Vancouver, BC is an awesome city to visit with kids. There are so many amazing outdoor activities, cultural attractions, and endless fun to be had.
Not to mention all the incredible food!
But there is a catch to visiting Vancouver… it is one of the world’s more expensive cities to stay in. Hotel rooms are pricey! And if you are traveling to Vancouver with kids, you might wish for a little more space, and need to consider booking a suite.
Have you considered staying in an Airbnb instead?
Not only will it save you a good amount of money, but in many ways they are way more convenient than a standard hotel room. You get more space, a kitchen, laundry machine, sometimes baby supplies if you need them, and perhaps even a yard to play in. I almost always prefer Airbnbs when traveling with a baby, toddler, or young kids!
Yes, there are some trade-offs. You will have to make your own bed and arrange your own tours. But when traveling with little ones, I generally find the trade-offs well worthwhile.
Family-friendly neighborhoods in Vancouver
There are lots of neighborhoods in Vancouver for you to choose from, but some are more well-suited to staying with children than others. I’ve listed some of the more popular areas to stay, along with whether I think each is a good fit for families!
This list is not exhaustive by any means, but covers the places that I would definitely stay (and avoid!).
West End: this neighborhood is situated between Stanley park and Kitsilano beach and has lots of lovely family homes. You can take in the beautiful scenery at English Bay, plus enjoy easy access to Granville island.
It is super close to the HR MacMillan Space Centre, a popular destination with older children. This is the city’s most LGBTQ-friendly neighborhood. Kids will enjoy the rainbow crosswalks!
Downtown: while you will undoubtedly explore this area and check out many of the amazing attractions that are located in the heart of the city, it is probably not the best for staying with kids. The accommodations will generally be smaller here, especially in the financial district where you will find more office buildings, and less family attractions.
Gastown: Gastown is adjacent to downtown, and is a heavily tourism-focused district. This is another place that you will definitely want to visit, and a better choice to stay in. It is near the cruise port and you can find all kinds of fun things to do in Gastown.
It will be louder at night than other neighborhoods, and can get a bit chaotic. There are music venues and restaurants and this is a popular nightlife area. It is nowhere near the rowdiness that you might expect from the roughest nightlife area of town: Granville Street. You will not want to stay on Granville with kids.
North Vancouver: this is not technically part of Vancouver. North Vancouver is its own city, nestled up to the North Shore mountains just across the water from Vancouver proper. North Van is an outdoor paradise, especially well known for hiking and mountain biking.
North Van is a great option for families, because the neighborhoods are quiet and you can find a lot of family homes that either rent out the entire house or use their basement studios for Airbnbs. The prices are better in North Van, and you’ll be close to attractions like the Capilano Suspension Bridge and the Cleveland Dam, as well as the North Shore mountains.
You can easily scoot into downtown Vancouver each day by crossing either the Lions Gate Bridge or the Iron Workers’ Bridge. You can also take the walk-on ferry for a toddler-approved mode of transportation!
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Where to stay in Vancouver with kids
I’ve picked out what I think are some really great Airbnbs in Vancouver in the neighborhoods that I would recommend sticking to.
How I choose Airbnbs: I only choose homes owned by Superhosts, with loads of positive reviews. I’ve chosen places with at least 1 bedroom, a kitchen, and laundry. If I loved where we stayed, I always include that. These are places that I would personally strongly consider booking, in a few different price ranges. And I know what I am looking for after having stayed in dozens of Airbnbs with kids!
I don’t only list places with a crib or high chair, so be sure to double check for that if you are traveling with a baby and will need those items. I also did not inspect each listing for child safety, in case that is a concern for your family! You can read more about babyproofing your Airbnb here.
Vancouver is such a wonderful city to visit with little kids. You could spend weeks there and still not get to everything you want! I hope you have found a perfect jumping off place for your time in this fabulous area of Canada.
Let me know in the comments if you have any questions or have found the perfect place for your family
Want to leave all the gear at home?
Did you know that you can rent baby and toddler gear in destinations all around the country and internationally? For rentals in the US and Canada, the industry leader is BabyQuip. You can find them in over 600 locations, including Vancouver! They have incredibly high standards for product quality and cleaning, and you get the peace of mind of having big (or small!) items delivered right to your destination doorstep.
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