How to Choose Where to Stay in Vancouver (A Former Resident’s Guide)

The primary time we visited Vancouver, BC, we did what a whole lot of first-timers do. We discovered an amazing deal exterior the core, shut sufficient to the skyline to tease us, and booked it. We thought we have been being intelligent.

The truth was that we spent half our journey crossing bridges and ready for buses, watching the West Coast mountains by way of a windshield as a substitute of from the Seawall. By the point we reached the locations we truly needed to be, it was time to show round.

On our subsequent go to, we stayed in a small place within the West Finish, just a few blocks from Stanley Park. Mornings began with a lap alongside the Seawall and a espresso on Denman Avenue. Evenings ended with sandy ft at Kitsilano Seashore, market snacks, and a gradual stroll house on quiet aspect streets. All the pieces clicked.

Not lengthy after, we truly moved to Vancouver. Residing there gave us an insider’s perspective to the town. We realized which blocks really feel vigorous late, which of them keep calm, how lengthy it actually takes to get from Canada Place cruise port to Kits, and why a lodge beside Waterfront Station can save your complete day. We additionally realized {that a} harbour view is gorgeous, however a sensible base is best.

This information is our first-hand tackle the place to remain in Vancouver. It’s not an inventory of each lodge. It’s clear, experience-based recommendation that can assist you choose the best house base to your type, with sincere professionals and cons and lodge picks we might guide once more.

The Finest Areas to Keep in Vancouver at a Look

For a fast abstract, listed here are our high neighbourhood picks for many guests, primarily based on our expertise residing in and exploring the town.

• Downtown: Finest for first-timers and sightseeing.
• Yaletown: Finest for a hip, upscale vibe and eating.
• Gastown: Finest for historical past, boutiques, and nightlife.
• Kitsilano: Finest for seashores and a laid-back really feel.
• West Finish: Finest for Stanley Park and a neighborhood neighbourhood vibe.
• Coal Harbour: Finest for cruise departures and harbour views.

In the event you select nicely, you spend much less time commuting throughout bridges and extra time doing the good 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 Finest Neighbourhoods to Keep in Vancouver (Our First-Hand Expertise)

Downtown: Finest for first-timers and sightseeing

The Vibe

Downtown is Vancouver in fast-forward. Glass towers catch the sunshine off the harbour, Robson Avenue hums from morning espresso to late-night ramen, and Canada Place anchors the waterfront with seaplanes and cruise ships rolling in. You’re a brief stroll to Waterfront Station, the town’s primary prepare station interchange, and a straightforward base for Stanley Park, Gastown, and the Seawall. For a primary go to, Downtown is the plain alternative with a central location within the downtown core.

Our Private Take

After we are on a good filming schedule, we keep Downtown. We are going to shoot dawn on the harbour, seize a croissant on Granville Avenue, and nonetheless be again on the lodge to vary earlier than a trip across the park. It’s not the quietest alternative, however the comfort is unbeatable and most sights are inside strolling distance.

Execs & Cons

Execs: Central and walkable, a great deal of Vancouver accommodations to select from, best for first-timers.
Cons: Summer season costs chew, metropolis noise on primary streets, free parking is uncommon within the downtown space.

Resort Suggestions in Downtown

• Fairmont Waterfront – Steps from Canada Place and Waterfront Station; waterfront views, trendy facilities, and an amazing location.
• Pan Pacific Vancouver – On high of the cruise port with direct elevator entry; the only embarkation morning.
• EXchange Resort Vancouver – Heritage conversion within the outdated inventory change; a straightforward stroll to the waterfront and Gastown; snug rooms in an excellent location.
• Carmana Resort & Suites – Huge suites with full kitchens close to Robson and Alberni; very best in order for you area and clear rooms in a central location.
• Resort BLU – Glossy boutique choice near Granville Avenue’s leisure district; useful for exhibits with trendy facilities.
• Days Inn by Wyndham Vancouver Downtown – Stable funds choose close to the harbour; fundamental however good location for walkers.

Yaletown: Finest for a classy, upscale vibe

The Vibe

Yaletown blends brick and glass in a method that feels polished with out dropping 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 within the neighbourhood, so airport days are simple. You’re inside strolling distance of the leisure district and a few of the metropolis’s nice meals.

Our Private Take

Our favorite evenings in Vancouver usually finish right here. We share small plates, wander previous twinkle lights alongside the water, then stroll house with the sound of boat masts clicking within the breeze. Within the morning we like a straightforward jog on the Seawall earlier than the town wakes up.

Execs & Cons

Execs: Improbable eating places and bars, very walkable, fast prepare to and from YVR.
Cons: Weekend charges climb, vigorous blocks can echo late.

Resort Suggestions in Yaletown

• OPUS Vancouver – Playful boutique proper by Yaletown–Roundhouse Station; very best for dinners and late walks house. WE have stayed right here many instances.
• Hilton Vancouver Downtown – Suite-style rooms; useful to Yaletown and the arenas; trendy facilities and comfy rooms.
• The Parker Resort & Rooftop – Modern rooms and a sunset-ready rooftop close to the Seashore District; near nice meals and the Seawall.

Occasion tip: Right here for a sport or live performance? JW Marriott Parq or the DOUGLAS put you beside BC Place and near Rogers Area within the leisure district.

Gastown: Finest 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 evening the lights heat up, the cocktail bars fill, stay music drifts from doorways, and you may really feel that inventive vitality that retains individuals right here longer than they deliberate.

Our Private Take

We come for design outlets and at all times keep for dinner. Our ritual is a gradual lap down Water Avenue, a cease for one thing new at a bar now we have been eyeing, then a late stroll to the waterfront. After we keep close by, we choose a spot nearer to Waterfront Station for a straightforward trip wherever.

Execs & Cons

Execs: Character buildings, vacation spot eating, near transit and the harbour.
Cons: Weekends may be noisy, edges towards the Downtown Eastside really feel intense late, so select location fastidiously.

Resort Suggestions in or close to Gastown

• Delta Vancouver Downtown Suites – All-suite; bridges the waterfront and Gastown; non-public toilet in each suite and area to unfold out.
• The St. Regis Resort – Impartial, central, and breakfast included; an amazing location for walkers and meals lovers.
• Skwachàys Lodge – Indigenous-run boutique and artist residence between Gastown and Chinatown; a neighborhood really feel with coronary heart.

Kitsilano: Finest 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 Seashore and the out of doors saltwater pool set the tempo, West 4th brings yoga studios and impartial outlets, and sunsets soften throughout English Bay. Life is slower on this aspect of the water in one of the simplest ways.

Our Private Take

After we wish to exhale, we base in Kits. Morning swim, espresso in hand, a lazy stroll by way of the market on Granville Island, then a picnic dinner on the seaside. Getting downtown is a fast bus trip or an Aquabus hop in case you are feeling playful.

Execs & Cons

Execs: Seashores and family-friendly parks, good meals and markets, restful nights.
Cons: Fewer lodge choices, you’ll cross a bridge or water to succeed in downtown sights.

Resort and Condo Picks in Kits

• Granville Island Resort – Waterfront boutique with the market in your doorstep; nice location for meals lovers.
• Alma Seashore Suites – Kitchens and residing rooms in a quiet residential pocket; very best for longer stays and households who need a native really feel and personal toilet.
• Good alternate options: Character B&Bs and short-term flats are extra frequent than huge accommodations right here.

West Finish: Finest for park lovers and a neighbourhood really feel

The Vibe

The place we truly lived inside steps of the icons. The Seawall rings Stanley Park, English Bay curves with sand and volleyball nets, and Denman Avenue and Davie deliver ramen, sushi, and late-night snacks. It’s calm on aspect streets, vigorous on the principle ones, and at all times near water. Many stays listed here are pet pleasant accommodations, so your furry good friend can be part of.

Our Private Take

After we lived right here, our mornings began with a Seawall lap and a Denman espresso. If mates ask the place to remain on a primary go to, we ship them right here. The steadiness of inexperienced area and metropolis is spot on, and you continue to really feel near the town heart (metropolis centre) with out the frenzy.

Execs & Cons

Execs: Walkable to seashores and Stanley Park, glorious worth for the area you get, relaxed at evening.
Cons: No SkyTrain stations contained in the neighbourhood, buses are frequent however slower, not many ultra-luxury selections.

Resort Suggestions within the West Finish

• Instances Sq. Suites – All-suite close to Stanley Park with kitchens and laundry; family-friendly and a nice location for the park.
• Blue Horizon – Massive nook rooms with step-out balconies on Robson; many with mountain views and comfy rooms.
• The Sylvia Resort – Ivy-clad heritage on English Bay; basic lounge and seaside throughout the highway; waterfront views at a good room price for the realm.

Coal Harbour: Finest 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 Private Take

After we filmed cruise departures, we moved right here the evening earlier than to make the morning painless. On non-cruise journeys we nonetheless love an early run alongside the water and a gradual breakfast because the harbour wakes up.

Execs & Cons

Execs: Harbour views and calm nights, simple to Canada Place and Waterfront Station.
Cons: Upscale eating over indie eats, summer season charges replicate the view.

Resort Suggestions in Coal Harbour

• Fairmont Waterfront – Throughout from the terminal and the harbour paths; logistics made easy and a nice location for walkers.
• Pan Pacific Vancouver – On high of Canada Place; elevators all the way down to the ships; one in every of Vancouver’s high accommodations for cruise days.
• EXchange Resort – Design-forward rooms in a landmark constructing close to the waterfront; trendy facilities and an excellent location.

A Notice on North Vancouver

North Vancouver is for individuals who plan their days across the mountains. Lonsdale Quay and the Shipyards district make a useful 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 centered on downtown museums and the Seawall, the additional crossing every day provides time. For hikers and repeat guests, it’s a pleasure and exhibits off how Vancouver can really feel like two cities in sooner or later.

Parq District – Stadiums: Finest for concert events and video games

The Vibe

Trendy towers wrap round BC Place and Rogers Area. Earlier than a present, the plaza fills with jerseys and pre-game buzz. After, it empties quick and sleeps quiet. You’re nonetheless a brief stroll to Yaletown eating places and the Seawall within the wider leisure district.

Our Private Take

After we are available 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.

Execs & Cons

Execs: Stroll to each arenas, central for occasions, easy accessibility to eating and stay music.
Cons: Feels business-like between occasions, charges bounce on huge present nights.

Resort Suggestions within the Parq District

Finest Accommodations close to Canada Place for Cruise Departures

• Pan Pacific Vancouver – On high of the cruise port; roll your bag to check-in.
• Fairmont Waterfront – Throughout the road with harbour rooms; simple embarkation morning and waterfront views.
• EXchange Resort Vancouver – Trendy, just a few blocks from the harbour and Gastown; central location for sightseeing.

The place to Keep away from Staying in Vancouver

Whereas most of Vancouver is protected and welcoming, some areas are lower than very best for a first-time customer’s house base, both as a result of social challenges or easy inconvenience.

• The Downtown Eastside (DTES): This neighbourhood helps a susceptible neighborhood dealing with important challenges. The blocks round East Hastings Avenue can really feel intense, particularly at evening. In the event you love Gastown’s historic vibe however need a calmer base, select a lodge nearer to Waterfront Station and keep away from wandering east of Abbott Avenue late at evening.
• Far-Flung Suburbs (e.g., Richmond, Burnaby): Whereas these are nice communities, staying this removed from the downtown core isn’t very best for a brief journey. You’ll spend a major quantity of your useful trip time commuting on the SkyTrain or in visitors simply to get to sights like Stanley Park and Granville Island.
• Close to the Airport (YVR): Except you’ve a really early morning flight to catch, there’s no cause to remain close to the airport in Richmond. The Canada Line is so quick and environment friendly that you simply’re significantly better off staying within the metropolis to maximise your time.

How you can Get Round Vancouver

Vancouver’s core is compact and really simple to navigate with out a automobile. A lot of the neighbourhoods we advocate are walkable, and the transit system is great for connecting the dots.

• From the Airport (YVR): One of the simplest ways 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: In the event you plan on a busy day of sightseeing between totally different neighbourhoods like Kitsilano, Gastown, and North Vancouver, a DayPass is a superb worth. It offers you limitless journey on the SkyTrain, buses, and the SeaBus.
• Experience the SeaBus: This can be 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 strategy to get to the North Shore.
• Lease a Bike: Our favorite strategy to spend a morning is using the Seawall loop round Stanley Park. Vancouver is a really bike-friendly metropolis with devoted lanes.
• Strolling is Key: When you’re in a neighbourhood like Downtown or the West Finish, strolling is one of the simplest ways to discover. Earlier than you guide your lodge, it’s at all times a good suggestion to drop a pin on Google Maps to substantiate the strolling distance to the closest SkyTrain station and the Seawall.

Last Suggestions for Reserving Your Keep in Vancouver

• E-book Forward for Peak Season: July to September, particularly through the cruise season, fills up quick. For your best option and worth close to Canada Place, lock in your reserving 3–6 months upfront. Keep watch over the live performance and sports activities schedules, as huge occasions can even trigger charges to spike.
• Test the Map: Downtown is compact, however a fast map examine is crucial. Verify the strolling time to the Seawall, Stanley Park, and the closest SkyTrain station earlier than you guide to avoid wasting your self from sudden detours.
• Learn the Latest Opinions: A lodge’s total rating doesn’t inform the entire story. Skim the final 3–5 evaluations for latest notes on noise, building, or renovations. Vancouver adjustments shortly, and the most recent suggestions is probably the most useful.
• Don’t Overpay for a View: A sensible house base with easy accessibility to transit and the Seawall gives you a greater journey than a far-flung room with a view. You’ll see loads of the gorgeous harbour in your walks and bike rides.
• Keep Beside Canada Place if Cruising: Make your embarkation morning easy. The Pan Pacific and Fairmont Waterfront are the highest selections. In the event that they’re full, choose one other lodge inside a 10-minute stroll.
• Plan for Rain: Vancouver is gorgeous however famously moist. Ask in case your lodge has a coated entrance or a spot to hold moist jackets. In the event you plan to cycle, ask about bike storage. A bit of planning for the climate goes a great distance.

FAQ about locations to remain in Vancouver

Listed here are the solutions to some frequent questions we get about selecting a spot to remain within the metropolis.

Your Good Vancouver Trip

Choose a neighbourhood that matches your type and the journey slows down. If you need parks and Seawall mornings, base within the West Finish. For eating places and late nights, go Yaletown or Gastown. Cruises and views name for Coal Harbour. Planning a present or sport, keep at Parq. When you have questions, drop them within the feedback and we’ll provide help to select.