New Westminster
Discover New Westminster
New Westminster is a city of 79,000 people (2021) in British Columbia that is part of Vancouver's eastern suburbs. Its many Victorian-era houses and buildings remain giving the city a different feel than the rest of suburban Vancouver. Burnaby lies to the north and west, Richmond on the southwest corner, Coquitlam on the northeast and the Fraser River borders it on the south and east.
What to Experience in New Westminster
Taste of New Westminster...
New Westminster is safe in general. The Downtown/Columbia Street area had a bad rep in the city for many years, but has become much safer since the police station relocated to 555 Columbia St and the revitalization work. Surrey sits across the Fraser River from New Westminster and can be reached by car across the Riverview (Stal̕əw̓asəm) Bridge (which replaced the Pattullo Bridge in early 2026) or heading east on the Expo SkyTrain line. Richmond and Delta can be reached from the Queensborough Bridge (Highway 91A). The 91A south also leads to the U.S. border and Washington state (via Hwy 91 and 99).
A Rich Past
Explore the historical roots that shaped New Westminster into what it is today.
Despite being a suburb of Vancouver today, New Westminster once eclipsed it in importance. Founded by the British in 1859 as the capital of the new colony of British Columbia, it was the first city incorporated in the colony. The name came from Queen Victoria for her favourite part of London and has earned the city the nickname "The Royal City". The hopes for colonial grandeur took a blow when Victoria was named the new capital of British Columbia in 1866. The city's importance continued to gradually decline as the major transportation routes moved north through Coquitlam and Burnaby into Vancouver. See Vancouver for options to get in the Vancouver area by plane, by bus, and by train, and by boat. From Vancouver's airport, get on Marine Drive and head east for 15-30 minutes (it depends on traffic). From Highway 1 (Trans-Canada Highway), take the Brunette Ave exit and head south. From Burnaby, driving east on either Kingsway or Canada Way will get you there. The city is fairly compact, measuring only 11 km long and 6.5 km wide so if you are up for a good walk you can get around by foot; however, be warned that much of the city is on the side of a large hill. The street system is mostly a grid, with Columbia Street the major street along the Fraser River and 6th and 12th Streets being the major streets that run back from the river towards Burnaby. TransLink, ☏ +1-604-953-3333....
Essential Information
Getting There
Multiple OptionsSee Vancouver for options to get in the Vancouver area by plane, by bus, and by train, and by boat. From Vancouver's airport, get on Marine Drive and head east for 15-30 minutes (it depends on traffic). From Highway 1 (Trans-Canada Highway), take the Brunette Ave exit and head south. From Burnaby, driving east on either Kingsway or Canada Way will get you there. The city is fairly compact, measuring only 11 km long and 6.5 km wide so if you are up for a good walk you can get around by foot; however, be warned that much of the city is on the side of a large hill. The street system is mostly a grid, with Columbia Street the major street along the Fraser River and 6th and 12th Streets being the major streets that run back from the river towards Burnaby. TransLink, ☏ +1-604-953-3333....
Getting Around & Staying
Getting Around
The city is fairly compact, measuring only 11 km long and 6.5 km wide so if you are up for a good walk you can get around by foot; however, be warned that much of the city is on the side of a large hill. The street system is mostly a grid, with Columbia Street the major street along the Fraser River and 6th and 12th Streets being the major streets that run back from the river towards Burnaby. TransLink, ☏ +1-604-953-3333. The main public transit network in the Vancouver area, including: Bowen Island, Burnaby, Coquitlam, Delta, Langley, Lions Bay, Maple Ridge, New Westminster, North Vancouver, Port Coquitlam, Pitt Meadows, Port Moody, Richmond, Surrey, Vancouver, West Vancouver, and White Rock. Its network includes buses, SkyTrain (rail rapid transit), SeaBus (ferries), West Coast Express (commuter rail), and HandyDART (door-to-door shared-ride service for those who cannot ride public transit without assistance).
Where to Stay
New Westminster is safe in general. The Downtown/Columbia Street area had a bad rep in the city for many years, but has become much safer since the police station relocated to 555 Columbia St and the revitalization work. Surrey sits across the Fraser River from New Westminster and can be reached by car across the Riverview (Stal̕əw̓asəm) Bridge (which replaced the Pattullo Bridge in early 2026) or heading east on the Expo SkyTrain line. Richmond and Delta can be reached from the Queensborough Bridge (Highway 91A). The 91A south also leads to the U.S. border and Washington state (via Hwy 91 and 99).
Money & Budget
New Westminster is safe in general. The Downtown/Columbia Street area had a bad rep in the city for many years, but has become much safer since the police station relocated to 555 Columbia St and the revitalization work. Surrey sits across the Fraser River from New Westminster and can be reached by car across the Riverview (Stal̕əw̓asəm) Bridge (which replaced the Pattullo Bridge in early 2026) or heading east on the Expo SkyTrain line. Richmond and Delta can be reached from the Queensborough Bridge (Highway 91A). The 91A south also leads to the U.S. border and Washington state (via Hwy 91 and 99).
Safety Information
Safety Overview
New Westminster is safe in general. The Downtown/Columbia Street area had a bad rep in the city for many years, but has become much safer since the police station relocated to 555 Columbia St and the revitalization work. Surrey sits across the Fraser River from New Westminster and can be reached by car across the Riverview (Stal̕əw̓asəm) Bridge (which replaced the Pattullo Bridge in early 2026) or heading east on the Expo SkyTrain line. Richmond and Delta can be reached from the Queensborough Bridge (Highway 91A). The 91A south also leads to the U.S. border and Washington state (via Hwy 91 and 99).
Glimpses of New Westminster
a street light with a bridge in the background
I like to walk down these old streets, losing myself in the 1800's. I'm nostalgic for everything pre-technology. But I mean, I'm also really thankful for wifi.
Modern suspension bridge over blue water on a clear day
A traffic light hanging over a street next to tall buildings
a blue staircase next to a tree and a bench
Vancouver Bridges
Angel
Locked in romance
New Westminster Downtown
A train traveling over a bridge over a lush green field
a street light with a bridge in the background
I like to walk down these old streets, losing myself in the 1800's. I'm nostalgic for everything pre-technology. But I mean, I'm also really thankful for wifi.
Modern suspension bridge over blue water on a clear day