Vancouver's "Downtown" area extends east to west from Burrard St. to the base of the Cambie St. Bridge and north to south from Burrard Inlet down to False Creek. Vancouver is different from many other North American cities in that its Downtown area is filled with numerous residential areas, as well as the typical commercial businesses. Because of this, the area is not only bustling during the day, but quite lively during the evening as well. The heart of the Downtown area has a large business area, but there are always numerous residential complexes and condos being built. People looking for a highly livable and multicultural area to reside in are drawn to Vancouver's Downtown area.

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The City of Vancouver technically defines the Yaletown community as a part of the Downtown area, but it sits as a neighborhood of its own, wrought with unique residents and characteristics. This neighborhood sits alongside False Creek, and is among the youngest communities in all of Vancouver. Up until the World's Fair Expo in 1986, this area was primarily industrial in nature. At that juncture, Yaletown started to become more of a residential area, featuring apartment complexes and converted business properties. This transformed the region into one of Vancouver's most highly populated neighborhoods.

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Coal Harbour is technically known to be a portion of the West End neighborhood in the eyes of Vancouver, but it features a largely different feel and atmosphere than any other part of the neighborhood. The actual boundaries of Coal Harbour are set loosely, but it sits on the northern banks of the Downtown area. It features high rise buildings that extend to Stanley Park's entrance to the west, toward the south up to Georgia St., and its eastern edge is bordered by the affluent financial district.

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Vancouver's West End area runs west from Burrard St., east from Denman St., and south from W. Georgia St. Over the course of time this has generally referred to all areas between Burrard St. and Stanley Park, and most residents of the area still see it as such. However, most areas on the west of Denman, including Coal Harbour, have a more affluent and differing population.

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The trendy Kitsilano neighborhood runs from east to west between Burrard St. and Alma St., and north to south between English Bay and 16th Ave. Besides the beautiful parks and beaches Kitsilano also features many desirable shops and restaurants, with Broadway Ave., W 10th and W4th being particularly inhabited with unique businesses.

This neighborhood is very near to a couple of beaches, so if you wander through Kitsilano during a nice day you are bound to see many tourists and residents out walking their pets, or just out for some exercise in their stylish running gear.

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Hastings Sunrise is one of the oldest neighborhoods in all of Vancouver and was originally slated to be built into a resort town in the 1800s. It was intended as a weekend getaway for residents of New Westminster, and although it never developed as planned, it was seen as a resort destination up until 1900. The booming port of the area ended up being Gastown. Vacationing visitors to the area would come to experience the New Brighton Hotel (fire destroyed it in 1905), New Brighton Park, and an area racing track called Hastings Park. The park was renamed Exhibition Park, and starting in 1910 the city held a fair on that property each year. Happyland, a yearly amusement park and fair, was added into the parkway in 1926.

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Kensington-Cedar Cottage is a working class residential neighborhood which runs east to west between Nanaimo St. and Fraser St., and north to south between Broadway and 41st Ave. Kensington-Cedar Cottage contains the more residential upper end of Commercial Drive. Commercial Drive is the commercial stretch of busy Kingsway, and has the highest volume of Vancouver specials of any neighborhood in Vancouver. This entire area would be a rather normal and common area if it weren't for Trout Lake Park.

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Visitors arriving from Vancouver Airport will undoubtedly travel through the neighborhood of Marpole first. Marpole is the city of Vancouver's outermost neighborhood, and gives visitors an idea of what they can expect from the city of Vancouver in general. This neighborhood is bordered by the following thoroughfares; to the west by Angus Dr., to the north by 57th Ave., and to the east by Main St. Marpole is bordered to the south by the Fraser River. 

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Granville was the name of Vancouver in Canada until it was changed in 1886. The name was then given to an area of tidal flats with a large permanent sandbar with a small inlet called False Creek. After the Vancouver Harbor Commission approved a 35-acre reclamation project in False Creek, the New Granville Island was transformed into an industrial area. Today, Granville Island only holds memories of its dynamic past. The area is still dynamic and full of activities with an extensive marina, huge public market, shopping areas, and fine arts galleries. These developments made Granville Island real estate luxurious and in demand for tourists and businessmen.

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