FORBIDDEN VANCOUVER WALKING TOURS
Experience Vancouver like never before! Let us immerse you in the city’s hidden history of dark crime, outrageous intrigue, and filthy scandal.
THE LOST SOULS OF GASTOWN TOUR
Discover the eerie history of Vancouver’s oldest neighbourhood. Follow the lamplight of your guide into Vancouver’s earliest and most gruesome history. You’ll step inside a world of murder, revenge, and true grit in a dramatic retelling of Victorian Gastown’s earliest stories. Hear tales of deadly fire, smallpox, and more in this unique performance-theatre experience.
$33 | 1.5–2 HOURS
THE SINNERS & SWEETS TOUR
Explore Vancouver’s heritage buildings – and their stories of murder, jealousy, scandal, corruption, and irresistible glamour. You’ll enjoy sinful treats at the city’s finest bakeries and chocolatiers and a private viewing inside the famous Marine Building.
$69 | ~2 HOURS
THE FORBIDDEN VANCOUVER TOUR
Discover Vancouver’s dirtiest Prohibition-era secrets and illicit stories as you wander Gastown’s most historic streets. Hear tales of enterprising rum-runners, infamous riots, mobsters, and crooked cops. Our longest running walking tour!
$33 | ~2 HOURS
THE REALLY GAY HISTORY TOUR
Celebrate love with a raucous chronicle of Vancouver’s LGBTQ2+ community on a stroll through the vibrant and historic Davie Village. Discover the queer heroes who changed the social fabric of our city forever.
$33 | ~2 HOURS
THE VANCOUVER VICE TOUR
Delve into the gritty history of Vancouver’s West End in the 1970s and ’80s. Guided by award-winning writer Aaron Chapman, you’ll step inside a world of deceit, vigilante vice cops, sex worker turf wars, gambling dens, and wiretapped hustlers.
$33 | ~2 HOURS
JUN 8, 14, 22
THE DARK SECRETS OF STANLEY PARK TOUR
Beyond Stanley Park’s majestic forests, picturesque gardens, and stunning beaches, lies a history of forced evictions, buried treasures, shocking crime scenes, shady backroom deals, and the macabre legend of Deadman’s Island.
$33 | ~2 HOURS
SECRETS OF THE PENTHOUSE
Explore backstage at Vancouver’s notorious nightclub with club owner Danny Filippone and friends as your guides. Enjoy live jazz and a spaghetti & meatballs dinner (veg option available) while you hear stories of Rat Pack parties, mobsters, bootlegging, and fire.
$70 | 6:30 PM | ~3 HOURS
SEP 3 | JUN 11 | MAY 28
THE LAST GANG IN TOWN SPECIAL EVENT
Discover the epic story of the VPD versus the Clark Park Gang. You’ll uncover the Clark Park area’s wild two-fisted period of Vancouver history including tales of riots, brawls, and mayhem.
JUL 13 | $33
PRIVATE WALKING TOURS
Plan a get together with your friends, family, or team members for an outdoor experience in Vancouver that’s original, active, fascinating, and utterly engaging from start to finish. Explore Vancouver’s hidden history with a private experience for your group. Reach out today to get started!
FROM $30 PER GUEST
CUSTOM START TIMES
GIFT A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE!
Make lasting memories with a Forbidden Vancouver walking tour. Experiences make better presents than stuff!
No expiration date. Valid towards all walking tours, not valid for special events.
$50 | $75 | $100 | $150 | $200
WHAT OUR GUESTS ARE SAYING
VANCOUVER WALKING TOUR GALLERY
TOP FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
More information can be found on our FAQ page.
What if it rains?
Our tours happen rain or shine! Vancouver can be a little wet at times. In our experience a rain proof jacket with a hood is the most effective clothing to bring. Umbrellas can get a bit awkward if everyone in the audience has one. But if you don’t have a waterproof jacket then do bring your umbrella if the forecast is for rain – it won’t be a problem.
For fall and winter, we’ve crafted our tours to take place mainly inside or under cover to keep you warm and dry.
Which tour should I take?
The Lost Souls of Gastown tour is our most popular tour, and is led by an actor in character, almost like a one-person play meets a walking tour.
All of our other tours are led by talented storytellers.
Our Hidden History & Sweet Treats tour is the only tour with snacks, and focuses on scandal and architecture in downtown Vancouver.
Take the Forbidden Vancouver tour if you’re into learning about prohibition. The Dark Secrets of Stanley Park tour if you’re interested in indigenous history. The Really Gay History tour if are keen to learn about Vancouver’s queer history.
Do I have to book in advance?
Yes, you’ll need to book online to reserve your spot. You can book your tour right here on our website. Please don’t turn up hoping to pay cash!
To ensure the best experience for everyone in the group, we have a strict upper limit on our tour group size, and we hate to turn people away.
What if I need to cancel my tour?
We have a flexible cancellation policy! You can request a date exchange or full refund on your ticket purchase for any of our walking tours, provided you give at least 24 hours notice prior to your scheduled tour departure time.
Does my guide accept gratuities?
Absolutely! Our guides accept cash or cards (via a portable Square device). If you enjoyed your guide’s performance then a tip is greatly appreciated.
Can I buy my ticket cheaper on another site?
We guarantee our website has the lowest prices for our walking tours. Beware reseller sites that display their prices in $USD to appear cheaper than they really are.
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OUR LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT
We gratefully acknowledge our walking tours take place within the unceded, ancestral territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.