Downtown Eastside, Vancouver

Main & Hastings is the famous intersection in Vancouver's downtown eastside neighbourhood which often refers to "ground zero" for the city's drug problems.

Well-meaning locals and hotel staff will tell visitors to Vancouver to "avoid this intersection at all costs". As a result, many curious travellers will rebel this advice and will go see this forbidden block for themselves. What's the fuss all about anyway?

Historically, Main & Hastings is Vancouver's oldest neighbourhood. This used to be the heart of Vancouver's downtown before the world wars. Not anymore.

Coincidentally, the downtown eastside is located between two of Vancouver's most famous tourist sites: Chinatown and Gastown. Most tourists don't even realize such neighbourhood exists until they innocently go exploring beyind Gastown in search for Chinatown. Vancouver's Chinatown exists a block away south of this intersection on Main and Pender. A preferable walk between the two sites is to walk along Pender Street from Gastown to Chinatown.

Vancouver's Main & Hastings intersection isn't dangerous, and certainly isn't worth "avoiding at all costs". It's not violent or ridden with gangs. However, it's a sad sight in terms of social issues and how Vancouver deals with its needy: the drug addicts, the homeless, the beggars and prostitutes. While the rest of Vancouver's downtown becomes gentrified, the down and out end up being marginalized to areas like this.

Yet, the area is rich in history and the architecture in this area is unique. This is Vancouver's grittier side. It's dirty and sad, but not dangerous. Don't fear it, just act wisely. As Vancouver author Douglas Coupland said, "come with sturdy footwear and an open mind'.

It's often depressing to know that this area close to downtown is Vancouver's drug haven & prostitution central. Many shops are closed & the street decor is not necessarily inviting. It is not a war zone, but visitors should enter this area with vigilance and street smarts.

Before I visited Vancouver I read several tips on Vancouver on the Virtual Tourist web site and when I got to Vancouver the lady at the Concierge Desk at the Holiday Inn downtown repeated that it was not wise to visit East Hastings Street. This is important because it is in between Gastown and Chinatown two very good places in Vancouver.

I ignored all advice and done a tour of East Hastings Street. At 10 am in the morning it was very busy with a lot of homeless people, you can see the line up in this picture of people returning cans and bottles for money.

It was a very uncomfortable feeling the entire time on East Hastings but the best was yet to come. To get to Gastown from Chinatown our conceirge helper at the hotel recommended a specific street to use as a crossing. I don't remember the name of it and I don't think it matters.

On that street we came upon about 15 people all balling and arguaing about something. Then all of a sudden a blond homeless drug bruised lady jumped from the crowd as her shirt was being ripped off. This is no joke, she then gave some the finger as she ran down an alley.

Needless to say I quickly crossed the street trying not to be noticed and scrambled over to Gastown. But for me 15 minutes was plenty of East Hastings Street and now I can join the ranks of people that can't recommend this area of Vancouver unless you are really into some preverse activities.

Have fun. Please rate my tips and leave your comments I enjoy them all. But be careful getting from Chinatown to Gastown. I still don't think you are to much at risk, just be careful and behave. At night I am sure it is that much worst, for me witnessing an incident probably made it a little worst.

Unless you're looking to score a quick hit of crack or heroin, avoid Hastings street from Granville to Commercial Dr.

Main & Hastings is the absolute worst.

Worth noting, Chinatown which is very close is OK, the freaky-o's generally stay away.

The East Side of Vancouver is not the most pleasant of places to go see. Vancouver is the heroin capital of Canada (being a port city). There are several users, prostitutes and just generally shady people in this part of town. Gastown is located just south of this part of town, but is very safe, just dont venture south.

If you do wander into the Downtown Eastside at night, be sure you have your cell phone with you. Most of the pay phones in that area have been removed over the past couple of years, as they were used mainly for drug deals, or were vandalized.

I lived in Vancouver for a while around the cobalt (main st.) well even if it seems really scary at first you quickly get used to it... even crackheads can be friendly once in a while. I ve never been attacked (I am a girl) well anyway just to say that downtown eastside is more scary looking than it is exept of corse for the used seringes everywhere (don t wear jesus boots)

To all Pot smokers well you can a joint on Downtown eastside streets, just as crack smoker's can smoke their'S

While Vancouver is one of the wealthier cities and more beautiful cities it is also home to the poor neighborhood in all of Canada. While there is some cool grafitti in this area and it is home to the first safe injection site in Canada these are definately not 'Must See Activities' in Vancouver. Needless to say if you are in Gastown late at night and you do not know where you are going, err to the west, it's much better to accidentally wind up in Stanley park than in needle park!