Gastown

Vancouver

Gastown featuring a city, street scenes and cafe scenes
Gastown showing a city
Gastown showing a city, street scenes and outdoor eating
Gastown which includes signage
Gastown featuring street scenes and a city
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 kilometers) 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 neighborhood 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 neighborhood to be torn down. A large public campaign organized 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 program 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 neighborhood 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 whiskey 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 vapor 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

Things to do


Gastown Hotel Deals

River Rock Casino Resort

River Rock Casino Resort

4 out of 5
8811 River Road, Richmond, BC
The price is ¥24,540 per night from Sep 4 to Sep 5
¥24,540
¥31,223 total
Sep 4 - Sep 5
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 our ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (9,538 reviews)
"Convenience store and Starbucks on site! The hotel also has easy access to the sky train which was super convenient! Otherwise, the area is not the most walkable."

Reviewed on Aug 24, 2025

River Rock Casino Resort
Radisson Blu Vancouver Airport Hotel & Marina

Radisson Blu Vancouver Airport Hotel & Marina

4 out of 5
3500 Cessna Dr, Richmond, BC
The price is ¥29,650 per night from Sep 9 to Sep 10
¥29,650
¥34,740 total
Sep 9 - Sep 10
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star luxury hotel in Richmond. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast (surcharge), and a free airport shuttle. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (2,699 reviews)
"Staff always friendly - bell hop, front desk, cleaning crew."

Reviewed on Aug 25, 2025

Radisson Blu Vancouver Airport Hotel & Marina
Pinnacle Hotel Harbourfront

Pinnacle Hotel Harbourfront

4 out of 5
1133 Hastings St W, Vancouver, BC
The price is ¥38,287 per night from Sep 3 to Sep 4
¥38,287
¥46,205 total
Sep 3 - Sep 4
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star business-friendly hotel in Vancouver. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast (surcharge), and a fitness center. Our guests praise the breakfast and the ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (7,225 reviews)
"The view from our room of the harbor was breathtaking! the location was perfect - hotel staff excellent! we sould definitely stay there again!!!"

Reviewed on Aug 25, 2025

Pinnacle Hotel Harbourfront
Sandman Signature Vancouver Airport Hotel & Resort

Sandman Signature Vancouver Airport Hotel & Resort

4 out of 5
10251 St Edwards Drive, Richmond, BC
The price is ¥19,758 per night from Sep 2 to Sep 3
¥19,758
¥23,144 total
Sep 2 - Sep 3
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star family-friendly hotel in Richmond. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and 2 outdoor pools. Our guests praise the pool and the restaurant in our ...
8/10 Very Good! (3,316 reviews)
"A lot parking"

Reviewed on Aug 24, 2025

Sandman Signature Vancouver Airport Hotel & Resort
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 ¥34,886 per night from Sep 1 to Sep 2
¥34,886
¥40,875 total
Sep 1 - Sep 2
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4.5-star luxury hotel in Richmond. Enjoy free WiFi, a full-service spa, and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the breakfast and the restaurant ...
9.4/10 Exceptional! (6,297 reviews)
"Excellent service"

Reviewed on Aug 25, 2025

Fairmont Vancouver Airport In-Terminal Hotel
YWCA Hotel

YWCA Hotel

2.5 out of 5
733 Beatty Street, Vancouver, BC
The price is ¥19,461 per night from Sep 7 to Sep 8
¥19,461
¥23,481 total
Sep 7 - Sep 8
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this hotel in Vancouver. Enjoy free WiFi, a fitness center, and parking (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms in our reviews. ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (2,713 reviews)
"Good value. Clean. Close to train station via taxi friendly staff"

Reviewed on Aug 23, 2025

YWCA 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 neighborhoods around Gastown

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Crosstown

While you're in Crosstown, take in top sights like Chinatown Millennium Gate and jump on the metro at Stadium-Chinatown Station to see more of the city.

Crosstown
Downtown Vancouver which includes a city, modern architecture and a skyscraper

Downtown Vancouver

4.5/5(4,711 area reviews)

Central business district meets diverse neighborhoods, featuring high-rise apartments, Granville Mall, Gastown Steam Clock, and Sun Tower. Easily accessible via SkyTrain, SeaBus, and water taxis.

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

Yaletown

If you're spending time in Yaletown, you might enjoy attractions like Robson Street and Vancouver False Creek Seawall. You might also enjoy the neighborhood's ample dining options before hopping on the metro at Yaletown-Roundhouse Station to see more of the city.

Yaletown
Gastown featuring a statue or sculpture, a monument and a city

Central Vancouver

2.5/5(4 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 the city at Granville Station or Vancouver City Center Station.

Central Vancouver
Vancouver Waterfront which includes a bay or harbor and outdoor art

Coal Harbour

The captivating waterfront views and popular shops are a few things travelers 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

Fashionable Robson Street offers shopping and dining, while parks and beaches like Stanley Park and Sunset Beach provide outdoor activities. Explore the Stanley Park Seawall promenade and enjoy amenities along Denman and Davie Streets.

West End


Gastown