Robson Street

You haven’t really visited Vancouver if you haven’t made it over to Robson Street. The most famous shopping district in Vancouver, Robson Street’s best shops can be found on the stretch between Burrard Street and Jervis Street, which is often called Robsonstrasse by the locals. There are literally hundreds of upscale shops to suit many tastes, including HMV, Armani Exchange, American Apparel, Kiehl’s, Bebe, Saatchi & Saatchi and more. Whether you are looking for food, beauty products, clothing or gifts, chances are Robson Street has what you need, or better yet, what you want.

Robson Street starts at BC Place Stadium, where the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2010 Winter Olympics will be held, near the north shore of False Creek, then runs northwest past Vancouver Library Square, Robson Square and the Vancouver Art Gallery, coming to an end at Lost Lagoon in Stanley Park.

Robson Street is itself a tourist attraction, not only for the shopping, but for both the planned and the unplanned entertainment that breaks out as the days move into the evening hours. Along with shopping, there are many restaurants, both family and upscale, that cater to many different types of cuisine.

Vancouver is one of the most expensive cities in the world to live in, and if it’s not the shops putting it there, it’s the housing. Renting commercial space on Robson Street comes in at $200 per square foot, which is up to 20 times higher than property in most cities. There are also many high rise condo towers and hotels, including the Empire Landmark Hotel, which is the tallest high rise on the strip at 42 stories high.

Of course, with this much exclusivity, you wouldn’t expect many budget hotels to be in the area, so along with the Empire Landmark Hotel a couple more upscale hotels in the area are the Pan Pacific Hotel and the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver.

If you’re looking for a good time, shopping and eating at upscale restaurants, and a general ambiance of people having fun, Robson Street is where you want to be in Vancouver at any hour of the day.