Gastown Travel Guide

Vancouver

Gastown which includes a city, café lifestyle and street scenes
Gastown showing a city
Gastown featuring street scenes, a city and outdoor eating
Gastown which includes signage
Gastown
The birthplace of Vancouver is full of old-world charm with cobbled streets, Victorian buildings, and a unique steam-powered clock. 

Gastown grew up around a tavern, which opened in 1867 to service thirsty sawmill workers and visiting sailors. The bar owner was John “Gassy Jack” Deighton, so called because of his talkative nature.

As the nearest pub was more than 20 miles (32 kilometres) away, Deighton’s  establishment became the heart of the small town in what was mostly wilderness on Canada’s west coast. Both the fledgling town, which took it’s name from Gassy Jack, and the watering hole prospered thanks to the sawmill and the seaport, and would become the world-class city of Vancouver. 

After the global Great Depression of the 1930s, the neighbourhood hit hard times. The city had expanded westward and changed its name to Vancouver, and Gastown was largely forgotten. In fact, it became so rundown that there were calls for the neighbourhood to be torn down. A large public campaign organised by property owners and local businesses managed to persuade the provincial government to spare Gastown from the wrecking ball in the 1970s.

The area has benefited from a major regeneration programme and gentrification, and today is a happy confluence of old town history and modern day urban chic. 
It may not be the heart of the city anymore, but Gastown has retained its character with cobblestone streets and old buildings, many of which are more than a hundred years old. 

Many of those original buildings are now home to bars and restaurants.  Enjoy fine dining — from Italian, to French, to Asian-influenced —  as well as tap houses with exceptional locally-brewed beer.  

Explore this eclectic neighbourhood by day and night. Your meandering will take you past nightspots, high fashion boutiques, antique stores and galleries. Several chic home design shops  offer elegant, decorative fabrics and tableware from all over the world. Observe the statue of “Gassy Jack” perched atop a whisky barrel in Maple Tree Square on the site of the area’s first tavern, and there’s a French restaurant on the site of Vancouver’s first jail.

One of the town’s best-known landmarks is its steam-powered clock, which stands on the intersection of Cambie Street and Water Street, and ‘toots’ every 15 minutes. The clock’s timepiece is partially driven by water vapour and while it looks like a Victorian antique, it was actually built in 1977. It was the first of its type ever built. Plaques with information on buildings and landmarks are scattered throughout the town.

Gastown is an easy walk from the surrounding hotel districts, and also accessible by bus or the Skytrain, Vancouver’s rapid transportation system. Parking can be tricky to find during the busy summer tourist season.


Popular places to visit


Top hotels in Gastown

Radisson Blu Vancouver Airport Hotel & Marina
Radisson Blu Vancouver Airport Hotel & Marina
4 out of 5
3500 Cessna Dr, Richmond, BC
The price is ₹15,712 per night from 9 Jul to 10 Jul
₹15,712
₹18,408 total
9 Jul - 10 Jul
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star luxury hotel in Richmond. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, breakfast (surcharge) and a free airport shuttle. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (2,118 reviews)
"In hotel area with good views of the shore."

Reviewed on 1 Jul 2025

Radisson Blu Vancouver Airport Hotel & Marina
River Rock Casino Resort
River Rock Casino Resort
4 out of 5
8811 River Road, Richmond, BC
The price is ₹19,803 per night from 9 Jul to 10 Jul
₹19,803
₹24,663 total
9 Jul - 10 Jul
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star luxury resort in Richmond. Enjoy a full-service spa, 5 restaurants and a marina. Our guests praise the pool and the helpful staff in their ...
8.2/10 Very Good! (9,228 reviews)
"Had a great time. Beds were so comfortable and staff was so nice and helpful."

Reviewed on 30 Jun 2025

River Rock Casino Resort
Pinnacle Hotel Harbourfront
Pinnacle Hotel Harbourfront
4 out of 5
1133 Hastings St W, Vancouver, BC
The price is ₹19,569 per night from 20 Jul to 21 Jul
₹19,569
₹23,615 total
20 Jul - 21 Jul
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star business-friendly hotel in Vancouver. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, breakfast (surcharge) and a fitness centre. Our guests praise the breakfast and the ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (6,832 reviews)
"Great location. Clean, quiet. Great stay."

Reviewed on 29 Jun 2025

Pinnacle Hotel Harbourfront
Sandman Hotel Vancouver Downtown
Sandman Hotel Vancouver Downtown
4 out of 5
180 W Georgia St, Vancouver, BC
Fully refundable
The price is ₹18,665 per night from 31 Jul to 1 Aug
₹18,665
₹22,523 total
31 Jul - 1 Aug
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star hotel in Vancouver. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, 2 restaurants and 2 bars/lounges. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms in their ...
7.8/10 Good! (3,310 reviews)
"Clean, great location, friendly staff"

Reviewed on 1 Jul 2025

Sandman Hotel Vancouver Downtown
YWCA Hotel
YWCA Hotel
2.5 out of 5
733 Beatty Street, Vancouver, BC
The price is ₹13,215 per night from 7 Jul to 8 Jul
₹13,215
₹15,947 total
7 Jul - 8 Jul
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this hotel in Vancouver. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, a fitness centre and parking (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms in their ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (2,510 reviews)
Great family stay
"Everything was super clean and quiet! Kitchens (with no cookware), laundry, and rooftop patio were great. Parking was expensive but super convenient."

Reviewed on 29 Jun 2025

YWCA Hotel
Hyatt Regency Vancouver
Hyatt Regency Vancouver
4.5 out of 5
655 Burrard St, Vancouver, BC
The price is ₹27,038 per night from 20 Jul to 21 Jul
₹27,038
₹32,628 total
20 Jul - 21 Jul
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this spa hotel in Vancouver. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, a full-service spa and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (2,358 reviews)
"Best Hotel I have stayed at in Canada. Staff were very helpful and the rooms were always clean and well taken care of. House-keeping was on point and friendly too. Definitely staying at the hotel on my next trip to Vancouver. Highly recommend"

Reviewed on 30 Jun 2025

Hyatt Regency Vancouver
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Other neighbourhoods around Gastown

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Crosstown

While you're in Crosstown, take in top sights like Island View Family Golf Centre and jump on the metro at Stadium-Chinatown Station to see more of the city.

Crosstown
Downtown Vancouver showing a city, a high-rise building and modern architecture

Downtown Vancouver

4.5/5(354 area reviews)

Canada Place Cruise Ship Terminal and BC Place Stadium are a few top attractions in Downtown Vancouver. Hop around the city on the metro at Vancouver City Center Station or Granville Station and check out the area's captivating waterfront views, popular shops and acclaimed art galleries.

Downtown Vancouver
Yaletown showing street scenes, a city and night scenes

Yaletown

Take time in Yaletown to visit attractions like Robson Street and Vancouver False Creek Seawall. You might also appreciate the abundant dining options, and you can hop on the metro at Yaletown-Roundhouse Station to see more of the city.

Yaletown
Gastown showing outdoor art, a statue or sculpture and a city

Central Vancouver

3/5(2 area reviews)

If you're spending time in Central Vancouver, check out sights like Canada Place Cruise Ship Terminal or Rogers Arena and hop on the metro to see more of the city at Granville Station or Vancouver City Center Station.

Central Vancouver
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Coal Harbour

The captivating waterfront views and popular shops are a few things travellers love about Coal Harbour. Check out Vancouver Waterfront or Olympic Cauldron while you're visiting, and jump aboard the metro at Burrard Station to get around town.

Coal Harbour
West End featuring signage, a city and street scenes

West End

The stunning beaches and popular shops are just a few highlights of West End. Make a stop by Robson Street or Sunset Beach while you're exploring the area.

West End

Gastown Travel Guide