The Robson Street - West End center point is approximately the area of Christ Church Cathedral and the area of Vancouver Art Gallery.
April through October is considered the high season in Vancouver because of the warm, pleasant weather with little rain. However, the moderate climate year-round allows travelers to take advantage of more affordable shoulder season pricing. Head to Robson Street from November through March for the best deals on lodging. Early spring brings gorgeous foliage and flowers, while the late fall and early winter months tend to be rainy. September and October are popular because the city is less crowded and the weather is still relatively pleasant.
Travelodge by Wyndham Vancouver Lions Gate is a North Vancouver hotel that offers exceptional discounts about 2.5 miles from Robson Street. This property offers guests free wireless internet and free breakfast. You'll enjoy a central location close to Grouse Mountain, pet-friendly facilities, and available RV parking. Special rates are available for seniors, AARP members, government employees, military members and veterans, and AAA and CAA members.
Econo Lodge Inn & Suites is another mountain property about 3 miles from Robson Street with generous discount programs for senior citizens and government employees. This hotel offers proximity to beaches and recreation, flatscreen TVs, free hot breakfast, free parking, free wireless internet, an outdoor pool and hot tub, free lobby coffee, and free passes to a nearby fitness center.
Ramada by Wyndham Vancouver Downtown provides exceptional discounts just steps away from Robson Street. This hotel offers special pricing for groups including a 15% discount off the best available price for veterans and members of the military and a 10% discount for AAA and CAA members. Amenities include free wireless internet, flat-screen TVs, hot breakfast, and laundry facilities.
For high-end amenities at affordable prices with a great location right by Robson Street, consider the Exchange Hotel Vancouver. This brand-new boutique hotel benefits from the dramatic setting of the former Vancouver Stock Exchange and features historic architecture, finely appointed rooms, and the Hydra Estiatorio Mediterranean & Bar on-site. The stylish property features a bar and lounge, valet parking, and premium toiletries.
Great discounts and savings are available when you stay at the four-star Westin Bayshore Vancouver just off Robson. This waterfront Marriott property provides everything you'd expect from high-end lodging, including high-speed wireless internet, a resort-style spa, on-site laundry services, 24-hour room service, a mini fridge, cable TV, and a CD player.
The St. Regis Hotel is an exceptional bargain located near the Queen Elizabeth Theatre. The affordable hotel offers a boutique experience that includes complimentary continental breakfast, high-speed internet, a 24-hour business center, and passes to the local sports club. Concierge service, spacious marble bathrooms, and expansive available suites round out this five-star experience.
Three Englishmen purchased the forest that would become West End in 1862 with the intention of mining, but resold the land for development when that venture failed. Robson Street is named for John Robson, who served as the premier of British Columbia from 1889 and 1892 and played a significant role in the province's union with the Canadian Confederation. The street runs from the West End in the northwest to Downtown in the southeast, connecting BC Place Stadium to Stanley Park. Along the way, you'll pass by iconic landmarks like the Vancouver Public Library, Vancouver Art Gallery, and Robson Square.
By 1895, the street was already a major shopping district thanks to the installation of railroad tracks along the thoroughfare. German culture and stores thrived in the area through the late 20th century and remain a major influence. Bakeries, markets, and delis were founded by the German population that grew in British Columbia after World War II.
Development expanded westward and by the 1950s, Robson Street also became a chic residential area. In fact, the wealthiest families in Vancouver were involved with the railroad business and made their homes in the West End. Today, you can still find many of their mansions standing along Georgia Avenue. Many immigrants arriving in Canada also made their homes in the neighborhood, which remains diverse.
Today, and since the early 2000s, Robson Street real estate has ranked among the most expensive in the nation by square foot. In fact, it's also one of the two most expensive properties on the Canadian version of Monopoly. Posh shops line the downtown district, including the first Canadian Burberry outpost. Throughout the summer, classic and unique vehicles cruise the length of Robson to see and be seen.
Regardless of where you decide to stay, you'll find so much to see in this area of the West End. Stanley Park, which anchors one end of Robson, offers trails for hiking, biking, and horseback riding along the Pacific Ocean. This 1,000-acre habitat is actually considered a temperate rainforest and features First Nations totem poles, a swimming pool by the sea, lawn bowling courts, and an outdoor theater. The park is also home to the Vancouver Aquarium, where you'll find tropical birds, sloths, exotic plants, and animal species from around the world along with exhibits that highlight the animals and plants that live along this region of the Canadian coast.
When it's time to dine, you'll find everything from classic Canadian dishes like poutine to ceviche, fresh seafood, Italian, Korean, Greek, and German fare. Nightlife fans need to spend the night dancing at Celebrities, an iconic West End locale.
Spend time in the sun when you visit English Bay Beach. The best way to reach this hidden gem is by the convenient Seawall walking path. This is a favorite spot for locals to enjoy a picnic lunch. When you choose a hotel on Robson Street, you'll be in within walking distance of the best that the West End offers.
Below are reviews of the city of Robson Street - West End, BC from an actual visitor's perspective.
Quieter end of downtown but still close to everything and even closer to Coal Harbour which is fantastic.
Clean, safe and close to everything.