Vancouver sits between the sea and the North Shore mountains, and nature is never far away. From the high-rises in the city centre, you can walk to the forest in Stanley Park, and a ferry takes you across to the mountain side in 12 minutes. The neighbourhoods around the centre, on the other hand, are quite different from one another.
That’s why your choice of area matters so much. It decides whether you wake up to the harbour and cruise ships, to a beach and a park or to cafés and restaurants, and how easy the trip from the airport will be. Here are my six recommendations for where to stay in Vancouver, with hotels in three price ranges.
Contents
The Best Areas in Vancouver
- Downtown & Gastown - best area for first-time visitors who want everything within walking distance
- Coal Harbour - best area for views, luxury and cruises from Canada Place
- West End - best area for Stanley Park, the beach and quiet streets
- Yaletown - best area for restaurants and an easy trip from the airport
- Granville Island & Fairview - best area for the market, mini ferries and a quieter stay south of False Creek
- North Vancouver - best area for mountains, nature and views of the skyline
Below, I’ll take you through the six areas one by one, with three hotels in each, one in each price range. A couple of things are good to know first. From the airport, YVR, the SkyTrain’s Canada Line runs to Waterfront Station in the city centre in around 25 minutes. According to TransLink’s guide for visitors, you pay an airport surcharge, the YVR AddFare, on top of your fare when you travel from the airport. You can pay by tapping a contactless card or your phone at the fare gate. The surcharge doesn’t apply when you’re heading out to the airport. Hotel prices are usually highest in summer, when the weather is driest, and it often rains from October to March, so that’s when it’s nice to stay close to a station.
1. Downtown & Gastown - best area for first-time visitors who want everything within walking distance 🏙️
- 📍 Distance from the centre: You’ll be staying in the city centre. It’s a 10 to 15-minute walk to both the waterfront at Canada Place and Gastown.
- 🚇 Transport: The SkyTrain from Vancouver City Centre, Granville and Waterfront Station, which is also where the SeaBus to North Vancouver docks.
- ✈️ Time from the airport: Around 25 minutes on the Canada Line to Waterfront Station. The train also stops at Vancouver City Centre.
- 💰 Price range: A wide choice, from simple city hotels to the city’s classic luxury hotels.
- 👮 Safety: Safe on the busy streets. The eastern end of Gastown borders the Downtown Eastside, so I’d stick to the streets around Water Street in the evening.
Downtown is the obvious choice for a first trip to Vancouver. This is where you’ll find the shops on Robson Street, the Vancouver Art Gallery and many of the city’s big hotels, and you can walk to most things. From the middle of Downtown, it’s a 10 to 15-minute walk to the waterfront at Canada Place and about the same to Gastown.
Gastown is the historic part of the city centre. According to Destination Vancouver, the neighbourhood began in 1867 with a single tavern opened by John Deighton, known as Gassy Jack. Today, it’s a National Historic Site with cobbled streets and brick buildings, and it’s home to some of the city’s most popular cocktail bars and lots of small shops. The steam clock on Water Street dates from 1977.
See hotels in Downtown Vancouver here.
The transport links are the best in the city. The Canada Line from the airport stops at Vancouver City Centre and terminates at Waterfront Station. There, you can change to the Expo Line, to the buses or to the SeaBus across to North Vancouver. That makes Downtown the easiest base if you want to see several parts of the city in a few days.
Gastown has only a handful of hotels, so my suggestions are in the city centre and on the edge of Gastown, a couple of streets from Water Street. That’s also where I’d choose to stay myself, because the eastern end of Gastown runs into the Downtown Eastside, which I write more about at the end of this guide.
Expect noise from traffic and nightlife when you stay in the middle of a big city. If you’re a light sleeper, ask for a room on a high floor or away from the street. You won’t need a car as long as you’re staying in the city.
Places to Stay in Downtown and near Gastown
Rosewood Hotel Georgia - classic luxury hotel in the heart of the city centre
Rosewood Hotel Georgia is on West Georgia Street, around 150 metres from the Canada Line’s Vancouver City Centre station and 100 metres from the Vancouver Art Gallery. The standard rooms are 30 to 38 m², and the hotel has an indoor saltwater pool, a spa, the Hawksworth restaurant and the 1927 Lobby Lounge.
It’s my suggestion for a special occasion or for the last nights of a longer trip through Canada. The price is among the highest in the city. One guest mentions that the lobby is very noisy in the evening, and another was first given a room facing the street, so mention it when you book if you want a quiet room.
One guest writes on Booking.com: “The staff were amazing, everything was catered for and anticipated before you had to ask.”
See photos and book Rosewood Hotel Georgia here.
Delta Hotels by Marriott Vancouver Downtown Suites - spacious suites at the entrance to Gastown
Every room here is a 37 m² suite. The hotel is on West Hastings Street, around 150 metres from Waterfront Station and 250 metres from the steam clock in Gastown, and it’s around 500 metres to the cruise terminal at Canada Place.
The suites have either a king-size bed and a sofa bed for three people or two queen-size beds and a sofa bed for four, so it’s a good option for a family. There’s a restaurant and a gym, but no pool. One guest found that the final bill was higher than the quoted price, so check what’s included in the price when you book.
One guest writes about the location on Booking.com: “Great location, close to Gastown and Canada Place.”
See photos and book Delta Hotels by Marriott Vancouver Downtown Suites here.
Victorian Hotel - renovated hotel in an older building two streets from Gastown
Victorian Hotel is the cheapest of my three suggestions in the city centre. It’s on Homer Street, around 300 metres from the steam clock in Gastown and 350 metres from Waterfront Station. The hotel has a lift and a restaurant, but breakfast isn’t included in the price.
Read the room description carefully. The smallest double room is 14 m², the larger ones are 22 to 29 m², and some of the rooms have a shared bathroom. One guest writes that the room was smaller than expected, even though it had been described as small. For a couple who are out all day, it’s good value.
One guest says on Booking.com: “This hotel has been recently done up and it’s beautiful.”
See photos and book Victorian Hotel here.
2. Coal Harbour - best area for views, luxury and cruises from Canada Place 🛳️
- 📍 Distance from the centre: You’ll be staying on the waterfront on the northern edge of the city centre. From the hotels, it’s a 5 to 15-minute walk to Burrard Station and the shops.
- 🚇 Transport: The SkyTrain from Waterfront and Burrard stations, the SeaBus to North Vancouver and the seawall on foot or by bike.
- ✈️ Time from the airport: Around 25 minutes on the Canada Line to Waterfront Station, which is next to the cruise terminal at Canada Place.
- 💰 Price range: The most expensive area in the city. There are no real budget hotels here.
- 👮 Safety: A safe, well-kept neighbourhood of hotels, offices and apartment towers.
Coal Harbour is the waterfront on the north side of the city centre, from Canada Place in the east to the entrance to Stanley Park in the west. Several of the city’s finest hotels sit side by side with marinas here, and from the north-facing rooms, you look across the water to the mountains. The area is for you if the views and the short walk to the ship matter more to you than the price.
If you’re going on a cruise, to Alaska for example, this is where I’d stay the night before. The ships sail from the terminal at Canada Place, and the Port of Vancouver says the terminal is right next to Waterfront Station. So you can take the Canada Line from the airport and walk the last stretch with your suitcase. The port also reminds passengers not to leave passports or medication in the luggage they hand over.
See hotels in Coal Harbour here.
The seawall runs along the water here. It begins at the Vancouver Convention Centre and continues all the way around Stanley Park. On Jack Poole Plaza by the convention centre stands the cauldron that held the Olympic flame at the 2010 Winter Games. I’d start the day with a walk from here towards the park.
The price is the big catch. Even my cheapest suggestion in Coal Harbour costs a good deal more than the cheap hotels in the rest of the city, and in summer, prices usually rise further.
The neighbourhood is also more offices and apartment towers than café life. A guest at one of the hotels mentions that there aren’t many places to eat right outside the door, so expect to walk up to Robson Street or over to Gastown when you want to eat out.
Places to Stay in Coal Harbour
Pan Pacific Vancouver - luxury hotel on Canada Place by the cruise terminal
Pan Pacific is on Canada Place itself, right by the cruise terminal and around 300 metres from Waterfront Station. The standard rooms are 33 m² and come with a view of the city or the harbour, and the hotel has a heated outdoor pool, a spa, the Oceans 999 restaurant and a bar.
You can’t get any closer to the ship, which is why it’s my first choice for the night before or after a cruise. You’re paying for the location. Several guests feel the decor is starting to look dated for the price, so choose it for the views and the short walk to the quay.
One guest who was going on a cruise writes on Booking.com: “The property was in an excellent location for the cruise ship terminal, which is what we required.”
See photos and book Pan Pacific Vancouver here.
The Westin Bayshore, Vancouver - large waterfront hotel with two pools close to Stanley Park
The Westin Bayshore is right down by the water at the western end of Coal Harbour. It’s just under a kilometre to Lost Lagoon in Stanley Park and about the same to Burrard Station. The rooms are 31 to 34 m² with a view of the marina, the city, the harbour or the pool, and some have a balcony.
With both an indoor and an outdoor pool, a spa, a restaurant and a bar, it’s a good choice for a family or if you want to combine the city with morning walks in the park. It’s the middle option among my three suggestions, but it’s still a five-star hotel. One guest mentions that there aren’t many places to eat right around the hotel.
Here’s what one guest says on Booking.com: “Great views, it was quiet and the room was a good size.”
See photos and book The Westin Bayshore, Vancouver here.
Coast Coal Harbour Vancouver Hotel by APA - cheapest of my three suggestions, with a heated outdoor pool
Coast Coal Harbour is on West Hastings Street, around 350 metres from Burrard Station and 800 metres from Canada Place. The standard rooms are 28 m², and the largest rooms with a view are 37 m² and have a sofa bed.
You get a heated outdoor pool, a hot tub, a gym, a restaurant and a bar at a price that’s usually below the neighbouring hotels on the waterfront. It’s the hotel for you if you want to stay in Coal Harbour without paying for one of the really big names. One guest calls the rooms a little dated, and another mentions that sound carries between the rooms.
One guest highlights the pool on Booking.com: “Swimming pool and hot tub were great.”
See photos and book Coast Coal Harbour Vancouver Hotel by APA here.
3. West End - best area for Stanley Park, the beach and quiet streets 🌳
- 📍 Distance from the centre: From English Bay, it’s just over 1.5 km to Burrard Station in the city centre. That’s a 20 to 25-minute walk or a short bus ride.
- 🚌 Transport: City buses through the neighbourhood. There’s no SkyTrain station in the West End itself, and the nearest one is Burrard Station.
- ✈️ Time from the airport: Around 25 minutes on the Canada Line to the city centre, then a bus or taxi for the last stretch.
- 💰 Price range: Mostly mid-range, plus a few older, cheap hotels. In summer, prices are often considerably higher than during the rest of the year.
- 👮 Safety: A quiet residential neighbourhood, with life on Robson, Denman and Davie Street until late in the evening.
The West End is the residential neighbourhood between the city centre and Stanley Park. It’s one of the city’s oldest residential neighbourhoods, the streets are lined with trees, and high-rises stand side by side with old houses. I’d choose it if you want a quiet place to stay with both a beach and a park within walking distance.
The park is the reason to stay here. Stanley Park covers 400 hectares and is the city’s largest, and the seawall around it is 9 km long, according to the City of Vancouver. The loop takes two to three hours on foot and around an hour by bike, and the path is divided, with walkers on the side nearest the water. To the south-west is English Bay Beach, and the seawall continues past it, so you can walk or cycle along the water most of the way.
See hotels in the West End here.
You won’t be short of places to eat. Robson Street has shops and restaurants from all over the world, and Davie Village around Davie Street is the heart of the city’s LGBTQ+ community. If you’d like to cook for yourself, several of the hotels in the neighbourhood have rooms or suites with a kitchen.
Transport is the neighbourhood’s weak point. There’s no SkyTrain station, so you walk or take the bus into the centre, and if you’re arriving from the airport with suitcases, I’d take a taxi for the last stretch from the Canada Line.
Many of the hotels are also in older buildings. Of my three suggestions, one has no air conditioning and another has no lift, so read the details before you book. Prices also vary a lot with the season, and a room in summer often costs considerably more than the same room in winter.
Places to Stay in the West End
The Sutton Place Hotel Vancouver - five-star hotel with an indoor pool and a spa
The Sutton Place is on Burrard Street at the eastern end of the West End, around 400 metres from both Burrard Station and Vancouver City Centre. The hotel has an indoor pool, a spa, a gym, a restaurant and a bar, and as well as the standard rooms, there are suites that sleep three or four.
Here, you’re closer to the shops than to the beach, because it’s around a kilometre and a half down to English Bay. That makes the hotel a good compromise if you want the West End and the city centre in the same stay. Guests are happy with the rooms, although one guest says the pool area needs a refresh, and another mentions the price of parking.
One guest keeps it short on Booking.com: “Beautiful room, amazing view and excellent service.”
See photos and book The Sutton Place Hotel Vancouver here.
The Sylvia Hotel - older hotel with character by English Bay
The Sylvia Hotel is on Gilford Street, around 250 metres from English Bay Beach and 800 metres from Lost Lagoon in Stanley Park. The rooms are around 30 m², and there are 61 m² one-bedroom suites with a kitchen. The restaurant and bar are on the ground floor.
It’s the hotel for you if you’d rather have atmosphere and location than something new and sleek. You should know that the rooms don’t have air conditioning. The windows open, and the hotel lends out fans, but one guest missed having some cooling on a hot day in August. You only get a view of the bay from the rooms facing the water.
One guest describes the hotel on Booking.com: “Beautiful old-world classic hotel with lots of wood.”
See photos and book The Sylvia Hotel here.
Barclay Hotel - simple, cheap hotel on Robson Street
Barclay Hotel is my budget suggestion in the West End and one of the cheapest hotels in the central part of the city. It’s on Robson Street, around 700 metres from Burrard Station and a kilometre from English Bay Beach. The standard rooms are 14 m², and there are larger 33 m² rooms with two double beds.
Expect an old, simple hotel. The rooms have air conditioning, but there’s no lift and no restaurant, and the ratings are lower than for my other suggestions. A few guests complain about the cleaning and dim lighting. I’d book it for a couple of nights when you’d rather spend your money out in the city.
One guest sums it up well on Booking.com: “The hotel is older style: not glamorous but very clean and comfortable, and the location on Robson Street is fabulous.”
See photos and book Barclay Hotel here.
4. Yaletown - best area for restaurants and an easy trip from the airport 🍽️
- 📍 Distance from the centre: One stop on the Canada Line to Vancouver City Centre, or a 10 to 15-minute walk.
- 🚇 Transport: The Canada Line from Yaletown-Roundhouse Station, the Expo Line from Stadium-Chinatown Station and mini ferries on False Creek.
- ✈️ Time from the airport: Under 25 minutes on the Canada Line direct to Yaletown-Roundhouse Station, two stops before the terminus at Waterfront.
- 💰 Price range: Mid-range to expensive. The cheapest rooms are up by the BC Place stadium.
- 👮 Safety: Safe and well kept. Around BC Place, there are big crowds and more noise on game and concert days.
Yaletown was once a neighbourhood of warehouses and railway tracks. Today, according to Destination Vancouver, the clatter of trains and industry has given way to clinking glasses and lively patios, and the neighbourhood is full of cafés, brunch spots and restaurants.
This is also where the trip from the airport is easiest. The Canada Line stops at Yaletown-Roundhouse Station in the middle of the neighbourhood, two stops before Waterfront, so you get here without changing trains and without a taxi. If you’re heading on into the centre, it’s one stop to Vancouver City Centre.
Down by the water are David Lam Park and the seawall along False Creek. From Yaletown, the little Aquabus ferries sail across to Granville Island and over to Science World, among other places, and it’s a fun way to get around when the weather’s good.
Yaletown is a small neighbourhood, and only one of my three suggestions is in the middle of it. The other two are up by BC Place on the neighbourhood’s northern edge, 700 to 800 metres from Yaletown-Roundhouse Station, and Booking.com lists them under Downtown. On the other hand, they’re cheaper, and you have Stadium-Chinatown Station on the Expo Line around 300 metres away.
Yaletown is mostly for adults who want to eat well and go for walks along the water. If you want the sights right outside your door, Downtown is a better choice, and if you want a beach and a park, head for the West End. At weekends, there can be noise from the bars until late, so ask for a room on a high floor.
Places to Stay in and around Yaletown
OPUS Vancouver - boutique hotel right by the Canada Line
OPUS Vancouver is on Davie Street in the middle of Yaletown, under 100 metres from Yaletown-Roundhouse Station and around 300 metres from David Lam Park. The standard rooms are 23 m² and the larger ones 28 to 30 m², and the hotel has a restaurant, a bar and a gym.
Choose it if you want to stay in the heart of the neighbourhood and be able to wheel your suitcase straight from the train to reception. There’s no pool. One guest on one of the lower floors was bothered by noise from the nightclub next door and recommends a room on a high floor at the front of the hotel.
One guest sums up their stay on Booking.com: “Beautifully located, hotel was quiet but with enough going on to give it a great vibe.”
See photos and book OPUS Vancouver here.
Georgian Court Hotel, WorldHotels Elite - mid-range hotel by BC Place
Georgian Court Hotel is on Beatty Street, around 200 metres from BC Place and 300 metres from Stadium-Chinatown Station. The rooms with a king-size bed are 23 m², the rooms with two queen-size beds are 32 m², and there are 40 m² suites with a sofa bed.
The hotel has the restaurant Frankie’s Italian Kitchen, a bar, a gym and a hot tub, but no pool. It’s a solid mid-range choice within easy reach of both Yaletown and the city centre, and it’s a good fit if you’re going to a game or a concert. Several guests miss having a kettle and a microwave in the room.
One guest writes on Booking.com: “Lovely big bed, very helpful and nice staff.”
See photos and book Georgian Court Hotel, WorldHotels Elite here.
Hotel Willo - simple hotel with a shared kitchen by BC Place
Hotel Willo used to be called YWCA Hotel and is my budget suggestion here. It’s on Beatty Street, a few doors from Georgian Court and around 250 metres from Stadium-Chinatown Station. There’s a shared kitchen and a gym, but no restaurant and no breakfast.
Look carefully at what you’re booking. The cheapest rooms have a shared bathroom, and the smallest double rooms are 11 to 12 m², while the largest rooms are 22 to 25 m². The hotel is a good fit if you want to do a bit of your own cooking and save on accommodation. A few guests aren’t keen on the shared bathrooms.
Here’s how one guest describes the hotel on Booking.com: “Clean, comfortable rooms and convenient location.”
See photos and book Hotel Willo here.
5. Granville Island & Fairview - best area for the market, mini ferries and a quieter stay south of False Creek 🛶
- 📍 Distance from the centre: On the south side of False Creek, directly across from the city centre. From Broadway-City Hall Station, it’s three stops to Vancouver City Centre.
- 🚇 Transport: The Canada Line from Broadway-City Hall and Olympic Village, bus 50 to Granville Island and the Aquabus and False Creek Ferries mini ferries.
- ✈️ Time from the airport: Under 25 minutes on the Canada Line direct to Broadway-City Hall Station, four stops before the terminus at Waterfront.
- 💰 Price range: Often lower than in the city centre, especially at the small guesthouses near City Hall. The hotel on Granville Island itself costs more.
- 👮 Safety: Quiet, in the evening too. According to guests, the guesthouses near City Hall are in a peaceful residential area.
If you want to stay outside the city centre and still be close to it, the south side of False Creek is my suggestion. This is where you’ll find Granville Island, which was created in 1916 with material from False Creek and was an industrial area for many years. Today, the Public Market, the island’s food market, is housed in the old warehouses, and it’s one of the places in the city I’d set aside a whole morning for.
The easiest way to get there is by water. According to Granville Island’s own transport page, the little Aquabus and False Creek Ferries boats run all year round, and bus 50 runs direct from Gastown and the city centre. From the stop at the end of Granville Bridge, it’s a 5 to 10-minute walk down under the bridge. Aquabus docks right by the Public Market.
See hotels near Granville Island here.
A little further south is Fairview, around West Broadway. There aren’t many sights here, but the Canada Line stops at Broadway-City Hall Station, so you’re in the city centre in three stops and can travel to and from the airport without changing trains.
In the side streets near City Hall, there are several small guesthouses in older houses, and they’re among the cheapest places in the city with good reviews. You’ll be staying in a quiet residential neighbourhood, and according to guests, there are shops and places to eat a couple of streets away.
The downside is the distances. From the hotels around West Broadway, it’s a kilometre and a half to two kilometres to the Public Market, and the hotel on Granville Island is more than a kilometre from the nearest SkyTrain station. So choose according to whether it’s the market or the train you’d most like to be close to.
Places to Stay on Granville Island and in Fairview
Granville Island Hotel - waterfront boutique hotel on Granville Island itself
Granville Island Hotel is on Johnston Street at the eastern end of Granville Island, around 450 metres from the Public Market. The standard rooms are 21 to 23 m², some have a balcony, and the more expensive categories look straight out over the water. The hotel has the Dockside restaurant, a gym, a sauna and a hot tub.
I’d choose it for a couple who want to wake up by the water and walk to the market before the day’s visitors arrive. The rooms aren’t big, and one guest mentions that it’s hard to make the room dark because of all the windows. Remember, too, that it’s more than a kilometre to the Canada Line, so you’ll mostly be getting around by ferry, bus or taxi.
One guest says on Booking.com: “The room was clean and cosy. The beds were comfy.”
See photos and book Granville Island Hotel here.
Holiday Inn Vancouver-Centre Broadway by IHG - chain hotel with an indoor pool on West Broadway
Holiday Inn Vancouver-Centre is on West Broadway, around 450 metres from Broadway-City Hall Station and a kilometre and a half from the Public Market. The rooms are 25 to 33 m², several have a balcony, and some guests praise the views from the rooms on the higher floors.
With an indoor pool, a gym, a restaurant and a bar, it’s a practical choice for a family who want space and easy access to the train. The decor isn’t new. Several guests describe the furniture and carpets as dated but well kept and clean, and one guest thinks the rooms look older than they do in the photos.
One guest writes about the location on Booking.com: “The location is really very good. Bus stop right in front of the building.”
See photos and book Holiday Inn Vancouver-Centre Broadway by IHG here.
Windsor Guest House - bed and breakfast in an older house near City Hall
Windsor Guest House is a small Victorian-style bed and breakfast on West 11th Avenue, around 250 metres from Broadway-City Hall Station. A vegetarian breakfast is included in the price, so the first meal of the day is paid for.
The rooms are small, 11 to 14 m², and some have a shared bathroom, so look out for that when you choose. The place has no car park, only street parking nearby. It’s my suggestion if you want somewhere cheap, quiet and personal and you’re happy with a simple room. Guests particularly mention the short walk to the Canada Line.
One guest praises the place on Booking.com: “Host was very nice and cheerful, the room was clean, quiet and comfortable.”
See photos and book Windsor Guest House here.
6. North Vancouver - best area for mountains, nature and views of the skyline ⛰️
- 📍 Distance from the centre: 12 minutes on the SeaBus from Lonsdale Quay to Waterfront Station in the city centre.
- ⛴️ Transport: The SeaBus every 15 minutes during the day and buses from Lonsdale Quay, including route 236 towards Capilano Suspension Bridge Park and Grouse Mountain.
- ✈️ Time from the airport: Around 25 minutes on the Canada Line to Waterfront Station, then 12 minutes on the SeaBus. Allow around an hour in total, including the change and waiting time.
- 💰 Price range: Usually lower than on the waterfront in the city centre for the same standard.
- 👮 Safety: Safe and quiet. By the quay, there are lots of people out at the restaurants in the evening.
North Vancouver is on the other side of Burrard Inlet, with the mountains behind it and the city centre skyline as its view. My three hotels are all by Lonsdale Quay, where the SeaBus docks, so you’re never more than a few minutes’ walk from the ferry.
The SeaBus is the reason staying here works. According to TransLink, the crossing to Waterfront Station takes 12 minutes, and the ferry sails every 15 minutes during the day. You pay in the same way as on the SkyTrain and the buses, and the trip across the water is a little outing in itself.
See hotels in North Vancouver here.
By the quay, you’ll find the food market Lonsdale Quay Market and The Shipyards, a waterfront square with restaurants, cafés and shops. From here, nature is close by. Capilano Suspension Bridge Park itself recommends taking the SeaBus to Lonsdale Quay and then bus 236, and the same bus route terminates at Grouse Mountain.
So you don’t have to cross the whole city every time you want to get out into nature. From the quay, you look straight across the water to the high-rises in the city centre, and the view is even better in the evening, when the lights are on. You also often get more for your money than on the waterfront on the other side.
The downside is that you depend on the ferry. You don’t have Gastown and Robson Street right outside your door, and if you’re heading home late from the city centre, you should check the time of the last sailing, especially on Sundays. I’d choose North Vancouver for a trip where nature matters more than the city, or for the last few nights of a longer tour.
Places to Stay in North Vancouver
Seaside Hotel North Vancouver - boutique hotel in the middle of The Shipyards
Seaside Hotel is on Victory Ship Way in the middle of The Shipyards, around 300 metres from the SeaBus terminal. The rooms are 23 to 26 m², and the largest suite with a sea view is 60 m². The hotel has a spa, a gym, a bar and a seafood restaurant.
It’s the best-rated of my three suggestions in North Vancouver and an obvious choice for a couple. There’s no pool, and there are no balconies. One guest misses having a lounge or somewhere to sit outside the room, and reception is in a small room next to the bar.
One guest mentions the area on Booking.com: “The many restaurants by the waterfront were a big plus.”
See photos and book Seaside Hotel North Vancouver here.
Pinnacle Hotel at the Pier - large hotel with an indoor pool and views of the city centre
Pinnacle Hotel at the Pier is a few steps from Seaside Hotel on Victory Ship Way, around 300 metres from the SeaBus terminal. The rooms are 28 m², and you can choose categories with a full or partial view across the harbour towards the city centre. There are also studios and junior suites with a sofa bed.
Of the three, it’s the one with the most facilities: an indoor pool, a hot tub, a sauna, a gym, a restaurant and a bar. That makes the hotel my suggestion for families. The pool is divided into lanes, and one guest thinks the pool area and changing rooms could be cleaner. Breakfast is described as a little expensive.
One guest writes on Booking.com: “The harbour view was great. The room was very comfortable.”
See photos and book Pinnacle Hotel at the Pier here.
Coast Lonsdale Quay Hotel - simple hotel above the market by the SeaBus
Coast Lonsdale Quay Hotel sits on top of the Lonsdale Quay Market hall, around 150 metres from the SeaBus terminal. The rooms are 28 to 33 m², and there’s a gym.
It’s the cheapest of the three and also the one closest to the ferry. The hotel has no restaurant, bar or pool, but you have the whole market right downstairs for breakfast and lunch. A couple of guests mention that the air conditioning unit in the room is noisy, so bring earplugs if you’re a light sleeper.
One guest points out on Booking.com: “The staff were very friendly and the daily housekeeping was very good.”
See photos and book Coast Lonsdale Quay Hotel here.
Where should you avoid staying in Vancouver?
I wouldn’t stay in the Downtown Eastside, which is around East Hastings Street and Main Street, right next to Gastown and Chinatown. The City of Vancouver describes it as one of the city’s oldest neighbourhoods and writes that, in recent years, the area has struggled with issues including drug use, crime, homelessness and housing problems. The city also highlights the many volunteers and residents who feel at home in the neighbourhood, but it isn’t somewhere I’d choose as a base for a holiday. So check the address on the map if a hotel at the eastern end of the city centre is surprisingly cheap.
I wouldn’t stay out by the airport either, unless you have a very early flight. The Canada Line is fast, but the trip takes around 25 minutes each way, and you pay the airport surcharge every time you travel from the stations at the airport.
If I had to choose one area for a first trip, it’d be Downtown, for the transport and the short distances. Coal Harbour is the choice if you have a big budget or you’re joining a cruise ship. The West End is for you if you want Stanley Park and the beach on your doorstep and don’t mind taking the bus.
Yaletown gives you the easiest arrival from the airport and the best restaurants around the corner. Granville Island and Fairview are quieter and often cheaper, and North Vancouver is for you if you’ve come for the mountains. In all six areas, you can manage without a car.
The time of year matters too. The figures from Destination Vancouver show that November and December are the wettest months, with around 180 millimetres of rainfall each, while July and August are the driest, with around 40. Winter is mild with lots of rainy days, and summer is warm without being hot. If you travel in the wet half of the year, though, you’ll usually pay less for your hotel.
Many travellers combine Vancouver with a trip down the US west coast. I’ve written similar guides to where to stay in San Francisco and the best areas in Los Angeles. If your trip takes you to the east coast instead, you can read about where to stay in New York.
Travel ressources & websites I use all the time 👇
• Booking.com has the best offers on hotels and unique places to stay
• GetYourGuide is the best place to book tours & activities with free cancellation
• Welcome Pickups is the best & safest place to pre-book airport transfers
Psst 👀 Have you subscribed to my Youtube channel and my Instagram where I provide more useful travel tips?