Fairmont Hotel Vancouver

Vancouver


Opened in 1939 by visiting UK royals, this gargoyle-topped grand dame is a Vancouver historic landmark. Despite its vintage provenance, the hotel carefully balances comfort with elegance; the lobby is bedecked with crystal chandeliers but the rooms have an understated business-hotel feel. If you have the budget, check into the Gold Floor for a raft of pampering extras.

If you're interested in the hotel's storied heritage, nip downstairs to find some untouched art-deco flourishes. And if you're missing your pooch back home, there are two friendly dogs available for guest walkies; you'll find them reclining on their own daybeds near the concierge desk. Overnight parking costs $62.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Vancouver attractions

1. Pendulum Gallery

0.04 MILES

A creative use for a cavernous bank building atrium, this gallery offers a varied roster of temporary exhibitions. It's mostly contemporary art and can…

2. Vancouver Art Gallery

0.04 MILES

Combining blockbuster international shows with selections from its striking contemporary collection, the VAG is a magnet for art fans. There are often…

3. Christ Church Cathedral

0.07 MILES

Completed in 1895 and designated as a cathedral in 1929, the city's most attractive Gothic-style church is nestled incongruously alongside looming glass…

5. RBC Royal Bank

0.08 MILES

This main Vancouver branch of one of Canada's biggest bank chains has a huge hidden artwork on its 2nd floor. Head up the escalator just inside the…

6. Offsite

0.21 MILES

The Vancouver Art Gallery's outdoor installation space next to the Shangri-La Hotel, the sometimes esoteric but always thought-provoking exhibits here are…

7. Robson Street

0.23 MILES

Locals, tourists and recent immigrants – count the number of accents you catch as you stroll here – throng the shops and restaurants of Robson St,…

8. Marine Building

0.3 MILES

Vancouver's most romantic old-school tower block, and also its best art-deco building, the elegant 22-story Marine Building is a tribute to the city's…