How to get to Vancouver: Your trip planning guide

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Best time to visit Vancouver

Vancouver is a year-round destination.

In winter it’s a jumping off point for ski trips to Whistler while the summer season is always busy for those heading north on a cruise to Alaska.

If you want to make the most of the city itself, the months between May and September are probably when you’ll experience the best weather.

I personally think autumn is best.

The days are still long, it’s not too hot for hikes or too cold for kayaking, and it’s a great time of the year if you want to spot salmon swimming up the Fraser River or see the first flushes of those warm, autumnal colours.

How to get to Vancouver

By plane

The nearest airport to Vancouver is Vancouver International Airport, which is on an island to the south of the downtown area.

It’s easily accessible via public transport, with the Canada Line SkyTrain taking you from the airport to downtown in around 30 minutes.

You can also use your usual contactless payment card to pay, which is very handy.

I recommend getting a travel-friendly credit or debit card so you don’t end up paying extra fees for every transaction.

Taxis and Ubers take around the same time so unless there’s a few of you, it’s cheaper to take the SkyTrain.

That said, if you want to get to one of the residential neighbourhoods around Vancouver, you may find it easier to get a taxi because the SkyTrain network isn’t as comprehensive as it could be.

By train

The main station in Vancouver is the Pacific Central Station, which is just southeast of the downtown area.

This is the one you use if you want to get VIA Rail’s transcontinental train, The Canadian, all the way to Toronto on the east coast.

There’s also Waterfront Station in downtown Vancouver, which is primarily used by regional commuter services.

By other means

Vancouver is a major port city so plenty of cruise ships finish their itineraries here.

You could also travel up from Seattle; the drive is around 3 hours.

Depending on your nationality, you may need to get an ESTA for the USA and an eTA to enter Canada if you decide to travel to Vancouver from Seattle.

Where to stay in Vancouver

For first-time visitors, the best area to base yourself in is downtown.

Most of the city’s hotels are in this area and, regardless of which one you choose, you’ll be within easy reach of the city’s main attractions.

Crucially, don’t confuse downtown with the adjacent Downtown Eastside neighbourhood, home to historic Gastown and Chinatown.

Vancouver is in the midst of an opioid crisis, and much of the drug use is clustered around Downtown Eastside.

It can be shocking and distressing to witness this, as I did during my visit.

While the area is fine to walk around in during the day, you may not feel so comfortable at night, especially if you’re travelling solo.

If you’ve been to Vancouver before, the city of North Vancouver – just across Vancouver Harbour, reachable via the SeaBus – might make a good alternative.

Or there’s trendy Kitsilano, which is a residential neighbourhood with lots of bars and restaurants.

Best hotels in Vancouver

Hotel prices in Vancouver are usually quite high, especially when there’s a major event like the FIFA World Cup, but reasonable options are available.

Budget: Hotel Willo

Just across the road from BC Place and Rogers Arena, this three-star hotel sits at the edge of downtown, Yaletown and Chinatown.

It used to be known as the YWCA Hotel, and profits from the hotel are still being used to fund YWCA BC’s social programmes, which, among other things, support women who have experienced domestic abuse.

The hotel itself is bright and modern, with a mix of single and double rooms.

There are also guest kitchens, laundry facilities and a rooftop terrace.

Price: From £100 | $134 | €116 a night.

Address: 733 Beatty St, Vancouver, BC V6B 2M4, Canada.

Book your stay on Booking.com* or Expedia*.

Mid-range: Hyatt Vancouver Downtown Alberni

Located in the heart of the downtown financial district, this five-star hotel offers an elegant pied a terre close to most of the city’s attractions. A Shangri-La previously occupied the site.

The rooms are well designed with city views, and some of the suites come with balconies where you can sit out with a coffee.

A spa, pool and fitness centre complete the wellness offering at the property.

Price: From £252 | $338 | €291 a night, room-only.

Address: 1128 W Georgia St, Vancouver, BC V6E 0A8, Canada.

Book your stay on Booking.com* or Expedia*.

Luxury: Fairmont Waterfront

Right opposite Vancouver’s cruise terminal, this classic five-star hotel is a popular choice for guests on tours.

The rooms are businessy but comfortable and spacious, while the service is impeccable.

The rooftop pool offers fantastic harbour views and its location is fantastic for exploring on foot.

I’ve written a detailed review of Fairmont Waterfront based on my stay there, including all the highs and lows.

Price: From £302 | $405 | €349 a night, room-only.

Address: 900 Canada Pl, Vancouver, BC V6C 3L5, Canada.

Book your stay on Booking.com* or Expedia*.

Unique: Wedgewood Hotel & Spa

This five-star property in the heart of downtown Vancouver has all the feels of a plush European hotel.

The full works include wood panelling, chandeliers and of course a fireplace. 

It’s a Relais & Chateaux member so expect excellent food and even better service.

Price: From £391 | $524 | €452 a night, room-only.

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

Book your stay on Booking.com* or Expedia*.

How to get around Vancouver

Downtown Vancouver is extremely walkable, and you’ll be able to reach most attractions on foot.

An alternative is to hire a bike, especially if you plan on exploring Stanley Park. There are shared bikes available through Mobi.

Public transport is available to neighbourhoods such as the UBC campus and Kitsilano though you might find it more convenient to order an Uber.

You’ll need to get the SeaBus to North Vancouver for the brewery mile and the Shipyards District. 

Other essentials

Currency

Vancouver uses the Canadian dollar.

You’ll be able to pay by card in most places, and in fact some restaurants and bars are cashless. 

However, you may wish to have some cash on hand for tipping.

Language

Under Canadian law, French and English are both official languages in Vancouver.

However, many people speak English only.

Wifi and connectivity

While there are pockets of free wifi, you’ll most likely benefit from having mobile data if you’re planning to navigate around the city.

If your mobile network doesn’t include free roaming, you can get a temporary e-sim from the likes of Airalo*.

Their data-only e-sims are valid for anywhere between seven days to 30 days, and you can choose from country-specific options or regional ones.

For Canada, prices start from $9 for 3GB of data that’s valid for seven days. 

Their prices are always in US dollars so make sure the card you’re paying with won’t charge you extra for foreign currency spending.

Trip.com* offers a wide range of eSims, which can work out quite a lot cheaper depending on your usage needs.

Additional resources

You might want to check out Destination Vancouver, the city’s official visitor guide.

You can also read the guide to the city I wrote for The Times, which covers things like where to eat and what to do.
A good book to read is DK’s Top 10 Vancouver and Vancouver Island*, which provides an overview of the city and includes an all weather map.

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