Where to Stay in Vancouver: A Local’s Guide to the Best Areas & Hotels
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links that may earn us a small commission should you decide to click through and make a valid purchase (at no extra cost to you). Thanks so much for your support!
Are you visiting Vancouver and looking for where to stay? I have called Vancouver home since 2021 and have explored my heart out here! I also have some favourite hotels in Vancouver like the Sutton Place Hotel.
Whether you want mountain views, beachy vibes, or buzzing downtown energy, this guide will help you find the perfect area (and hotel) for your trip.
In this blog post you will find a list of the best areas to stay in Vancouver, along with my top hotel recommendations.
Local Tips for Choosing Where to Stay
Where to stay in Vancouver all depends on what activities you have planned for your trip, but if you are having trouble deciding, the below tips might help you decide.
- Summer = Kits is golden 🌞
- Without a car = Downtown or North Van near the SeaBus (Kits is a little out of the way)
- Obsessed with hiking or with kids or dogs = North Van is calm, green and full of hiking trails
- Rainy winter visit = Stick close to downtown comforts + covered walkways
Where to Stay in Vancouver – By Area
Comparison of the best places to stay in Vancouver
| Hotel Name | Location | Stars | Cost | Check prices & book |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barclay Hotel | Robson Street | ⭐⭐⭐ | 💲 | Book here! |
| Blue Horizon Hotel | Robson Street | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 💲💲 | Book here! |
| The Sutton Place Hotel | Robson Street | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 💲💲💲 | Book here! |
| Days Inn by Wyndham Vancouver Downtown | Coal Harbour | ⭐⭐⭐ | 💲💲 | Book here! |
| Pinnacle Hotel Harbourfront | Coal Harbour | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 💲💲 | Book here! |
| Fairmont Pacific Rim | Coal Harbour | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 💲💲💲 | Book here! |
| Hotel Blu | Yaletown | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 💲💲💲💲💲 | Book here! |
| Opus Hotel Vancouver | Yaletown | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 💲💲💲💲💲 | Book here! |
| Samesun | Granville Street | ⭐⭐⭐ | 💲 | Book here! |
| Grand Park Hotel & Suites Downtown Vancouver | Granville Street | ⭐⭐⭐ | 💲💲 | Book here! |
| L’Hermitage Hotel | Granville Street | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 💲💲💲💲💲 | Book here! |
| Econo Lodge Inn & Suites | North Vancouver | ⭐⭐⭐ | 💲 | Book here! |
| Pinnacle Hotel at the Pier | North Vancouver | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 💲💲💲 | Book here! |
| Seaside Hotel North Vancouver | North Vancouver | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 💲💲💲💲 | Book here! |
| Small Private Studio at Kitsilano Beach | Kitsilano | ⭐⭐⭐ | 💲 | Book here! |
| Kitsilano Beach Apartment | Kitsilano | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 💲💲💲💲 | Book here! |
Breakdown of areas to stay in Vancouver
The below map shows approximate shaded areas of each of the areas that I recommend in this blog post to help you get your bearings.
Click here to open the map in Google Maps!
🏙 Downtown Vancouver
Downtown Vancouver is the obvious choice when choosing where to stay in Vancouver but the big question here is where abouts in Downtown Vancouver should you stay? Each sub-area has its own vibe so here’s how to choose the best one for your trip!
Robson Street – For the Shopaholics
Why I would stay here
- Robson Street is one of Vancouver’s busiest streets, lined with shops, restaurants, and easy transit
- It’s still within walking distance to a lot of places that you are probably going to want to visit such as Stanley Park, English Bay, and the Seawall
- I feel like Robson Street is the heart of the city
Top Hotels in the Robson Street area
Budget: Barclay Hotel – Affordable and extremely central, this hotel has a boutique feel to it.
Moderate: Blue Horizon Hotel – Located on Robson Street with great views and modern rooms.
Luxury: The Sutton Place Hotel – This is where we stayed the very first night we arrived in Vancouver so it has really lovely memories for us. It’s elegant and extremely central. I think I remember Lululemon being just down the road.
Coal Harbour – For Peaceful, Waterfront Views
Why I would stay here
- I love this area. It has a more upmarket feel to it, it’s quieter than Robson Street, and right on the water so you can easily get to plenty of patios overlooking the water such as Tap and Barrell which has an amazing lifted patio looking right down on the water.
- Coal Harbour is not too far from Stanley Park, the Convention Centre, and the SeaWall
- It is also close to where the Scenic Flights take off from if you have one booked.
Top Hotels in Coal Harbour
Budget: Days Inn by Wyndham Vancouver Downtown – This hotel is just a short walk from the waterfront. It’s not the cheapest “budget” hotel but you can always count on Days Inn to be comfy and cozy in my opinion.
Moderate: Pinnacle Hotel Harbourfront – This hotel has actual harbour views and is not too far from the Convention centre so perfect for if you are in Vancouver for an event that is being hosted there.
Luxury: Fairmont Pacific Rim – The most amazing rooftop views! This hotel is on my staycation bucket list!
Yaletown – For foodies & Nightlife Lovers
Why I would stay here
- Yaletown is a trendy area with cobblestone streets, loads of restaurants and boutique fitness studios, like Jaybird.
- It’s a short walk from Yaletown to False Creek, ferry terminals, and BC Place.
Top Hotels in Yaletown
Budget: There aren’t really any great budget options in Yaletown but the closest next best thing is the HI Vancouver Downtown. I haven’t stayed at this particular HI, but I have stayed at others and they have always been great!
Moderate: Hotel BLU – This hotel has an eco-friendly environment with charging and free parking for electric vehicles, paperless check-in and a bottle free zone. It’s within easy walking distance to the Yaletown restaurants and bars and the train station.
Luxury: Opus Hotel Vancouver – Located right in the heart of Yaletown, this hotel has vibrant and fun décor! Personally, I think Hotel BLU looks nicer though. 😉
Granville Street / The Entertainment District – More Budget Friendly & Nightlife
Why I would stay here
- Granville Street is a lively, central area known for bars, theatres, and clubs.
- Dave and I actually stayed there when we first moved to Vancouver. The area we stayed in was a little rougher but it made the hotel that we lived in for 3 weeks that much more affordable. We stayed at the Grand Park Hotel & Suites which was a decent ⭐⭐⭐ hotel.
- Easy access to SkyTrain and buses.
Top Hotels on Granville Street
Budget: Samesun Vancouver Hostel – I haven’t stayed at this particular Samesun but I have stayed at the Banff one. It’s not quite as nice as the HI hostels but still decent so if you are looking to save some $$$s then I definitely recommend it!
Moderate: Grand Park Hotel & Suites – This is the hotel that we stayed at for at least 3 weeks when we first moved to Vancouver and were looking for a long term apartment. It was not bad at all and quite affordable compared with some of the other hotels in Vancouver. It’s not that far from Yaletown and there was also a great Poke Bar nearby as well as Breka Bakery which was our go-to breaky spot!
Luxury: L’Hermitage Hotel – A really beautiful hotel but does come with a price tag.
🌲 North Vancouver
Why I would stay here
- North Van is my favourite. It’s more outdoorsy, quieter and has a more local feel.
- You can easily access hiking trails, skiing, and Capilano Suspension Bridge
- North Vancouver is close to the 3 local Vancouver mountains, Grouse, Seymour and Cypress.
- SeaBus makes downtown easily accessible.
- There is a great brewery scene in North Van with some lovely patios and it’s own restaurants in Lower Lonsdale.
Top Hotels in North Vancouver
Budget: Econo Lodge Inn & Suites – basic but convenient for access to the mountains and within walking distance to buses to get Downtown (about 15 minutes) or into Lower Lonsdale (20-25 minutes).
Moderate: Pinnacle Hotel at the Pier – located on the harbour front in North Vancouver, only a stroll away from the Seabus to get into Downtown Vancouver, this hotel has a 25m swimming pool and a gourmet on-site restaurant (not that you’ll need it because there are loads of food options in Lower Lonsdale).
Luxury: Seaside Hotel North Vancouver – this hotel is located a 2 minute walk from Lonsdale Quay and is highly rated for it’s cozy and clean rooms at great service.
🏖 Kitsilano
Why I would stay here
- Chill, beachy neighbourhood vibe
- You have easy access to Kits Beach, lots of shops, and cafés
- During Summer there are loads of people picnicking all along the beach, playing volleyball and just hanging out with friends.
- You can still get downtown easily by bus or bike
Top Hotels in Kitsilano
There are not really any hotel stays in Kits but there are a few of Airbnb options such as the following:
Budget: Small Private Studio at Kitsilano Beach – basic facilities but located right next to the beach!
Luxury: Kitsilano Beach Apartment – only 800m from Jericho Beach!
Visiting Vancouver soon? You might also enjoy these guides:
- Is the Capilano Suspension Bridge Worth it?
- Incredible Waterfalls Near Vancouver That You Need to Visit
- Amazing Things to do in Vancouver BC in Winter
- Best Views in Vancouver
- Best Rainy Day Hikes Near Vancouver
- Best Sunset Hikes in Vancouver
- Beautiful Places To Go Paddle Boarding in Vancouver
- Is a Scenic Flight in Vancouver Worth it? A Local’s Perspective
- Beautiful and Easy Hikes Near Vancouver
📌 Like it? Pin it!
