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Wondering where to stay in Vancouver? Choosing the right neighbourhood within a reasonable travel budget can be daunting! This guide to hotels in Vancouver details the top attractions in each area and affordable hotels located there.
You may also like: our Vancouver itinerary
Downtown Vancouver/Gastown
Downtown Vancouver and Gastown are great areas for those looking to roll out of bed and into the city’s best attractions.
The Vancouver Lookout, BC Place, Robson Street shops, and Gastown restaurants are all located in Downtown Vancouver.
This is where you catch the bus to the famous Capilano Suspension Bridge, set sail from Vancouver Harbour and party the night away at Granville Street
Stanley Park and Granville Island can be walked in under 40 minutes. Don’t want to walk? Take the Hop On/Off bus or use public transport.
Hotels in Downtown Vancouver
There is no shortage of hotels in Vancouver’s Downtown. Where to stay very much depends on your budget so let’s consider three different prices ranges.
- Under 300 CAD: Moda Hotel is bright and modern with comfortable rooms. Excellent location and staff.
- Under 400 CAD: The Burrard is a hip hotel with a tranquil outdoor space with games. My parents loved this hotel.
- Under 500 CAD: Auberge Vancouver Hotel guests love the views of the city from their rooms and the indoor swimming pool. Perfection.
West End Vancouver (English Bay/Davie Village)
If you are looking for beach views on the doorstep of Stanley Park then Vancouver’s West End’s English Bay is the area for you.
Enjoy the public art, A-maze-ing Laughter by Yue Minjun which is part of the city’s Biennale Trail.
Head to Denman Street and pick up some wheels to get around the Seawall at a nice stress-free pace.
Dine, party and photograph the Rainbow Crosswalk at Davie Village. Check out our guide on things to do in Vancouver at night.
West End Vancouver Hotels
- English Bay Hotel: Basic, clean yet affordable hotel just one street away from the beach.
- Best Western Plus Sands: Spacious, modern rooms and a restaurant onsite selling pub grub.
- The English Bay Inn: Awesome breakfast, garden and terrace. Mix of modern and quaint rooms. A stay you’ll never forget.
Kitsilano
Yummy mummies, yoga bunnies, beach bods and Lucky’s Doughnuts – welcome to the balanced Kitsilano life.
Kitsilano, or ‘Kits’ for short, is a chilled out area with lots of choice for foodies.
The main attraction is Kitsilano Beach which makes up part of 28km Vancouver Seawall Here locals picnic, sunbathe and play volleyball during the sunny months.
Lazy afternoons are best walking along the water to Granville Island or into Downtown Vancouver.
There’s also a supervised outdoor saltwater pool which is open from spring through to the end of summer.
Kitsilano is where the HR Macmillan Space Centre is located which holds a very special place in our travel timeline as this is where Craig proposed to me!
Skip Starbucks and enjoy a slow sitdown coffee at Arbutus Coffee (2200 Arbutus St).
Fan of Tea? Make it a high one at Neverland Tea Salon (3066 W Broadway).
Kitsilano public transport connects you to Downtown, Main Street (hipster district) and the University of British Columbia.
I really love Kits. We lived here for two months during the summer.
Hotels in Kitsilano
As the area is residential, there are a handful of great apartments.
- Alma Beach Manor: A self-check-in comfortable heritage manor with great transport links.
- Maple Beach B&B: Homely rooms and friendly owners. Less than a 10 minutes walk away from Kits Beach
Granville Island
Granville Island is a hub of restaurants, art galleries and shops rented by locals makers.
The most popular thing to do at Granville Island is to dine at the market. Pick up some bread, cakes, meat or a hot meal while you people watch.
Hotels at Granville Island
- Granville Island Hotel: Repeat custom indicates how adored this gem of a hotel is. Rooms with balconies book up fast. Compare prices at Tripadvisor.
North Vancouver
Hop aboard the Seabus to Lonsdale Quay, a quieter side of Van with spectacular night views of the skyline.
Take part in the weekend Shipyards Night Market where locals dine, drink and listen to live music from May until September.
Nestled amongst the mountains, Lynn Valley is a quieter suspension bridge which gives its sister bridge, Capilano, a run for its money because it is free!
North Vancouver Hotels
- Pinnacle At the Pier: Even the name sounds cool. Unsurprisingly, this is a modern hotel and guests love the views and entertainment.
- SureStay Hotel by Best Western North Vancouver Capilano: Foot of Grouse Mountain hotel boasts of onsite restaurant, pool and comfortable rooms.
Vancouver Airport Hotels/Richmond Hotels
If you are just in Vancouver for a stopover (boo!) or are leaving the city early, the most central hotel at Vancouver Airport is the Fairmont Gold. Top-class amenities, as with all Fairmont hotels, but with a premium price tag.
A more affordable option is the Royalty B&B: Great host, convenient location with public transport links to Vancouver Airport.
Apartments in Vancouver
The average price for an entire apartment is 280 CAD however here are some I’d classify as liveable as low as 100 CAD. Private rooms are cheaper averaging at 130 CAD but going as low as 50 CAD.
» » Looking for something more affordable? Here’s our Vancouver hostels guide « «
Best Area to Stay in Vancouver pin
Final Words
Looking back, I wish I had this guide to explain how to choose Vancouver accommodation when I first visited the city. As there are so many areas it is hard to choose I suffer from severe FOMO! Did you find it useful? Tell me in the comments below.