18 Fun Things To Do In Vancouver For Birthday
Are you looking for things to do in Vancouver for a birthday?
Throwing a birthday party is always fun, but it can be stressful to figure out what to do on your day or someone else’s. As a local to Vancouver, I can give you suggestions for things to do in the city for a birthday.
The list I’ve compiled includes birthday activities for both adults and children. However, some suggestions are for adults only. For example, Glitch Retro Bar is excellent for adults, and laser tag is for children. However, adult laser tag can also be fun.
Let’s continue to the other things you can do on your birthday in Vancouver.
Plan Your Trip With My Favourite Resources
Best Accommodations Site: Booking.com
Book Tours Here: Viator
Things To Do in Vancouver For Birthday
Some of these locations require you to travel to other locations outside of Vancouver into the Lower Mainland.
1. Karaoke
One of the easiest things to do on a birthday in Vancouver is to go to a karaoke location. This is an excellent choice for all ages as you can sing along to your favourite songs with your friends and family.
Vancouver has a couple of karaoke places that run late, so if you’re an adult looking for something to do during the night in Vancouver for a birthday, karaoke is a fantastic choice.
Karaoke locations in Vancouver:
SWITCH – 2:00 PM to 2:00 AM Sunday to Thursday, 2:00 PM to 3:00 AM Friday & Saturday | Google Maps Location: Robson Street
Fantacity – 2:00 PM to 1:00 AM Sunday to Thursday, 2:00 PM to 2:00 AM Friday & Saturday | Google Maps Location: Robson Street
2. Cat Cafe
If you know a cat lover, head over to a cat cafe. My sister took me to a cat cafe for my birthday one year, and interacting with the cats was a fun experience. They also enjoyed playing with us. My cat, however, wasn’t too pleased with other cat scents when we got home.
If you don’t know what a cat cafe is, it’s an interactive location (for humans and cats) where rescue cats are available for adoption and waiting for their forever homes. Maybe you’ll find a cat or two on your day.
My friends adopted their two male cats from a cat cafe in Victoria, and they were happy they did, as were the boys.
There are a couple of locations that are well-known in the city.
Catoro Pets is the one my sister took me to on my birthday. They have bubble tea (boba) options that you can have while visiting the cats, as well as merchandise, cat supplies, toys, etc. It’s a large room where the cats are, and they have many things you can play with them.
Shoes aren’t allowed in the space with the cats, but you can wear your socks or clean and sanitized slippers, which are available.
Catfe is the original cat cafe in Vancouver, having been in business since 2015. They’ve had over 1,600 successful adoptions and have active, pending adoptions daily. Rescue cats arrive each week looking for their forever homes.
They also offer drink options and host other events inside the location, such as cat yoga and workshops.
💡 Note: As a request, the cat cafes don’t allow you to pick up the cats, hold them down, or restrict them in any way. If you have young children, watch out for them.
3. Make Bracelets or Necklaces
On one of my birthdays, I wanted to try something different. I saw some friends on Instagram who went to Beadworks in Granville Island. I love bracelets, so I made a custom one for my birthday, along with my boyfriend, who also made one for me.
There are hundreds of different beads to choose from, which was a bit overwhelming at first. However, once you get in the groove, it’s pretty fun. We took an hour to create the bracelets.
You’ll get a jewellery board with numbered measurements and cutouts to hold the beads, where you can place them and figure out your bead patterns. I suggest asking the workers how it works. They explain it well and can predict your wrist size on point.
Then they’ll put it all together for you, and you’ll have a lovely bracelet to commemorate your birthday.
4. Seaplane Tour
Another luxury option is taking a seaplane tour. Harbour Air is known in British Columbia (plus one location in Seattle) for seaplane tours and charter flights to places such as Victoria, Sechelt, and Whistler.
Vancouver has many different seaplane tour options, with flight times ranging from 20 minutes to an hour and a half. Different tours fly you over stunning British Columbia locations and are fantastic on a sunny day.
5. Afternoon Tea
Afternoon tea can be pricey, but it can be worth it on a birthday. Enjoy the afternoon with your family and friends, eating delicious finger food while sipping high-end tea.
While Vancouver has some excellent places to enjoy afternoon tea, if you’re willing to make a ferry trip, Victoria is worth visiting for afternoon tea as they’re well known for their establishments.
Vancouver locations:
- Neverland Tea Salon – 3066 West Broadway
- Notch8 at the Fairmont Vancouver Hotel – 900 West Georgia Street
- H Tasting Lounge – 1601 Bayshore Drive
Victoria locations:
- Fairmont Hotel Empress – 721 Government Street
- Pendray Inn and Tea House – 309 Belleville Street
- The Dining Room at Butchart Gardens – 800 Benvenuto Avenue
6. Escape Room
Another classic adrenaline rush, as well as problem-solving, is doing an escape room. Over the years, escape rooms have gained popularity for groups of people trying to escape a room or multiple rooms while on a limited amount of time using puzzles, solving clues, and accomplishing tasks.
7. GLITCH
For adults 19+, GLITCH is a retro arcade bar with 80s and 90s decor. They also host theme nights such as Country Night and TNT Trivia Night. Or if you’re looking to book for a private area, they can also accommodate that.
8. Spa Day
Nothing is more relaxing on a birthday than a spa day, and many luxury hotels in Vancouver offer spa packages.
If you’re willing to travel to the Okanagan, there’s a popular spa resort in Vernon called Sparkling Hill Resort and Spa. The pool looks over the lake, and it feels like you’re in an infinity pool, and it’s adults only.
9. Beer Hopping
If you’re into beer, another excellent idea is beer hopping. Vancouver has many breweries and tours that will take you to all the local locations. Remember to have a designated driver, call for a pickup, or take local transit to get back home.
10. Mini Golf
Mini golf is a classic and fun way to spend a birthday. There are a couple of mini golf places in Vancouver. However, these two locations are where people go a lot; I’ve also been to these two places before.
Par-Tee Putt is in Downtown Vancouver. It’s a small space with 18 mini-courses decorated with Vancouver landmarks as the holes.
The bigger mini-golf course is in Chilliwack, inside Castle Fun Park, where you can choose between two different mini-golf course themes.
11. Horseback Riding
Horseback riding is a unique and uncommon birthday adventure suitable for all ages. Whether you have no or little experience riding a horse, it’s fun for adults and children to interact with the horses and wander through the forest trails.
I had the opportunity to go horseback riding as a teenager. It was an excellent and memorable experience.
Leghorn Ranch is an excellent location outside of Vancouver, in Pitt Meadows. They have a highly rated Alouette River Ride, which will take you on an hour or two-hour ride.
Leghorn Ranch is a fantastic choice for a first-time horseback riding experience because it’s committed to the safety and well-being of both horses and people.
12. Private Dining Room
If you plan to entertain many people on your or someone else’s birthday, you could also rent a private dining room. There are private dining room options in Vancouver, such as C|PRIME Modern Italian Steak and Wine, Joe Fortes seafood, and more.
13. Harbour Cruise
Celebrate your birthday with a harbour cruise if you want something more private but elevated. It’s also fantastic for celebrating a milestone birthday. Enjoy views of Vancouver, relaxation, and luxury while a chef prepares a gourmet dinner or luncheon.
Harbour Cruises offers dining cruises, sightseeing tours, and private charters.
14. Laser Tag
When I was younger, I had laser tag birthday parties, which were quite fun. However, as an adult, I still think they’re pretty fun. Yes, you get sweaty, but you’ll have fun shooting light lasers at your friends or family, mainly because it’s in the dark.
15. Pottery Making
My sister went to a pottery-making class for one of her friends’ birthdays, and they said they had a lot of fun. My sister made a soup bowl that she uses almost every day.
Some locations in Vancouver for pottery-making classes are Pottery: HiDe Ceramic Works or Hand Eye Design Ceramics.
16. Paintball
If you’re looking for an adrenaline rush, paintball is an excellent way to have fun. Most paintball locations are outside of Vancouver, such as Maple Ridge, Abbotsford, Richmond, or Surrey.
17. Party At The Beach
Having a party at the beach is simple and inexpensive. Vancouver has eight main beaches where you can set up a birthday party. However, I suggest having the parties at either Locarno Beach or Spanish Banks Beach; they have grass options and more space than all other beaches in Vancouver.
18. Camping
Camping is an excellent option if you’re looking for peace on your birthday or want to do something calmer and tamer outside the city. There are many campgrounds around Vancouver that are an hour away, such as Golden Ears Provincial Park or Cultus Lake, or further out, such as Whistler, Vancouver Island, or Okanagan.
Some campgrounds require you to have a park pass that you need to purchase in advance online.
How Can I Have A Cheap Birthday Party?
A cheap birthday party can have minimal decorations or handmade decorations. You could have everyone bring a food dish, turn it into a potluck, and enjoy your birthday party from the comfort of your home, at a park or a beach.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are many different ways and things to do in Vancouver for a birthday. While this list has birthday options ranging from expensive to inexpensive, I hope you find a way to enjoy your birthday or plan for someone else’s birthday party.
Have a good day 🙂
