Whistler for Couples: Summer Weekend Getaway
Are you planning a romantic Whistler weekend with your partner? In this guide, we’ve outlined things to do in Whistler in summer as a four-day couples’ itinerary. We discuss activities, Whistler Village restaurants, lodging, and transportation to help you plan your trip.
Here’s our couples' guide to a Whistler summer getaway:
Lodging at Whistler Blackcomb
Whistler lodging is located in five main areas: Blackcomb, Blueberry, Creekside, Village North, and Whistler Village.
For nightlife, dining, and shopping we recommend staying in Whistler Village. For a calmer atmosphere, stay in the quieter Blackcomb base or Village North (sometimes referred to as Upper Village).
If you’re looking to stay at the base of Whistler Mountain, right in Whistler Village, book a room at the Sundial Lodge, a luxury hotel with fully equipped suites, restaurants, mountain views, and a rooftop hot tub.
If the base of Blackcomb Mountain in the quieter Upper Village is where you prefer to be, check in at the Blackcomb Springs Suites, featuring fully equipped suites complete with full kitchens, dining and living areas, gas fireplaces, and balconies. The hotel also has a swimming pool, hot tubs, and BBQ facilities.
Day 1: Explore the Village and Whistler Alpine
Morning
Check into your lodging and settle in before going out to explore the village by foot. Stop for coffee and breakfast at Purebread Bakery (open daily from 8:00 AM–5:00 PM), a local spot serving a variety of sweet and savory pastries and sandwiches along with brewed coffee.
Enjoy your food in the bakery, or outside at the Whistler Olympic Plaza, where you can sit and take in village life next to Whistler’s Olympic Rings.
Afternoon
Spend the day exploring the mountains with the Summer Alpine Experience ticket ($110 each), giving you access to sightseeing and hiking on Whistler and Blackcomb Mountain summits.
Photo Credit: Vail Resorts - Whistler
Start in Blackcomb Village (a 10-minute walk from Whistler Village), and take the Blackcomb Gondola to the top of Blackcomb Mountain. Enjoy the forest views on the way up, and look out for wildlife. At the top, transfer to the 4.4-kilometre Peak 2 Peak Gondola (which is the world’s longest continuous lift system), and travel the 11 minutes above the valley between Blackcomb and Whistler.
On Whistler, fuel up for the afternoon at the Roundhouse Lodge, serving Thai food, burgers, poke, and coffee in a cafeteria-style dining area with indoor and outdoor seating.
Venture out on the 1.2km Spearhead Loop Trail, an easy, one-hour hike starting at Roundhouse that explores the subalpine terrain with views of Whistler and its surrounding lakes.
Next, walk the Peak Express Traverse and ride up the Peak Express Chairlift (included with your ticket) to get to the Cloudraker Skybridge and Raven’s Nest viewpoint. Spanning 130m from Whistler Peak to the West Ridge, the skybridge and viewpoint offer 360° views of the Black Tusk rock formation and the surrounding mountains.
Once you’ve had time to enjoy the scenery and take photos, venture back down the mountain on the Whistler Gondola and walk back to your lodging before getting ready for dinner.
Photo Credit: Christie FitzPatrick - Vail Resorts
Evening
Book a table at Pasta Lupino ($25–$32 mains), a casual Italian restaurant serving freshly made pasta and sauces. The small restaurant is open until 9:00 PM. Try the Sliced Sausage Arrabbiata or the Veggie Lasagna, and top it off with the house-made tiramisu for dessert.
If you’re in the mood for a nightcap, head to the Firerock Lounge (open until 1:00 AM) for a rustic mountain-style drink experience featuring BC wine, craft beers, and house-made cocktails. We recommend arriving before sunset to catch mountain views from the patio.
Day 2: Explore Whistler’s Lakes and Villages
Morning
Go out for a casual breakfast at Provisions, an “all-day neighborhood cafe” in the Whistler Village Square, serving pastries, coffee, and seasonal breakfasts from 7:30 AM–12:00 PM. Enjoy egg-based breakfast sandwiches or avocado toast, and take a cruffin or morning bun to go as a snack for later.
Afternoon
Rent bikes in the Whistler Village (if your lodging doesn’t have bike rentals, we recommend Premium Mountain Rentals, offering hybrid bikes for $48/day) and explore the 50km Valley Trail, a car-free, paved trail and boardwalk system that connects Whistler’s recreation sites and villages.
Photo Credit: Vail Resorts - Whistler
Starting in the village, follow signs to the Valley Trail, and head west towards Alta Lake, following the path on a loop of three beautiful mountain lakes: Alta, Nita, and Alpha. Along the way, enjoy the views, picnic spots, and shaded forest trails.
At Alta Lake, stop for a short swim, kayak, or paddleboard, with rentals available at Lakeside Park. Double kayaks cost $55/hour, and paddleboards are $40/hour.
If you get hungry for a snack, stop by BReD in Creekside Village (4.2km from Whistler Village and 2.6km from Lakeside Park), open Wednesday–Sunday from 9:00 AM–4:00 PM. A couple-owned bakery, BReD serves vegan, locally-sourced sourdough, baked treats, and espresso-based coffees.
Evening
Once you’re back in the village and have returned your bikes, head to Sushi Village in Whistler Village for an early dinner. Serving Whistler since 1985, Sushi Village features sushi (maki from $7–$14), sashimi plates (from $24), udon soups ($10.50–$23) and hot appetizers ($4–$23.50), alongside Japanese beer and sake. This is a popular restaurant; make a reservation in advance, or prepare to wait in the lounge area until a table becomes available. Walk-ins should avoid peak times and plan to come just after opening at 5:00 PM.
After dinner, enjoy a rejuvenating evening at the Scandinave Spa Whistler, open until 10:00 PM. With Nordic-style natural hot and cold thermal pools set in the forest, Scandinave also offers hour-long massage treatments, which can be enjoyed as a pair. The latest massage booking time is 8:00 PM, so we recommend booking a massage before the thermal pools.
The thermal experience starts at $138 each, with the addition of a couples’ massage bringing the cost per person to start at $323 (prices depend on the treatment selected and the date and time of the experience).
Day 3: Discover Whistler Culture
Morning
Fuel up for the day at Cinnamon Bear, an upscale lounge-style breakfast destination at the Whistler Hilton with both buffet and à la carte meals. Serving breakfast from 7:00–11:00 AM, Cinnamon Bear provides two fixed-price buffet choices ($24 for the continental and $46 for the full buffet), while à la carte offers classic egg and pancake dishes ranging from $17 to $29.
Next, visit the Squamish Lil'wat Cultural Centre, Whistler’s First Nations museum in the Upper Village, to learn more about the history of the region and the people who have inhabited it since time immemorial. Take one of the museum’s hourly tours, or simply enjoy a self-guided exploration of its permanent exhibit, What We Treasure, featuring a large collection of cultural belongings and interpretive learning opportunities.
Afternoon
Before heading out, stop at the Thunderbird Café (open from 11:00 AM–4:00 PM), located downstairs in the Cultural Centre, which serves fresh Indigenous specialties like Bannock Tacos and Venison Chili. Enjoy a cup of local Spirit Bear Coffee, and get a couple of freshly baked pastries to go for your afternoon.
From the Thunderbird Café, follow the signs to the Lost Lake Nature Trail, and go for a walk up and around Lost Lake and the neighboring forests. Enjoy the quiet, tucked-away beauty of Lost Lake on the easy 5km Lost Lake Loop, and stop to eat your leftover pastry before walking back to your lodging.
Evening
For your final evening, make a reservation at BearFoot Bistro (mains starting from $48), located in Whistler Village and open for dinner from 5:30–9:30 PM. Experience high-end cuisine made with locally-sourced wild game and fish, with dishes such as the Seared Québec Foie Gras, Wagyu Beef, and Citrus Mint Parfait dessert.
After dinner, go for a vodka tasting ($52 each) in Bearfoot’s sub-zero Grey Goose Ice Room (reservations required, and jackets provided!). Or head to their Champagne Lounge, which serves late-night bubbles and cocktails.
Day 4: Heading Home with Stops Along the Way
Morning
Check out of your lodging, then stop at Hunter Gather in the village for brunch. A community-focused eatery that opened in 2017, Hunter Gather serves breakfast from 9:00–11:30 AM, featuring a variety of toasts (try the Lox & Cream Cheese Toast for a taste of house-cured BC salmon), eggs bennys, and waffles.
Afternoon
Head home! If you drove to Whistler from Vancouver and have the time for one last activity, stop at the Sea to Sky Gondola in Squamish (prices from $73.95 each, with the last ride at 5:00 PM on weekdays and 6:00 PM on weekends). The gondola leads to interpretive walking trails and the Sky Pilot Suspension Bridge, with panoramic views of Howe Sound at the summit.
Continue to Vancouver via the Sea to Sky Highway.
We hope this guide has helped you plan your romantic weekend getaway to Whistler this summer. A beautiful mountain village, Whistler offers many active, cultural, and luxury experiences for you to enjoy as a couple. For help planning or booking your stay, contact The Lodging Company.
About the Author
Marina Starck is a skier, adventurer, and professional writer living in Vancouver, BC. She fell in love with skiing at the age of three, and hasn’t stopped since.