Vancouver with kids

Where to Stay in Vancouver with Kids: the Best Areas Compared

Vancouver is compact, so most areas work for families. The question is what you want next to your hotel: Stanley Park and the beach, the ferries and markets, the mountains, or easy access to the airport.

By Play Your Trip · Updated · 3 min read

The Play Your Trip card for Vancouver

Here's how the main areas compare. We don't recommend specific hotels; look for family rooms or apartments with a kitchen, which suit Vancouver's prices.

Quick picks

  • First visit: Downtown or the West End, walking distance to Stanley Park.
  • Beaches in summer: the West End (English Bay) or Kitsilano.
  • Quieter, with a view: North Vancouver, by the SeaBus.
  • Early flight or cruise: Richmond for the airport; Downtown (Canada Place) for cruises.

The areas

  • Downtown: central, near Canada Place, the SkyTrain and the seawall. Busy and pricier, but the easiest base without a car.
  • West End: leafy streets between Stanley Park and English Bay, with beaches, playgrounds and family-friendly restaurants on Denman Street. Our favourite for families.
  • Yaletown and False Creek: modern towers along the water, with the seawall, the little ferries to Granville Island and Science World nearby.
  • Kitsilano: beach-town feel across False Creek, with Kits Beach and its outdoor pool. A bus ride from downtown.
  • North Vancouver: Lonsdale Quay and the SeaBus to downtown in 12 minutes, close to Grouse, Capilano and Lynn Canyon.
  • Richmond: near the airport, often cheaper, with great Asian food and Steveston village; the Canada Line SkyTrain runs downtown in about 25 minutes.

Tips

  • Book early for summer: July and August are the busiest and most expensive months.
  • Parking costs extra downtown: if you rent a car only for a day trip, pick it up that day.
  • Look near a SkyTrain or SeaBus stop if you'll travel without a car.

Make it a game

A Play Your Trip book turns your plan into an adventure: every stop a quest with a coin to collect, every place one tap from the map. Vancouver books are coming soon; see how it works.

Questions

What's the best area to stay in Vancouver with kids?

The West End: between Stanley Park and English Bay, with beaches, playgrounds and restaurants, and walking distance to downtown.

Is it better to stay in Richmond or Vancouver?

Richmond is handy for the airport and often cheaper, with the Canada Line to downtown in about 25 minutes. For a first visit, downtown or the West End saves daily travel.

Do you need a car if you stay downtown?

No. Downtown, the West End and Yaletown are walkable, with SkyTrain, buses, the SeaBus and False Creek ferries. Rent a car only for day trips.