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 ₹22,229 per night from 30 Jul to 31 Jul
₹22,229
₹26,044 total
30 Jul - 31 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! (2,304 reviews)
"Amazing stay! The staff were so friendly, and the hotel was so clean :))"

Reviewed on 21 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 ₹20,700 per night from 28 Jul to 29 Jul
₹20,700
₹25,724 total
28 Jul - 29 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! (9,362 reviews)
"Overall, our stay at the hotel was good, though there were a few areas that could be improved. The rooms were clean and well-maintained each day, and the cleaning staff was incredibly helpful — always ready to provide bottled water whenever we needed it. The front desk and service staff were generally ..."

Reviewed on 22 Jul 2025

River Rock Casino Resort
Pinnacle Hotel Harbourfront

Pinnacle Hotel Harbourfront

4 out of 5
1133 Hastings St W, Vancouver, BC
The price is ₹22,229 per night from 30 Jul to 31 Jul
₹22,229
₹26,825 total
30 Jul - 31 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! (6,964 reviews)
"Enjoyed stay. Staff was great. Was given a late check out"

Reviewed on 22 Jul 2025

Pinnacle Hotel Harbourfront
The Sutton Place Hotel Vancouver

The Sutton Place Hotel Vancouver

4.5 out of 5
845 Burrard St, Vancouver, BC
Fully refundableReserve now, pay when you stay
The price is ₹23,151 per night from 31 Jul to 1 Aug
₹23,151
₹27,939 total
31 Jul - 1 Aug
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 restaurant and the helpful staff in ...
9/10 Wonderful! (3,161 reviews)
"Great room"

Reviewed on 22 Jul 2025

The Sutton Place Hotel Vancouver
YWCA Hotel

YWCA Hotel

2.5 out of 5
733 Beatty Street, Vancouver, BC
The price is ₹10,462 per night from 29 Jul to 30 Jul
₹10,462
₹12,626 total
29 Jul - 30 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! (2,574 reviews)
"Sharing a bathroom was different but worked out well as facilities were really clean and quiet."

Reviewed on 20 Jul 2025

YWCA Hotel
Fairmont Vancouver Airport In-Terminal Hotel

Fairmont Vancouver Airport In-Terminal Hotel

4.5 out of 5
3111 Grant McConachie Way, Richmond, BC
The price is ₹23,823 per night from 18 Aug to 19 Aug
₹23,823
₹27,911 total
18 Aug - 19 Aug
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4.5-star luxury hotel in Richmond. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, a full-service spa and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the breakfast and the restaurant ...
9.4/10 Exceptional! (6,138 reviews)
Best airport hotel ever!
"Excellent accommodations, staff, location, food and bar. Great plane spotting too! Even a good spot to see fireworks over English Bay!"

Reviewed on 21 Jul 2025

Fairmont Vancouver Airport In-Terminal Hotel
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 Roundhouse Community Arts & Recreation Centre. 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 BC Place Stadium 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 Jack Poole Plaza 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