[3] The Downtown area is generally considered to be bounded by Burrard Inlet to the north, West End to the west, Granville Island/Fairview and Mount Pleasant across the False Creek to the south, and Downtown Eastside and Strathcona to the east and southeast.

SkyTrain Stadium-Chinatown station provides easy rapid transit access to the district.

The Expo Line travels from Waterfront station at the foot of the central harbor and through Dunsmuir Tunnel to the east.

The West Coast Express commuter rail system travels from Waterfront station to the eastern suburbs and exurbs.

The 95 B-Line started service in December 2016 in conjunction with the opening of the Evergreen Extension, connecting downtown to Simon Fraser University along Hastings Street.