Kelowna in winter is magical. Imagine it: the surrounding mountains, farmlands and ponderosa pines are covered in a light dusting of snow, the air is crisp but mild, and you’re looking forward to starting your day on a mountain and ending it with a meal overlooking the lake.
This two-day itinerary is filled with seasonal experiences, dining, and Kelowna winter attractions to help you make that scene a reality. Use it for inspiration as you plan your winter itinerary in Kelowna.
Day One of Your Kelowna Winter Itinerary
(1) Cooking Class at Lakehouse Kitchens Cooking School. Photo: Ken Hagen, (2) Kettle River Brewing Co., (3) Cross-Country Skiing at Kelowna Nordic Centre. Photo: David Vassiliev
Morning: Powder, Trails, and Mountain Views
In Kelowna in the winter, the early bird gets the fresh powder. So bundle up, grab a hot drink and a bite to go from Deville Coffee (there are two locations in Kelowna, so choose the one that’s closest to you) and kick off your day with a winter activity.
Visit Telemark Nordic Centre or Kelowna Nordic Centre for Nordic skiing—also known as cross-country skiing—and snowshoeing, or enjoy the quiet trails on a winter hike.
Cross off a Kelowna winter bucket list item by heading to Big White Ski Resort or SilverStar Mountain Resort. Both offer day passes for skiing, snowboarding, tubing, and snowshoeing, as well as lessons for downhill beginners.
To get there, you can rent a car or hop on a shuttle from the Kelowna International Airport. If you’re travelling light, Telemark Nordic Centre, Big White Ski Resort and SilverStar Mountain Resort all offer a variety of equipment rentals.
Afternoon: Sip, Shop, and Savour Kelowna’s Winter Warmth
After a morning outdoors, a casual but heart lunch always hits the spot. Kelowna’s North End, also known as the Brewery District, is the place to go if you want lunch with a side of local craft beer. It’s home to several of Kelowna’s microbreweries, including Railside Brewing, Rustic Reel Brewing and Kettle River Brewing.
If you want to explore Lower Mission, Lakeshore Road is lined with great sit-down lunch options like Shore Line Brewing, Hugo’s Mexican Kitchen, Diner Deluxe, and South St. Burger.
Once you’ve eaten, take some time to browse independent boutiques and specialty shops. Bernard Avenue (near the Brewery District) and Pandosy Village (in the Lower Mission) are both great for an afternoon stroll. If your visit is before the new year, you might also be able to find a holiday market to explore.
Evening: Cozy Dinners and Kelowna After Dark
After a busy first day, a cozy pause over dinner and drinks is in order. Bouchons Bistro offers French comfort classics, Derrick’s Steakhouse serves beautifully prepared cuts in an upscale setting, and Waterfront Wines highlights local flavours with care.
Or if you like the idea of getting hands-on, book a cooking class at Mission Hill Family Estate Winery, Lakehouse Kitchens Cooking School, or The Okanagan Table.
Later on, Kelowna’s arts and entertainment scene comes alive. Catch a comedy show, take in live music, see a Ballet Kelowna or theatre performance, or end your night with a bit of excitement at one of Kelowna’s casinos, such as Chances Casino.
Big White Ski Resort
- 5315 Big White Road
Canada's largest totally ski-in/ski-out resort village, located one hour from the Kelowna International Airport, has everything you…
SilverStar Mountain Resort
- 123 Shortt Street
SilverStar - A Culture Of Progression and Fun First Located in the interior British Columbia mountains, SilverStar offers 3,282…
Railside Brewing
- 1186 High Rd, Kelowna
Craft Brewery right on the Kelowna's Rail Trail! Opened by long-time friends, Rob and Matt, in 2022, Railside has quickly become the…
Bouchons Bistro
- 105-1180 Sunset Drive
Bouchons is a delightful French Bistro that opened in 2004 in the heart of Kelowna's Cultural District. Owner Stéphane Facon offers…
Derrick's Steakhouse
- 1560 Water Street
Derrick’s Steakhouse is Kelowna’s premier destination for steak lovers, offering an elevated dining experience built on quality…
Waterfront Wines
- 104-1180 Sunset Drive
Under the direction of Chef & Sommelier Mark Filatow, Waterfront Restaurant & Wine Bar has developed a fresh, continually evolving…
Mission Hill Family Estate
- 1730 Mission Hill Road
Mission Hill Family Estate offers visitors an exceptional experience in a setting of unparalleled natural beauty and extraordinary…
Lakehouse Kitchens Cooking School
- 100-510 Bernard Avenue
Welcome to Lakehouse Kitchens Cooking School, perfectly paired with our award-winning retail store and you. Since 2011, Lakehouse…
The Okanagan Table - kitchen | events | catering
- 1571 Pandosy Street
The Okanagan Table - kitchen | events | catering offers almost endless opportunities to enjoy food and its preparation. With seating…
Chances Casino Kelowna
- 1585 Springfield Road
Come enjoy our world of entertainment! With over 340 slot machines, live table games (including Blackjack, Ultimate Texas Hold’em…
Shore Line Brewing
- 116 - 3477 Lakeshore Rd
Locally owned and operated, Shore Line Brewing Co. is a place where we make great craft beer, delicious food, and value strong…
Day Two of Your Kelowna Winter Itinerary
(1) Löyly Floating Sauna. Photo: Darren Hull Studios, (2) Dome Dining at Frind Estate Winery. Photo: Snap Commercial Photography, (3) Sunny's Modern Diner Chicks on a Raft. Photo: Jennifer Schell
Morning: Start the Day with Breakfast or Brunch and a Lakeside Stroll
If you want to keep things central, get breakfast or brunch at the Bohemian Café & Catering Company or Sunny’s Modern Diner, then walk the Downtown Kelowna Waterfront Promenade, or lace up some skates at Stuart Park. Rentals are available right next to the rink.
To explore West Kelowna, try Kekuli Café or The Landing Kitchen + Bar then walk the Gellatly Bay Park promenade.
Or begin your day in Lake Country at The Jammery, Wooden Nickel Cafe, or Norman’s Diner, followed by a quick drive to the waterfront section of the Okanagan Rail Trail.
Regardless of where you want to start the second day, there are plenty of inviting cafés, diners, and lakeside trails to enjoy.
Afternoon: Art, Culture and Winter Wellness
Spend the afternoon exploring or unwinding—whatever you need most.
Visit the Kelowna Art Gallery’s collection of contemporary Canadian art, the Okanagan Wine and Orchard Museum, and the Okanagan Heritage Museum, which are all within walking distance of one another. In West Kelowna, hear from sylix voices share the living traditions of the land at the Sncewips Heritage Museum, or visit the Westbank Museum for a glimpse into the area’s pioneer history. There’s also the Lake Country Art Gallery over in Lake Country, which is free and open to the public.
If you’d prefer to recharge, plan a relaxing afternoon instead. Go for a sauna and cold plunge on Okanagan Lake at Löyly Floating Sauna, unwind with a treatment at Damara Day Spa at the Delta Hotels by Marriott Grand Okanagan Resort, or sit in the Himalayan salt cave at Room + Pillar Spa.
Evening: Wine, Flights, and Fine Dining
Wind down your second day with a pre-dinner wine tasting or beverage flight. Winter is ideal for wine experiences. The slower season makes for quieter tasting rooms and more time to connect with educators and winemakers. With Wine Spots in West Kelowna, Lake Country, South East Kelowna and along Lakeshore, there’s no shortage of areas to explore. Kelowna also has many breweries, cideries and distilleries where you can order tastings or flights of craft beverages.
Then, close out your visit with a memorable dinner overlooking the water. Home Block at CedarCreek Estate Winery, Maestro's Mediterranean Restaurant and Terrace, and King Taps all offer lakeside dining with seasonal menus.
Or, book a dome dining experience at Frind Winery or Oak+Cru Social Kitchen & Wine Bar. These heated, glass-enclosed domes let you enjoy the lake views and winter scenery in complete comfort.
Bohemian Cafe & Catering Company
- 524 Bernard Ave
Welcome to the Bohemian! We are a small Cafe that also provides Catering services in the Kelowna area and throughout the Okanagan…
Sunny's Modern Diner
- 235 Bernard Avenue
Sunny’s Modern Diner is the newest inspired restaurant in the RauDZ Creative Concepts Ltd (RCC) portfolio. Owned by Chef Rod Butters…
The Jammery
- 8038 Highway 97 N
Jam Factory - Gift Shop - Restaurant. You can view our jam production area from the viewing window in our gift shop. Taste our…
Gellatly Bay Park
- Gellatly Rd
The Gellatly Bay Waterfront is West Kelowna’s go-to spot for people-watching, lakeside play, and laid-back adventure. This scenic…
Okanagan Rail Trail
- Central Okanagan Multi-modal Corridor
Stretching between lake and land, the Okanagan Rail Trail is a gently graded, multi-use pathway that will eventually span 52 km…
Kelowna Art Gallery
- 1315 Water Street
Located in the heart of Kelowna's Cultural District, the Kelowna Art Gallery offers visitors four different exhibition spaces to…
Okanagan Wine & Orchard Museum
- 1304 Ellis Street Laurel Packinghouse
Soak in the ambiance of BC's oldest fruit packinghouse, and learn about the trials and triumphs of Okanagan's most delicious…
Sncewips Heritage Museum
- 260 - 525 Highway 97 South
The Sncewips Heritage Museum began as a repository after Westbank First Nation achieved self-government in 2005. As our collection…
Löyly Floating Sauna
- 238 Queensway
Nestled on Okanagan Lake in downtown Kelowna, Löyly Floating Sauna offers a one-of-a-kind wellness experience. Inspired by Finnish…
Damara Day Spa at the Delta Grand Okanagan Resort
- 1310 Water St
A Full-Service Spa at Delta Grand Okanagan Resort Relax, unwind and recover at our award-winning spa located in the heart of…
Delta Hotels by Marriott Grand Okanagan Resort
- 1310 Water Street
Delta Hotels by Marriott Grand Okanagan Resort invites you to be our guest at Kelowna's premier waterfront resort. Located on more…
Home Block at CedarCreek Estate Winery
- 5445 Lakeshore Road
At Home Block Restaurant, we embrace the bounty of the Okanagan while our name pays homage to the Home Block Vineyard which…
Maestro's Mediterranean Restaurant and Terrace
- 3762 Lakeshore Road
Immerse yourself into the flavours of the Mediterranean paired with carefully selected British Columbia ingredients harvested…
King Taps Kelowna Lakeside
- 1352 Water St
King Taps delivers fun, inviting vibes in an iconic spot on downtown Kelowna’s waterfront. We’re known for serving delicious…
OAK + CRU Social Kitchen & Wine Bar
- 1310 Water St.
OAK + CRU Social Kitchen and Wine Bar draws its inspiration from the bounty of the Okanagan Valley, which includes over 300 wineries…
Experience Kelowna in Winter
Experience winter in wine country for yourself. Start planning by checking out our events calendar, browsing things to do in Kelowna in winter, and looking for your perfect place to stay in Kelowna.
If you’re considering a spring or summer trip instead, explore our 48-hour itinerary for warmer seasons.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is Kelowna a good winter destination to travel to?
Yes. Kelowna offers a milder winter climate than many interior and mountain destinations in BC, paired with easy access to ski resorts, lakeside experiences, wineries, and a vibrant food scene. It is ideal for travellers who want winter activities without committing to extreme cold or long driving distances, with Kelowna International Airport making it even more accessible.
How cold does it get in Kelowna during the winter months?
Winter temperatures in Kelowna are generally moderate for the Interior of BC. Daytime highs often sit just below or above freezing, with colder evenings. Snowfall is common but typically lighter in the city than in nearby mountain areas like Big White and SilverStar.
Do I need winter tires to drive in and around Kelowna?
Yes. Winter tires are required on most highways in British Columbia from October 1 to April 30, including routes into Kelowna. If you are renting a vehicle, confirm that winter tires are included, especially if you plan to visit ski resorts or travel between communities.
Is Kelowna walkable in winter?
Downtown Kelowna, the Waterfront, and nearby neighbourhoods remain very walkable in winter, particularly after snow clearing. Many attractions, restaurants, cafés, and cultural venues are clustered close together, making it easy to explore on foot during milder winter days.
Are wineries and breweries open in Kelowna during winter?
Most wineries, breweries, cideries, and distilleries in Kelowna and the surrounding area remain open year-round, though hours may be reduced. Winter can be one of the best times to visit, with fewer crowds and more personalized tasting experiences.
What is the best time of winter to visit Kelowna?
December through February each offer different experiences. December brings a festive atmosphere and holiday events, January is quieter and ideal for winter sports and spa visits, and February often features crisp days that are perfect for outdoor activities and wine touring.
Can you visit Kelowna in winter without a car?
It is possible, especially if you stay downtown or near the waterfront. Taxis, rideshares, shuttles, and local transit can cover many needs. However, a car offers more flexibility if you plan to explore ski resorts, wineries, or nearby communities.
What should I pack for a winter trip to Kelowna?
Pack layers, a warm jacket, waterproof footwear, gloves, and a hat. Sunglasses are also useful.
Cover Image: Frind Winery. Photo: Ken Hagen