Where to Stay in Vancouver – Best Areas to Stay

If you don’t know where to stay in Vancouver you’re not alone.

I was born and raised in the city, and I still don’t know which area I love best.

That’s why I’m gonna break down all the best areas to stay in Vancouver so you can find what fits for you.

Where to Stay When Visiting Vancouver: The Best Neighbourhoods

Where should I stay in Vancouver? It’s probably the most common question I get.

My answer…

It’s a city of millions, yet there are only about 6 or 7 best places to stay in Vancouver based on:

• Proximity to Vancouver’s top attractions.
• Accessibility to the city’s transport.
• Nightlife options nearby.
• Vancouver beach/park/mountain convenience.
• Tranquility.

I’ll be breaking down the best areas for tourists to stay in Vancouver based on these criteria.

Just keep in mind there are no Vancouver neighbourhood rankings here, as they’d only be an opinion based on my personal tastes.

Related: The Best Vancouver Streets: A Tourist’s Guide

The West End – Best Area to Stay for Walking the City

Attractions: ★★☆☆  Central: ★★★★  Nightlife: ★★★☆ Relax: ★★☆☆

Downtown Vancouver is a peninsula sticking out into Burrard Inlet, curling like a Popeye bicep flex with spinach-green Stanley Park plump in the middle.

The West End’s Beach Avenue runs along the arm with a portion of Vancouver’s famous Seawall. Here, you’ll find sensational Sunset Beach, the volleyball courts, and a massive inukshuk statue.

You’re also a short walk to the Seabus and Granville Island, the many bars of bustling Davie Village, and virtually anywhere else in the downtown core.

Pros

It’s a great location for walking down to the beach.

The West End is also one of the most densely populated neighbourhoods in North America owing to a myriad of condo towers, yet there’s plenty of green space, and it still maintains a local feel.

It’s probably the least chaotic downtown neighbourhood, and Denman Street is a great foodie area, especially if you’re looking for Korean, Japanese, or even Brazilian restaurants.

Being referred to locally as the ‘Gaybourhood,’ it’s definitely LGBT-friendly.

Cons

This is the furthest downtown Vancouver neighbourhood from any of the major Skytrain stations. Buses are the main form of transport here.

If you’re visiting Vancouver in summer keep in mind it’ll be extra busy here.

There’s a shortage of high-end restaurants, so if you’re looking for something a little more upscale, you should look elsewhere.

If you’re not a member of the LGBT community, the nightlife may not be up your alley.

Kitsilano – Best Neighbourhood to Stay for Relaxing

Attractions: ★★☆☆  Central: ★★★☆ Nightlife: ★★★☆ Relax: ★★★★

Kitsilano (named after Squamish chief X̱ats’alanexw) came to prominence as a beachside hippy hangout in the 1960s, though yuppies have slowly taken over.

Greenpeace was founded in a house in Kits, Ryan Reynolds was raised here, and Lulu Lemon’s Chip Wilson made the area famous almost 50 years later.

It’s home to the H.R. Macmillan Space Centre and the Vancouver Museum.

Pros

There are 17 parks in the area, and it’s home to Vancouver’s most popular beach: Kitsilano Beach.

Many parts of it are right over Burrard Bridge on the other side of downtown Vancouver, making it as central as possible for not being in the core.

It has a very residential and local feel, almost devoid of hustle and bustle. At the same time, there are tons of boutique shops, especially on West 4th Ave.

The mountain views from most areas are outstanding.

It’s just a quick $10.00 taxi to the chaos of the downtown core.

Cons

There aren’t a lot of hotel properties here.

Most of it is not accessible to major Vancouver rapid transit lines, so buses are probably going to be your main source of transport.

It’s one of the richest neighbourhoods in Vancouver, so prices are high.

Robson Street – Best Area to Stay in Vancouver for Shopping

Attractions: ★★★☆  Central: ★★★★  Nightlife: ★★★☆ Relax: ★☆☆☆

If Vancouver had an answer to Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, this would be it.

This is an area with some of the best Vancouver shopping, particularly high-end chains. It also offers some of the best restaurants in downtown Vancouver and even has a mini Koreatown at the end.

It’s posh. Robson Street is where people go to people watch with shopping bags swinging in one hand and a freshly made Nutella crepe in the other.

Bring your wallet and a napkin.

Pros

The sheer amount of services on this street is unparalleled.

If you’re looking for retail therapy and/or souvenirs, this is a great option.

You’re also gonna be equidistant from the beaches of the West End or the bars of Gastown. If you want to discover the city on foot, this is the ideal location.

There’s also the Vancouver Art Gallery.

Cons

If you’re not up for pomp and circumstance, being seen, or being a big spender, you’ll want to run far away.

It’s restaurant and shopping-heavy and won’t offer a ton of unique Vancouver culture.

If you’re an outdoorsy person wondering where to stay when visiting Vancouver – there is hardly any green space.

Granville Street – Best Vancouver Neighbourhood for Nightlife

Attractions: ★★★☆  Central: ★★★★  Nightlife: ★★★★ Relax: ★☆☆☆

The famous throwback 1950s neon lights, Vancouver’s top bars like the Roxy (yes, of the Roxy Flu), and even the odd pornography shop make this famous Vancouver street a meeting point for good-time seekers.

Being a street essentially splitting downtown Vancouver in half, this is the middle-of-the-action stuff.

More recently, it’s become more of a shopping destination with some big box shops like Best Buy and Winners opening up.

Pros

You’ll reach it easily from the airport by getting off the Skytrain at Vancouver City Centre – you can be checked into the best hotels door-to-door in less than an hour.

If you’re looking to burn the candle at both ends, it’s within walking distance to endless nightlife and Vancouver’s true entertainment district.

When people ask where to stay in Vancouver on a budget, this is the place – many of Vancouver’s top hostels are found on the street.

There are also cheap food options like Two Parrots‘ Taco Tuesdays and El Furniture Warehouse‘s $5.95 all-day food menu.

Cons

If you’re looking for a good night’s sleep, it may be a tough one unless you’re high above the street or with soundproof rooms.

There’s a lack of refinement (hey, it can’t always be Michelin!), and most of the food is pub grub or fast food chains.

If you’re not under 40, you may feel a sense of alienation.

Yaletown – Best Neighborhood to Stay in Vancouver for Luxury

Attractions: ★★☆☆  Central: ★★★★  Nightlife: ★★☆☆ Relax: ★★★☆

This residential neighbourhood in downtown Vancouver is dominated by spiking condo towers flushed in our city’s familiar aqua-green.

Young urban professionals dominate the area, so organic food shops, cigar stores, yoga studios, and all sorts of hipster hullabaloo reign supreme.

It’s also right by the stadium district and has one of my favourite portions of the Seawall for long walks and fresh air coming off the water.

Pros

Compared to other areas to stay in Vancouver, this one is the most easily reachable from the airport via the Yaletown Skytrain station.

Many of Vancouver’s best restaurants and must-eat dishes are found here – just make sure your wallet has an open mind!

There’s also Yaletown Distillery (the $4.00 late-night drink special saves me after Canuck games) and the Yaletown Brewing Co. for local alcohol action.

Yaletown can be described in three words: high-quality standards.

Cons

If you’re clutching your wallet while wondering what area of Vancouver is best to stay in – heads up! This is boutique hotel territory.

Things can get quite expensive, whether you’re getting a Yaletown hotel, going out to eat, or having a couple of drinks.

Being one of downtown Vancouver’s posher areas, there have been complaints of Yaletown being a bit stuck up.

If you’re looking to meet friendly locals, it probably won’t be the place.

Gastown – Best Area to Stay in Vancouver without a Car

Attractions: ★★★☆  Central: ★★★★  Nightlife: ★★★★ Relax: ★★☆☆

Vancouver’s oldest downtown neighbourhood actually came about when ‘Gassy Jack’ Deighton offered some loggers all the whiskey they could drink in exchange for erecting a bar.

Modern Gastown is an entertainment district: a place you’d go for a Vancouver food tour, nice whiskey, and live music at some of Gastown’s best bars.

Restaurants with patios looking over cobblestone streets and the famous Gastown Steamclock make this Vancouver’s postcard neighbourhood.

You’ve also got the Vancouver Lookout tower.

Pros

If you’re looking for a balance between nightlife and culture this is it.

The ‘historical centre‘ feel brings you back to pioneer times with the souvenir shops to match. The Coastal Peoples art gallery is a great place to start.

The area around Blood Alley is home to a concentration of the city’s best restaurants.

You’re also right on the doorstep of Chinatown.

Cons

You’re never more than a couple streets away from accidentally crossing into Vancouver’s skid row, AKA ‘the Downtown Eastside’.

The area is full of petty crime and the contrast between the tent cities and the highly gentrified areas is a huge surprise to people.

Safety is rarely an issue though.

Coal Harbour – Best Vancouver Area to Stay for Cruisers

Attractions: ★★☆☆  Central: ★★★☆ Nightlife: ★☆☆☆ Relax: ★★★★

What was once home to a shipyard and train station terminus is now an affluent neighbourhood of office and residential towers jammed up against the water.

When I think of Coal Harbour I think of float planes landing, rollerbladers smashing the Seawall on their way to Stanley Park, and tons of cool seaside restaurants.

It’s also home to Canada Place and its iconic sail shaped building, and it’s a starting point for many of the best Vancouver city tours.

This is also home to the Vancouver cruise port.

Pros

Coal Harbour is all about Vancouver public transit. It’s the only downtown Vancouver neighbourhood where two Skytrain lines intersect.

You’ve also got the Seabus to North Vancouver (if you’re skiing in Vancouver) and the West Coast Express to take you to far away suburbs like Coquitlam and Mission.

Business travellers can do well here as it’s walking distance to the CBD and the Vancouver Convention Centre.

You’re right near Stanley Park and also get an unspoiled mountain view.

Cons

Even if it’s in downtown Vancouver there’s not much nightlife happening here.

Since massive Georgia Street barrels right through it, it’s not the best area to stay in Vancouver for peace and quiet – it’s prone to heavy traffic.

Of all the neighborhoods to stay in Vancouver, it’s probably also the most expensive.

Commercial Drive – Best Local Culture of All Top Neighbourhoods to Stay in Vancouver

Attractions: ★☆☆☆  Central: ★★☆☆ Nightlife: ★★☆☆ Relax: ★★★★

When helping tourists pick out where to stay in Vancouver I often suggest this colourful neighbourhood designated as Vancouver’s Little Italy.

It’s a great location for espresso bars, gelato shops, and Neapolitan pizza joints – now balanced with other ethnic cuisines from Mexico, the Caribbean, and El Salvador.

It’s also a great place to hit a brewery to sample the best of Vancouver’s craft beer scene and partake in a bohemian shopping spree.

Pros

It’s rare as a tourist to stay in a truly residential neighbourhood where you can see locals living their day to day.

There are some great Airbnb options in the area, and if you’re cooking in them this Eastside neighbourhood offers some of the cheapest produce, groceries, and baked goods in the city.

The Saturday farmer’s market and all sorts of street festivals like Car Free Day and Italian Day give the area a unique vibe.

Like all of the best Vancouver neighbourhoods, it’s served by Skytrain.

Cons

You won’t find a lot of tourist stuff here.

Since it’s quite urban you won’t get much of Vancouver’s nature.

It’s also not walking distance from downtown Vancouver. Expect to spend about 20 minutes on transport to get there.

Big on beer? Check out the best brewery tours in Vancouver.

The North Shore – Best Neighbourhood to Stay for Families

Attractions: ★☆☆☆  Central: ★☆☆☆ Nightlife: ★☆☆☆ Relax: ★★★☆

Across the water from downtown you’ll find this string of three municipalities snuggled up against the North Shore Mountains.

The city of North Vancouver would be the most tourist friendly of the three, particularly in the LoLo (lower Lonsdale) neighbourhood.

If any area was Vancouver’s playground this would be it.

It’s also famous for the Lonsdale Quay Market.

Pros

With access to three ski hills, tons of hiking trails like Quarry Rock, Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge, and the more famous Capilano Suspension Bridge it’s an outdoorsman’s paradise.

Even though you’re separated by a large body of water you can get downtown in just 15 minutes using the Seabus.

If you’re looking for what area to stay in Vancouver on your way to Whistler this is great, as it bypasses the country’s nightmare bottleneck at Lion’s Gate Bridge.

Cons

It’s not accessible to any rapid transit system – renting a car may be almost mandatory.

Owing to the rain shadow effect it tends to rain much more on the North Shore, which in Vancouver weather terms means a lot!

Since part of the North Shore is one of the richest neighbourhoods in Canada, prices can get quite steep.

Burnaby – Best Area to Stay in Vancouver for Shopping

Attractions: ★★☆☆  Central: ★☆☆☆ Nightlife: ★☆☆☆ Relax: ★★★☆

This Vancouver suburb is arguably the least suburban feeling of them all – it’s actually the third biggest city in British Columbia.

It’s just east of the city and is served by both the Millenium and Expo lines of Skytrain. You can be downtown in just 25 minutes.

This is also a great alternative for people wanting to stay near Stanley Park but maybe don’t want to shell out – Burnaby has highest parkland to resident ratio in North America.

It’s also home to the city’s biggest mall: Metropolis at Metrotown.

Pros

The 400 stores at Metropolis are a shopaholic’s dream and if that’s not enough, the surrounding area is full of some of the best bargain Asian restaurants in the city.

Prices all around will be much cheaper than downtown.

It’s also home to some of Vancouver’s top educational institutions like BCIT and Simon Fraser University.

It was voted Canada’s most efficient city by Maclean’s magazine.

Cons

Being a suburb it won’t be as walkable as downtown, though Central Park is big enough to tire out even the most seasoned walkers.

There’s an almost complete lack of tourist attractions, though if you’re going to a concert at Deer Lake Park this could be a great option.

Richmond – Top Area to Stay in Vancouver Near the Airport

Attractions: ★☆☆☆  Central: ★☆☆☆ Nightlife: ★☆☆☆ Relax: ★★★☆

Richmond is actually Canada’s largest city by immigration percentage: over 50% of its citizens identify as Chinese and 60%+ are foreign born.

In many places you’ll find English taking a backseat to Mandarin and Cantonese.

Here you’ve also got Vancouverite staples like the River Rock Casino and the Richmond Night Market.

Pros

It’s much closer to the airport than downtown Vancouver, about 10 minutes maximum. At the same time you can be downtown in 25 minutes via Skytrain.

For this reason, if you’re visiting Vancouver for one night only I usually suggest Richmond.

The Chinese food options are some of the best in the city. There’s also a salmon festival in nearby Steveston if you’re in town for Canada Day.

Cons

Even though it feels much like being in Asia, there’s a distinct lack of local character as the city is made up of grid streets and strip malls.

If you’re a tourist in Vancouver you won’t get much of the mountain/sea vibe either, though the nearby Fraser River is interesting for the August salmon run.

This is the best area to stay in Vancouver Canada if you’ve got a car and wanna experience suburban life.

Looking to get off the beaten track? Check out our guide to the top Vancouver Hidden Gems.

Surrey – Best Area to Stay on a Budget

Attractions: ☆☆☆☆  Central: ☆☆☆☆ Nightlife: ★☆☆☆ Relax: ★★★☆

Locals would scoff at the idea of staying in Vancouver’s biggest suburb: there’s a stigma about the place being slightly less civilized than the rest of the GVRD.

Here it’s about low population density and suburban sprawl.

Surrey is also famous for its large and prominent south Asian community, with people from the Indian subcontinent making up 33% of the population.

Farms here are slowly giving way to massive planned town centres well served by public transport.

Pros

If you’re flying in/out of Abbotsford airport it’s got great proximity.

South Surrey is also very close to the US border if your next stop is going to Seattle.

If you’re a fan of Indian cuisine there are almost too many to name, but I’ll bite: Aggarwal Sweets (vegetarian, cheap) and Tasty Indian Bistro (ambiance, date night) are two of the top ones.

It’s one of the cheapest suburbs.

Cons

If you want to do anything in Vancouver you’ll be quite far out of the city.

Since Surrey is so spread out there are very few parts of it that’ll be directly connected by transport, so you may have to rent a car.

It’s quite flat and almost exclusively landlocked, making it less ‘Vancouvery’.

Where Not to Stay in Vancouver

In such a beautiful city, the worst areas in the city are luckily few and far between.

That said, there are a couple of areas for tourists to avoid in Vancouver:

• The Downtown Eastside: unfortunately this is our city’s skid row, and there are a lot of people living in the streets in this area. Petty crime is common, and even if your safety is unlikely to be threatened, you should avoid getting hotels on East Hastings Street (between Abbott and Main Street) for this reason.
• Kingsway: there are a lot of hotels (well, motels) along this main east side artery that might have nice prices – but the traffic noise and general low quality of the business offerings won’t offer much to tourists.
• Whalley: Crime statistics make this the most dangerous area in the Lower Mainland. Luckily, it’s in Surrey and not likely to be on the path of any tourist. If you see a hotel there, definitely pass!

Best Place to Stay in Vancouver as a Tourist Map

It’s tough to decide what area to stay in Vancouver without some visuals.

Here you’ll be able to select your neighbourhood based on proximity to airport, mountains, sea, and much more!

Best Area to Stay in Vancouver FAQ

What’s the best area to stay in Vancouver?

Finding the best neighbourhood to stay in Vancouver is subjective.

For tourists you should be selecting an area in close proximity to transit, near some top attractions like Stanley Park or Granville Island, and close enough to some of Vancouver’s great nature.

For this reason I’d recommend the West End or Coal Harbour.

Where to stay in Vancouver on a budget?

You should be selecting outskirts like Richmond, Burnaby, or Surrey.

There are also urban areas with hostels or budget accommodations. For this reason, the Granville Strip and its many hostels is a fine option.

The YWCA Hotel is also a great downtown budget hotel with three star amenities.

Where to stay in Vancouver with family?

You’re going to want proximity to downtown Vancouver while at the same time having a little air to breathe for outdoor activities.

Kitsilano and its many parks and beaches and variety of healthy yet tasty food options is a fine candidate.

The North Shore is also fantastic for families going skiing or who would enjoy the boat ride on the Seabus to downtown.

Where to stay in Vancouver when going on a cruise?

Selecting the Coal Harbour area will allow you to get to the cruise terminal in short order.

You could also go for Gastown if you’re looking for a little nightlife at the same time, as it would still be walking distance.

Where to stay in Vancouver without a car?

Any downtown neighbourhood along the Canada Line would be preferable. The West End, Robson Street, Gastown, or Coal Harbour are top choices.

Where to stay in Vancouver for tourists?

Tourists should stay in the thick of things by selecting any of the downtown areas.

There’s also a fine option in Kitsilano if you came for an outdoor escape.

Where to stay in Vancouver for nightlife?

If you’re looking to pull an all-nighter with no holds barred then the Granville Strip is the top choice.

That said, if you’re looking for something a little more refined then Gastown is the obvious choice.

Let Me Help You Find the Best Area to Stay in Vancouver

You may now know where to stay in Vancouver, but maybe not. Maybe I totally overlooked something.

That’s where you come in – and why I encourage you to write.

If you need any custom advice on areas to stay in Vancouver let me know in the comments below!