There are a surprising number of fun things to do in New Westminster, one of the most historic communities in British Columbia, Canada. Although this waterfront city is only 30 minutes away from downtown Vancouver, it has its own unique heritage, landscape and charm.
With a compact, walkable city center and a growing list of attractions, it’s worth considering spending half a day, or a whole day, in New Westminster as part of your Vancouver trip. Whether you’re into waterfront walks and patio drinks, or contemporary art and fusion cuisine (or all of the above, like me!), you’ll definitely find something to pique your interest in this up-and-coming area.
The Best Things To Do in New Westminster, BC
You can see the highlights of New Westminster in just one day, so I’m going to organize this list as a one-day New Westminster itinerary, from morning to evening. If you have more than one day in New Westminster you can go slower and spend more time outdoors (and on brunch or happy hour patios!) or hop on the SkyTrain and make the 30-minute journey into downtown Vancouver.
Wake-Up Coffee at Craft Cafe
The best way to start your day in New Westminster is with coffee at Craft Cafe, which opens bright and early at 6:30 am. Grab a single-origin Spicy Mexican Mocha (or just a black coffee) to go and walk along the waterfront to your next destination.
Sunrise in Westminster Pier Park
One of the most beautiful waterfront boardwalks in all of metro Vancouver, New Westminster’s Pier Park features pedestrian pathways straddling both land and sea. Early morning is the ideal time to visit, as you’ll have spectacular views of the sun rising over four different bridges.
If you’re visiting in the summer and stay in the park a while you’ll likely find some different events taking place, like yoga classes and public art displays.
Breakfast at Angelina’s Dutch Corner
Post-sunrise, double back along the waterfront to Angelina’s Dutch Corner, inside the River Market complex. Angelina’s is a family-run pancake house dishing up some of New West’s most popular sweet and savory breakfasts. You can sample flavors of the Pacific Northwest with their Smoked Wild Sockeye Salmon pannekoek, or stick with a classic like lemon juice and sugar.
Exploring New Westminster Quay
After breakfast, spend some time strolling around the independent boutique shops inside the River Market, where you’ll find up-cycled vintage clothes, gourmet local foods and unique board games. Don’t be surprised if you see a clown walk past – the top floor of the market is home to the Vancouver Circus School!
Then, head outside to the waterfront, where you’ll find the world’s largest tin soldier marking the entrance to the Fraser River Discovery Centre. Inside, you’ll find kid-friendly, hands-on exhibits about the role that the Fraser River has played in Western Canada’s culture, economy and environment.
Columbia Street, New Westminster
Leaving the market, head outside to Columbia Street, one of the main thoroughfares in New West. Aside from more boutique shopping, there are a few other noteworthy spots to check out along the road.
The Wait for Me Daddy Sculpture
In 1940, American photographer Claude P. Dettloff snapped one of the most iconic World War 2 photographs here, at the intersection of 8th Street and Columbia Street in New Westminster. Titled “Wait for Me, Daddy”, the photograph shows a regiment of Canadian soldiers marching down the street, towards the boat that was waiting to take them to fight in Europe. Dettloff captured the perfectly-timed moment that a young boy spotted his father in the regiment and ran towards him, reaching out for his hand as if to ask if he could come along.
In 2014, the city of New Westminster unveiled a bronze statue in Hyack Square, recreating the famous photograph. The sculpture was created by the married Canadian-Spanish artistic couple of Veronica and Edwin Dam de Nogales. For many Canadians who had a family member serve in World War 2, pausing at the Wait for Me Daddy sculpture is one of the most important things to do in New Westminster.
The Anvil Centre
The Anvil Centre is a multipurpose community and arts space in New Westminster, located at 777 Columbia Street. Inside, there are several different spaces where visitors can explore the intersection between art, culture, technology and place.
- New Media Gallery – Described as “legitimately cool”, this exhibit space features temporary exhibits from artists who use technology to create thought-provoking, interactive exhibits about the world we live in.
- Community Art Gallery – This space showcases works by artists who live in New Westminster, so expect to be inspired by the colors, landscape and peoples of the Canadian West.
- Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame – Many people assume that hockey is Canada’s only national sport, but we actually have two: hockey (winter) and lacrosse (summer). Lacrosse has its roots in Indigenous communities, although the game as played today was heavily adapted by European colonizers. At the Lacrosse Hall of Fame you can learn more about the history, game play and key figures in Canada’s second national sport.
- New Westminster Museum & Archives – The permanent and temporary collections here showcase the past, present and future of the city.
Opening dates and times vary for each section of the Anvil Centre, so check online before you visit.
Lunch at the Columbia Street Sandwich Company
Just down the street from the Anvil Centre you’ll find another locally-owned restaurant in New Westminster: The Columbia Street Sandwich Company. This is a great stop for a light lunch, as they have delicious homemade soups, sandwiches and baked goods.
If you’ve never tried a Nanaimo Bar, this is the perfect place to try this famous Canadian dessert! This sweet treat is made of three layers: a base of cookie crumbs and shredded coconut, a custardy middle layer, and chocolate ganache on top.
Quick Visit to Irving House
After lunch, detour to the corner of Royal Avenue and Merivale Street to find Irving House. Remember how New Westminster was founded thirty years before Vancouver? This is one of the oldest colonial homes still standing in the city, and when it was constructed it was considered to be one of the most beautiful homes in all of British Columbia (both inside and out).
Tours of Irving House are offered in multiple languages. Opening hours are usually from 12:00 to 5:00, Wednesday to Sunday, but check the website or give them a call to confirm before walking over.
Afternoon in Queen’s Park
From Irving House, it’s a short (but steep!) uphill walk to Queen’s Park, a 75-acre park founded in 1887.
For people visiting New Westminster with kids, the seasonal spray park in Queens Park lets kids cool off, and work off some energy, under the refreshing spray of several different water features. Nearby, there is a bike skills park for beginning cyclists, an all-ages skate park, a playground inspired by the local forest ecosystems, and a concession for snacks.
For adults, the main attraction at Queen’s Park is the Herb House Rose Garden, where gardeners care more than 600 roses and other types of flowers. The park also has walking and running trails, and off-leash dog area and different outdoor special events in the warmer months.
Happy Hour in New Westminster
Fans of craft beers and tasty snacks will want to start their evening in New Westminster at Steel & Oak Brewing Co, a craft brewery with both indoor and outdoor seating at the west end of the Quay Boardwalk. While their weekly happy hour is on Tuesday, prices are reasonable any day of the week and it’s a great place to hang out, chat and support a local business.
The Best Restaurants in New Westminster for Dinner
I got the inside scoop from a local resident on where New Westminster foodies love going for dinner. These four restaurants celebrate the multiculturalism that makes BC’s Lower Mainland so unique:
- Piva Modern Italian – I love this modern Italian restaurant in downtown New Westminster because it has a dedicated vegetarian menu, featuring dishes like chickpea fritters appetizers and a stuffed portabello mushroom main course. But don’t worry – they also serve classic Italian meats and seafood… and even wild boar!
- El Santa Mexican – This contemporary Mexican restaurant takes local ingredients like fresh BC cod and locally-raised chickens, and combines them with authentic Mexican flavors and cooking techniques. Adventurous eaters will want to try the chef’s tasting menu, which can be served with an optional tequila flight (si, por favor!).
- Playa Tropical Mexican – For a more traditional, and affordable, Mexican restaurant in New Westminster, head here for classics like tacos, quesadillas, burritos and tortas. They also have a basic kids’ menu. My recommendation is the vegetarian enchiladas with mole sauce!
- Taverna Greka – This family-run restaurant on the New Westminster waterfront has been in operation longer than I’ve been alive! Locals love the traditional Greek dishes here, like moussaka (available in a meat or vegetarian version) and souvlaki. Save room for their signature dessert, made with custard, whipped cream, cinnamon and ground nuts.
Things to Do in New Westminster at Night
If you’re not ready for bed yet, there are lots of fun things to do in New Westminster at night! Options will vary depending on the day of the week and the season, so check online to see what these popular New West spots have going on while you’re in town:
- Hidden Wonders Speakeasy – It looks like a regular shop, but hidden behind the false facade of this building in downtown New Westminster (I’m not allowed tell you where!) is a tiny, secret theater where some of Canada’s best magicians perform for in-the-know audiences.
- Capital City Classic Arcade – Located on the northeastern edge of New Westminster, an easy walk from the Sapperton SkyTrain station, the Capital City Classic Arcade has more than 75 classic arcade games and a “free play” model, meaning you pay admission once and can then play as many games as you want. This is a licensed facility, so children 18 and under need to be accompanied by an adult.
- Rick Bronson’s House of Comedy BC – Located inside the historic Columbia Theatre (whose 100th birthday is fast approaching!) this comedy club attracts both world-famous comedians and local talent.
- Massey Theatre – If you’re into live music and live theatre, make sure to check to see what’s showing at this 1200-seat New West theatre.
- Starlight Casino – Located on the southwest side of the Fraser River from central New Westminster, the Starlight Casino is a popular spot for anyone wanting to try their luck at one of the 900+ slot machines or the more than fifty table games. Remember to set a limit and stick to it!
- Fridays on Front Street Night Market – Every summer, on designated Friday evenings, the City of New Westminster hosts an evening market from about 5:00 to 9:00 pm. Expect to find live entertainment, local artisan, street food and a different theme each week.
Hotels in New Westminster, BC
Planning to stay overnight in New Westminster? I’d recommend choosing one of these two hotels – they both have excellent locations that will make it easy to explore by foot.
The Met Hotel in New Westminster
Many of New Westminster’s original heritage buildings were destroyed in a fire in the late 1800s, but the building that houses the Met Hotel miraculously survived. Today, guests can stay in this 130-year-old Victorian boutique hotel, which still has some of the most-affordable and best-located rooms in the city.
Inn at the Quay
Located in one of the coolest buildings in New Westminster (check it out in the photo at the top of this guide!), the Inn at the Quay is an upscale hotel literally perched atop the riverfront. The floor-to-ceiling windows in this pet-friendly hotel offer views of the harbour and the on-site fitness center features a relaxing whirlpool and sauna. The last time I stayed here I spotted seals swimming in the river from my window! 😲
More Facts About New Westminster, British Columbia
- 📍 Location: New Westminster is located in the lower mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is part of the Greater Vancouver metropolitan district and is located about 17 kilometers (10 miles) southeast of Vancouver’s city center, on the shore of the Fraser River.
- 📈 Population: About 70,000 people live in New Westminster.
- ✈️ Airport: The Vancouver International Airport is the closest airport to New Westminster. The SkyTrain system connects the airport and New Westminster (change trains at Waterfront Station).
- 🚗 US Border – The nearest US border crossing is at Peach Arch, a thirty-minute drive south of New Westminster.
- 🛳️ Cruise Terminal – Vancouver’s cruise ship terminal is right in the city center, at Canada Place. From here, there is a direct SkyTrain connection to New Westminster.
- 🚎 Public Transportation: In addition to its own SkyTrain station on the Expo Line, New Westminster is served by numerous bus routes.
- ☀️ Climate – New Westminster has a temperate ocean climate. In the winter the average temperature rarely drops below 0° Celsius. In the summer, the average temperature is around 25° C. The Pacific Northwest region can be rainy, and some estimate that New Westminster receives about 200 days of rain per year.
- 💭 Good to Know: New Westminster is older than Vancouver! The first residents here were the Qayqayt First Nation, and British Colonists later founded a town here in 1858, almost thirty years before Vancouver!
Looking for more British Columbia travel tips? Check out my guide to spending one day in Victoria, which is the provincial capital and an easy day trip from the Lower Mainland, and my new guide to taking a day trip to Cowichan Bay.
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