02 The story
The heart of the city
Downtown Vancouver fills the centre of a small peninsula, wrapped by Burrard Inlet, English Bay and False Creek, with the North Shore Mountains as a backdrop. It is the city’s business district and its busiest shopping and entertainment area, yet the ocean and Stanley Park are never more than a short walk away.
Robson Street is the main shopping spine, lined with fashion brands, cafés and casual restaurants. A few blocks east, Granville Street is the city’s entertainment strip, home to the Orpheum and the Commodore Ballroom, and lively late into the night. Pacific Centre connects department stores and boutiques underground, which is handy on rainy days.
Culture and landmarks
The Vancouver Art Gallery occupies the historic former courthouse on Robson Square, and its steps are a classic meeting point. The Central Library on Georgia Street, with its colosseum-like curved walls, is one of the city’s most photographed buildings. On the waterfront, Canada Place and the Vancouver Convention Centre welcome cruise ships and host major conferences, with seawall views across to North Vancouver.
Getting around
Downtown is the city’s transit hub. Waterfront Station connects the Expo and Canada Line SkyTrain routes, the SeaBus to Lonsdale Quay and West Coast Express trains, while the Canada Line runs straight to the airport. Streets are on a tight grid and very walkable, and protected bike lanes cross the core.
Who it suits
Visitors use downtown as a base because almost everything is close by: Gastown, Yaletown, Coal Harbour, the West End and Stanley Park are all within walking distance. Residents enjoy high-rise living with services, restaurants and transit on the doorstep.
