Select The place to Keep in Vancouver (A Former Resident’s Information)

The primary time we visited Vancouver, BC, we did what a number of first-timers do. We discovered an amazing deal outdoors 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 via a windshield as an alternative of from the Seawall. By the point we reached the locations we really wished to be, it was time to show round.

On our subsequent go to, we stayed in a small place within the West Finish, a number of blocks from Stanley Park. Mornings began with a lap alongside the Seawall and a espresso on Denman Avenue. Evenings ended with sandy toes at Kitsilano Seashore, market snacks, and a sluggish stroll dwelling on quiet facet streets. Every thing clicked.

Not lengthy after, we really moved to Vancouver. Residing there gave us an insider’s perspective to the town. We realized which blocks really feel full of life 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 realized {that a} harbour view is beautiful, however a wise base is best.

This information is our first-hand tackle the place to remain in Vancouver. It isn’t an inventory of each resort. It’s clear, experience-based recommendation that can assist you decide the fitting dwelling base in your fashion, with trustworthy professionals and cons and resort picks we’d guide once more.

The Finest Areas to Keep in Vancouver at a Look

For a fast abstract, listed below are our prime neighbourhood picks for many guests, primarily based on our expertise dwelling 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 an area neighbourhood vibe.
• Coal Harbour: Finest for cruise departures and harbour views.

When 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 most important practice station interchange, and a simple base for Stanley Park, Gastown, and the Seawall. For a primary go to, Downtown is the apparent alternative with a central location within the downtown core.

Our Private Take

Once we are on a good filming schedule, we keep Downtown. We’ll shoot dawn on the harbour, seize a croissant on Granville Avenue, and nonetheless be again on the resort to alter earlier than a journey across the park. It isn’t the quietest alternative, however the comfort is unbeatable and most sights are inside strolling distance.

Professionals & Cons

Professionals: Central and walkable, a great deal of Vancouver resorts to select from, best for first-timers.
Cons: Summer time costs chunk, metropolis noise on most important streets, free parking is uncommon within the downtown space.

Lodge Suggestions in Downtown

• Fairmont Waterfront – Steps from Canada Place and Waterfront Station; waterfront views, trendy facilities, and an amazing location.
• Pan Pacific Vancouver – On prime of the cruise port with direct elevator entry; the best embarkation morning.
• EXchange Lodge Vancouver – Heritage conversion within the previous inventory change; a simple stroll to the waterfront and Gastown; snug rooms in location.
• Carmana Lodge & Suites – Large suites with full kitchens close to Robson and Alberni; superb if you’d like area and clear rooms in a central location.
• Lodge BLU – Modern boutique choice near Granville Avenue’s leisure district; helpful for reveals with trendy facilities.
• Days Inn by Wyndham Vancouver Downtown – Stable price range decide close to the harbour; fundamental however good location for walkers.

Yaletown: Finest for a stylish, upscale vibe

The Vibe

Yaletown blends brick and glass in a means 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 carry 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 typically finish right here. We share small plates, wander previous twinkle lights alongside the water, then stroll dwelling with the sound of boat masts clicking within the breeze. Within the morning we like a simple jog on the Seawall earlier than the town wakes up.

Professionals & Cons

Professionals: Incredible eating places and bars, very walkable, fast practice to and from YVR.
Cons: Weekend charges climb, full of life blocks can echo late.

Lodge Suggestions in Yaletown

• OPUS Vancouver – Playful boutique proper by Yaletown–Roundhouse Station; superb for dinners and late walks dwelling. WE have stayed right here many instances.
• Hilton Vancouver Downtown – Suite-style rooms; helpful to Yaletown and the arenas; trendy facilities and cozy rooms.
• The Parker Lodge & Rooftop – Up to date 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 Enviornment 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, reside music drifts from doorways, and you may really feel that inventive vitality that retains folks 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 sluggish 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. Once we keep close by, we decide a spot nearer to Waterfront Station for a simple journey wherever.

Professionals & Cons

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

Lodge 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 Lodge – 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; an area 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 outside saltwater pool set the tempo, West 4th brings yoga studios and impartial outlets, and sunsets soften throughout English Bay. Life is slower on this facet of the water in one of the best ways.

Our Private Take

Once we wish to exhale, we base in Kits. Morning swim, espresso in hand, a lazy stroll via the market on Granville Island, then a picnic dinner on the seashore. Getting downtown is a fast bus journey or an Aquabus hop in case you are feeling playful.

Professionals & Cons

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

Lodge and Residence Picks in Kits

• Granville Island Lodge – Waterfront boutique with the market in your doorstep; nice location for meals lovers.
• Alma Seashore Suites – Kitchens and dwelling rooms in a quiet residential pocket; superb for longer stays and households who desire a native really feel and personal toilet.
• Good options: Character B&Bs and short-term flats are extra frequent than large resorts right here.

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

The Vibe

The place we really lived inside steps of the icons. The Seawall rings Stanley Park, English Bay curves with sand and volleyball nets, and Denman Avenue and Davie carry ramen, sushi, and late-night snacks. It’s calm on facet streets, full of life on the principle ones, and at all times near water. Many stays listed below are pet pleasant resorts, so your furry pal can be a part of.

Our Private Take

Once we lived right here, our mornings began with a Seawall lap and a Denman espresso. If pals 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 middle (metropolis centre) with out the push.

Professionals & Cons

Professionals: 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.

Lodge Suggestions within the West Finish

• Occasions Sq. Suites – All-suite close to Stanley Park with kitchens and laundry; family-friendly and a nice location for the park.
• Blue Horizon – Giant nook rooms with step-out balconies on Robson; many with mountain views and cozy rooms.
• The Sylvia Lodge – Ivy-clad heritage on English Bay; traditional lounge and seashore throughout the street; waterfront views at a good room charge for the world.

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

Once 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 sluggish breakfast because the harbour wakes up.

Professionals & Cons

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

Lodge 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 prime of Canada Place; elevators right down to the ships; one among Vancouver’s prime resorts for cruise days.
• EXchange Lodge – Design-forward rooms in a landmark constructing close to the waterfront; trendy facilities and location.

A Observe 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 sooner or later.

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

The Vibe

Trendy towers wrap round BC Place and Rogers Enviornment. 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

Once we are available 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.

Professionals & Cons

Professionals: Stroll to each arenas, central for occasions, quick access to eating and reside music.
Cons: Feels business-like between occasions, charges soar on large present nights.

Lodge Suggestions within the Parq District

Finest Lodges close to Canada Place for Cruise Departures

• Pan Pacific Vancouver – On prime 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 Lodge Vancouver – Trendy, a number of blocks from the harbour and Gastown; central location for sightseeing.

The place to Keep away from Staying in Vancouver

Whereas most of Vancouver is secure and welcoming, some areas are lower than superb for a first-time customer’s dwelling base, both attributable to social challenges or easy inconvenience.

• The Downtown Eastside (DTES): This neighbourhood helps a weak group going through vital challenges. The blocks round East Hastings Avenue can really feel intense, particularly at evening. When you love Gastown’s historic vibe however desire a calmer base, select a resort 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 superb for a brief journey. You’ll spend a major quantity of your invaluable 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): Until you could have a really early morning flight to catch, there’s no purpose to remain close to the airport in Richmond. The Canada Line is so quick and environment friendly that you just’re a lot better off staying within the metropolis to maximise your time.

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 superb 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: When you plan on a busy day of sightseeing between totally different neighbourhoods like Kitsilano, Gastown, and North Vancouver, a DayPass is a good worth. It provides 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 best solution to get to the North Shore.
• Lease a Bike: Our favorite solution 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 best ways to discover. Earlier than you guide your resort, it’s at all times a good suggestion to drop a pin on Google Maps to verify the strolling distance to the closest SkyTrain station and the Seawall.

Ultimate Ideas 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 value close to Canada Place, lock in your reserving 3–6 months prematurely. Control the live performance and sports activities schedules, as large occasions can even trigger charges to spike.
• Examine the Map: Downtown is compact, however a fast map test is important. Affirm 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 resort’s total rating doesn’t inform the entire story. Skim the final 3–5 opinions for current notes on noise, development, or renovations. Vancouver adjustments rapidly, and the newest suggestions is essentially the most invaluable.
• Don’t Overpay for a View: A wise dwelling base with quick access to transit and the Seawall provides you with 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, decide 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 hold moist jackets. When you plan to cycle, ask about bike storage. Just a little planning for the climate goes a good 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 fashion 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. If in case you have questions, drop them within the feedback and we are going to allow you to select.