Seattle and Vancouver are close enough that visiting both in one trip makes a ton of sense, especially if you’re already traveling to the Pacific Northwest.

We spent about three days in Seattle before taking the Amtrak Cascades to Vancouver, where we spent the rest of our trip. We skipped a rental car in Seattle, picked one up in Vancouver for day trips, stayed in Queen Anne in Seattle, and stayed downtown in Vancouver.

Overall, combining Seattle and Vancouver was much easier than I expected. But there are definitely a few things I’d plan differently now that we’ve done it.

Here’s how we planned our Seattle and Vancouver trip, how we traveled between the two cities, where we stayed, and what I’d recommend if you’re planning the same trip.

How Many Days Do You Need for Seattle and Vancouver?

We spent about three days in Seattle before heading to Vancouver, but knowing what I know now, I’d plan the trip very differently.

Honestly, if we were doing this trip again, we’d skip Seattle and spend the entire time in Vancouver.

But if you really want to combine both cities in one trip, I’d do one full day in Seattle and at least six days in Vancouver.

For us, one day in Seattle would have been enough to see Pike Place Market, walk around the waterfront, and fit in one or two bigger attractions. If the Mariners were home, I’d absolutely try to catch a game too.

Then I’d head to Vancouver.

There was SO much more we wanted to do there. I would have loved more time in Stanley Park, another day around Squamish, more hiking, and honestly just more time exploring Vancouver itself.

So if you have a week and want to see both, my vote is one day in Seattle and the rest in Vancouver.

Where We Stayed in Seattle and Vancouver

Seattle: Queen Anne

In Seattle, we stayed in a Vrbo in Queen Anne.

Since there were six of us traveling together, I liked the idea of having a house instead of separate hotel rooms. We only see Chris’s brother and his family about once a year, so disappearing into different rooms every night felt a little silly.

Having a kitchen was also nice for breakfasts, snacks, and the nights we didn’t feel like going back out.

The biggest thing for us was location. We weren’t renting a car in Seattle, so I wanted somewhere we could walk from or easily get around by public transportation or Uber.

Queen Anne worked well, but if I planned the trip again, I’d probably stay somewhere a little more central. We did A LOT of walking, and some of it definitely could have been avoided.

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Vancouver: Hyatt Regency Vancouver

In Vancouver, we stayed at the Hyatt Regency Vancouver, and I’d stay there again in a heartbeat.

We knew we wanted to stay downtown even though we’d have a rental car for part of the trip. I did not want to get in the car every time we wanted coffee, dinner, or just to walk around.

The location ended up being even better than I expected. We were right next to Burrard Station and could walk to restaurants, coffee shops, the waterfront, and plenty of other places downtown.

There was also an Avis nearby, which made picking up and returning our rental car really easy.

And unlike Seattle, we each booked and paid for our own hotel rooms.

No splitting the reservation. No Venmo math. Love that for me.

If I were planning this trip again, I’d still stay downtown in Vancouver, and I’d absolutely consider the Hyatt Regency again.

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What Do You Need to Travel Between Seattle and Vancouver?

If you’re traveling from Seattle to Vancouver, remember that you are crossing an international border, even though the two cities feel pretty close.

As U.S. citizens, we traveled with our passports. U.S. citizens do not need a Canadian visa or eTA when entering Canada with a valid U.S. passport.

We took the Amtrak Cascades into Vancouver, and the border process was pretty straightforward. Just make sure you have your travel documents easily accessible instead of buried somewhere in your luggage.

I’d also double-check Canada’s current entry requirements before your trip since border rules can change.

How We Got From Seattle to Vancouver

We took the Amtrak Cascades from Seattle to Vancouver instead of flying, and I’d absolutely choose the train again.

The trip was easy, and it saved us from dealing with another airport day in the middle of vacation. There were some pretty coastal views along the way, although I wouldn’t expect nonstop scenery.

One thing I would definitely do differently? Bring snacks. The Seattle station didn’t have many food options, and I was very glad once we finally got to Vancouver.

If you can, grab a seat on the right side of the train heading toward Vancouver. That’s where you’ll get some of the better views along the way.

How We Planned What to Do in Each City

Once flights, trains, and accommodations were booked, we each made lists of the places we really wanted to see. Luckily, there was a lot of overlap.

Then we did something that made planning our days SO much easier: we looked at everything by location.

We Planned by Location, Not Just by Attraction

Don’t just make a giant list of everything you want to do.

Put it on a map.

We looked at where everything was located and figured out what made sense to combine. If two places were close together, we tried to visit them on the same day rather than bouncing back and forth across the city.

Google Maps was really helpful for this. I also used ChatGPT to help group attractions together and figure out which combinations made the most sense.

Then we looked at how much time we actually had each day.

Was it a full day? Half day? Travel day?

In Vancouver, we purposely planned one of our biggest day trips for our first full day. Then we kept the next day more local since Dallas, LeAnn, and the kids would be heading home the following day.

We planned one major thing each day and, if we felt up to it, added a few more items from our list as they made sense. It gave the trip some structure without being let down if we didn’t get to EVERYTHING.

Do You Need a Rental Car in Seattle or Vancouver?

We didn’t rent a car at all in Seattle, and I’m glad we didn’t. We walked, used public transportation, and grabbed an Uber when we needed one.

Vancouver was different. A lot of the things we wanted to do were outside downtown, so having a car made sense for us.

I handled this reservation since Chris and I were staying a day longer than everyone else. We made sure our share reflected the fact that we’d have the car longer, and I booked it so we could return it the day before we flew home.

This also meant we didn’t have to worry about returning a rental car and getting to the airport on the same morning.

One less travel-day task. Always a win.

If I could go back, I wouldn’t have picked up the rental car on our first day in Vancouver. Waiting until the next morning would have worked just fine, especially since we had to go back anyway to swap vehicles.

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We used Avis Car Rental on Hornby St.

What I’d Do Differently on a Seattle + Vancouver Trip

If we did this exact trip again, we’d skip Seattle and spend the whole week in Vancouver. If you want to combine both, I’d do one day in Seattle and at least six in Vancouver.

• Check the Mariners schedule and try to catch a game
• Take a Seattle ferry
• Sit on the right side of the Amtrak Cascades
• Bring snacks for the train
• Don’t pick up the Vancouver rental car until you need it
• Check Whistler attractions/openings ahead of time
• Give yourself more time around Squamish
• Explore Stanley Park more

Would I Plan Another Trip Like This With Family?

Absolutely. Just maybe not these exact two cities again.

Traveling with Chris’s family made this trip even more fun, and luckily we all travel really well together. Everyone was flexible, nobody expected to see EVERYTHING, and we agreed on most of the big priorities before we left.

That said, we all came home with the same conclusion: next time, one location and one country.

Now we just need to figure out where we’re going.

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More From Our Seattle & Vancouver Trip

• Vancouver vs. Seattle: Which City Did We Like Better?
• Four Days in Vancouver: Our Complete Itinerary
• Virgin River Filming Locations You Can Actually Visit
• Our Sea to Sky Highway Day Trip From Vancouver
• Exploring Kitsilano in Vancouver
• Three Days In Seattle: An Honest Travel Recap