The Robson Square Ice Rink

I would give this 5 stars because it was the best experience and so much fun, but the ice needed to be smoothed but nobody did so it was hard trying to skate smoothly. The café is good. Costumer service is amazing. They were so kind. The lights and the whole setting was beautiful. The skate rentals are cheap. If u have skates then it’s totally free. I would totally recommend this place to others!

One of the nicer rinks out there. The best part is that it’s free during the winter months. Of course, one could argue that everyone local paid for it through tax dollars, but that’s a different story.
Parking is available in the nearby Pacific Centre, or on the street. Of course, it’s best to just walk here.
The rink looks pretty good with all of the coloured lights installed. They could easily film a movie here. There are skate rentals for those who don’t own, and it’s overall a good time.
During the summer, the large concrete rink is used for other events, such as salsa nights and the occasional break-​dancing competition.
It’s a nice place to check out if you haven’t already been before.

Would give them 0 star if could… Arrived at 8:15 was told that we couldn’t get ice skates as rentals close at 8:30 which doesn’t say anywhere on Unilocal

2^nd time there & just as fun as the 1^st time. Everyone is so friendly & a happy mood. Having the Robson rink there during the holidays is such a great idea & overall so worth doing & with the price you can’t go wrong haha

Thumbs up for being a FREE public ice skating rink, however, if you go to the ice skating rink here, make sure you avoid the crowd on weekends.
When there are a lot of people skating, the ice condition deteriorates very quickly, a few minutes after the ice cleaning, it’s already bumpy.
I am a beginner level skater so I will try to go during more free weekday morning hours. =) I do like their music and overhead rainbow lighting system.

Skytrain to City Centre station $ 5.50, two pairs of skates $ 8.00, one pair of cleats $ 2.00…the feeling me and the wife received watching our son skate for the first time… PRICELESS! He had a smile so big you could hardly see his eyes.
I only found out about this place because I was incredibly busy studying for an exam during the past couple months. One night on the way in for a study session, I saw lights, ice, and heard people skating to beats that just grabbed my attention. It’s situated right outside of UBC Robson Square campus beneath Robson street. During the off months, a bunch of hip hop dancers and breakers hang out there, REALLY cool to watch as well.
Btw…if you have your own skates… you can skate for free. they only charge for rentals!

I had a blast here the other night with my friend Jee. At first there was basically no one there which was great because I’m pretty rusty, but later on a huge group of high schools came and one of the girls knocked out my knees so I hit the ice pretty hard. The staff came to check and is if I was alright though so no big, just hate stupid highschools that don’t bother to apologize.

Who ever thought it would be possible to skate outdoors in mild, rainy Vancouver? Skating is free, you just need to rent skates if you don’t have your own and the helmets are free for the kiddies. When you’re done skating, walk up on up to the street level to find a plethora of awesome food trucks!

I am more inclined to adrenaline sports so circling around a rink like a goldfish at the Aquarium in not so perfect fitting skates, on an ice surface that’s mangled, dodging 2 year old’s in ice walkers, runs it’s course in about 10 minutes for me.
BUT I didn’t come here for me, it was for a nephew’s day out for FUN! Weeeeee. For kiddies this is a great place, cheap rentals, no fee’s, no time limits, beginners welcome and lots of squealing teens, goofy immigrants from hot places who have never stepped on ice before, and mom’s helicopter, chaperoning their children around.
My mom used to LOVE this place, and it seemed a lot less busy 20 years ago. There is really no way to complain about such a cool public service… but I can lol :(jaded back-​country snowboarding bastard I am.
You can add this to the list of «things to do for tourists and children» like the Suspension Bridge. I guess if your on a date, you can count on your lady falling into your arms for support ;)
For some people this is magic, for me it’s more like the little choo choo around Stanley Park. I would defend its existence to the death, but I probably won’t be back without a 5 year old in tow.
By the way — shoving a kid around on the granny bars can really give you a good workout, jesus, esp when the kid just dangles there and holds on, try not to run anyone over either.

This place is pretty fun, for what it is. Granted, I don’t own a pair of skates; and lawdknows I won’t be renting a pair either (this is about the time in one’s review when it is acceptable to wax and wane about the irony of being a full-​blooded Canadian but unable to strap on some… skates. I won’t won’t be doing this), but I appreciate that the option to skate is there if the overwhelming feeling to do such a thing is ever to come over me.
Blue lights (energy efficient, don’t you know), located underground, with loads of fresh air — it’s a pretty romantical (totally a word) little place. But that’s really not why I’ve ever gone here. I go to watch the funny little hip hop group practice their moves on the other side of the rink. That aforementioned fresh air, I imagine, is good for them; and the sight is faaaar more entertaining than So You Think You Can Dance (not that I ever watch that either… *cough*).

I love that there is no fee to skate here! If you got blades, bring em! If you don’t, its only 3 bucks for a rental! Super kid friendly with rental helmets available and those blue thing-​ys that are made if plastic, not metal (like in the ol’ days where your hands would meld to it. Lol). Pretty quiet on weekdays, which is nice. :)

This place conjures up big «awwww“s from me cuz I’m the simple romantic. It’s located in an active area of downtown that has finally finished all the renovations — so central to everything (transit included). It’s never too cold in Vancouver to enjoy some outdoor skating, and the cool LED lights that change colours above you distract from the fact that this rink is pretty tiny. And when you’re done with the skating, you can head upstairs to look at the beautiful tree lights in the evening (it’s like your own little garden in downtown, I find few people actually wander this area).
During the weekends there are usually things happening beside the rink as well, since the steps also double as seats for concerts or shows. Skate rentals are cheap at $ 3 a pair, and the little food stand will provide good nurishment and hot cocoa while you’re off the ice.
Beware of kids or rowdy teens that think they’re awesome and race each other, and also keep an eye out for the new people who can’t skate — those helper stands take up a lot of space!
Enjoy your date!

So my friends suggesting coming here for a friends birthday.
I was a lot apprehensive since I haven’t been ice skating for over a decade, and last time I tired, I spent a lot of time sliding on my ass.
Things didn’t start off that well. With cheap skate rentals ($ 4), skate move quickly. They didn’t have my size, so I settled with a couple sizes too big.
All in all it’ was a great time, very family friendly. There are people of all skill levels that come skating here, so just be prepared to deal with that.

I love the Robson Square ice rink! It would be 5 stars but last year a few times I went they were out of several sizes of skates leaving a large, cold, unhappy lineup of grumps.
All that aside it’s a fun way to kill some time with friends if your stuck downtown in the winter, beats wandering the malls. If your not into the typical winter snowboarding or skiing it’s a nice wintery alternative. Skates are only $ 4, another $ 2 for a helmet if your clutzy and a pretty cheap concession with cheap drinks and snacks.
They also have a funky little zamboni that looks like an Orca! Too cute.

OK, full confession. As an «On-​terrible» native who lived for two years literally right across the street from the world’s largest ice skating rink (the Rideau Canal), I am a bit of an ice rink snob. But with all the perks that Vancouver offers, I’m willing to compromise on ice skating surface area, and you can’t help but be charmed by the small but festive rink at Robson Square. I was pleasantly surprised to find out that there was no admission fee and that rentals were only $ 3, which I thought was reasonable considering that I was fully expecting to encounter a bit of a tourist trap.
Yes, the rink is small and crowded, but the atmosphere is fun and it just feels neat skating underneath the dome. Plus of course the location is perfect for tourists and too-​cool-​to-​expose-​my-​inner-​child hipsters who live downtown — you know you want to try it! I’m impressed that they put the effort into making this considering it probably requires a fairly complicated and expensive cooling system underneath the ice to maintain the surface. I bet it’s even more fun during the holiday season or at night when you have the lights.

This ice rink is a fun and festive venue in the heart of all the downtown Vancouver action. This small ice rink is located right on Robson street under the colorful lit glass domes. Whats more fun during the holidays than ice skating and then eating out on Robson? $ 3 to rent a pair of skates and no admission make it all the better!
We came here in the early afternoon on a weekday and it was perfect timing, with only a few other people on the ice. Within an hour or two it got very busy, but we left. Can’t complain for cheap fun.

What it has: Ice skating rink, zip-​lining (free but monstrous lineup), live entertainment, lineups for other free exhibits nearby (Vancouver Art Gallery/​BC Pavilion) and the CTV broadcast tent.
Big open space in the hub of major retail centre of downtown — the electricity here is fun and definitely contagious. A true open area public square/​celebration site unlike the drab security zones labelled as ‘LiveCity’.

This free outdoor venue had a lot to offer for us. We watched a young juggling troupe, («Cirque-wanna-be’s) delighted the crowd. The stage is set up at one side of the ice rink and offering a variety entertainment day and night.
We walked past the ice rink. The lights were so festive! This brought back memories of Winterlude in Ottawa for me.
Just past the rink a large monitor to watch the Olympic action lets you feel like your not missing a beat while walking around. Above us, people on the zip line squealed as they whizzed passed. A bit farther along we came to the back of the Art Gallery with a humongous floral backdrop covering the wall. Very resourceful way of re-​directing people I think.
This whole block turned out to be one of my favourite stops!

A must-​see place for all visitors and locals alike in Vancouver. We got here after dark where the ice rink was glowing, there was live music and just a really happy good vibe. So many photos opportunities and so many chances to meet new happy tourists! I really like what they’ve done to the place in anticipation for the olympics, I’m sure I’ll be dropping bey here often in the weeks to come!

It’s about time they did something to that gloomy Robson Square. In anticipation of the Olympics, GE and the provincial government partnered up to refresh the skating rink and make it all snazzy again.
GE has also used their technology into revitilizing this space. Energy efficient LED lighting products, and refrigeration technology has been incorported in the plaza. Also, there’s a concession.
Skate rentals are available at $ 3.00. They open from 9am-​9pm each day. The rink itself is not too big, so I could see it being cramped on the weekends.
It’s an awesome upgrade– much more light comes in, and a great outdoor activity to do in the winter!
They also have live concerts to play there, so keep your eye out for them! Christmas lights, hot chocolate, skating… it can’t get any more festive than this!