All life is here. The best museums and galleries, the biggest concerts, the nightlife, sports venues, the busiest beaches and the most talked about restaurants can all be found in the neighbourhoods of downtown Vancouver.

Unlike many cities, Vancouver retains its buzz long after commuters have gone home because people still live in the heart of the city.

If you plan to move here get ready for modern, high-rise, high-density living. Townhouses are available but are few and far between and detached heritage homes are a rarity found mostly in the West End.

Every spare bit of Vancouver is being taken over by tower complexes with fancy names and even fancier price tags and penthouses.

Coal Harbour on the north side of the peninsula is an affluent neighbourhood with shimmering high rises, water and clear views across Burrard Inlet to the North Shore Mountains. The residents include empty nesters and lots of overseas investors.

Yaletown is a unique neighbourhood teeming with cozy cafes, hip lounges, exquisite cuisine and haute couture boutiques.

Yaletown has been transformed from a worn-out warehouse district to a land of lofts, reborn heritage buildings and glass towers.

The area is frequented by stars, pro athletes, Vancouver trendies and young urbanites carrying small, fluffy dogs.

If you want a garden, some solitude and a break from the hustlers, tourists and police sirens, try somewhere else. But if you want to embrace metropolitan life, 24/7, nothing beats it.

Average condo selling price* (Sept. 2010): $475,113

 

What it's known for?

› The Orpheum , The vogue, The Commodore, Scotia Bank Theatre

› Vancouver Art Gallery

› Stanley Park

› English Bay

› Variety of cuisines from fast food to fine dining

› Numerous pubs, lounges & nightclubs

Schools

If you want choice, try the suburbs. King George Secondary is the only public secondary school serving the downtown core.


Vancouver Secondary School Boundaries (Clickable Map)





Vancouver Primary School Boundaries (Clickable Map)




Interactive map displaying all Vancouver schools

Public Transportation

› Public buses to all major areas of Greater Vancouver

› Skytrain-Canada Line; Expo Line; Millennium Line

› West Coast Express

› SeaBus sailings to the North Shore

› Float plane terminal

Notable Parks & Attractions

› 181 Roundhouse Community Centre

› Vancouver Central Public Library

› The Gathering Place

› Andy Livingstone

› David Lam Park

› Stanley Park

› GM Place & BC Place

Interactive map displaying all Vancouver parks


Inhabitants

Young, urban professionals and families; single, boomer professionals and retirees.


Location

Downtown Vancouver stretches east to west from Burrard Street to the foot of Cambie Bridge and north to south from Burrard Inlet to False Creek. The entertainment district includes sports stadiums, galleries and nightclubs.

Video - Dunsmuir Street, Downtown Vancouver

* Source: Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver