Where To Stay In Vancouver: 5 Best Areas & Neighborhoods

Where else can you ski a mountain and hit the beach on the exact same afternoon? Vancouver drops glass skyscrapers right on the edge of wild rainforests. It feels huge, but it actually acts like a collection of tiny, distinct towns.

Stay in Gastown, and you’re stepping over cobblestones next to the world’s first steam-powered clock. Base yourself in the West End, and you have Stanley Park, which is bigger than Central Park in NYC, right in your backyard. Craving incredible Asian food? Vancouver has the best dim sum outside of Asia, mostly tucked into places like Richmond and Mount Pleasant.

We’ve put together the best areas to stay in Vancouver, whether you’re here for the first time, traveling with kids, chasing good food, or just want a great place to wake up.

In this travel guide:

Downtown

Best area for: nightlife, food, shopping

First and foremost, there is Downtown. No matter where you choose to stay, you will probably find yourself Downtown at some point in your stay. That is because it is the city center and has tons of attractions for visitors. If this is your first time in Vancouver, this is the best area to stay in.

It’s busy, but the mountains and water are never far away. The area sits on a peninsula between Burrard Inlet and False Creek, with Stanley Park and the West End just to the west.

There’s plenty to do without leaving downtown. You can start with a coffee, then head to Robson Street for some shopping. This has been one of Vancouver’s main shopping streets since the late 1800s.

For a culture break, we usually pop into the Vancouver Art Gallery. It has a huge collection, including more than 13,000 works and one of the most important collections of Emily Carr’s art.

Canada Place is another easy stop. The waterfront building has its distinctive sail-shaped roof and doubles as a cruise terminal. From here, we get great views across the harbor toward the mountains.

History is never far away either. Gastown starts just east of Downtown. It’s known for its old brick buildings, cobblestone streets, and famous steam clock. The neighborhood grew from a single tavern in the 1860s.

For coffee, we’d grab a cup at Guffo Café on Howe Street. It’s an easy place to fuel up.

Best place to stay in Downtown Vancouver

Rosewood Hotel Georgia. Address: 801 W Georgia St, Vancouver, BC V6C 1P7, Canada.

West End

Best area for: diversity, LGBTQ+

Right next to Downtown is the West End. Because of its proximity, this is another great place for first-time tourists and also repeat visitors.

Tucked right between downtown and Stanley Park, this neighborhood has a vibe unlike anywhere else in the city. The area is walkable, friendly, and constantly alive.

It started back in the 1880s when it was Vancouver’s first upscale suburb. Wealthy folks built massive Victorian mansions here, though most of those eventually gave way to mid-century high-rises. Today, it is one of the most densely populated and diverse spots in North America.

You will never run out of things to do here. We always head straight to English Bay Beach to catch the sunset or walk along the seawall. The Roedde House Museum is a cool stop if you want to see a restored Victorian home from 1893. Davie Street is the lively heart of the city’s LGBTQ+ community, filled with vibrant shops and colorful crosswalks.

Food-wise, the West End is legendary for its international options. For breakfast, we always grab coffee and fresh pastries at Greenhorn Cafe on Barclay Street. For lunch, nothing beats a hot bowl of ramen at Danbo on Robson Street. When dinner rolls around, we head to Forage for incredible local farm-to-table dishes and craft beer.

Best place to stay in the West End

The English Bay Inn. Address: 1968 Comox Street, West End, V6G 1R4 Vancouver, Canada.

Gastown

Best area for: history, food, nightlife

One of the older sectors of Vancouver is Gastown. Gastown is partnered with Chinatown, so you will have really easy access to both. This is a great place to go to avoid a huge tourist crowd, as there are usually more locals here than visitors.

Gastown is where the past is impossible to miss. You can stroll along cobblestone Water Street, with old brick buildings on both sides and plenty of independent shops, galleries, restaurants, and bars tucked inside them. It feels very different from the glassy downtown streets nearby.

This is where Vancouver started. In 1867, John “Gassy Jack” Deighton opened a small saloon here. The neighborhood eventually took his nickname. Much of Gastown was destroyed in the Great Vancouver Fire of 1886, so the buildings we see today mostly date from the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

The Gastown Steam Clock is the obvious stop. It was built in 1977, not during the Victorian era, but it still puts on a fun little show. We usually time our visit for the quarter-hour when it whistles and releases steam.

We also like heading toward Maple Tree Square and then exploring the side streets. There are some great boutiques, art galleries, and design stores around here. The area has plenty of places to eat, too. For coffee, Timbertrain Coffee Roasters is a good pick. For something more substantial, Pourhouse Restaurant is right on Water Street.

Gastown works especially well in the evening. The old buildings look great after dark, and the neighborhood has plenty of cocktail bars.

Best place to stay in Gastown

Hotel Skwachàys Lodge. Address: 31 West Pender, V6B 1R3 Vancouver, Canada.

Coal Harbour

Best area for: upscale, waterfront

Back in 1859, explorers actually found coal in the area. The name stuck, but the neighborhood eventually shifted into a heavy industrial zone with railway shipping piers and seaplane terminals. Now it has completely transformed into a sleek, quiet waterfront neighborhood packed with luxury glass towers and calm marina views.

Start your morning strolling along the paved Seawall, which connects straight into Stanley Park. Grab an espresso and a fresh pastry at Giovane Café inside the Fairmont Pacific Rim to kick things off. Watching the floatplanes take off and land right on the water at the harbor terminal is easily one of the coolest parts of the trip.

Later, snap a few quick photos at Jack Poole Plaza. That is where you can see the giant, pixelated Digital Orca sculpture and the massive 2010 Olympic Cauldron.

For lunch, stop by Tap & Barrel right by the Vancouver Convention Centre. Sitting on their massive outdoor patio, sipping local BC craft beer with views of the North Shore mountains, feels surreal. If you want something fancier for dinner, Cardero’s right on the marina serves phenomenal fresh seafood. It is the ultimate spot to sit back and watch the yachts sail in.

Best place to stay in Coal Harbour

Hotel Loden. Address: 1177 Melville St, Vancouver, BC V6E 0A3, Canada.

Kitsilano

Best area for: beach, upscale, life like a local

Kitsilano, or “Kits” as locals call it, is where beach days and good coffee somehow become part of the daily routine. We usually start around Kits Beach. The views across English Bay toward the mountains are hard to beat, especially when the sun comes out.

The beach is also great for swimming, volleyball, paddleboarding, or just stretching out on the sand. The Kitsilano Pool is another local favorite, with its long outdoor pool right beside the water.

Kits has an interesting past, too. The neighborhood was named after Squamish Chief August Jack Khatsahlano. The area was once covered in thick forest and was home to the Squamish community of Sen̓áḵw. Later, Kits became known as a counterculture hangout in the 1960s.

For a dose of culture, we head to Vanier Park. The Museum of Vancouver, Vancouver Maritime Museum, and H.R. MacMillan Space Centre are all here. The Museum of Vancouver has been in its distinctive dome-topped building since 1968.

West 4th Avenue is where we go when we’re hungry. There are plenty of restaurants, cafes, and small shops. For breakfast, Jam Cafe Kitsilano is a solid pick. For coffee, Lumine Coffee is an easy stop.

Granville Island is also just a short walk away, which makes Kits a handy base for exploring Vancouver.

Best place to stay in Kitsilano

Granville Island Hotel. Address: 1253 Johnston Street, Granville Island, V6H 3R9 Vancouver, Canada. Please note: this hotel is not in Kitsilano, but it’s the best place to stay near by.

Where travel critics stay in Vancouver

Want to know where travel critics from publishers like The New York Times, Frommer’s, Fodor’s and Lonely Planet stay in Vancouver? Check out our overview of all recommended hotels, hostels and B&Bs in Vancouver.

Budget

The Listel Hotel.

“On a pretty stretch of Robson Street, the Listel Hotel is an eco-friendly boutique hotel with contemporary and Northwest Coast art and furnishings throughout the property’s public spaces, guest rooms and suites. There are two restaurants: Forage, a farm-to-table restaurant, and Timber, a Canadian gastropub.” — New York Times.

Address: 1300 Robson St, Vancouver, BC V6E 1C5, Canada.

Mid-range

Wedgewood Hotel & Spa.

“A member of the exclusive Relais & Châteaux Group, the luxurious, family-owned Wedgewood is all about pampering. Guest rooms are capacious and elegantly decorated, and each has its own balcony.” — Fodor’s.

Address: 845 Hornby St, Vancouver, BC V6Z 1V1, Canada.

Luxury

Opus Hotel.

“For sheer, vibrant, grown-up fun, you cannot beat the Opus. It’s the only place to stay right in Yaletown, which means it can be a bit noisy, what with all the bars, clubs, and restaurants outside.” — Frommer’s.

Address: 322 Davie St, Vancouver, BC V6B 5Z6, Canada.

FAQ: Vancouver hotel tips

Looking for the best budget, boutique, or luxury hotel in Vancouver? Or maybe you’re a backpacker looking for an excellent hostel? Want to know which Vancouver hotel serves a great breakfast? Here are the answers to all those and other questions about where to stay in Vancouver.

Best time to visit Vancouver

The best time to visit Vancouver is during the spring (March to May) or during the fall (September to November). These periods are considered ideal as the weather is most pleasant and the city isn’t overflowing with tourists.

Spring is especially delightful as the city is blooming with cherry blossoms, making it a sight to behold. Meanwhile, autumn features stunning foliage of vibrant reds, oranges, and yellows that transform Vancouver into an artist’s palette.

Summer (June to August) is when Vancouver experiences its highest influx of tourists, resulting in crowded attractions and higher accommodation prices.

While the weather is beautiful and allows for a variety of outdoor activities, it may not be the best time to visit Vancouver if you prefer a quieter and more laid-back experience.

Winter (December to February) in Vancouver is usually mild compared to other Canadian cities, but still offers its charm with snow-covered mountains perfect for winter sports enthusiasts. The city also hosts various winter-themed festivals which are well worth experiencing.

Best things to do in Vancouver

There are plenty of things to do in Vancouver and surrounding areas, including day trips, attractions, museums, sightseeing tours and many other activities. Here’s our list of 3 things you should definitely do when you’re in and around Vancouver:

Vancouver Highlights Bike Tour

Accompany your guide on a leisurely ride along dedicated bike routes. Explore the city’s natural wonders like Stanley Park’s rain forest and historic neighborhoods like Gastown and Chinatown. Price: $77. More info.

Classic Vancouver Panorama Tour by Seaplane

A great introduction to seaplane aviation, this seaplane tour departs from downtown Vancouver’s bustling Coal Harbour and flies a loop over the city and park before landing back in front of the iconic Vancouver Convention Center. Price: $108. More info.

Whale-Watching Tour from Vancouver

Scout for an incredible array of marine life during this half-day Vancouver whale watching cruise. Join a professional naturalist on board a modern boat as you search for creatures including orcas, seals, porpoises, and eagles. Price: $120. More info.

More things to do in Vancouver

Deciding where to stay in Vancouver

As a closing note, let’s summarize this travel guide. We covered the best areas of Vancouver so you can decide which part of town you want to stay in.

Top 5 areas to stay in Vancouver

• Kitsilano
• Coal Harbour
• Gastown
• West End
• Downtown

As you have seen in this article, there are plenty of things to explore, and deciding where to stay in Vancouver is important. Whether you stay in Kitsilano, Coal Harbour, Gastown, West End or Downtown, all those neighborhoods are in good locations.

The atmosphere of the area, whether you travel for leisure or business, whether you travel with your family or friends, and proximity to the attractions you prefer to visit should probably be the deciding factors. Whatever your preference is, you’ll have a great time in Vancouver.

Vancouver overview

More Vancouver tips

See our other guides about the best places to stay in Vancouver:

Hotels in Vancouver

Hostels in Vancouver

Boutique hotels in Vancouver

Luxury hotels in Vancouver

Cheap hotels in Vancouver

Eco-friendly hotels in Vancouver