Vancouver
YVR
Vancouver, Canada92 Layover Score

Vancouver International Airport

Pacific gateway with world-class Indigenous art, fresh seafood & mountain views

3Terminals
9/10WiFi Quality
8 loungesLounges

Layover Itineraries

Recommended plan: Visit a lounge for a shower, meal and proper rest before your next flight.

0:00

Check into Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge

International Terminal, Level 3
Priority Pass accepted
0:10

Hot shower & refresh

Lounge shower suites
0:40

Full buffet breakfast or lunch

Maple Leaf Lounge dining area
1:30

Read & relax with ocean view

Lounge window seating
2:15

Gift shopping — BC spirits & maple syrup

International Gateway shops
2:45

Head to gate

Your departure gate

🍽️ Food & Drinks

🍽️

Milestone's Bar & Grill

$$$
International, Level 3

Full-service Canadian cuisine with BC salmon, local craft beers and a stunning Pacific Rim menu. Best sit-down option airside.

Sit-downCanadianBar

Starbucks Reserve

$$
Domestic, Level 2

Premium roasts and reserve single-origin coffees — best cup airside. Open 24 hours.

CoffeeOpen 24hrs
🍺

Steamworks Brewpub

$$
International, Level 3

Local Vancouver craft ales on tap with pub classics. The perfect Pacific Northwest send-off or arrival celebration.

Craft BeerPubBC Local
🍩

Tim Hortons

$
Domestic, Level 2 & 3

Iconic Canadian quick-serve. Timbits, double-doubles and affordable fast breakfast. Multiple locations throughout the terminal.

Quick ServiceCanadianBreakfast
🍣

Sushi Garden Express

$$
International, Level 3

Fresh nigiri, rolls and bento boxes made daily. Vancouver's Japanese influence shines here — quality for an airport.

JapaneseFreshQuick
🍔

White Spot Triple O's

$
Domestic, Level 2

BC-born burger institution since 1928. The Triple O burger with their legendary secret sauce is mandatory on a Canada layover.

BurgersBC ClassicQuick

Lounges

🍁

Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge

Priority Pass / Status
International, Level 3

YVR's flagship lounge with full hot buffet, premium open bar, shower suites and floor-to-ceiling Pacific views. Accepts Priority Pass.

Priority PassShowersHot FoodBar

Plaza Premium Lounge

From $55 CAD
International, Level 3

Pay-per-use premium lounge with nap rooms, spa services, hot meals and fast WiFi. Great option without airline status.

Pay-per-useNap RoomsSpa
🎩

British Airways First Lounge

BA First / Gold Card
International, Level 3

Intimate lounge for BA premium passengers with à-la-carte dining, cocktail bar and private workspaces.

PremiumÀ-la-carteExclusive
🐉

Cathay Pacific Lounge

Cathay Business / Premium
International, Level 3

Stylish lounge with dim sum, noodle bar and traditional Hong Kong-style snacks. Shower facilities available.

Asian CuisineShowersBusiness

🛍️ Shopping

🛍️

Pacific Gateway Duty-Free

$$-$$$$
International, Level 3

BC spirits including award-winning whisky and ice wine. Luxury cosmetics, Canadian maple syrup collections and electronics.

Duty-FreeSpiritsLuxury
📚

Indigo Books & Music

$$
International, Level 3

Canada's beloved bookstore with a curated travel section, unique Canadian titles and a great gift selection. Hours of browsing potential.

BooksGiftsCanadian
🍂

Roots Canada

$$$
Domestic & International

Iconic Canadian lifestyle brand — beaver canoe sweatshirts, leather goods and cozy fleece. Perfect Canadian keepsakes.

Canadian BrandClothingSouvenirs
🎨

BC Artisan Market

$$-$$$
International, Level 3

Curated BC artisan goods: Indigenous art prints, smoked salmon, craft spirits and hand-made jewelry. Authentic and locally sourced.

LocalArtisanGifts

😴 Sleep & Rest

💆

Be Relax Spa

$$-$$$
International, Level 3

Full-service airport spa offering massages, facials and nail treatments. Book a 30-minute neck & shoulder massage before your next flight.

MassageSpaFacial
🪑

Massage Chairs (Free)

Free
Domestic, Level 2 (Gate 30s area)

Automated massage chairs scattered throughout the domestic pier. No booking required — first come, first served.

FreeNo Booking
😴

Quiet Zone (Gate 66-73)

Free
International Pier E, Level 3

Dimmer lighting, padded seating and minimal PA announcements. Best spot to stretch out for a proper rest between long-haul flights.

QuietFreeRest Area
🛏️

Plaza Premium Nap Rooms

From $35 CAD/hr
International, Level 3

Private day-use rooms with proper beds, blackout curtains, TV and private bathroom. Book by the hour — max 6 hours.

PrivatePay-per-useBeds

🌆 Leave the Airport

Visa note: Most nationalities can exit in transit without a Canadian visa, but verify your passport before leaving the airport.
🌲

Stanley Park & Seawall

Free
Skytrain Canada Line (25 min)

World-famous 400-hectare urban park with 10km oceanfront seawall. Rent a bike and circle it in 90 minutes. Stunning mountain backdrops year-round.

NatureBikingViews
🐟

Granville Island Public Market

$-$$$
Skytrain + Bus (35 min)

Vibrant covered market with fresh BC salmon, artisan cheese, baked goods and live street performers. Perfect for 3-4hr layovers.

FoodMarketLocal
🕐

Gastown & Historic Downtown

$-$$
Skytrain Canada Line (28 min)

Vancouver's oldest neighbourhood with the famous steam clock, cobblestone streets, indie boutiques and great coffee shops.

HistoricWalkingShopping
🌉

Capilano Suspension Bridge

$$$
Bus + Skytrain (45 min)

Iconic 137m suspension bridge over a canyon in North Vancouver. Treetop adventure walkways and Cliffwalk add to the thrills.

AdventureNatureIconic
💎

Hidden Gems

Insider picks

Things most travellers walk right past. You're welcome.

Hidden Gem
🗿

Haida Gwaii Totem Pole Gallery

Free
International, Level 3 (Pre-security)

YVR houses one of the finest Indigenous art collections of any airport in the world. The massive jade canoe and Haida poles are genuinely world-class. Most travellers sprint past — stop and look.

Hidden Gem
✈️

Observation Area (Deck 5)

Free
Domestic Terminal, Level 5

Almost no one knows the domestic terminal has an outdoor observation deck with direct runway views and mountain backdrop. Perfect at sunset.

Hidden Gem
🐟

YVR Aquarium Mini-Exhibit

Free
International, Level 2 (Arrivals)

Small but beautiful aquarium displays with Pacific Northwest marine life — jellyfish tanks and salmon exhibit. A quiet 20-minute detour that most miss.

Hidden Gem

Brookstone Power Nap Corner

Free
International, Level 3, Gate C18

Tucked behind the C gates, there are 6 oversized Brookstone massage chairs with free USB charging ports and less foot traffic than anywhere else.