The Most Walkable Neighborhoods in Kelowna, BC

Kelowna is one of the Okanagan’s fastest growing cities, but not every neighborhood is considered a walkable area.

The City of Kelowna, British Columbia gets an overall “walk score” of 42/100, a rather low score compared to the most walkable cities in Canada like Vancouver or Montréal. Walk score is based on walkability factors like block size, density, and the average distances to basic amenities.

To help you find the right home for sale, this guide combines walk score metrics and our expert local perspective to show you the most walkable neighbourhoods and walkable communities in Kelowna, BC, Canada.

A note to cyclists: each of the Kelowna neighborhoods featured in this guide have bicycle lanes, and should also be considered good areas for getting around on e-scooter riders.

Kelowna Most Walkable Neighbourhoods | Walkable Communities in Kelowna

• Downtown & The North End
• Pandosy Village
• South Central Kelowna
• Capri Landmark
• Rutland

Kelowna Downtown & The North End 

Kelowna’s North End is a beautiful lakeside Kelowna neighbourhood located in the area between Knox Mountain Park, Downtown Kelowna, BC, the booming Entertainment District, and Okanagan Lake.

From the North End, you’re a 5 to 10 minute walk from great coffee shops, restaurants, microbreweries, tasting rooms, and art galleries along both Ellis and Richter Street.

Sunset Drive hosts two of Kelowna’s top ranked fine dining restaurants: Waterfront Wines and Bouchon’s Bistro. After dinner you’re a short stroll from Playtime Casino, Prospera Place, and the Tree Brewing Beer Institute.

Pandosy Village Kelowna

Kelowna’s Pandosy Village is a neighborhood with a character of its own that feels like a beachside town.

Located next to Okanagan Lake in the Lower Mission area, the South Pandosy Kelowna neighbourhood is somewhat upscale with a variety of housing options from apartment and condo towers to enourmous waterfront homes with tall trees.

Wherever you are in Pandosy Village, you’re a short walk to pubs, restaurants, art galleries, fashion boutiques, and Gyro Beach - making this one of the best areas to stay in Kelowna on holiday or a business trip - and one of the most popular Kelowna areas to move to.

You can get your grocery shopping done at the IGA or Lakeview Market - one of Kelowna’s only independent grocery stores. And it’s one of the only Kelowna neighbourhoods within walking distance of an official BC Liquor Store. In summer and fall there are some great fruit stands nearby in Lower Mission and South Kelowna.

South Central Kelowna

Located along the lakeshore just south of Harvey Avenue, South Central Kelowna offers some of Kelowna’s most affordable rental housing in close proximity to Downtown. It’s also home to some of Kelowna’s most beautiful and luxurious waterfront properties along Okanagan Lake.

The historic, tree-lined Abbott street is perhaps the most walkable, bikeable, and skateboard-able street in all of Kelowna. A separate walking and cycling path runs from Kelowna’s City Park all the way to Kelowna General Hospital. 

Dozens of public access beaches are speckled along the shoreline, which means sunsets at the beach can part of your daily routine. 

Walk downtown for coffee at the Bean Scene, grab a bite at Earl’s on Top’s famous patio, or dance the night away at Sapphire Nightclub.

 
Capri Landmark Photo Credit: LandMarkCentre.ca

Capri Landmark Area 

The Capri Landmark area is the most centrally located neighborhood in Kelowna City centre and the epicenter of Kelowna’s growing Tech hub.

Walk to work at the Landmark buildings, get coffee at the Bean Scene, grab a bite at the new District Market restaurants, then take a walk or ride a bike through the lush green parks surrounding Mill Creek.

You’re close to all of the amenities in the Capri Landmark area – grocers, banks, pharmacies, cold beer & wine, and a drop-in medical clinic at Capri Centre Mall.

The Capri Landmark neighborhood is the site for one of Kelowna’s most ambitious redevelopment proposals which was just approved in spring 2019: brand new residential and commercial towers, more green spaces, bicycle paths, and new roads will be developed beginning in 2020.

Rutland

Located at the far east end of the city, Rutland is one of Kelowna’s most walkable neighborhoods, and offers some of the most affordable housing and anywhere in town.

It’s also known for some great cheap eats like Dosa Dosa, Burger Baron, and Latin Fiesta.

Rutland is home to a variety of green spaces: Ben Lee Park has the biggest and best outdoor skateboard park in town; Chichester Marsh is one of the Okanagan’s most biodiverse parks; and the Mission Creek Greenway is easily accessed via Hollywood Road. It's also close to Big White Ski Resort if you need something to do during winter.

Rutland is also home to it’s own sports field, arena, and recreation centre, which means you might not have to drive to after school or work activities. Ample bus routes connect Rutland to Downtown and the rest of Kelowna via Highway 33.

Local’s Tip: while high in walkability, some of Rutland's streets are considered less safe at night than the other neighborhoods in this guide. 

Check out our Guide to the Safest Neighborhoods in Kelowna.