Central business district
A central business district is the commercial and business center of a city. It contains commercial space and offices, and in larger cities will often be described as a financial district. Geographically, it often coincides with the "city centre" or "downtown". However, these concepts are not necessarily synonymous: many cities have a central business district located away from its traditional city center, and there may be multiple CBDs within a single urban area. The CBD will often be highly accessible and have a large variety and concentration of specialised goods and services compared to other parts of the city.
In Chicago, the Chicago Loop is the second-largest central business district in the United States. It is also referred to as the core of the city's downtown.
Mexico City also has its own historic city center, the colonial era "Centro Histórico", along with two CBDs: the mid-late 20th century Paseo de la Reforma in Polanco, and the new Santa Fe, respectively. Russia's largest central business district is the Moscow International Business Center in Moscow.
The shape and type of a central business district almost always closely reflect the city's history. Cities with strong preservation laws and maximum building height restrictions to retain the character of the historic and cultural core may have a CBD quite a distance from the city centre. This distinction is quite common in European cities such as: London, Paris, Moscow, Vienna, Prague and Budapest. The New World grew quickly after the emergence of modern transport, therefore a single centre often included many of the region's tallest buildings and served as both a commercial and cultural city centre.
In the 21st century, increasing urbanisation has led to the development of megacities that often have multiple CBDs scattered across the urban area. Downtown sections of cities, especially in North America, often are distinct from CBDs and city centres. No two CBDs have the same spatial shape, but there are certain common geometric patterns, which are largely a result of centralised commercial and industrial activities.
Australia
In Australia, the term CBD is widely used officially and colloquially, in the sense of city centre. The three biggest cities, Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane have large CBDs. Sydney features growing micro central business districts, which serve as the hub for their respective areas outside the CBD. An example is Parramatta, Chatswood and North Sydney. Also on the outskirts of Brisbane, within Brisbane-Gold Coast urban area with a population of three million, a new micro central business district being created in Southport.Brazil
is a multipolar city, with several business districts. Avenida Faria Lima and the neighboring districts, Itaim Bibi and Vila Olímpia, now concentrate a large part of the financial activities in São Paulo and Brazil. Avenida Paulista and nearby streets is a well-established financial center that has several banking offices and corporate headquarters, as well as hospitals. Its Historic Center was the city's first business center; There, the São Paulo Stock Exchange is located. The region comprising Avenidas Berrini, Doutor Chucri Zaidan, and Nações Unidas, the city's newest commercial district, has offices of multinational companies and also commercial services.In Rio de Janeiro, Brazil's second-largest city, the main business district still is in downtown, where Petrobrás and Vale headquarters are located, but there is a concentration of business in Botafogo harbor and in Barra da Tijuca, a newer Rio de Janeiro suburb located in city's west region.
China
Colombia
The largest CBD in Colombia is Bogotá's Centro Internacional, where some of the tallest buildings in South America have been repurposed as national headquarters for Scotiabank Colpatria, Davivienda, and Bancolombia, among others.Over the years, Bogotá has developed minor business districts, which include Avenida Chile, Ciudad Salitre, with companies like Avianca, Rappi, Johnson & Johnson, Terpel, Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott, Sheraton, Ramada, City Express, Aloft and Novotel; or Complejo Santa Bárbara, the last of which features the only W Hotel in the city.
Colombia's other notable CBDs include Parque Berrío in Medellín, Bocagrande in Cartagena, and Paseo de Bolívar in Barranquilla.
France
, west of Paris, is France's largest central business district. As of 2025, La Défense was Europe's largest purpose built business district.La Défense hosts 19 of the world's biggest 500 companies, whilst the Paris region as a whole hosts 29 of the world's 500 largest companies, establishing itself as the first city in Europe for the number of companies classified in Fortune Fortune Global 500.
La Part-Dieu is a central business district in the 3rd arrondissement of Lyon, France. It is the second-largest tertiary district in France, after La Défense in Greater Paris. The area also contains Lyon's principal railway station, Gare de La Part-Dieu.
Germany
In Germany, the terms Innenstadt and Stadtzentrum may be used to describe the central business district. These terms can be literally translated as "inner city" and "city center". Some of the larger cities have more than one central business district. For example, Berlin alone has three.Due to Berlin's history of division during the Cold War, the city contains central business districts both in West and in East Berlin, as well as a newly built business district near the Potsdamer Platz. The city's historic center was largely abandoned when the Berlin Wall cut through the area. Only after the reunification with the redevelopment of Potsdamer Platz, and the construction of numerous shopping centers, government ministries, embassies, office buildings and entertainment venues, was the area revived.
In Frankfurt am Main's city center, there is a business district called the "Bankenviertel".
In Düsseldorf, there is a business district which is located around the famous high street Königsallee with banks, shops and offices.
Hong Kong
Traditionally, the Central Business District "CBD" of Hong Kong is Central, where many multinational financial services corporations have their headquarters. Consulates general and consulates of many countries are also located in this area, as is Government Hill, the site of the old government headquarters. As the Hong Kong SAR Government Headquarters moved to Tamar, Admiralty, the nearby area is also considered part of the CBD.In Quarry Bay, Taikoo Place and areas nearby, including Admiralty, Wan Chai and Causeway Bay, and Tsim Sha Tsui, Kwun Tong, and Kowloon Bay are regarded as major business districts of Hong Kong.
India
's capital New Delhi has been known for its CBD at Connaught Place. For the financial capital of the country, the famous CBD is The Bandra Kurla Complex in Mumbai. In Mumbai itself there is Nariman Point, which is another CBD including Andheri and Parel. Parry's Corner and Nungambakkam are among the main CBDs of Chennai.Bangalore has five notable business districts: UB City, Brigade Gateway, Koramangala, Indiranagar, and Electronic City. Lucknow has three business districts, including Hazratganj Market, Gomti Nagar Extension at the extended area of Gomti Nagar, and Aminabad in old Lucknow. Kolkata also has central business districts, including B.B.D. Bagh, Park Circus, Esplanade, Salt Lake Sector V, and New Town.
Indonesia
The largest CBD in Indonesia is the Golden Triangle in Jakarta. Sudirman Central Business District, a super block that is located within the Golden Triangle, is the first of its kind in Indonesia, and one of the largest commercial center developments in the city. Jakarta started developing its business district in the early 1960s before hosting the Asian Games in 1962.Surabaya in East Java built its first central business district in the Darmo region. The construction was expected to be completed by 2018 with 150 SOHO units and 500 residences.
Italy
In Italy, business districts do not coincide with the geographical centers of the city because the city center is the historical center of the city, and usually not very suitable to function as a modern business district.A precursor to modern business districts is EUR in Rome, which is now home to several national and international companies and public bodies.
The EUR, the Napoli business district, the Milan business district, and City Life, are among the most important commercial areas in Italy. Other important business and financial centers are present in Brescia, Genoa and Reggio Calabria.
Japan
- Fukuoka
- Hiroshima
- Kobe
- Kyoto
- Nagoya
- Osaka
- Sapporo
- Sendai
- Tokyo
- Yokohama
Kazakhstan
In Almaty, the Nurly Tau Business Center serves as a multifunctional hub, combining office space, residential units, and leisure facilities. Covering approximately 300,000 m², it is organized in a "city within a city" layout with class A offices, entertainment spaces, and underground parking. Other business districts in Almaty include the Esentai Tower and areas along Kabanbai Batyr Avenue, which host financial institutions and corporate headquarters.
Astana’s main commercial district is the Central Business District, featuring government buildings, banks, and modern office towers, designed to support the city’s rapid urban expansion and status as the national capital.