Whistler in a Day: What Can you Do with 24 Hours in Whistler?
Visiting British Columbia, but you only have 24 hours in Whistler to spare? What a shame! Even if you have just enough time to do Whistler in a Day, you can still hit up the highlights, and get a taste of our what town has to offer. Whistler is much more than just a humble backwoods mountain town. With a single full-day of Whistler time, you’ve got your work cut out for you. The wonderful thing about Whistler is the wide variety of activities and entertainment available, no matter what time of year you plan on coming.
A single day in Whistler can also present you with some seriously tough decisions if you’re short on time. What can you cut out? What can you not stand to miss? What top of the line dinners, drinks, and delights should you be digging into?
We’re here to solve that issue for you. We live here after all. We’ve carefully constructed a schedule for you that highlights all the greatest Whistler hits. Check out a few of our considerations below, but remember, there’s always so much more available in Whistler, just stay a day or two longer. Stay a month!
Getting To Whistler
First things first, you’ve gotta get to us. If part of your 24-hour window is going to include travel, we’re going to provide you with the best, and quickest, directions to get right to us. You’ll likely be trying to get to Whistler by way of Vancouver. If you’ve rented (or have) a car, we suggest you hop on BC-99 North and get to driving. Check out online traffic cams for road conditions and ensure you arrive safely. If you don’t have a car, no worries! You can access Whistler via the shuttle bus system. This will take you directly from the Vancouver airport all the way to Whistler for a low rate.
Hotels, Lodges, and Chalets, Oh My!
Now that you’re on the road, let’s get down to business, we’re going to pack your next 24 hours with so much fun you won’t be able to stand it, and much of that will start with selecting the right lodging. Picking the perfect accommodation is easy in Whistler, there are plenty of fancy resorts, comfy cabins, and private chalets available for you! Here are a few of our favorite suggestions.
Westin Whistler
If you are doing Whistler in a Day, you might want to be smack-dab-in-the-middle of all the commotion for your 24-hour stay. The Westin Resort in Whistler is the spot for you. Located in the heart of Whistler, you’ll get the best of both worlds — beautiful mountain views and access to all the food, drinks, and nightlife your heart could desire. What’s better, this hotel has been voted the #1 ski hotel and resort in all of North American twice by Conde Nast, so you know you can expect a quality stay.
Nita Lake Lodge
If you’re looking to soak in the Whistler Mountain views nonstop for your 24-hour stay, the Nita Lake Lodge will give you just that. Mere steps from the Creekside Gondolas, you can have mountain access in minutes. With its private rooms, fireplaces, and relaxing tubs, this is the perfect lodge if you’re looking for a romantic getaway.
Pan Pacific Village
If you’re looking for a something a little more family-friendly for your whole crew, we suggest the Pan Pacific Village Centre. Not only do you have access to mountain views, hot tubs and saunas, and complimentary extras, it’s only a 5-minute walk away from Whistler Village where all the action happens. It’s also incredibly close to the gondolas to take you up the mountain in a flash.
Whistler Mountain
You’ve got the lodging straightened out, so it’s time to start packing your remaining hours with tons of fun, starting with one of the most obvious choices.
You can’t go to Whistler without going to Whistler Mountain — that’d be like going to Canada and not getting a Tim Hortons coffee and donut (who does that, right?). Whistler Mountain is jam-packed with endless activities, gorgeous scenery, and fun for everyone, no matter what age or adventure preference you might have. Here are a few of the fun things you can participate in on Whistler Mountain.
Peak 2 Peak Gondola
Want to see everything but only have a day, the Peak 2 Peak makes it easy.
This exceptional gondola ride does far more than just get you from point A to point B. This is one of the best ways to get a full 360-degree view of the beautiful land you’ve traveled to. This gondola offers you stunning views of Whistler Village, mountains, lakes, glaciers, and seemingly endless forests. They even have a few extra-special glass bottom gondolas for a bird’s eye view of the forest below. This is a great way to pack in the views if you don’t have time to explore each of Whistler’s gorgeous features.
Shred the Mountain
A crisp example of corrugation for your enjoyment.
This probably goes without saying, but if you come to Whistler Mountain in winter, you better be ready to strap on some skis and shred down the slopes. Whistler mountain is thought to be a skiers dream destination, and with over 8,100 acres of snow-covered slopes, 16 alpine bowls, 3 glaciers, and world-class terrain parks, you can probably see why.
Visiting in the summer? No sweat. Check out the mountain biking options for Whistler Mountain to get some quality shred time. The Whistler Mountain Bike Park is the ultimate gravity-fed downhill biking experience — not only does it cater to all different levels, it draws in the pros for practice, so you might catch a glimpse of your favorite mountain biker while you’re adventuring!
Delicious Dinner Time
Now that you’ve burned off all that energy, it’s time to find the most delicious dinner around. This is, admittedly, one of the hardest parts about Whistler. With so many world-class restaurants located in one area, it can be hard to choose just one.
Our Suggestion?
Rimrock makes a great stop on your one-day in Whistler.
Check out Rim Rock. This unique, classy restaurant specializes in fish and game, has dozens of awards from Tripadvisor, Pique Newsmagazine, and International Wine Festival, and even offers special prices for three-course specials. With famous chefs, world-class dining, and plenty of cocktail options, you’re sure to enjoy your culinary experience.
A Night Out on the Town
After you’ve dined on tasty treats, cocktails, and more, it’s time to explore Whistler nightlife. Check out a few of our favorite options.
Before you can get to your night on the town, we suggest you squeeze in one of our favorite Whistler activities – axe throwing. At Forged Axe, we don’t mess around when it comes to fun, and we’re here to make sure you have plenty of it.
Unleash your inner lumberjack as we teach you how to throw (and probably get you hooked on it, too)! No matter how many people are in your group, we can accommodate you! Whether it’s a drop-in session, party bookings, or a visit during our weekly league, you can bet that we’re ready to help you get your axe throwing on.
Nightclubs and Bars
Seriously, this could be you on your next Bar Hop in Whistler
Whistler has plenty of beautiful scenery, delicious food, and fun activities, but it also has no shortage of wild and crazy nightlife adventures either. Whether you want a chill spot to sit back and enjoy some Whistler-brewed bottles or you’re looking to get moving on the dance floor, Whistler has all the top-spots you’re looking for.
The neat thing about Whistler in a Day, is that every day of the week belongs to a different bar or club, so, no matter when you’re planning on visiting, you can bet there’s something wild going down. Mondays belong to Maax Fish and their deep, bass, tech house music. Tuesdays go to Tommy’s Tuesdays and Talking Froth. Wednesdays and Thursdays go to Buffalo Bills for Industry Night and Garfinkle’s Local Nights, followed by a Free Frawl Friday at Maax Fish, a Garfinkle’s Saturday, and a Moe Joe’s Sunday Glow Party.
Want the full details on which nightclubs and bars you should be attending? Check out our ultimate guide to Whistler nightlife right here.
24-Hours and Non-Stop Fun
Even if you only have a few days – heck, or even one day – to hang out in Whistler, we can promise you that this gorgeous location is definitely worth your time. Make the most of your day and pack in as much as you can. The truth is, a single day in Whistler can’t get you the ultimate experience – you’ll need at least a week for that – but with our suggestions, you can have the best 24 hours in Whistler you could ever hope to experience!