Kitsilano

Understand

Kitsilano

Kitsilano is one of Vancouver's most popular neighbourhoods. The first people living in the area were the Squamish people and the neighbourhood's name is derived from a Squamish chief, August Jack Khatsahlano. Its proximity to the early Vancouver settlement drew settlers and it became one of Vancouver's first suburbs. It's long been a popular spot with young people and was a counterculture hotbed in the 1960s. Greenpeace opened one of their first offices in Kitsilano and the British Columbia Green Party's original offices were here, as well. The area has become more gentrified in the decades since, but it still has a vibrancy that is missing in the more staid neighbourhoods that surround it. One thing that hasn't changed is the beach, which continues to be the focal point of the community. On a sunny day, the beach towels come out, the volleyballs fly and the patios fill. And while the neighbourhood beaches certainly cater to the sun worshipers and the see-and-be-seen attitude, they also host music festivals, live theatre and other community events. Kitsilano also has the distinction of historically being an enclave of Greek immigrants and their descendants. The Greek neighbourhood's borders have never been defined, however the strip between Alma St and Trafalgar St is known as 'Greek West Broadway'; West Broadway at Trutch Street is generally considered the neighbourhood's heart. The Greek community of Vancouver continues to maintain a presence by hosting 'Greek Day' on the last Sunday of every June where West Broadway is closed to vehicle traffic between MacDonald and Blenheim for free, family-oriented festivities. Kitsilano is defined as the area between Burrard St in the east and Alma St in the west, and from the water to 16th Ave in the south.

Granville Island

Located beneath the Granville Street Bridge on the south side of False Creek, Granville Island (actually a peninsula) started off as industrial land. Over time, its warehouses and s

Getting there

See Vancouver for options to get in the Vancouver area by plane, by bus, and by train, and by boat. The neighbourhoods are easy to access by car, bike or bus, especially from downtown Vancouver. Parking is somewhat limited and traffic around the beach can back-up on weekend afternoons, so public transit (or walking/biking) will frequently be a better option. There are multiple ferries (operated by False Creek Ferries and Aquabus) in Vancouver that can take you to the two ferry stations on Granville Island. Depending on where you are in Vancouver, this could be the quickest and cheapest way to get to Granville Island.

Getting around

By public transit TransLink, ☏ +1-604-953-3333. The main public transit network in the Vancouver area, including: Bowen Island, Burnaby, Coquitlam, Delta, Langley, Lions Bay, Maple Ridge, New Westminster, North Vancouver, Port Coquitlam, Pitt Meadows, Port Moody, Richmond, Surrey, Vancouver, West Vancouver, and White Rock. Its network includes buses, SkyTrain (rail rapid transit), SeaBus (ferries), West Coast Express (commuter rail), and HandyDART (door-to-door shared-ride service for those who cannot ride public transit without assistance). (updated Mar 2022) Passengers can pay for fares using Compass Cards ($6 refundable deposit), Compass Tickets, or tap-to-pay using contactless credit cards (only American Express, Mastercard or Visa) or mobile wallets. Passengers using Compass Cards and Compass Tickets pay discounted fares. Passengers can transfer for up to 90 minutes, except if taking West Coast Express, in which case they can transfer for up to 120 minutes. On bus and HandyDART, passengers can also pay in cash, but in that case will not receive change and are not eligible for transfers. Zone based fares apply between Monday and Friday for trips starting before 6:30 pm, if travel involves SkyTrain or SeaBus. Outside of those hours or for travel on only bus or HandyDART, a single zone rate applies. If traveling by West Coast Express, a higher cost zone based fare system applies regardless of time of travel. Children 12 and under can ride for free. People aged 13 to 18, and 65 and older pay discounted concession fares.

By bus Some good buses to get into and around the area include the following, which operate daily unless otherwise specified:

2 - Between Burrard Station (SkyTrain Expo Line) and Kitsilano, traveling along Cornwall St and MacDonald St. 4 - Between UBC to Powell St in East Van via downtown. Operates along 4th Avenue and stops near Granville Island. Stops within a block of Granville Station (SkyTrain Expo Line) and Vancouver City Centre sta

See

There are a trio of museums in Vanier Park on Kits Point, the peninsula forming the mouth of False Creek just west of the Burrard Street bridge. There is some free parking in front of the Space Centre, and it's an easy walk from Translink bus #2 and #22 at Cornwall and Cypress streets. You can also walk down from the 4th Avenue buses (such as #4), or over from Granville Island about 1000 m away.

1 H.R. MacMillan Space Centre and Planetarium, 1100 Chestnut St, ☏ +1 604-738-7827, fax: +1 604-736-5665, [email protected]. M Tu Th Sa Su 9:30AM–4:30PM, W F 7-11PM. The Space Centre is not unlike Science World, with most activities fascinating primarily to pre-teens. The planetarium, however, is a more interesting excursion, and will not be so fascinating to children. It is a small planetarium staffed by volunteers whose knowledge of all things space will stun and amaze you. Admission $18+GST, child under 5 free. (updated Feb 2023) 2 Museum of Vancouver (formerly the Vancouver Museum), 1100 Chestnut St (shares a building with the H.R. MacMillan Space Centre), ☏ +1 604-736-4431, fax: +1 604-736-5417. Su-W 10AM-5PM, Th-Sa 10AM-8PM. The largest civic museum in Canada, with over 1 million items from Vancouver's history, only a fraction of which fit in the exhibit halls. Tucked away to the left off the Orientation Gallery is a series of rooms telling Vancouver's story from the 19th century to the 1970s. The museum makes an effort to tell many stories of Vancouver: English Canadian, First Nations, various immigrant groups, etc. Kid-friendly exhibits. $20, senior or student $15, youth (6 to 17) $15, children (5 and under) free. (updated Feb 2023) 3 Vancouver Maritime Museum, 1905 Ogden Ave, ☏ +1 604-257-8300, fax: +1 604-737-2621. Tu-Su 10AM-5PM, Su noon-5PM. Canada's premiere western maritime museum. Covers the maritime history of Canada, includes artifacts, models and the St. Roch ship. The museum apparently has far more things than space to show them, so they frequently rota

Do

1 Kitsilano Beach (Kits Beach). It's the sandy beach for the young to hang out and be seen at. Kits beach also features beach volleyball courts and a large public swimming pool. Popular in the summer, the salt water pool is 137.5 m in length and runs along the ocean's edge. (updated May 2022) 2 Reckless Bike Stores, 1810 Fir St (at 2nd Ave), ☏ +1 604-731-2420. 10AM-5PM. Bic