 Chinatown
Tom Ryan photo Sample dim sum and authentic Asian cuisine in Chinatown. Wander the bustling cosmopolitan shops on Robson Street. Relax on the patio at a Yaletown micro-brewery. Saunter the cobblestone streets of historic Gastown. Marvel at the array of market vendors at Granville Island. The neighbourhoods of Vancouver invite you to visit.
Chinatown
Vancouver has been home to a vibrant Chinese community since the mid-19th century. Today, the city's Chinatown is one of the largest in North America.
If you are looking for an authentic Asian encounter complete with unique architecture, exotic culinary aromas and an array of exotic imported goods, then Chinatown awaits your arrival.
No visit to Chinatown is complete without a trip to the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden. A tranquil Ming Dynasty-style garden, it is the first authentic classical Chinese garden to have been built outside of China.
The Chinese Cultural Centre Museum and Archives presents an impressive collection of Chinese memorabilia. It also houses the Chinese Canadian Military Museum.
Make sure to see the Sam Kee Building. At just 1.5 m (6 ft) wide, it's the world's most narrow office building - and easy to miss!
On weekend evenings from late May through to September, thousands of visitors pour into the closed streets for the popular Chinatown Night Market. The Asian-style flea market offers a host of great finds.
Chinatown can be found just east of downtown Vancouver.
A word or two on your visit:
- Approximate time required: 2-3 hours
- Be mindful of the fact that Chinatown, while very safe, is located in a more graphic part of the city
> Chinatown website
Robson Street
The place to see and be seen in Vancouver, energetic Robson Street boasts over 200 shops, cafés and services.
Spend a day on the strip - spoil yourself in trend-setting fashion boutiques or sip a latté as you relax and people-watch from a sidewalk café. With a weekend average of some 80,000 streetgoers, there are plenty of people to watch!
If you prefer less jostling among crowds, head to the Vancouver Art Gallery. Housed in a former early-20th-century courthouse, the VAG is a haven for art lovers.
Finish the day with dinner at one of Robson Street's many fine restaurants.
Robson Street runs east-west through downtown Vancouver, from Yaletown to the West End.
A word or two on your visit:
- Parking on Robson Street can be a challenge - there are several parkades located within easy walking distance
> Robson Street website
Yaletown
Once a gritty area of loading bays and brick warehouses, Yaletown has undergone a facelift and is now a stylish mix of the fashion-savvy, dot-commers and celebrities. It is the neighbourhood of choice for urban trendsetters - both as a nighttime destination and a New-York-loft-like place to call home. Yaletown's streets are surrounded by condominium buildings towering over renovated brick-warehouse lofts.
Some of the city's hippest destinations are here: high-end galleries, chic fashion and furnishings boutiques, high-concept restaurants, brew pubs, trendy salons and even movie sets share its narrow streets.
Yaletown sits at the southeastern tip of downtown Vancouver.
A word or two on your visit:
- Parkades and meter parking available
> Yaletown website
Gastown
The historic district of Gastown is Vancouver's oldest neighbourhood. Still as colourful as ever, it is a favourite destination of tourists.
A daytime stroll down its cobblestone streets reveals artist studios, designers' shops, First Nations' galleries and antique stores in refurbished heritage buildings. Gastown is also home to the world's first steam-powered clock, now one of the city's most photographed attractions.
Gastown's structures share a common Late Victorian and Edwardian commercial vernacular indicative of the region's development in the late 19th century. Visitors are encouraged to check out the old Canadian Pacific Railway Station of 1912 for a tangible example of the decorative tastes of the time.
Gastown is within easy walking distance of downtown Vancouver.
A word or two on your visit:
- Be mindful of the fact that Gastown, while very safe, is partially located in a more graphic part of the city
> Gastown website
Granville Island
Hop on a water taxi, salute the view of the downtown skyline and get ready to spend a most enjoyable day at Granville Island.
An eclectic mix of shops, boutiques and galleries, Granville Island is perhaps most famous for its large and bustling Public Market, where local food vendors and artisans peddle their wares.
Browse the charming shops of the Net Loft, where retailers offer everything from exotic stationary to beads of every shape and kind, funky hats, First Nations gifts, books and locally-made fashions.
The Maritime Market clusters together retailers who specialize in all things ocean related: kayaks, boat rentals, marine souvenirs and of course, seafood.
Kids adore the Kids Market. Here, independent sellers of atypical toys, books, games, clothing, candy and adventure offer a refreshing alternative to the usual.
Granville Island is also dotted with an array of arts-and-crafts studios and galleries dedicated to local and regional work.
You can find Granville Island just under the Granville Bridge, across from downtown Vancouver.
A word or two about your visit:
- Parking can be difficult - consider coming by foot, public transit, bike, taxi or water taxi
> Granville Island website
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