Downtown Vancouver

Downtown Vancouver is the city's commercial and entertainment heart, spanning from the waterfront to BC Place Stadium. As Vancouver's central business district, it combines soaring glass towers with historic Gastown cobblestones, world-class shopping along Robson Street, and the seawall-wrapped waterfront.

In 2026, approximately 100,000 people live, work, and play in this dense, vertical neighborhood. What makes Downtown unique is its rare combination of urban density and natural beauty—you can walk from a boardroom meeting to the Stanley Park seawall in minutes.

The area has evolved from its origins as Granville Townsite in the 1870s through major development phases including the post-WWII boom, the 1986 World's Fair (Expo 86) which transformed False Creek, and the 2010 Winter Olympics which accelerated condo development. Today it stands as one of North America's most livable and densest urban cores.

Downtown Vancouver's modern history began with the Canadian Pacific Railway terminus in 1886. After the Great Fire of 1886 destroyed most early buildings, the city rebuilt quickly. Major transformation phases include the post-WWII boom, Expo 86 which redeveloped False Creek, and the 2010 Winter Olympics. Today it's one of North America's most livable urban cores.

Demographics: Young professionals dominate, with 40% aged 20-34 and over 60% holding university degrees. High proportion of renters (75%+), international residents, and high-income professionals. Singles and couples without children are the primary household types.