Greater Vancouver (aka Metro Vancouver) is a metropolitan area with 21 member cities and towns. Because people usually say “Vancouver” to refer to Greater Vancouver, sometimes we say “the City of Vancouver” to refer to the municipality of Vancouver.

See also:

• Wikipedia: Metro Vancouver Regional District
• Wikipedia: Greater Vancouver
• Wikipedia: List of Greater Vancouver members: 21 municipalities, one electoral area and one treaty First Nation

There are two Langley’s: City of Langley and Langley Township. Politically, these two are separate entities; they are two of the 21 municipality members of Greater Vancouver.

Refers to West Vancouver and North Vancouver, or loosely, the three mountains as well, from west to east: Cypress Mountain, Grouse Mountain, and Mt Seymour.

Not to be confused with West End or West Vancouver—Vancouver West Side is generally the part of the City of Vancouver to the west of Main Street, excluding UBC and Downtown. Notable neighbourhoods include:

• Kitsilano, or “Kits”
• Point Grey
• Dunbar
• Kerrisdale

Link: Google Maps

Not to be confused with Vancouver West Side—West End is the neighbourhood in downtown that is encircled by Robson St, Burrard St, and Stanley Park.

It’s a residential neighbourhood that is much more quiet than the rest of downtown. There are more older buildings than Coal Harbour, and is generally cheaper than Coal Harbour.

Link: Google Maps

Coal Harbour is the downtown neighbourhood along the seawall between Stanley Park and Canada Place. It’s the wealthiest neighbourhood in Vancouver and likely in Canada.

It’s a great place to take a walk or a bike ride. You can find many tourists here.

Links:

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coal_Harbour
• Google Maps

Yaletown is the hip neighbourhood in downtown. There are many restaurants and bars and, for some reason, don’t seem too touristy.

Link: Google Maps

Gastown is to the east of Canada Place near Waterfront. It’s dotted with touristy souvenir shops; the streets are very photogenic.

There are also designer stores and furniture shops here, as well as bars and restaurants.

Link: Google Maps

Chinatown is in between Gastown and Yaletown. It’s history-rich.

You don’t really find good Chinese restaurants in Chinatown; you’d go to Richmond or Metrotown instead.

Chinatown is a sketchy area at night, especially along Main St, or near Hasting St and Pender St.

Link: Google Maps