Vancouver, the jewel of British Columbia, dazzles with ocean views, snow-dusted mountains, and a skyline of shimmering glass. It’s Canada’s most multicultural city and a dream for travellers looking for both urban buzz and natural beauty. You’ll find everything from sleek design hotels downtown, perfect for nightlife lovers, to plush waterfront resorts in Coal Harbour and family-friendly spots near Stanley Park. On a budget? Kitsilano offers relaxed, affordable stays just steps from the beach.

Vancouver is more than just stunning scenery — it’s a dynamic city where the outdoors and urban life blend beautifully. Whether you're into skiing, kayaking, or just strolling the seawall, the landscape around Vancouver is your playground. Food lovers will thrive here too, especially in the city’s standout Asian dining scene. And with a thriving arts and culture scene — from public art to theatre and live music — there’s always something going on.

When it comes to choosing where to stay, Vancouver’s compact, walkable downtown is a great starting point. You’ve got vibrant neighbourhoods like Gastown, with its historic charm and buzzing restaurants, and the West End, which offers a mix of nightlife, beaches, and Stanley Park. Yaletown is sleek and trendy, perfect for foodies and first-time visitors, while the laid-back Waterfront area gives you easy access to the marina and cruise terminal. For a more relaxed or family-friendly vibe, Kitsilano offers beaches and a boho spirit, while North Vancouver is ideal if you’re heading for the mountains.

Some of our Vancouver Collections:

• Best Family-Friendly Hotels in Vancouver

The Best Places to Stay in Vancouver

For a city break

• Granville Island Hotel is a chic, contemporary hotel with great views of the waterfront and downtown Vancouver. It has 82 elegant rooms and suites, with large windows and private balconies. Penthouse suites have their own kitchens, jacuzzis and fireplaces. The vibe is hip, the location is beautiful, and you’re close to the wonderful Granville Island market with its bounty of fresh produce, and to Granville Street with all that entertainment.
• Wedgewood Hotel & Spa is an elegant, European feeling hotel with 83 rooms and suites and a feeling of old fashioned luxury: think antiques, original art, chi-chi details and rich fabrics. But we like it for the central location, the spa, the piano bar and the fancy French restaurant.
• In the heart of downtown Vancouver, Exchange Hotel fuses heritage charm with bold design and contemporary flair. Sip cocktails at Hydra Bar or savour Mediterranean flavours at Hydra Estiatorio. A chic base for urban adventures.

For luxury

• L'Hermitage Hotel is a luxurious, boutique-feeling hotel in a great location just ten minutes from the art gallery in downtown Vancouver. It has 60 rooms and suites, with nice details like marble bathrooms, floating fireplaces and state of the art kitchens, plus a trendy restaurant serving gourmet cuisine and a beautifully landscaped courtyard with a heated salt-water pool.
• The Loden is close to the waterfront, and has spectacular views of the city and the lake from 77 luxurious modern rooms decorated in muted colours. There’s a 1940s inspired lounge with French cuisine and fine wines, and an air of sophistication.
• Large and luxurious, and in a great spot Downtown and overlooking the skyline from its highest floors, Four Seasons Vancouver is an easy hotel to recommend, despite being a chain. There are 372 rooms and suites, in an excellent range of sizes, and because it’s such a big hotel it’s got great facilities too, like both indoor and outdoor pools, a great bar and restaurant and a large spa and fitness centre.
• Fairmont Waterfront- This harbour front haven blends sleek style with spectacular views. Lounge by the rooftop pool, dine with flair at ARC, or unwind in chic rooms overlooking city and sea—all steps from Vancouver’s vibrant heart.

Vancouver’s Hippest Hotels

• Opus Hotel is a buzzing boutique-style hotel in Yaletown, with fantastic city views, so it’s a great spot for artists, musicians and night owls. The fresh decor in the 96 rooms is vibrant and colourful, but not too fussy: think ipads and marble bathrooms. Plus there’s an Italian restaurant.
• Shangri La Vancouver is an impressive skyscraper in a fantastic central spot, just three blocks shy of the Pacific Ocean, with views out to sea and towards the mountains. Its 119 rooms and suites are hip and luxurious, with Asian-inspired details and art. There are several restaurants and bars, with both casual and fine dining options, and there’s a great pool with a lively alfresco bar.
• The Douglas is a bold, glass-clad retreat with sharp design, curated art, and sleek, minimalist rooms. With five buzz-worthy restaurants and spa access next door, it’s a modern urban playground for style-savvy travellers.

For a romantic stay

• Rosewood Hotel Georgia is a beautifully restored 1920s built hotel minutes from the waterfront. They’ve retained an Art Deco look in the 155 rooms and suites, with elegant black and white lines, marble bathrooms with stand alone baths, beautiful pale furnishings and deep carpets. There’s a plunge pool on the roof and a roaring 20s prohibition themed cocktail bar.

For families

• Sylvia Hotel has great views overlooking English Bay and the seawall, which is an amazing spot for swimming, skating, biking or just strolling. This isn’t a fancy hotel, but its 120 rooms, suites and self-catering apartments are simple and very comfortable, with great views. And it’s very affordable. You’re also in a fantastic spot as far as sightseeing goes, and close to a great range of places to eat.

For the best value

• The Burrard is a retro, but minimalist, boutique-type creation, with 72 basic, but stylish, rooms arranged around a central garden. You’re in a convenient West End spot, within a short walk of the Pacific Ocean and plenty of places to go out of an evening. The hotel has a hip cafe too, for great coffee and leisurely breakfasts.
• Also in the West End, The Listel Hotel is marginally more expensive than The Burrard, but a fantastic choice if you like art, as there’s local art displayed everywhere — in the 129 chic, contemporary rooms, in the restaurant, and in the welcoming, low-key public spaces. The restaurant — Forage — is a hip spot specialising in local cuisine.

Prefer an Apartment or Private House?

• If you’d prefer to stay in an apartment or private villa we recommend you visit our online partner, booking.com.

Travel information

• Vancouver International Airport is located immediately south of the city, about 25 minutes away, depending on how you travel. If you’re hiring a car you an pick it up at the airport, otherwise there are taxis on Level 2, or you can take the Skytrain, which runs every seven minutes and takes you to Yaletown, Vancouver City Centre or Waterfront. If you’re arriving by cruise ship you’ll arrive at Canada Place, and trains pull in to the Pacific Central Station, which is on Main and Terminal Streets in the east Downtown area.
• If you’re thinking about hiring a car we recommend checking what our online partners, Rentalcars have to offer.
• Vancouver is a year round destination with each of its four distinct seasons offering its own charm, but its weather isn’t particularly easy to predict, with with its numerous microclimates caused by its location between the mountains, the ocean, the inlet and the river. So whenever you visit you should probably pack an umbrella! Summer is short but usually very pleasant, while winters are cold, but not particularly cold by Canadian terms — it’s the fourth warmest city in Canada. Autumn is mild and wet, and spring is mild and wet too.

Still not sure which to book?

• You could expand your search to include the best places to stay in Victoria, which is just across the water or the best places to stay in Whistler, which is up in the mountains
• Or you could expand your search to include all our recommendations for the best places to stay in British Columbia
• Alternatively, you could contact one of our friendly Gurus for personalised advice.