Downtown Eastside, Vancouver

A lot of people tell horror stories about the Downtown Eastside. Most of those people down there are hurting and homeless, and don't want any trouble. If you just ignore them, almost all of the time, they'll leave you alone. Walking down there in the daytime isn't a pretty sight, but I highly doubt you'll run into trouble unless you deliberately go looking for it. There's no need to get all freaked out about it if you find yourself there, day or night. Just keep to yourself, and keep moving, and you should be fine. Like I stated before, you'll only run into trouble if you go down and initiate it. I'd be more concerned about finding myself venturing into alleys and some of the poorly lit side streets off Main which are more of a potential threat than Hastings St. itself.

Everyone is so freaked out about the DTES. It's like this: If you aren't looking to score drugs or a looking for sex from a "professional" then you are basically safe.

Don't let paranoia get you, especially since the Chinatown night market is in the DTES, you may miss something special. Gastown is also in the area (on the fringes) but in the day you won't be bothered, stay off of Hastings though.

I would reccomend not parking in the area...property crime is pretty high in Vancouver (especially there), but violent crimes are not commmon unless you are trying to do something illegal anyway.

I was doing some research on the downtown eastside and came across this message board.I just had to leave a comment!Im now 14 and i love to wonder around my beautiful city.Sometimes ill even walk around Main and Hastings.And when i do im not afraid at all.The only people that will actually come up to you are either beggars or drug dealers the rest are just preoccupied with their own little business.Sure it may be a scary looking place but its most deffinetly not worth avoiding.Walking down Hastings is actually informative and it shows you how crazy the world has gone.The place is a little more frightening in the night,but why would you stroll down an alley at 2 am?And yes my parents do know i walk around there and they have no problem with it.

Perish the thought. Every city has a dark side and Vancouver's isn't as dangerous as the people who have posted before me have made it seem. I am in this neighbourhood everyday. I have worked afternoon shifts down on East Hastings for almost a year and never had a problem. Part of it is because they see me all the time, but tourists should be alright if they stay in groups and do the following

- Stay out of the alleys
- Realize that you're in their territory
- Keep your attitude and opinions about their lifestyle to yourself.

i dont know where yous get your evidence about vancouver being not dangerous but it is no different than any other city and is dangerous. we have indo-canadian gangs (theres a funny story about this. a couple of months ago, a border guard was arrested for smuggling drugs accross the border, and he said 'i had to do it, i was being forced by indo-canadian gang members'), marijuana grow ops, shootings (richards on richards), stabbings, beatings. some woman got beat up twice getting out of the sky train. her name was hazel. i saw that on the news a couple of nights ago. if you go to discover vancouver.com, you always hear about cops harasing people. there have been widespread news coverage about cops abusing the drug addicts in the downtown east side too. people in vancouver, not just the downtown east side are afraid to open their doors. while im on the subject of doors, notice how many of the washrooms (toilets) are locked in vancouver? do u really think that is because we live in such a safe city? even in a war zone like new york, they dont lock their washrooms at the level that vancouver does. and im talking about walking into a mcdonalds and having to ask for a key to take a leak. bottom line is, people in vancouver are scared to death. even in the supposed nicer neighbourhoods like the rich west end, you have people that are scared to death. i was looking for an apartment there, wanting to locate the manger of the building, and this woman said, i cant let you in because you dont live here. now, would a woman say that if this was such a "safe" city. obviously not. even in new york they arent as paranoid.

Have you heard enough about the heroin problem in Van? It's real. Here in Toronto I've never seen anything close to what I regularly witnessed in Downtown Vancouver. Try to avoid the neighbourhood east of Gastown - you'll know it when you see it. Junkies also get around all parts of the downtown core, and can be found in store alcoves and near major bus transfer points. That being said, these are human beings, and they aren't (usually) out to bother anyone. For all that I was warned of danger, and even with how threatening some streets seem at night, no one paid me the least bit of attention. Be cool, keep your wits about you, and it should be fine. That being said, don't park your car in this neighbourhood, flaunt wealth, or otherwise draw attention to yourself!

the homeless people, the prostitutes, the criminals, the drug addicts..they did not choose this life. To avoid this street because of them is complete BS. This is indeed the poorest neighborhood in Canada but instead of avoiding the street, why not go there and see the problem and bring it to attention to DO SOMETHING rather than to ignore it. I am not a tourist but a proud resident of Vancouver who has walked through that street many times day and night. It is not dangerous, it is simply just a depressing street in need of repair and attention.

In general, Vancouver is a very safe city expecially considering its size. One part of the city that tourists should avoid staying in however is the Downtown East side. The area around Main and Hastings is full of homeless people and a lot of drug dealers. So although you may be able to find a cheap room in the area. I would recommend against it.