Vancouver is a city that is defined by how eclectic and character-filled its districts are. Anyone who visits the city must make it a point to explore all the Vancouver neighborhoods to get a real feel for the city and what it has to offer. A large part of the appeal of this city is its incredibly pedestrian friendly streets, so exploring the city’s districts during your trip is a must.
When I visited Vancouver, I spent a whole day just walking through every neighborhood and soaking up the atmosphere. I like to walk around and explore cities on foot during my travels. Based on my experience, Vancouver is a great city to explore on foot mainly because its districts are beautiful and its streets are walkable. Getting to see the little nuances of each district was a highlight for me.
From the forests of Stanley Park to the interesting and varied eateries in Granville Island, the Vancouver neighborhoods are just chock full of things to see and areas to explore. In this post, I’ll be going into detail on what I think the must-see neighborhoods of Vancouver are and what you can see in each of them, as well as stating what exactly makes them unique.
Subscribe to my Youtube channel @ Stephen Flores Travel, like me on Facebook at Passport Perspective, and follow me on Instagram / Twitter / Tiktok @StephenJFlores.
This post contains affiliate links. We receive a small commission for purchases made after clicking on these links at no extra cost to you.
Downtown Vancouver & The West End
I decided to combine Downtown Vancouver and the West End due to their proximity to one another and because they look very similar. I consider these districts to be the beating heart of Vancouver. Stretching from Canada Place to English Bay, Downtown Vancouver and the West End are two districts full of things to see and do.
You have the aforementioned Canada Place where you can ride on the Flyover Canada attraction. Similar to the Disneyland ride Soarin, this ride takes you on a hang glider view of Canada. It’s an incredibly breathtaking attraction, and one you must experience if you’re in the area. Nearby, you also have the Vancouver Lookout, an observation deck located in the Harbour Center building. This deck is 553 feet above the ground and gives you a 360-degree view of Vancouver.
Robson Street is the liveliest part of the district. Connecting Downtown Vancouver with the West End, it’s full of shops and eateries that make it every shopaholic and foodie’s dream. Nearby, the Vancouver Art Gallery has interesting artworks on display for you to peruse. The Vancouver Public Library is also a great place to kick your feet back and relax for a bit. Located in a Coliseum-esque structure, the library has a beautiful roof deck that anyone can visit and is perfect for resting in the middle of your day.
Downtown Vancouver and The West End also have minor attractions that are interesting to take a look at. The Olympic Cauldron located near Canada Place was the actual Olympic cauldron used for the Vancouver Winter Olympics in 2010. Near the cauldron is the Marine Building, a great example of art deco architecture. The lobby is breathtaking, as are the other fixtures in and on the building. Finally, Christ Church Cathedral is a gorgeously renovated worship space that has ornate stained glass windows and a beautiful organ.
Downtown Vancouver also has what is probably the best poutine joint in the entire city. La Belle Patate has over 30 varieties of poutine. From BBQ smoked meat to Hamburger steak and Bacon, visit La Belle Patate if you’re craving poutine any time during your trip.
Finally, English Bay makes up the southern part of the district. It’s not only a great place to people watch and relax by the sea, but it also has what is probably Vancouver’s strangest art exhibit. A-maze-ing Laughter is a public art installation made up of over 30 different statues of men with exaggerated features, all of whom are laughing. It’s unsettling, but also very artfully done and is a must see if you’re in the area.
Stanley Park
Probably my favorite of the Vancouver neighborhoods, Stanley Park is an urban park that is larger than New York’s Central Park. It’s 400 hectares in size and is Vancouver’s most popular attraction. The park has a plethora of trails all totaling over 27km, including the Sea Wall which is the world’s longest uninterrupted waterfront path.
I visited Stanley Park twice during my trip. I went there on both my first and last days in Vancouver and it was nothing short of amazing. You’ll find many people jogging, biking, or just strolling along the sea wall and the park’s trails. They also have special horse-drawn carriages that can take you throughout the park. The park is also home to totem poles and a seaside statue reminiscent of the Copenhagen Little Mermaid statue. Also, near the totem poles is a great view of the Lion’s Gate Bridge with mountains behind it.
The number one thing to do in Stanley Park, aside from the Sea Wall, has to be the Vancouver Aquarium. Featuring 650,000 animals in over 120 exhibits, the Vancouver Aquarium is sure to appeal to marine lovers of all ages. It has sea otters, sea lions, and more aquatic animals than you can count, including sharks, jellyfish, and more. Definitely consider coming here if you have the time.
Gastown
Also known as Vancouver’s old town, Gastown is probably the most visually interesting district in all of Vancouver. Packed with buildings all done in the same Victorian Architectural style, Gastown has many shops and restaurants for you to sink your teeth in. The neighborhood is actually Vancouver’s first neighborhood, with the first town hall meeting taking place in Maple Tree Square.
The neighborhood was named after “Gassy” Jack Deighton, the owner of Vancouver’s very first saloon. Now you might be wondering, why are the buildings so new if this is supposed to be an old town? Well, a fire ravaged much of the neighborhood in 1886 so most of the buildings were reconstructed after the fire.
Maple Tree Square and the Gastown Steam Clock are Gastown’s two most popular attractions. Maple Tree Square is this pedestrian space that has around it a statue of Gassy Deighton (which has since been removed after it was toppled during a protest in 2022) as well as a version of New York City’s flatiron building.
The Gastown Steam Clock is probably the biggest draw of the neighborhood. Constructed by Raymond Saunders, the clock was finished in 1977 for an estimated price of $58,000 CAD at the time. The reason for its construction was simple: the city wanted a unique way to cover a steam gate. It chimes the Westminster chimes every quarter hour, while the large whistle sounds every hour. The two ton clock also features in its center a contraption that brings one ball-shaped steel weight from the lower part of the clock’s middle section to the top of the clock.
Kitsilano
Located across English Bay from the West End, Kitsilano is the most laid-back of the Vancouver neighborhoods. Known for its shops and restaurants, it also contains Vancouver’s best strip of sand. Kitsilano beach is the perfect place to play beach volleyball, go for a run, or just simply lay back with a good book in hand as you see the distant ships pass you.
Kitsilano is also known as the home of the Museum of Vancouver. This museum chronicles Vancouver’s interesting history. The only odd thing about this museum is that the exhibit stops at the 1970s. It has no exhibits dedicated to the 1980s onwards. I don’t know if that’s because they just haven’t installed it yet, but it is still worth visiting to understand Vancouver’s early history.
Now this next attraction isn’t located in Kitsilano, but it’s easiest to access from Kitsilano so I’m including it here. The Museum of Anthropology is Vancouver’s best museum. Located in the University of British Columbia campus, this museum contains thousands of artifacts from different cultures around the world. From totem poles to masks to ceremonial jars from countries like China, the Philippines, and Papua New Guinea, it took me over 5 hours to see everything in this museum. The museum just recently reopened after a multi-year refurbishment so it looks absolutely stunning.
Yaletown
Located across the water from Granville Island, Yaletown is a hip neighborhood filled with boutiques and restaurants. It’s the former westernmost terminus of the Canadian Pacific Railway. The district was reinvented in 1986, along with the rest of False Creek, for the World’s Fair that happened in Vancouver. The seawall from Stanley Park stretches to this neighborhood.
The main attraction in Yaletown is Engine 374. Engine 374 was the first steam engine to connect Eastern and Western Canada, arriving in Vancouver from Toronto on May 23rd, 1887. It was retired in 1945 and sat decaying in Kitsilano park for years. It was renovated for the world’s fair in 1986 and now calls the Roundhouse Community Arts and Recreation Center its home.
Within the mini-museum is the actual refurbished steam engine, along with some informational displays about the engine and its history. It’s a small museum that shouldn’t take you more than 20 minutes to go through, but it’s definitely worth a look if you’re in the area. Yaletown also has some waterside parks such as the David Lam Park and George Wainborn Park, both connected by the sea wall.
Granville Island
My second favorite spot in Vancouver after Stanley Park, Granville Island is a shopper’s, foodie’s, and theatergoer’s paradise. Located on a peninsula (not an actual island) that is surrounded by False Creek, this “island” used to be home to some industrial factories before the city changed the island in the 1970s.
You can find many different shops in the area, from souvenir stores to stores selling artisanal sake and wire sculptures. The neighborhood is also home to a variety of theaters, each holding performances on most nights. You can check the showtimes and what show is currently running at the theaters. They usually have last-minute seats available in case you want to catch a show.
But Granville Island’s main attraction has to be the Public Market. Half a wet market and half a food market, the Public Market has some of the most delicious eats in the city. You could spend half a day just sampling different dishes from the different vendors. My favorite stalls have to be Lee’s Donuts and Northern Bars, which sells the British Columbian dessert known as Nanaimo bars. A visit to the city isn’t complete without a jaunt through this area of town.
Vancouver Neighborhoods Conclusion
Hopefully this post has given you some ideas of which Vancouver neighborhoods you should visit and what to see and do during your trip to Vancouver. Use this and my other posts as resources to make sure you have the best trip to Vancouver.
If you found this post helpful, consider subscribing to my newsletter to receive inspiration, tips, and insider secrets delivered straight to your inbox. Whether you’re planning your next adventure, daydreaming about far-off places, or seeking hidden gems closer to home, we’ve got you covered.
✨ Here’s What You’ll Get:
- Curated travel guides to iconic and off-the-beaten-path destinations.
- Budget-friendly tips and tips on solo traveling.
- Exclusive deals and must-know travel advice.
- Stories and trip reports to spark your wanderlust and make your trips unforgettable.
Travel smarter, deeper, and with more joy. Join our community of explorers today and never miss a chance to wander! Sign up down below!
SUGGESTED READING:
Leave A Comment