The simplest way from the West End to downtown Vancouver is the bus. Routes 5 Robson and 6 Davie both run through the West End and into the downtown core, and on busy stretches they come every few minutes. Walking or cycling the seawall also works if the weather is good.
Buses 5 and 6 from Robson and Davie
Route 5 follows Robson Street and route 6 follows Davie Street. Both are trolleybus routes. The 6 starts at Davie and Denman and runs east along Davie, then along Pacific Boulevard and up Cambie Street to Cambie and Dunsmuir. TransLink lists it as a frequent route, with service about every 10 minutes through the day and closer to every 5 or 6 minutes at peak times.
The 5 and the 6 together cover most of the neighbourhood, so walk to whichever street is nearer and board the next bus that comes. Exact stops and arrival times are in the TransLink trip planner and app, which also show detours and delays.
Canada Line from Vancouver City Centre
The Canada Line is part of the SkyTrain network. Vancouver City Centre and Waterfront are two of its downtown stations, and trains on that stretch run very close together. From the West End it is a walk to reach Vancouver City Centre, so the line suits you best when your destination is near a station or you are heading on to Yaletown, Olympic Village or the airport.
Along the seawall
The Vancouver seawall links Coal Harbour, the West End, Yaletown and Kitsilano along the water, and the paved path between them is popular with walkers and cyclists. It makes a good choice on a dry morning when there is no luggage involved. A short ride on a bike or a stroll gets you across the peninsula without waiting for anything.
Fares and a ride for a heavy day
Since July 2026 a one zone adult fare on a Compass Card is $2.85, and a single fare paid in cash is $3.50. Buses, SkyTrain and SeaBus all use the same Compass system, so one tap covers a transfer inside the fare window. Fare tables are updated from time to time, so check the TransLink fares page before you travel.
For bags, a late night or a rainy evening, a car can be easier. The Uber estimate calculator gives a rough fare for a short downtown hop, and the Vancouver taxi page lists local cab options.