In the print dialog pick “Save as PDF” to keep it on your phone. A5 makes a pocket booklet; A4 suits a desk printer.
Voykit pocket guide · Canada
New Westminster
Give New Westminster half a day to one night as a stop on the SkyTrain Expo Line from Vancouver: riverfront walk, Victorian downtown, then move on.
New Westminster was the first capital of colonial British Columbia and still looks different from the rest of suburban Vancouver: brick storefronts, Victorian houses and a riverfront esplanade on a hill above the Fraser. It is compact, 30 minutes from downtown Vancouver by SkyTrain, and works as a half-day or one-night add-on rather than a base. Most travellers see it in 4–6 hours; one night is enough if you want the pubs and the evening waterfront.
- Country
- Canada
- Best months
- May–Sep (dry, warm, long evenings); Jun–Aug for the riverfront
- Avoid
- Nov–Feb (rain, short days); occasional smoke in Aug–Sep
- Stay
- 0–1 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- CAD
- Money
- Currency is the Canadian dollar (CAD, $). Cards and tap-to-pay are accepted almost everywhere.
- Daily spend
- Budget C$70–110 excl. bed · Mid C$120–200 excl. bed · High C$220+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Rogers, Bell and Telus plus cheaper brands (Fido, Koodo, Public Mobile); prepaid SIMs in malls and stores. Canadian data is expensive — an eSIM is often cheaper.
- Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance 911 · HealthLink BC (24 h nurse line) 811
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 120 V · 60 Hz · Same as the US.
- Tipping
- Restaurant: 15–20% of the pre-tax bill.; Bar: CAD 1–2 per drink.; Taxi: 10–15%.; Housekeeping: CAD 3–5 a night.; Guide: 10–20% of the tour price.
- Water
- Tap water is drinkable; treat water from lakes and streams (giardia).
- Toilets
- Free in malls, Tim Hortons, stations and park visitor centres.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee | C$3–6 |
| Burger or sandwich lunch | C$12–22 |
| Pub main with a pint | C$25–40 |
| TransLink single fare, one zone (tap-to-pay) | about C$3.20 (check) |
| Taxi across downtown | C$12–20 |
| Museum entry (Anvil Centre galleries) | C$5–12 (check) |
| eSIM or data SIM, about a week | C$15–35 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- YVR · Vancouver International
- SkyTrain Canada Line to Waterfront, then Expo Line to New Westminster; about 50–60 min total. Driving via Marine Drive takes 25–40 min depending on traffic.
Typical fares
- SkyTrain New Westminster → downtown Vancouver
- about C$3.20–4.60 one zone, 30 min (check)
- SkyTrain YVR → New Westminster
- about C$9–11 including the airport surcharge, 50–60 min (check)
- Taxi across downtown New Westminster
- C$12–20
Get around
The city is about 11 km long and 6.5 km wide but sits on a hill, so walking downtown is easy and walking uptown is a climb. Five Expo Line SkyTrain stations serve New Westminster; New Westminster station is one block from the riverfront and the most useful. TransLink buses link to Burnaby, Coquitlam, Surrey and Richmond; there is no direct bus to downtown Vancouver, so use SkyTrain. Fares are zone-based on weekdays before 18:30 and a single zone rate applies at other times; tap a Compass Card, Compass Ticket or contactless card. Taxis and Uber/Lyft/Kabu also operate.The city is about 11 km long and 6.5 km wide but sits on a hill, so walking downtown is easy and walking uptown is a climb. Five Expo Line SkyTrain stations serve New Westminster; New Westminster station is one block from the riverfront and the most useful. TransLink buses link to Burnaby, Coquitlam, Surrey and Richmond; there is no direct bus to downtown Vancouver, so use SkyTrain. Fares are zone-based on weekdays before 6:30 PM and a single zone rate applies at other times; tap a Compass Card, Compass Ticket or contactless card. Taxis and Uber/Lyft/Kabu also operate.The city is about 6.8 mi long and 4 mi wide but sits on a hill, so walking downtown is easy and walking uptown is a climb. Five Expo Line SkyTrain stations serve New Westminster; New Westminster station is one block from the riverfront and the most useful. TransLink buses link to Burnaby, Coquitlam, Surrey and Richmond; there is no direct bus to downtown Vancouver, so use SkyTrain. Fares are zone-based on weekdays before 18:30 and a single zone rate applies at other times; tap a Compass Card, Compass Ticket or contactless card. Taxis and Uber/Lyft/Kabu also operate.The city is about 6.8 mi long and 4 mi wide but sits on a hill, so walking downtown is easy and walking uptown is a climb. Five Expo Line SkyTrain stations serve New Westminster; New Westminster station is one block from the riverfront and the most useful. TransLink buses link to Burnaby, Coquitlam, Surrey and Richmond; there is no direct bus to downtown Vancouver, so use SkyTrain. Fares are zone-based on weekdays before 6:30 PM and a single zone rate applies at other times; tap a Compass Card, Compass Ticket or contactless card. Taxis and Uber/Lyft/Kabu also operate.
See and do
Known for
- Victorian-era downtown and houses
- Fraser River waterfront esplanade
- Wait for Me, Daddy memorial
- The Royal City nickname
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Vancouver | Expo Line SkyTrain from New Westminster station | About 30–40 min |
| Burnaby | Expo Line to Metrotown or Brentwood, or bus 123 along 8th St | 15–30 min |
| Coquitlam | Bus 159 from Braid station to Coquitlam Central | About 30–40 min |
| Port Moody | SkyTrain to Moody Centre, or bus from Braid station | About 30–45 min |
| Port Coquitlam | Bus 159 from Braid station | About 45–60 min |
Sleep
- Downtown / Columbia Street
- Walk to the riverfront, River Market, restaurants and New Westminster SkyTrain station; best for one night without a car.
- Quayside / Westminster Quay
- Waterfront hotels and the esplanade on the doorstep; quieter, 10–15 min walk uphill to Columbia Street.
- Uptown (6th St and 6th Ave)
- Royal City Centre mall, groceries and everyday shops; 15–20 min walk or a short bus ride from the river.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Thank you | Thank you— |
| Sorry / Excuse me | Sorry— |
| How much is it? | How much is it?— |
| Can I pay by card? | Can I pay by card?— |
| Where is the SkyTrain station? | Where is the SkyTrain station?— |
| To this address, please | To this address, please— |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake; 'Bonjour' first in Québec; avoid: Assuming everyone speaks English
- Queues: Line up and wait your turn; avoid: Pushing in
- Apologising: 'Sorry' is politeness, not admission of fault; avoid: Loud confrontation
- Canada vs US: Treat Canada as its own country; avoid: Calling Canadians American
- Indigenous culture: Buy from Indigenous-owned businesses and ask before photos at ceremonies; avoid: Wearing headdresses as costume
Scams and watch-outs
- The hill is real: Columbia Street to Uptown is a steady climb, so plan bus or SkyTrain hops if you have bags.
- SkyTrain runs late but not all night; check the last train back to Vancouver before a late dinner.
- Pay parking and permit zones apply near the riverfront; read the sign before leaving the car.
- Winter is wet and grey rather than cold; bring a rain shell, not an umbrella you will fight with in wind.
A safe, well-lit suburb on the SkyTrain line; the real issues are the hill, rain and late-night quiet streets near the stations rather than crime. Standard city rules apply: keep bags zipped on transit, stay on lit streets after midnight.
One and two days
No timed day plan for New Westminster yet. Suggested stay: 0–1 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Victorian-era downtown and houses
- Fraser River waterfront esplanade
- Wait for Me, Daddy memorial
- The Royal City nickname
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- City of New Westminster: newwestcity.ca/
- Tourism New Westminster: tourismnewwestminster.com/
- TransLink: www.translink.ca/
- YVR — Vancouver International Airport: www.yvr.ca/
- Wikivoyage: New Westminster, revision 5332072 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5332072
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
New Westminster
To this address, please
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
Canada has no foreign embassies in New Westminster; most are in Ottawa, with consulates in Vancouver (check your country's list).
English is the working language here; French is official nationally but rarely needed locally.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/new-westminster). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.