Whether you’re strolling along the waterfront, hiking through a park or wandering through tree-lined residential streets, Vancouver’s pedestrian-friendly nature means it’s an easy place to experience without a car. In fact, while it may not be Canada’s largest city, Vancouver is generally considered the most walkable in the country. And while each of the city’s central neighbourhoods have their own particular character, they nearly all boast easy access to local shops and restaurants, green spaces and public transit. So lace up your walking shoes, grab a coffee from a local roaster and let’s take a neighbourhood-by-neighbourhood tour of some of Vancouver’s most walkable places to live.
Between Downtown Vancouver, Stanley Park and English Bay, sits the West End, one of Vancouver’s most walkable neighbourhoods. Between nearby parks, the famous Seawall and block after block of tree-lined streets, this area is perfect for walking, jogging and biking. A dense, urban neighbourhood, the West End has multiple retail and dining corridors along Denman, Davie and Robson streets. Davie Village, a district within the broader neighbourhood, is considered the heart of Vancouver’s LGBTQ+ community, while Denman has everything from pasta joints and izakaya, to farm-to-table dining at The Red Accordion.
Local transportation options are top notch, with local bus routes to downtown and UBC, and multiple SkyTrain stations within walking distance. Condos are by far the most common housing option in the West End, with the main differentiators being newness and size of the complex.
Just across the Burran Street Bridge sits Kitsilano, a coastal neighbourhood known for outdoor living, beaches and boutiques. Also known as “Kits”, Kitsilano’s flat, grid layout, combined with extensive pedestrian and bike infrastructure make it one of the city’s best neighbourhoods for living car-free. At its heart is Kitsilano Beach, a wide sandy stretch with beach volleyball courts, paddleboarding, and the saltwater Kitsilano Pool, Canada’s longest outdoor swimming pool. Adjacent Vanier Park hosts the Museum of Vancouver, the Maritime Museum, the MacMillan Space Centre, as well as the Bard on the Beach theatre festival during the summer.
Most of the neighbourhood is residential, with restaurants and businesses clustered along West 4th Ave. Here, locals enjoy easy access to a number of health-conscious eateries, wellness studios and boutiques—including Lululemon’s first brick-and-mortar location. Frequent bus service links Kitsilano to downtown and UBC, and most daily needs, from groceries to cafés, are within walking distance. Kitsilano offers a wide range of housing options, from single family homes, to townhomes, to condominium complexes both large and small.
East of Kits, South of False Creek, Fairview is a walkable mix of low-rise apartments, condos, shops and parks centered along the Broadway and Granville corridors. Home to Vancouver General Hospital, numerous clinics and research centres, Fairview is a hub for healthcare professionals and students. The trendy South Granville shopping district boasts art galleries, designer boutiques, gourmet markets, cafés and performance venues like the Arts Club Theatre Company’s Stanley Stage. Charleson Park sits along the False Creek waterfront, offering trails, a dog park and city views.
Transit coverage in the area is stellar, with easy SkyTrain and bus connections to downtown, the airport and beyond. For housing, condo units in smaller buildings are one of the most common options, but there are single family homes and larger, high-rise buildings as well.
A few miles east of Fairview, you’ll find Kensington-Cedar Cottage, an area known for its family-friendliness, diversity and strong local identity. At the neighbourhood’s heart lies John Hendry aka Trout Lake Park & Community Centre, which offers trails, a sandy beach, sports fields, an ice rink and community events (like the Trout Lake Farmers Market). The neighbourhood dining scene along Kingsway and Commercial Drive features a truly global assortment of options, from Vietnamese pho to Mexican tacos to Chinese dim sum.
Residents enjoy easy access to both the SkyTrain and several bus lines, and the neighbourhood’s walkable streets, green spaces and local hubs make many daily needs accessible on foot. Most homes on the market are either townhomes or single family homes, but there are options for condos as well.
Just north of Kensington-Cedar Cottage is Grandview-Woodland, a lively area on Vancouver’s eastern edge. Grandview-Woodland balances quiet, tree-lined blocks of charming, heritage homes with the excitement of Commercial Drive, often referred to by locals as “The Drive” or “Little Italy”. This eight-block street is brimming with cafés, vintage shops, art galleries, live-music venues, markets and diverse eateries, from Italian to French to Vietnamese options. Local gardens and murals give the area a distinctly lived-in, artistic feel. Craft beer fans will especially love the area’s many local breweries like Superflux Beer and Parallel 49 Brewing.
Because of its density, the area is comfortable to navigate on foot, with many streets featuring traffic calmed pedestrian corridors and parks scattered throughout the neighbourhood. Transit is very accessible, with SkyTrain and bus lines running both along and through the neighbourhood. For housing options, Grandview-Woodland has a mix of small apartments, duplexes, townhomes and single family homes.
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