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I wouldn't call the Downtown Eastside dangerous, at least not in terms of violence. It's scary looking, but you'd have to be really stupid to put yourself in danger there.
What are the most dangerous neighborhoods in Vancouver?
There are no real dangerous neighbourhoods in Vancouver. There are some areas that are prettier than others and some that are grungier than others, but nowhere that would put you in danger.
For example, I wouldnt' recommend exploring the Downtown Eastside because it smells of urine, you'll see crackheads doing drugs, and sketched out people on the sidewalks. But they typically completely ignore anyone that passes by. A dangerous area to be if you're a drug addict, but not to your typical passerby. I mean, Granville Street - the famed strip of nightclubs and pubs - is more dangerous in terms of random violence. You're more likely to have a run in with a drunken meathead trying to prove his toughness than somewhere like the Downtown Eastside, which appears on the surface to be dangerous, when in reality, it's not.
Statistically you're more likely to find gang violence, druglord houses, stabbings, and targeted shootings in "safe" suburbs of Surrey, Langley, and Abbotsford. They're outside of Vancouver.
Most of the city is safe regarding violent crime. The Whalley area of Surrey (outside of Vancouver Proper) would be an area to avoid at night although the city is working to clean it up.
Downtown Eastside is not what would consider violent, like where you could be killed. The murder rate is higher than most parts of the city. But the Downtown Eastside is poor with many homeless people and drugs. If you walk through there, you have a low chance of being killed, but it is common to get mugged and car break-ins are very common.
I would say that all of North Surrey (Whalley, Newton and Guilford) is the most violent in Vancouver area. The violent crime is equal to a normal American city, but car theft is very high, Surrey once had the highest car theft rate in North America. Surrey is the only part of Vancouver that I would consider ghetto. And if you want to argue that Surrey is not a ghetto, ghetto is not the amount of crime, its the people who live there.
Mount Pleasant in Vancouver has some public housing and poor people, but is not a dangerous area.
New Westminster and Middlegate in Burnaby are not too violent, but have a lot of car break-ins.
The Blue Mountain area of Coquitlam is poorer than the average area, break-ins are higher, but it is not violent.
Abbotsford has gang problems and marijuana grow-ops, but the violence rarely involves anyone who is not involved in gangs.
Overall, the highest crime: Downtown Eastside.
The most violent: Surrey
Poorest: Downtown Eastside
Most 'ghetto': Only Surrey
DTES is generally only dangerous to those who participate in the lifestyle - if you are a tourist or resident just walking around minding your own business, you might feel scared, but the local drug users aren't interested in you. I have never felt in danger there, although it can be very shocking to others. Stay out of trouble and you won't find a problem. Although they can frighten you, the people there are genuinely not out to hurt you.
The only parts I would consider truly DANGEROUS, as in an innocent person can be targeted, is when you lurk around the skytrain areas. It is there that you are looking at muggings/robberies, primarily in Surrey/New West/Burnaby.
Many areas around Skytrain (Vancouver's public, and crowded, mass-transport system) can be dangerous - particularly at night. This is due to the area's themselves around the stations being either main commercial points of the city and because many are predominately poor neighbourhoods. It is also highly speculated that the Skytrain system itself is used as a main artery for easy movement of narcotics/weapons/contraband in Vancouver's notorious drug trade.
These area's are all along Skytrain's 'Expo Line' - being the first and busiest network of stops that run through the main areas of the city. While 'Millennium Line' also runs through areas affected by crime, it is considered much safer than Expo. This also goes for the 'Canada Line' of Skytrain, in which crime is virtually invisible. Especially around Richmond as well as Vancouver International Airport, respectively.
It is also important to note that law enforcement is making a considerable effort to combat crime all over the city, and do make a known presence at many Skytrain stops to ensure public safety.
The "dangerous" areas (Expo Line) include, but aren't limited to:
-Surrey Central station (Surrey) and surrounding area's. At night, exercise a high degree of caution as the area has visible gang activity in conjunction with an only moderate police presence as there is a college/university in the immediate area. You could find yourself in the wrong place at the wrong time.
-Gateway station (Surrey) and surrounding area's. Exercise a high degree of caution at all times.
-Scott Road station (Surrey/New Westminster border) and surrounding industrial area's. Exercise a high degree of caution and be aware of your surroundings at all times.
-New Westminster station (New West) and quayside area along the Fraser River. Exercise moderate security precautions and be aware of your surroundings, especially if around the quayside.
-Edmonds station (New West/Burnaby border) and immediate area. Exercise a more moderate degree of caution in this area at night.
-Royal Oak station (Burnaby) and immediate area. Exercise normal security precautions.
-Metrotown station (Burnaby) and surrounding area. This area is considered a busy commercial/business point and realistically only presents risks to personal safety late at night. Exercise normal security precautions.
-Patterson station (Burnaby) and the direct connecting area back to Metrotown station. Also only posing risks late night.
Exercise normal security precautions.
-Joyce/Collingwood station (Burnaby/East Vancouver boarder) and surrounding area - mainly Joyce st. and Kingsway, can particularly present risks to personal safety at night. Exercise a normal-high degree of caution and be aware of your surroundings at all times if venturing in or around the Kingsway area that crosses Joyce (and the several blocks continuing down into East Vancouver).
-29th Avenue station (East Vancouver) and surrounding area. Exercise a high degree of caution and be aware of your surroundings at all times.
below is an updated link on the map of Vancouver's Skytrain system.
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