If you’re staying in Vancouver or other nearby cities like Squamish or Abbotsford, it’s highly likely that you’ll be planning a day trip to Whistler at some stage. This is what we did when we lived in Vancouver. And after just 12 hours of exploring the village, we fell head over heels in love with the place and made the decision to move there!
I highly advise spending more than a day in Whistler but if time isn’t on your side or you can’t afford the high hotel costs in Whistler then a day trip to Whistler is easily doable. After all, the two destinations are only 121 km apart and to drive from Vancouver to Whistler will take around 1.5 hours.
Depending on the time of year you visit, in one day in Whistler, you’ll get to explore the village, go skiing in winter or hop on the Peak 2 Peak Gondola in summer, relax at an outdoor spa, and eat some awesome food.
I’ve lived in Whistler for a few years so I know all the top things to do if you’re tight on time, so read on to find out the best things to do on a day trip to Whistler!
Getting to Whistler
Whistler is 121 km (or 75 miles) from Vancouver. That means driving to Whistler from Vancouver should take you around an hour and 40 minutes without stopping. You will be driving along the Sea to Sky Highway which is famous for being one of the most scenic roads in the world.
If you don’t have a car, I recommend renting one as that way you can stop where you like along the way. Alternatively, you can catch a shuttle service from Vancouver to Whistler. Epic Rides offers a shuttle between the two destinations and I’ve used them numerous times before and can vouch that it’s an excellent service. It leaves from Burrard Station in downtown and costs $33.50 CAD one-way or $44 CAD return.
Vancouver Airport (YVR) is a 2-hour drive from Whistler and the Skylynx coach service offers one-way fares from the airport for $32 CAD.
Travel Tip: The cost of renting a car in Canada can be expensive. However, there are some ways you can save money. We tend to always book our rental car through Discover Cars. This is a search engine for rental cars and allows you to filter by price if you’re on a budget or by vehicle type if there’s a specific car you’re after.
Morning – Explore Whistler Village
In the morning I recommend taking it easy and wandering through town to get your bearings. Start your stroll at Olympic Plaza and make your way up to Mountain Square (at the base of Whistler Mountain) checking out all the stores along the way. We love browsing Cool as a Moose, The Oracle, and Cows when we’re in town.
From Mountain Square, you can follow the trail up to the Upper Village, this is where the gondola up Blackcomb Mountain goes from in the ski season.
If you have the time this morning I highly recommend walking from the Upper Village into Lost Lake, this scenic lake is a local favorite. The walk will take around 30 minutes each way.
If you’re feeling like a coffee, then head back into Whistler Village for coffee at one of my favorite spots. I love Mount Currie Coffee Company on Main Street, Lift Coffee Company in Mountain Square, and Purebread in Olympic Plaza (which is famous for its delicious cakes).
Lunch – El Furniture Warehouse
For lunch on your day trip to Whistler, I recommend hitting up a Whistler icon – El Furniture Warehouse, or ‘Furnies’ as the locals call it. This is one of the cheapest places to eat in the village. Yep, a meal will set you back around about $10 CAD. Their Mac & Cheese is my husband’s go-to dish, while I love their Street Tacos.
Located on Main Street, El Furniture Warehouse is open from 11 am daily.
Afternoon – Go Skiing (Winter activity)
If you’re planning to spend a day in Whistler in the winter, then, I’m sure your top priority is to go skiing. Whistler Blackcomb is after all one of the best ski resorts in the world! And the reason I recommend waiting until the afternoon to go skiing (around midday is a good time to head up) is because the queues to get on the gondola will be shorter.
However, I will add that the ski runs themselves will likely be busy in the afternoon. But, you could make a beeline for quieter runs like Countdown and Racer Alley (both can be accessed from the Catskinner chairlift).
The ski area at Whistler Blackcomb is massive (it’s 4,757 acres) – that area includes 200n runs and 36 lifts. And there’s a run suitable for every ability.
When I started skiing here (yes, I learned to ski in Whistler) I spent a lot of time in the beginner’s area – Olympic Station on Whistler Mountain. But over the years I progressed and today, some of my favorite runs include the Upper and Lower Panorama runs off of the 7th Heaven chairlift on Blackcomb Mountain and the Peak to Creek, which connects Whistler to Creekside. It’s a long one at 11 km!
Lift passes for Whistler Blackcomb cost $190 CAD per adult per day. And Whistler Blackcomb’s ski season typically runs from late November to early May.
Related Read: If you’re here in the winter and don’t ski then check out my guide on what to do in Whistler in winter for non-skiers!
Afternoon – Peak 2 Peak Gondola (Summer activity)
Connecting both Whistler and Blackcomb mountains, the Peak 2 Peak Gondola is arguably the number one thing to do in Whistler in the summer. And it’s my suggested afternoon activity if you’re visiting Whistler for the day outside of the ski season.
And would you believe this gondola ride is 4.4 kilometers long, so the journey will take you around 11 minutes in total. From this prime vantage point – 436 meters above the valley you can take in the lush Whistler landscapes. I’ve listed some of the best things to do once you hop off the Peak 2 Peak Gondola at the top of the mountain below –
Snow walls
My favorite thing to do at the top is check out the snow walls on Whistler Mountain. You will need to get here in early summer though (in May and June) as late in the season the snow walls will be melted.
These snow walls were formed thanks to the abundance of snow the mountain receives during the winter months. Some are well over 12 feet tall. The walls are located just above Pika Traverse.
Skybridge
The most popular attraction up here is the Skybridge which takes you out to a wow-worthy viewing platform of Blackcomb.
If you’re a hiker, you’ll be in heaven up here as there are over 50 km of hiking trails between both mountains. I love the Blackcomb Alpine Trails which starts from Blackcomb, there are various sections you can do here, ranging in length from 30 minutes to over 4 hours. So you may need longer here in the summer if you want to do the full hike!
A Peak 2 Peak Gondola pass costs from $99 CAD for a day pass per adult.
Dinner – Sushi Village or Mexican Corner
Two of my favorite restaurants in Whistler are located right next door to one another. And they’re both casual eateries with excellent food! Sushi Village is one of the most popular restaurants in Whistler and yep you guessed right, it serves up the freshest and most flavorsome sushi in B.C.
If sushi isn’t your thing head next door to Mexican Corner for delicious tacos, burritos, and more! Oh, and their frozen margaritas are awesome.
Evening – Scandinave Spa
After a jam-packed day, this evening should be all about relaxing and Scandinave Spa a short drive from Whistler Village allows you to chill out in the heart of nature. This Nordic-inspired 20,000-square-foot outdoor spa is surrounded by cedar trees. And tonight you can soak in the outdoor hot tub and experience the beautiful vista of Whistler’s natural beauty.
There are steam baths, hot baths as well as a large sauna – which is how it’s recommended to start your time at Scandinave Spa. After, warming up you must brave the cold and plunge into one of their cold baths, or stand under the Nordic waterfall for a few minutes. After all that, relax in one of the relaxation rooms or on the hammock which has an incredible view.
In short, if you’re a luxury traveler visiting Whistler this is a must for you!
Some of my other favorite Whistler activities, if you have time:
If you do decide to spend 3 days in Whistler, or longer I highly recommend adding the below activities to your itinerary! Again, these are season-dependant.
- Go snowmobiling – A snowmobiling tour in Whistler is one of my favorite tours I’ve done in Canada. For beginners, I recommend the 2-hour snowmobiling tour. For adrenalin junkies, the 3-hour snowmobiling tour is more suitable. It includes lunch at a cozy back-country cabin. A snowmobiling tour in Whistler costs $249 CAD for the 2-hour tour and $292 for the 3-hour tour.
- Dog-sledding – On a dogsledding tour in Whistler involves a magical journey through a snow-blanketed forest in a remote location. Your sled dogs may reach speeds of up to 32 km/h. It’s a 2.5-hour tour and finishes in a cozy hut with hot apple cider and cookies.
- Helicopter tour – See the jaw-dropping beauty of Whistler from high up above on a bucket-list-worthy scenic helicopter flight. On this helicopter tour you’ll have 25 minutes in the air. And prices start from $342 CAD per person.
- Ziplining – Ziptrek Ecotours offers the best ziplining experience in Whistler. It boasts 4 zipline tours and is home of the Sasquatch – the longest zipline in Canada and the USA. There are several tours to choose from the Bear Tour (4 ziplines); the Eagle Tour (5 ziplines) and the Sasquatch.
- Offroad buggy – On this awesome, heart-stopping tour you’ll learn how to drive your very own 4×4 offroad buggy. Yes, you’ll drive this high-powered vehicle through narrow wooded tracks and up steep backcountry mountain roads.
Where to Stay in Whistler
Fairmont Chateau Whistler – my absolute favorite hotel in town (although I may be biased as I worked here for two years). Boasting 500+ rooms but with all the ambiance and personality of a small hotel – the Fairmont is the best address in
Hilton Whistler Resort and Spa – right in the center of Whistler Village and very close to the gondola, this large hotel is very popular with families
Nita Lake Lodge – located in Creekside, a 10 minute drive from Whistler Village and looking onto stunning Nita Lake this is one of my favorite hotels in Whistler
The Westin – is a nice luxury option in Whistler’s lower village, it’s right next to the gondola and the rooms are spacious with great views
Four Seasons Resort – this is probably the most luxurious hotel in Whistler. It’s located in Whistler’s Upper Village and close to Blackcomb Gondola this hotel is frequented by celebrities
There are also lots of awesome hostels in Whistler for those travelers on a budget!
I Love Whistler!
To summarise, it’s well worth taking a day trip to Whistler. You can squeeze loads into one day here as it’s so easy to get around. However, I highly recommend spending a few days here!
You will also love reading –
15 Best Stops on the Drive from Whistler to Banff
What It’s Really Like to Live in Whistler for a Ski Season
What you need to know about Renting in Whistler (2024 Guide)
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Last Updated on October 9, 2024 by snaphappytravel