beers on tap.
MeeT [Yaletown]
A fully vegan restaurant with clearly labelled menu options for gluten-free and peanut-free diets. The dishes are filling without being heavy, and the staff are knowledgeable about ingredients and allergens.
Is Vancouver Worth Visiting in October?
Absolutely! I’ve visited Vancouver a few times across the different seasons, and October is one of my favourites There are fewer tourists than in the summer, plenty of fall colours to enjoy, and no shortage of things to do.
The biggest consideration is the weather. October can be rainy, so I’d recommend keeping your plans flexible rather than committing to a rigid itinerary.
Save outdoor activities like cycling Stanley Park or walking along English Bay for sunnier days, and visit museums, markets, and other indoor spots when it’s raining.
Just don’t forget a good waterproof jacket and waterproof shoes! You’ll probably need them at some point during your trip.
