A First-Timers Guide To Vancouver - International Traveller

Once voted one of the best cities in the world to live, Vancouver is more than a mountainous metropolis for outdoor enthusiasts.

The airport

Getting from Vancouver International Airport to Downtown Vancouver takes around 25 minutes and costs $30–35 in a taxi.

The Metro

The Canada Line is the city’s rapid rail link connecting the airport to Downtown (there are 11 stops on the way) and takes the same time, but is just $2.75 for a single ticket.

If you’re arriving by train, Vancouver’s Pacific Central Station is where both VIA Rail and the Rocky Mountaineer arrive into and depart from; it’s a five- to 10-minute drive to Downtown from here, around $12 in a taxi.

Out and about

By foot

Bring your active wear! Vancouver locals love the outdoors so getting around on two feet, or wheels, is second nature.

It’s no surprise: Vancouver has been named Canada’s most walkable city by a number of publications, for its urban park trails, tree-lined streets and coastal pathways.

Some highlights include a 28-kilometre waterfront path in Stanley Park, the city’s 400-hectare green space, and the Grouse Grind, a 2.9-kilometre trail up the face of Grouse Mountain with fabulous views from the top; you take the gondola back down.

By public transport

If you’re going further afoot, the city has a fantastic transport system, Translink, which is made up of an extensive network of buses, a SeaBus connecting Downtown with the North Shore, the AquaBus that runs to/from Granville Island and the aforementioned SkyTrain.

The Vancouver metro goes throughout the city

Sightseeing

You may have heard of Grouse Mountain but what about…

Yaletown

Located right next to well-known Gastown, Yaletown is a hip hood fast transforming into a thriving scene for creative businesses including artist lofts, designers and tech companies: it’s also a hotbed for cool new restaurants.

Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge

The more famous Capilano Suspension Bridge is a great day out, but it can get crowded and costs $38 for an adult. Enter Lynn Canyon, a suspension bridge that hangs 50 metres above Lynn Creek.

The park has several rainforest trails that are surrounded by western red cedar, Douglas-fir and western hemlock, and there’s also waterfalls near the bridge.
Entry into the park is by donation.

The famous Capilano Suspension Bridge is a great day out

Granville Island

This once industrial island (in fact, that was its official name at one time!) is now a thriving foodie haven centred around its public market.

Head here to indulge in some of the best restaurants, cafes and produce in the city. Make sure you pop into Lee’s Donuts, or jump on a tour with Vancouver Foodie Tours and taste the best of the best that this unsuspecting little island has to offer.

Aside from food, there is also a number of theatre companies here.

Industrial island turned thriving foodie haven centred around its public market

Shopping

Robson Street

The city’s best-known shopping district has international designers and famous brands aplenty.

Kitsilano

Once known as a hippy area, the Kits is one of the city’s trendiest ’hoods, and a symbol of Vancouver’s healthy lifestyle; you’ll find a heap of active wear shops here on West 4th Ave, including the first and original Lululemon store.

But also check out Zulu Records for some classic vinyl, Pacific Boarder for ski gear, and if you fancy a bit of a stretch between shops, head to Semperviva for some yoga.

SoMa

South of Main Street, or SoMa, has a host of eclectic local boutiques including Assembly of Text (for stationery sets, handmade journals and vintage typewriters), Much & Little (handcrafted goods and clothing) and local fashion retailers Twigg & Hottie, Still Life and Eugene Choo.

Plus get your fill of vintage at Woo Vintage, F as in Frank Vintage and Front and Company.

Punjabi Market

Little India is home to the largest Indo-Canadian community in the city – here you’ll find beaded bags, Indian fashion, gorgeous fabrics and authentic Indian food.

Eat & drink

Coffee

Just as its name suggests, Revolver in Gastown has a constantly revolving menu of coffee beans to sample.

Try a coffee flight, a brew flight or simply order your trusted capp.

Beer

There are several breweries in Mount Pleasant (also known as Brewery Creek) including 33 Acres, a minimalist Scandi-style brewery with a fabulous menu (famous for its waffles), coffee and, of course, house-brewed ales.

33 Acres is a minimalist Scandi-style brewery

Salt Tasting Room

Located in über cool Gastown, Salt Tasting Room’s menu is all about tasting plates comprising cured meat, artisanal cheese and condiments paired with a wine flight.
Diners can choose the items for their tasting plate or leave it up to the staff to select.

The Eatery

The Eatery in Kitsilano is a funky restaurant with an extensive menu best know for its innovative sushi with fun names – Godzilla, Electric Banana, Cucu’s Nest, Italian Stallion…

Edible Canada

Edible Canada, located on Granville Island, serves up simple and rustic native cuisine with local, seasonal produce sourced from coast to coast along with Canadian wines and local beers.

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Where to stay

The Burrard Hotel

If you’d rather spend your money on sightseeing, this retro stay located in Downtown is the perfect option.

The 1956 motel has had a big refurb, and sports comfy rooms with modern amenities (Nespresso machine, free wi-fi…), a 1950s-style courtyard, and a coffee shop.

From $150 a night

Wedgewood Hotel and Spa

Located just a few minutes’ walk from Robson Street, this luxury boutique hotel, part of Relais & Chateaux, has cosy European-style rooms with balconies overlooking the city, an excellent restaurant, a beautiful spa and professional staff ready to help you plan your days spent in this wonderful city.

From $330 a night

Rosewood Hotel Georgia

Right in the heart of Downtown, this historic hotel has had some famous guests from Katharine Hepburn to the Rolling Stones.

It has been refurbished but is still as luxurious as ever with sleek and modern rooms, five dining venues, a spa and gorgeous indoor pool.

From $400 a night;

Granville Island Hotel

This hotel is nestled on the banks of False Creek within walking distance to all the delicious foodie delights of Granville Island.

It has contemporary, spacious rooms and a restaurant with a fabulous outdoor patio.

From $230 a night

Wellbeing means different things to different travellers. Here’s how to pick a hotel that gets it right for you.

The best wellness holidays aren’t necessarily spent wrapped in a spa robe. Sometimes they’re found around a dinner table in Cambodia, on a hiking trail in New Zealand or after finally beating jet lag on the other side of the world. The hotel you choose is what makes them happen.

1. Easy access to good food

meals from Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20 — Taste delicious meals at Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20.

One of the quickest ways to derail healthy habits on holiday is to spend half of it working out where to eat instead of digging into the culture around you. Thankfully, Novotel has done much of the hard work already, with chefs building menus that lean into the flavours, ingredients and traditions of each destination.

In Sihanoukville, Cambodia, Korkor soup – often dubbed ‘Cambodian ratatouille’ – sits alongside raw blue crab dressed with lime and chilli, best enjoyed with views across the Gulf of Thailand.

In the lovingly chaotic city of Bangkok, the presence of food cranks up the sociability. At Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20, you can settle in with mango sticky rice and stranger-turned-friends beside the pool at Sky on 20 rooftop bar, or bring them along to tackle river prawns and stir-fried crab with holy basil at the buzzing Crab Paradise Dinner Buffet.

Then Novotel Dubai Al Barsha welcomes you with a laidback twist on the level of indulgence the Middle Eastern city is best known for up on Deck Se7en. Looking towards Burj Al Arab, the rooftop lounge has everything from Mediterranean-style dishes like seabass ceviche to Italian prosecco sundowners.

At the other end of the scale, in the hills that surround the Novotel Bali Ubud Resort, calm comes from nature. At Siralada restaurant, Balinese traditions shape the menu while thunder rumbles over the surrounding jungle – proving the setting is as nourishing as the food itself.

While at Novotel Nha Trang, chef Kieu Thi My Hanh and her team showcase Vietnam’s knack for balancing freshness, texture and fragrant herbs. Pho remains a favourite, while seafood salad with pomelo and mango brings those flavours together in one bright dish.

It’s all an approach backed by partnerships with expert food creators such as Alfie Steiner, whose plant-forward recipes prove healthy food should never taste plain.

2. Better sleep options

Novotel Bali Ubud Resort room — Sleep deeply with Novotel.

There are few travel experiences more disappointing than arriving in a new country, determined to seize the day, only to fall asleep fully clothed by 3pm.

For Australian travellers, jet lag is often an unavoidable part of the journey. That’s one reason Novotel runs sleep-focused initiatives that help guests adjust quickly without compromising on health. We’re talking partnerships with Sydney-based sleep specialist Olivia Arezzolo, known for her advice on everything from better sleep habits to beating jet lag, alongside features like pillow menus, in-room yoga content and tailored sleep guidance.

The sooner you’re operating on local time, the sooner you can get back to more pressing matters – like deciding which spa treatment to book.

3. More ways to move

woman hiking around queenstown new zealand — Stay at Novotel Queenstown Lakeside and explore local hiking trails. (Credit: GettyI mages/ naruedom)

Every place in the world has its own way of getting you moving: whether that’s hiking up ice-bitten mountains before a sauna or gentle stretching by the pool before a facial. From fitness centres to spas, Novotel recognises that wellbeing rarely looks the same.

At Novotel Queenstown Lakeside, activity is inescapable. Here, hiking trails, ski fields, bungee jumps, and white-water rafting have made the region famous. The hotel’s location on the shores of Lake Wakatipu means less time spent organising yourself and more time out there experiencing them. To top it all off, you can book a private hot tub for the evening before heading back into the wilderness tomorrow.

Bali, of course, takes a softer approach. At Novotel Bali Ubud Resort or Novotel Bali Nusa Dua, movement is less about conquering a mountain and more about a dance class between the tropical gardens and lagoon pools. Afterwards, the spa takes over, with traditional treatments like a Lulur body scrub: a combination of rice, turmeric, sandalwood, ginger and jasmine that’ll soothe muscles already relaxed by the Balinese heat.

4. Better connections

Kids will love a stay at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh.

One of the best things about travel is that it gives your family stories you’ll be telling for years. Novotel helps create them with activities that bring everyone together, whether that’s trying something new, learning a local skill, or simply spending more time together.

Go for a distinctly Thai twist at Novotel Phuket Vintage Park, where many of the family activities draw on local culture. Kids can try everything from beginner Thai boxing and language lessons to umbrella painting and – a pastime beloved by children the world over – pool foam parties. Everyone is welcome to join in, whether that’s getting splashed, covered in paint, or simply watching their children discover a new side of Thailand during the dedicated Family & Kids Day.

A different adventure awaits at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh. Kids could be perfectly content with discos, drawing classes and new holiday friends, but the Red Sea has other ideas. Sitting on the edge of Naama Bay, days here might involve snorkelling colourful reefs, taking a boat trip to Ras Mohammed National Park or heading into the desert by quad bike or camel for a Bedouin-style dinner beneath the stars.

5. Location is everything

Surin Beach, Choeng Thale, Thalang District, Phuket, Thaiföld — Explore Phuket’s gorgeous beaches. (Credit: Bence Biczo)

Everyone’s idea of wellness looks a little different. With more than 600 hotels across 65 countries, Novotel gives guests the freedom to choose the destination that suits them best. Whether that’s a beachside escape in Phuket, an alpine expedition in Queenstown or a city break in Bangkok, there’s a good chance a Novotel isn’t far away.

All that’s left? Choosing your version of wellbeing.

Discover stays to inspire your everyday at novotel.accor.com.

Everything you need to know: first-timer guide to Vancouver