A first Vancouver weekend: harbour, Stanley Park and a market day
False Creek: a ferry hop or an Olympic Village waterfront walk
Granville Island: market lunch, painted silos and a ferry choiceAn example packing list for Vancouver in January
Use this as a starting point and choose what suits your plans. Packtricia tailors your list and quantities to your trip length, weather and preferences.
Clothing
- Underwear
- Bras (if worn)
- Socks
- Sleepwear
- Long-sleeved shirt
- Comfortable trousers
- Warm sweater or fleece
- Hooded waterproof jacket
- Water-resistant walking shoes with grip
- Warm hat
- Light gloves
- Warmer coat (for a cold forecast)
Toiletries
- Toothbrush
- Toothpaste
- Shampoo
- Conditioner
- Body wash or soap
- Deodorant
- Skincare products
- Sunscreen
- Hairbrush or comb
- Shaving supplies (if used)
- Menstrual products (if needed)
- Contact lens solution (if used)
Essentials
- Passport or accepted travel ID
- Travel tickets and booking confirmations
- Wallet and payment cards
- Phone
- Charging cable and charger
- Travel adapter (if needed)
- Medication (if needed)
- Glasses or contact lenses (if used)
- Refillable water bottle
- Day bag
- Power bank (if needed)
- Water-resistant pouch
- Compact umbrella (if preferred)
Monthly weather and packing notes
January in Vancouver suits a warm knit, long sleeves and a waterproof outer layer. Keep a warm layer under your rain shell for slow harbour walks; check for ice after a cold spell.
- Daytime
- 5–9°C
- Evenings
- 1–5°C
- Rain
- Frequent rain and showers
- Daylight
- Use daylight for park walks and keep an indoor alternative.
- Packing style
- Coastal layers, rain protection and tested footwear
ECCC Vancouver Harbour, 1991–2020 normals: mean daily maximum 7.4°C, minimum 3.3°C and total precipitation 236.6 mm. Temperature code A and precipitation code C reflect different data completeness. Clothing bands round the temperature normals and extend 2°C each way; these are packing reference bands, not forecast intervals or limits on extremes. Monthly precipitation totals include all precipitation and do not establish wet-day probability. Mountain and exposed shoreline conditions differ; check your dates and forecast.
Outfit ideas for your outings
January on the waterfront
- Long-sleeved shirt
- Warm sweater or fleece
- Comfortable trousers
- Water-resistant walking shoes with grip
- Hooded waterproof jacket
Stanley Park paths, if visiting
- Long-sleeved shirt
- Comfortable trousers
- Water-resistant walking shoes with grip
- Hooded waterproof jacket
- Warm hat and light gloves
Granville Island and indoor museum stops
- Long-sleeved shirt
- Warm sweater or fleece
- Comfortable trousers
- Water-resistant walking shoes with grip
- Hooded waterproof jacket
What to leave behind
- Stiff unworn shoes: park paths and long waterfront stretches need tested footwear.
- Only a heavy coat without rain protection: mild wet days call for adjustable layers.
- Mountain equipment unless you have a separately planned mountain outing; this list covers the city.
Reviewed 2026-10-13
ECCC: Vancouver Harbour 1991–2020 normals · City of Vancouver: seawall maintenance and safe paths · Museum of Anthropology: seasonal calendar