The first time we visited Vancouver, BC, we did what loads of first-timers do. We discovered a fantastic deal exterior the core, shut sufficient to the skyline to tease us, and booked it. We thought we have been being intelligent.
The actuality was that we spent half our journey crossing bridges and ready for buses, watching the West Coast mountains by means of a windshield as an alternative of from the Seawall. By the time we reached the locations we truly needed to be, it was time to flip round.
On our subsequent go to, we stayed in a small place in the West End, a couple of blocks from Stanley Park. Mornings began with a lap alongside the Seawall and a espresso on Denman Street. Evenings ended with sandy ft at Kitsilano Beach, market snacks, and a sluggish stroll house on quiet aspect streets. Everything clicked.
Not lengthy after, we truly moved to Vancouver. Living there gave us an insider’s perspective to the town. We discovered which blocks really feel energetic late, which of them keep calm, how lengthy it actually takes to get from Canada Place cruise port to Kits, and why a resort beside Waterfront Station can save your complete day. We additionally discovered {that a} harbour view is beautiful, however a sensible base is healthier.
This information is our first-hand tackle the place to keep in Vancouver. It shouldn’t be an inventory of each resort. It is evident, experience-based recommendation to enable you to choose the best house base to your fashion, with trustworthy professionals and cons and resort picks we might e-book once more.
The Best Areas to Stay in Vancouver at a Glance
For a fast abstract, listed below are our prime neighbourhood picks for many guests, based mostly on our expertise residing in and exploring the town.
Downtown: Best for first-timers and sightseeing.
Yaletown: Best for a hip, upscale vibe and eating.
Gastown: Best for historical past, boutiques, and nightlife.
Kitsilano: Best for seashores and a laid-back really feel.
West End: Best for Stanley Park and an area neighbourhood vibe.
Coal Harbour: Best for cruise departures and harbour views.
If you select effectively, you spend much less time commuting throughout bridges and extra time doing the great things: biking the Seawall, grabbing market snacks on Granville Island, catching sundown over English Bay, and waking up excited to do all of it once more.
The Best Neighbourhoods to Stay in Vancouver (Our First-Hand Experience)
Downtown: Best for first-timers and sightseeing
The Vibe
Downtown is Vancouver in fast-forward. Glass towers catch the sunshine off the harbour, Robson Street hums from morning espresso to late-night ramen, and Canada Place anchors the waterfront with seaplanes and cruise ships rolling in. You are a brief stroll to Waterfront Station, the town’s foremost practice station interchange, and a simple base for Stanley Park, Gastown, and the Seawall. For a primary go to, Downtown is the plain selection with a central location in the downtown core.
Our Personal Take
When we’re on a decent filming schedule, we keep Downtown. We will shoot dawn on the harbour, seize a croissant on Granville Street, and nonetheless be again on the resort to change earlier than a experience across the park. It shouldn’t be the quietest selection, however the comfort is unbeatable and most sights are inside strolling distance.
Pros & Cons
Pros: Central and walkable, a great deal of Vancouver motels to select from, best for first-timers.Cons: Summer costs chunk, metropolis noise on foremost streets, free parking is uncommon in the downtown space.
Hotel Recommendations in Downtown
Fairmont Waterfront – Steps from Canada Place and Waterfront Station; waterfront views, trendy facilities, and a fantastic location.
Pan Pacific Vancouver – On prime of the cruise port with direct elevator entry; the best embarkation morning.
EXchange Hotel Vancouver – Heritage conversion in the outdated inventory alternate; a simple stroll to the waterfront and Gastown; snug rooms in an excellent location.
Carmana Hotel & Suites – Big suites with full kitchens close to Robson and Alberni; ideally suited if you would like house and clear rooms in a central location.
Hotel BLU – Sleek boutique choice shut to Granville Street’s leisure district; helpful for reveals with trendy facilities.
Days Inn by Wyndham Vancouver Downtown – Solid finances choose close to the harbour; primary however good location for walkers.
Yaletown: Best for a classy, upscale vibe
The Vibe
Yaletown blends brick and glass in a manner that feels polished with out shedding its warehouse roots. Patios spill onto Hamilton and Mainland, the Seawall curves alongside False Creek, and David Lam Park is the place locals deliver a blanket at golden hour. The Canada Line stops proper in the neighbourhood, so airport days are simple. You are inside strolling distance of the leisure district and a number of the metropolis’s nice meals.
Our Personal Take
Our favorite evenings in Vancouver typically finish right here. We share small plates, wander previous twinkle lights alongside the water, then stroll house with the sound of boat masts clicking in the breeze. In the morning we like a simple jog on the Seawall earlier than the town wakes up.
Pros & Cons
Pros: Fantastic eating places and bars, very walkable, fast practice to and from YVR.Cons: Weekend charges climb, energetic blocks can echo late.
Hotel Recommendations in Yaletown
OPUS Vancouver – Playful boutique proper by Yaletown–Roundhouse Station; ideally suited for dinners and late walks house. WE have stayed right here many occasions.
Hilton Vancouver Downtown – Suite-style rooms; helpful to Yaletown and the arenas; trendy facilities and comfy rooms.
The Parker Hotel & Rooftop – Contemporary rooms and a sunset-ready rooftop close to the Beach District; shut to nice meals and the Seawall.
Event tip: Here for a recreation or live performance? JW Marriott Parq or the DOUGLAS put you beside BC Place and shut to Rogers Arena in the leisure district.
Gastown: Best for historical past, meals, and nightlife
The Vibe
Gastown is Vancouver’s previous with a pulse. Cobblestone streets, brick facades, and the Steam Clock draw the cameras by day. At night time the lights heat up, the cocktail bars fill, reside music drifts from doorways, and you’ll really feel that inventive vitality that retains individuals right here longer than they deliberate.
Our Personal Take
We come for design outlets and at all times keep for dinner. Our ritual is a sluggish lap down Water Street, a cease for one thing new at a bar we now have been eyeing, then a late stroll to the waterfront. When we keep close by, we choose a spot nearer to Waterfront Station for a simple experience anyplace.
Pros & Cons
Pros: Character buildings, vacation spot eating, shut to transit and the harbour.Cons: Weekends could be noisy, edges towards the Downtown Eastside really feel intense late, so select location rigorously.
Hotel Recommendations in or close to Gastown
Delta Vancouver Downtown Suites – All-suite; bridges the waterfront and Gastown; personal lavatory in each suite and house to unfold out.
The St. Regis Hotel – Independent, central, and breakfast included; a fantastic location for walkers and meals lovers.
Skwachàys Lodge – Indigenous-run boutique and artist residence between Gastown and Chinatown; an area really feel with coronary heart.
Kitsilano: Best for seashores and a laid-back really feel
The Vibe
Kits is salt in your pores and skin and market luggage in your arm. Kitsilano Beach and the outside saltwater pool set the tempo, West 4th brings yoga studios and unbiased outlets, and sunsets soften throughout English Bay. Life is slower on this aspect of the water in the easiest way.
Our Personal Take
When we would like to exhale, we base in Kits. Morning swim, espresso in hand, a lazy stroll by means of the market on Granville Island, then a picnic dinner on the seaside. Getting downtown is a fast bus experience or an Aquabus hop in case you are feeling playful.
Pros & Cons
Pros: Beaches and family-friendly parks, good meals and markets, restful nights.Cons: Fewer resort choices, you’ll cross a bridge or water to attain downtown sights.
Hotel and Apartment Picks in Kits
Granville Island Hotel – Waterfront boutique with the market in your doorstep; nice location for meals lovers.
Alma Beach Suites – Kitchens and residing rooms in a quiet residential pocket; ideally suited for longer stays and households who need a native really feel and personal lavatory.
Good options: Character B&Bs and short-term flats are extra frequent than huge motels right here.
West End: Best for park lovers and a neighbourhood really feel
The Vibe
Where we truly lived inside steps of the icons. The Seawall rings Stanley Park, English Bay curves with sand and volleyball nets, and Denman Street and Davie deliver ramen, sushi, and late-night snacks. It is calm on aspect streets, energetic on the principle ones, and at all times shut to water. Many stays listed below are pet pleasant motels, so your furry good friend can be a part of.
Our Personal Take
When we lived right here, our mornings began with a Seawall lap and a Denman espresso. If buddies ask the place to keep on a primary go to, we ship them right here. The steadiness of inexperienced house and metropolis is spot on, and you continue to really feel shut to the town heart (metropolis centre) with out the frenzy.
Pros & Cons
Pros: Walkable to seashores and Stanley Park, glorious worth for the house you get, relaxed at night time.Cons: No SkyTrain stations contained in the neighbourhood, buses are frequent however slower, not many ultra-luxury decisions.
Hotel Recommendations in the West End
Times Square Suites – All-suite close to Stanley Park with kitchens and laundry; family-friendly and a fantastic location for the park.
Blue Horizon – Large nook rooms with step-out balconies on Robson; many with mountain views and comfy rooms.
The Sylvia Hotel – Ivy-clad heritage on English Bay; traditional lounge and seaside throughout the highway; waterfront views at a good room charge for the realm.
Coal Harbour: Best for views and cruise mornings
The Vibe
Harbour paths, seaplanes revving up, and North Shore mountain views that change with the sunshine. The inexperienced roof of the conference centre attracts your eye on walks, and the Seawall carries you straight into Stanley Park. Evenings are quiet, mornings are magic, and the waterfront views make espresso style higher.
Our Personal Take
When we filmed cruise departures, we moved right here the night time earlier than to make the morning painless. On non-cruise journeys we nonetheless love an early run alongside the water and a sluggish breakfast because the harbour wakes up.
Pros & Cons
Pros: Harbour views and calm nights, simple to Canada Place and Waterfront Station.Cons: Upscale eating over indie eats, summer time charges replicate the view.
Hotel Recommendations in Coal Harbour
Fairmont Waterfront – Across from the terminal and the harbour paths; logistics made easy and a fantastic location for walkers.
Pan Pacific Vancouver – On prime of Canada Place; elevators down to the ships; certainly one of Vancouver’s prime motels for cruise days.
EXchange Hotel – Design-forward rooms in a landmark constructing close to the waterfront; trendy facilities and an excellent location.
A Note on North Vancouver
North Vancouver is for individuals who plan their days across the mountains. Lonsdale Quay and the Shipyards district make a helpful base for Capilano, Grouse Mountain, and the North Shore climbing trails, and the SeaBus turns the crossing right into a small journey. For a primary journey targeted on downtown museums and the Seawall, the additional crossing every day provides time. For hikers and repeat guests, it’s a pleasure and reveals off how Vancouver can really feel like two cities in in the future.
Parq District – Stadiums: Best for live shows and video games
The Vibe
Modern towers wrap round BC Place and Rogers Arena. Before a present, the plaza fills with jerseys and pre-game buzz. After, it empties quick and sleeps quiet. You are nonetheless a brief stroll to Yaletown eating places and the Seawall in the broader leisure district.
Our Personal Take
When we come in only for a live performance, we base right here. We seize dinner in Yaletown, stroll to the venue in ten minutes, and skip the post-show transit shuffle. Mornings begin with a espresso by the water earlier than the town wakes.
Pros & Cons
Pros: Walk to each arenas, central for occasions, easy accessibility to eating and reside music.Cons: Feels business-like between occasions, charges soar on huge present nights.
Hotel Recommendations in the Parq District
Best Hotels close to Canada Place for Cruise Departures
Pan Pacific Vancouver – On prime of the cruise port; roll your bag to check-in.
Fairmont Waterfront – Across the road with harbour rooms; simple embarkation morning and waterfront views.
EXchange Hotel Vancouver – Stylish, a couple of blocks from the harbour and Gastown; central location for sightseeing.
Where to Avoid Staying in Vancouver
While most of Vancouver is protected and welcoming, some areas are lower than ideally suited for a first-time customer’s house base, both due to social challenges or easy inconvenience.
The Downtown Eastside (DTES): This neighbourhood helps a susceptible group going through vital challenges. The blocks round East Hastings Street can really feel intense, particularly at night time. If you like Gastown’s historic vibe however need a calmer base, select a resort nearer to Waterfront Station and keep away from wandering east of Abbott Street late at night time.
Far-Flung Suburbs (e.g., Richmond, Burnaby): While these are nice communities, staying this removed from the downtown core isn’t ideally suited for a brief journey. You’ll spend a major quantity of your helpful trip time commuting on the SkyTrain or in site visitors simply to get to sights like Stanley Park and Granville Island.
Near the Airport (YVR): Unless you’ve gotten a really early morning flight to catch, there’s no cause to keep close to the airport in Richmond. The Canada Line is so quick and environment friendly that you just’re significantly better off staying in the town to maximize your time.
How to Get Around Vancouver
Vancouver’s core is compact and really simple to navigate and not using a automobile. Most of the neighbourhoods we advocate are walkable, and the transit system is superb for connecting the dots.
From the Airport (YVR): The finest manner into the town is the Canada Line SkyTrain. It’s luggage-friendly, frequent, and will get you to Waterfront Station in Downtown Vancouver in about 25 minutes.
Use a DayPass: If you propose on a busy day of sightseeing between completely different neighbourhoods like Kitsilano, Gastown, and North Vancouver, a DayPass is a good worth. It offers you limitless journey on the SkyTrain, buses, and the SeaBus.
Ride the SeaBus: This is a fast and scenic ferry that connects Waterfront Station in Downtown to Lonsdale Quay in North Vancouver. It’s a enjoyable journey and the simplest manner to get to the North Shore.
Rent a Bike: Our favorite manner to spend a morning is using the Seawall loop round Stanley Park. Vancouver is a really bike-friendly metropolis with devoted lanes.
Walking is Key: Once you’re in a neighbourhood like Downtown or the West End, strolling is the easiest way to discover. Before you e-book your resort, it’s at all times a good suggestion to drop a pin on Google Maps to affirm the strolling distance to the closest SkyTrain station and the Seawall.
Final Tips for Booking Your Stay in Vancouver
Book Ahead for Peak Season: July to September, particularly in the course of the cruise season, fills up quick. For the only option and value close to Canada Place, lock in your reserving 3–6 months in advance. Keep a watch on the live performance and sports activities schedules, as huge occasions may also trigger charges to spike.
Check the Map: Downtown is compact, however a fast map verify is crucial. Confirm the strolling time to the Seawall, Stanley Park, and the closest SkyTrain station earlier than you e-book to save your self from surprising detours.
Read the Newest Reviews: A resort’s total rating doesn’t inform the entire story. Skim the final 3–5 opinions for current notes on noise, building, or renovations. Vancouver modifications shortly, and the most recent suggestions is essentially the most helpful.
Don’t Overpay for a View: A wise house base with easy accessibility to transit and the Seawall will provide you with a greater journey than a far-flung room with a view. You’ll see loads of the attractive harbour in your walks and bike rides.
Stay Beside Canada Place if Cruising: Make your embarkation morning easy. The Pan Pacific and Fairmont Waterfront are the highest decisions. If they’re full, choose one other resort inside a 10-minute stroll.
Plan for Rain: Vancouver is gorgeous however famously moist. Ask in case your resort has a coated entrance or a spot to grasp moist jackets. If you propose to cycle, ask about bike storage. A bit planning for the climate goes a great distance.
FAQ about locations to keep in Vancouver
Here are the solutions to a couple of frequent questions we get about selecting a spot to keep in the town.
Downtown or the West End. You can be shut to the waterfront, Stanley Park, and transit, with numerous resort selection and an apparent selection for a fantastic location.
Downtown or the West End. You can be shut to the waterfront, Stanley Park, and transit, with numerous resort selection and an apparent selection for a fantastic location.
Yes. SkyTrain, buses, and the SeaBus cowl the core, and most sights are walkable as soon as you might be downtown.
Most central neighbourhoods really feel snug with regular metropolis consciousness. The West End, Coal Harbour, and Yaletown are relaxed at night time. If you base close to Gastown, choose a location shut to Waterfront Station and keep away from wandering alongside East Hastings late.
Right by Canada Place. Pan Pacific sits on prime of the terminal, and Fairmont Waterfront is throughout the road. Both provide waterfront views and a central location.
The Parq District. JW Marriott Parq and the DOUGLAS are beside BC Place and shut to Rogers Arena in the leisure district. You can stroll to each.
Your Perfect Vancouver Vacation
Pick a neighbourhood that matches your fashion and the journey slows down. If you need parks and Seawall mornings, base in the West End. For eating places and late nights, go Yaletown or Gastown. Cruises and views name for Coal Harbour. Planning a present or recreation, keep at Parq. If you’ve gotten questions, drop them in the feedback and we are going to enable you to select.