Vancouver International Wine Festival — a 3-day weekend in British Columbia

The weekend, day by day

1. Day 1

   Arrive in Vancouver

   Land at Vancouver International Airport (YVR), settle in and walk the old town in the afternoon. Light dinner near your accommodation — save your appetite for the festival day.

2. Day 2

   Vancouver International Wine Festival

   Festival day — arrive early to avoid the lunchtime crowd. Insider tip: Skip the main hall crowds and hit the focused seminars where smaller producer tastings happen—the spotlight region's winemakers are often more accessible in educational sessions than at general tastings. Book winemaker dinners months ahead; the intimate 8-person chef's table events with BC producers like Tantalus or Painted Rock sell out first.

3. Day 3

   Wine country day in British Columbia

   Use the third day for a single winery visit (booked ahead) and a long lunch at one of the regional addresses below before heading home.

Where to stay

Three angles for the festival window. Festival hotels book out 6+ months in advance — apartments are the contingency when the main shortlist is sold out.

• Hotels in Vancouver

  Live inventory around the festival window — 2 adults, all star ratings.

• 4–5 star options near Vancouver

  Higher-end shortlist when you want the milestone weekend treatment.

• Apartments in Vancouver

  Self-catering option — useful when festival hotels sell out 6+ months ahead.

Booking.com links — we may earn a commission. We never recommend hotels we wouldn't use ourselves.

Where to eat

Practical

Nearest airport

Vancouver International Airport (YVR)

Mid-range daily budget

~€200/day for two

Festival site

Visit official site