What's the weather like in Vancouver in October
Temperature
October is significantly cooler as autumn descends onto Vancouver. Average temperatures drop five degrees from September, now 10°C during October. Daytime averages only hit 13°C while nights cool down to 7°C. As you might expect the beginning of the month is much warmer with a sharp decline as October progresses. There have been periods where lows have fallen below 2°C in October.
Rainfall
Vancouver's rainy season has returned in October, with rainfall totals of 100mm during the month and spread out over 18 days of wet weather. The probability of precipitation is only 30% on October 1st, but this climbs to 54% by the end of October.
Sunshine Hours
Shorter days and cloudier skies means that Vancouver will only see six hours of sunlight per day in October. The chances of an overcast or mostly cloudy sky are 68% by October 31st.
Humidity
Relative humidity still continues to slowly rise during October, with Vancouver's average relative humidity going from 75% to 80%. Cool temperatures keep the air comfortable, even dry, and not what you would consider humid.
Wind
Average wind speeds in Vancouver climb significantly during October, from 4 mph to 5.3 mph. There have been some strong wind events in Vancouver in previous years. Winds are mostly out of the east with periods of southwesterly winds.
Sea Temperature
The waters around Vancouver cool down to 11°C in October. This is too cold to take a swim unless you have environmental protection.
Dress Code
You should be thinking about dressing in layers, especially by the end of October. Pack multiple light layers that you can shed as you warm up and put back on as you cool down. Keep these layers dry with appropriate raingear, including footwear. Vancouver has a casual vibe so you won't need anything more formal than business casual unless you're going to an event that requires it. Check the Vancouver 14-day forecast for the most up-to-date information before leaving home.
Vancouver Hotels in October
Metropolitan Hotel Vancouver
Not many hotels feature a putting green, but that's what the Metropolitan Hotel Vancouver can do. There are far more important reasons to stay at this four-star hotel in downtown Vancouver though. The location is perfect for accessing nearby trendy restaurants, and it's across the street from the Pacific Centre Mall. A free limo service is also provided for transportation beyond. The luxurious rooms feature premium linens, flatscreen TVs, and great views. The spacious bathrooms are complete with marble countertops and walk-in showers. The Metropolitan Hotel's restaurant, Diva at the Met, serves delicious international dishes with views over Howe Street. There is also an indoor pool, steam room, and fitness centre on-site.
Rosellen Suites At Stanley Park
Stanley Park is one of Vancouver's main attractions, and one of the closest hotels to the park is the Rosellen Suites. This three-star hotel is comprised of 27 large suites with fully equipped kitchens, making this a perfect choice for extended stays. One and two-bedroom suites are available in a variety of tastefully themed décor. The hotel is also close to the popular Robson Street shopping district and many outstanding dining options. Rosellen Suites also features an indoor pool, a fitness centre, and is pet friendly.
Greenbrier Hotel
Visiting Vancouver on a budget can be difficult, especially if you want to stay close to downtown. Thankfully accommodations like the Greenbrier Hotel can help you out. This three-star hotel is located between West End and Coal Harbour. The basic boutique-style rooms are available in standard rooms and suites with kitchenettes, separate living areas, and pull-out sofas. Some of the rooms, on request, have excellent views of the harbour. There is no restaurant at the Greenbrier, but they do have a bar and the location puts you within easy walking distance of many waterfront dining options.
Best Western Plus Chateau Granville Hotel & Suites
The name of this Best Western hotel may lead you to believe that it's on Granville Island; it's actually located on Granville Street but with easy access to Granville Island. Standard rooms and suites are available; all rooms have minifridges and microwaves while the suites add a separate living area, balcony, and pull-out sofa. There is also an on-site fitness centre, business centre, and conference rooms. The Edge Social Grille & Lounge is a great option to grab a bite to eat but the choices may be difficult with the hotel's close proximity to Yaletown's phenomenal restaurants.
Bars and Restaurants
Bishop's
Special occasions will call for an elegant, intimate restaurant like Bishop's. This upscale restaurant in Kitsilano specializes in West Coast cuisine using nothing but fresh, seasonal ingredients on a rotating menu. Bishop's has won multiple awards year after year and has certainly earned them. Menu options include oven-roasted halibut with a lemon pine nut crust, roasted rack of lamb with eggplant caviar and grilled artichoke, and venison loin with farro and fennel risotto. Bishop's is certain to satisfy the sweet tooth also with their artisan desserts. Bishop's is open Tuesday thru Saturday from 5:30PM until 11PM.
Kishimoto
Kishimoto serves some of the freshest, most outstanding sushi in Vancouver, at least according to everyone who has eaten sushi all over Vancouver. This casual restaurant is set in a very cozy atmosphere, located on Commercial Drive in East Vancouver. Everything on the menu is made fresh in-house, earning Kishimoto numerous awards throughout the past few years. Kishimoto has a regular menu featuring the standard rolls you'd expect to find in any sushi restaurant as well as their own creations. A specialty menu is also available to reflect rotating creations based on seasonal availability. Kishimoto is open Wednesday thru Sunday from 5PM until 9:45PM.
Fanny Bay Oyster Bar
Fanny Bay Oysters is Vancouver's best source for wholesale shellfish with locations all around Vancouver. They also have their own seafood restaurant near BC Centre. Fanny Bay prides themselves in "tide to table", similar to the "farm to table" movement. Their large raw bar is served with a selection of homemade sauces and includes fresh oysters harvested by many different sustainable methods. The lunch menu contains delicious sandwiches, charcuterie, and steak & frites. For dinner you'll find scallops & pork belly, grilled salmon, and pan-seared sablefish. Fanny Bay Oyster Bar is also open for brunch on the weekends from 10:30AM until 3PM, serving some creative dishes like fried oysters & waffles, smoked oyster skillet, and Dungeness crab benedict. Don't miss out on their happy hour, voted the best in Vancouver in 2016. Fanny Bay Oyster Bar opens at 11AM every day except for weekend brunches starting at 10:30AM.
Spencer's Resto Lounge
Spencer's Lounge is located in the Delta Hotels Vancouver Downtown Suites in Gastown. The small, unassuming gastropub constantly surprises visitors with their amazingly flavorful, fresh meals served for both lunch and dinner. All ingredients are from local, sustainable farms. Menu items include pulled pork nachos, crab cakes, steak frites, salmon fish & chips, and chicken with quinoa and sweet pea risotto. Happy hour is from 3PM to 6PM Tuesday thru Saturday. Otherwise the restaurant opens at 4PM and is open until 11PM.
Things to do in Vancouver in October
Autumn in Stanley Park
The wooded Stanley Park is a great place to experience the changing seasons in Vancouver. Stanley Park is just over 1,000 acres and is surrounded by Victoria Harbour and English Bay. TripAdvisor named Stanley Park the Best Park in the World in 2014. The cooler air makes it a perfect time for jogging along the seawall that runs the perimeter of the entire park. Many hiking trails and walking paths run through the wooded peninsula and makes for a great way to relax in Vancouver's largest natural urban area. The Vancouver Aquarium is located at Stanley Park and there are also a few restaurants in the park.
Kayaking the waters around Vancouver
Don't let the colder water keep you from kayaking the waters around Vancouver in October, as this is still a great time to see the city from the waterfront while getting an excellent workout. Popular kayaking areas include False Creek, Stanley Park, and Granville Island. There aren't many kayak rental outfitters open in October, but you can still find Creekside Kayaks in False Creek open in October. They also offer lessons for the beginner.
Butchart Gardens
One of the oldest, most recognizable gardens in all of Canada is the 55-acre
Butchart Gardens. This beautiful area started as a small personal garden in the late 1800s and today features 900 species of plants, 26 greenhouses, many varieties of birds, and over 50 gardeners looking after it all. Different gardens include the renowned Japanese Garden started in the early 20th century. The Sunken Garden and Ross Fountains was once a limestone quarry that has been converted to a lush garden with beautiful water features. The changing colors of autumn make this a beautiful October attraction in Vancouver. The gardens are open from 9AM until 5PM during October.
Capilano Suspension Bridge Park
Vancouver is home to a number of old-growth rainforests, and most people hike through them on the ground. Where else would you hike? The Capilano Suspension Bridge Park has a number of suspension bridges in the forest canopy. The main bridge spans the Capilano River. It was built in the late 19th century, is 140 meters long, and hangs 70 meters above the river. The recently added cliff walk provides another venue for viewing the beautiful scenery below you. The park is also home to a wonderful museum dedicated to the First Nations with artifacts, photos, and other interpretive displays. Capilano Suspension Bridge Park is open from 9AM until 5PM and is just fifteen minutes north of downtown Vancouver.
