The Low Down: Vancouver bachelor party Guide
The ultimate low down on why you should visit vancouver for your bachelor party weekend
Vancouver is a fun, adventurous, and bachelor party-friendly city, full of year-round options to keep you and your crew suitably entertained. That’s why it makes the perfect destination for groups from all over North America looking for the full and classic bachelor party experience.
What we love about this city is it provides a perfect combination of outdoor thrills to go alongside a strong nightlife scene. This means that there is something for every type of bachelor party.
What more could you want?
Situated between the Coast Mountain Range and the Pacific Ocean, Vancouver is very much a buzzing cosmopolitan city with endless natural beauty, but it is also awash with plenty of activities, well suited to creating a memorable bachelor party weekend.
Brewery tours, seaplane flights, axe throwing, and all the adrenaline activities you could want close by, it’s easy to create a fun-filled group itinerary. Yes, that includes strip clubs too.
Vancouver by season
Winter (January to March)
Compared to other parts of Canada, Vancouver is very mild and snow in the city is not common. However, if you do want your fix of snow then you can get to the local ski mountains in around 30 minutes from Downtown for skiing and snowboarding.
There is a reputation for a fair amount of rain due to the city being situated in a rainforest (Rain City or Raincouver are common nicknames). Luckily there is still plenty to do indoors if the weather isn’t overly kind to you.
Spring (April to June)
This is when Vancouver starts to come into its own, with the weather getting sunnier there are more options for outdoor adventures. It’s even possible to ski and play golf on the same day as there is still snow up on the local ski resorts.
We think that alone is pretty cool!
It also signals the beginning of the whale watching season if you want to get out onto the water, hiking season also starts to ramp up with endless trails and mountain lookouts to explore.
Summer (July to September)
The summer season is very popular for bachelor parties in Vancouver as it means long nights in shorts and drinking beers on patios. The beaches also become very busy with Kits beach being a hotspot on weekends.
The city is really your oyster at this time of year as the largest amount of activities are available for you and your group to enjoy. This time of year sees the most tourists which naturally brings higher accommodation prices, so book early to secure the best deals and have more money for pints.
Fall (October to December)
Temperatures get cooler and the leaves change colour but this is still an amazing time to visit the city. Bachelor parties care little for the colour of the leaves but we thought we would mention it anyway….
More importantly, the sports scene takes an upward turn with hockey season starting and The Canucks playing games at the downtown Rogers Arena stadium. The ski season usually kicks off in mid to late November as snowfall in mountain regions increases.
Getting around
Vancouver is actually a very compact city, especially downtown where you can often get from one place to another on foot fairly easily. But if you do need transport, here are some options below:
Buses – These run between 5am and 1am. There is also a limited night bus service for those graveyard hours in between!
Skytrain – This is Vancouver’s light rapid transit system, it’s especially handy for the airport running from downtown to YVR.
SeaBus – Water taxis that allow you to get from downtown to the north shore
AquaBus – These things are cool! Small boats that can ferry you across False Creek, it’s also a great way to see the city by water.
Uber – Uber is widely available in the city
Vancouver Bachelor Party Activities
We firmly believe that any good bachelor party in Vancouver has one or two daytime activities to give the weekend some much-needed structure, let’s take a look at some popular options.
Private Brewery Tours
Vancouver is an absolute mecca for craft beers and breweries! There are over 40 breweries in the city meaning you are spoilt for choice in sampling some of the best beverages around. For a bachelor party, the way to go is by a private tour, this way you can get stuck in with the banter and enjoy your group's company. The added bonus is you will be picked up and dropped off from a location of your choice.
Alternatively, if you want to try something a bit different you could rent a party bike! This 15-passenger bike allows you and your bachelor party to pedal yourselves through the famous Yeast Van brewery district and stop into a few breweries.
Party Boat Rental
If you want your bachelor party to see this amazing city by the water, then this is a great activity! There are various options from small luxury boats to larger double-tiered vessels. You can often bring your own booze and music too which means you can tailor the experience exactly how you like.
The water area out at the Burrard inlet and around to Bowen Island is spectacular and there aren’t many better ways to enjoy a summer bachelor party in Vancouver.
White Water Rafting.
Although not strictly in Vancouver there are options both in nearby Squamish and Chilliwack which can be reached in under 90 minutes. There isn’t really a better way to create some amazing memories with your best friends, than taking on some rapids surrounded by amazing scenery!
It’s a great team-building activity and when you are tucking into some well-earned beers in the evening you will be reminiscing about an incredible day out.
Speaking of beers, let's now look at the different options available….
Nightlife
The nightlife in the city is one of the best in Canada which is good news for anyone looking to have their bachelor party in Vancouver. There are plenty of spots depending on what you and your party are into and each Vancouver district has a different vibe to cater to all tastes.
Granville Street
This is the focal point and heart of the Vancouver nightlife scene, essentially it’s a busy strip of restaurants, bars, nightclubs, and strip clubs the perfect setting for a bachelor party to let loose. Every Friday and Saturday night you can expect busy sidewalks and drunken revelry.
Yaletown
Yaletown provides a slightly more sophisticated vibe with more upscale eating and drinking spots, so if you are looking for classier surroundings then this neighbourhood is a great option. Hamilton Street in particular has a huge amount of options with some of our favourites being Yaletown Brewing, Banter Room, and The Parlour.
Kitsilano
Kitsilano (or Kits as it’s known to locals) offers a very laid-back atmosphere and is perfect if you and the crew want to grab some beers after a day on the beach. We like Yew Street as you can do your own mini pub crawl in the space of a few hundred yards with The Kings Head, The Cider House, The Ellis, and the very popular LOCAL right on the beach.
Main Street
Main Street offers a more “edgy” alternative and is also well served by several craft breweries but also some hidden cocktail spots that are worth sampling. A group could have a great time here starting from one end and working their way down towards the other.
Gastown
Gastown is the oldest neighbourhood in Vancouver and is actually home to the original downtown of the city. It is very lively on the weekends and has a great selection of bars and a few Irish pubs to go with it, if clubbing isn’t your scene then this makes a strong alternative to Granville Street.
West End
This part of town is a different ball game altogether! There is a thriving LGBT community here and the Davie Village knows how to party at night. Celebrities is an iconic nightclub and hosts many world-renowned DJs, there are multiple pubs and bars here to keep you suitably entertained.
If you want to check out some decent pubs in the city then take a look at our Vancouver pub guide.
Where to stay?
Vancouver is littered with hotel options, the majority of these can be found in the downtown core. Choosing the right one can be tricky, but here are some options to suit all price ranges.
This is a boutique 4* hotel located in the heart of Yaletown, meaning it’s a perfect bachelor base camp to make the most of the walkable district. This hotel is right in the mix of restaurants, bars and clubs and will offer serious comfort for you and your group. It’s also very close to the SkyTrain meaning you can get to and from the airport in 22 minutes (definitely appreciated after a long weekend of partying!).
Mid Range - Sandman Suites ***
We love the Sandman Suites! It is ideal for big groups due to the layout of some of the rooms, for example, they have a twin room option with a sofa bed meaning 3 or 4 guys can easily fit into one room if you are looking to save on costs. If you stay at the property on Davie Street in the West End you can get incredible views over English Bay, we always recommend booking an ocean view room if possible.
If you and the lads are not fussy then look no further as this option is seriously cost-effective. The Cambie has a hostel both Downtown and in Gastown and offer 2,4,6 and 8-bed options, Regardless of your group size there are room assignments that can work. As an added bonus both hostels have a bar on site which is perfect for kick-starting your night with a few beers. However, worth noting that they only allow people from outside the lower mainland of Vancouver to stay in order to keep an international atmosphere.
To learn more about booking your bachelor party in Vancouver check out our website to see what we are about and how we can help. We have a range of activities to choose from so why not build your party today!