Spring Bloom Guide: Where to Take the Best Photos of Tulips and Other Flowers
Spring in Vancouver is all about vibrant blooms. Head to parks, gardens, and festivals for photos with a colourful backdrop of tulips and other spring flowers.
Stanley Park
The gardens at Stanley Park explode into a riot of colourful flowers each spring. If you're looking for tulips, wander through the flower beds near the Stanley Park Pavilion. Or walk the paths of the Rose Garden near the park entrance to enjoy over 3,500 rose bushes along with tulips, daffodils, and other spring flowers. This garden also has a dramatic arbour covered in climbing roses and clematis.
Other flower hot spots in the park include the Rhododendron Garden near Lost Lagoon and cherry blossoms near Lumberman's Arch and Lost Lagoon.
The best way to get around the park is by bike via the Stanley Park Seawall. You can rent bikes at shops just outside the park near the corner of Georgia and Denman Streets.
VanDusen Botanical Garden
Spring is the best time of year to visit the VanDusen Botanical Garden. The 22-hectare garden covers several city blocks in the centre of Vancouver. You can spot over 30 varieties of tulips alongside other spring flowers like daffodils and hyacinths. The garden also features flowering magnolia and cherry trees.
Stop for lunch at The Garden Cafe, which has a great view of the flowers. Their Afternoon Tea package is a popular choice. Or book a table at The Shaughnessy Restaurant. Some of their seasonal menu items are grown on-site.
Queen Elizabeth Park
Queen Elizabeth Park sits on the highest spot in Vancouver, so it has excellent city views. It's also a beautiful photo location in spring when the flowers bloom. Explore the Quarry Gardens to enjoy intricately planted tulips and other spring blooms cradled inside the rock walls of a former quarry. The Rose Garden on the southern side of the park also has lots of gorgeous flowers. Book a table at Seasons in the Park to dine with a view of the gardens.
Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival
Tulips aren't the only flowers in town. The Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival runs from March 26 to April 28 with events across the city. Experience blossoms at local parks, take part in a cherry blossom picnic, or go for a bike ride through cherry blossoms. Our 2025 Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival guide has all the details.
Abbotsford Tulip Festival at Lakeland Flowers
Wander through 35 acres of tulips, lupins, and other blooms at the Abbotsford Tulip Festival at Lakeland Flowers. There are lots of unique photo op spots including giant Dutch wooden shoes, pianos to play, canoes, swings, bikes, and viewing platforms.
The festival will also have food trucks on site every day, live music performances, and live painting. The festival is scheduled to run from April 5th to May 11, but opening dates are subject to the bloom schedule. Buy tickets online one week before your visit.
Tulip Forest at Maan Farms
New this year, Maan Farms has transformed their fall Forest Pumpkin Patch into a spring Tulip Forest. Walk through two acres of brightly coloured flowers set amidst a forest backdrop. They also have fun photo installations including a mushroom house, oversized chair, swings, a kissing booth, and butterfly wings.
You can experience the Tulip Forest along with barnyard attractions in April as part of the Spring at the Farm experience. On select dates, the Tulip forest is included with tickets to Easter-themed BAE Days, which includes an egg hunt, Easter bunny, and visits with baby animals. Purchase tickets online in advance.
Botanica Tulip Festival
The Botanica Tulip Festival in Chilliwack features a staggering 2 million bulbs spread over 14 acres. The festival includes 80 different varieties of tulips and other spring flowers. In addition to display gardens, you can also enjoy the largest U-pick fields in the Fraser Valley. Pick ranunculus, anemones, snapdragons, and more to make your own bouquets.
See the festival from above on the Ferris wheel, or grab a snack from the on-site food trucks or the farm shop. The festival is anticipated to open on April 11, but of course, depends on the whims of seasonal blooming conditions. You can get tickets online in advance.
Harrison Tulip Festival
The Harrison Tulip Festival in Agassiz bills itself as the largest tulip festival in Canada. They have 40 acres of flowers including over 12 million bulbs, more than 100 varieties of tulips, and 30 varieties of other spring flowers. They also won the World's Most Instagrammable Tulip Farm award at the World Tulip Summit in Holland.
This year's festival features food trucks every day, bouquet-making workshops, live music, games, a picnic area, special sunrise openings to see the tulips in the magical light of early morning, and lots more. The festival is open in April (exact dates TBA) and tickets are available online five to ten days in advance.