Prices checked on Sep 11, 2026Things to do in Vancouver
Explore Vancouver’s dirtiest Prohibition-era secrets. From mobsters and rum runners to corrupt politicians, this historical walking tour winds through Gastown’s most historic streets and alleyways – and most illicit stories.
A Vancouver institution, now a lively local bar, hostel and restaurant. The Cambie has history dating back to the Gold Rush!
Hear about the tallest building in town in 1910!
Learn about the Historic Woodward's building in Gastown. What role it had in the city over the last 100 years.
The tour wraps up on the cobblestone streets of Gastown, the historic centre of Vancouver.
Explore the main street in Gastown and learn about our Prohibition Commissioner - Walter Findlay.
Nestled in Gastown's historic Maple Tree Square, there was once a near beer parlour in this location.
The Forbidden Downtown and Gastown Walking Tour lasts about 1h 30min. The itinerary has 6 stops.
Prices start at $29 per person for this Vancouver experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There is 1 booking option, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
The meeting point is Meet outside 356 Water street at the entrance to historic Gastown at Water and Cordova Streets.. Hotel pickup is not part of this experience.
The experience is available in EN.
It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 20 participants.
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller Children must be accompanied by an adult
Wheelchair accessible Transportation options are wheelchair accessible All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
Lennard is a highly informative amusing and personable guide. The tour covers many aspects of history that you might not expect but when put into context seems exactly right
Hi there, Thank you so much for your lovely review! So glad you enjoyed your time on tour with Lenard :)
We had a great time on the Forbidden Vancouver Walking Tour! Marina was a fantastic guide—knowledgeable, engaging, and very entertaining. We learned so much about the history of Gastown, along with fun little secrets and stories we never would have discovered on our own. Marina really brought the history to life and kept the tour interesting from beginning to end. A fun and unique way to experience Vancouver. Highly recommend!
Hi Jessica, Thank you so much for your wonderful review! So glad you had such a great time on the Forbidden Vancouver tour with Marina and that she could provide such a memorable experience :) Thanks for joining!
We really loved this tour of Gastown! Our guide Ash was phenomenal, so informative, entertaining and kind. Would highly recommend!
Hey Sophie, Thanks so much for the 5 star review. It's wonderful to hear that you had such a wonderful experience! We look forward to seeing you at one of our other tours sometime!
Fun way to learn a little history about Gastown
Hello Thank you for taking the time to write us a review. It's so nice to hear that you enjoyed learning about Gastown with us. We see that you gave us a 4 star rating, and we wish that it had been a 5 star experience, that's what we strive to provide to every guest! We'd love to know what we could do differently or better. If you have any feedback about your tour, your storyteller or your experience with Forbidden Vancouver, please let us know. You can email us at info@forbiddenvancouver.ca. We take feedback from our guests seriously!
It was a very interesring tour and taught us a lot about Vancouver. There is a bit of walking to be done but overall it was worth it
Hi Nicole, Thanks for giving us a 5 star rating! So glad you got so much out of it. We hope to see you on another of our tours soon.
Almon, the guide, was fantastic! A history professional who is a masterful storyteller made this a wonderful way to learn about Vancouver.
Hey Tammy, Thanks so much for taking the time to write us this wonderful review! We're so glad Aman provided such a fun experience. We look forward to entertaining you again in the near future!
Easy walking tour around gastown. But a bit disappointed with the stories, not that scary, i expected more a ghost tour vibe. The stops were not always at the nicest buildings and some alleys such as bloody alley were not done.
Hi Kevin, Thank you for taking the time to write us a review. It sounds like the Lost Souls of Gastown wasn't your thing, and that's okay! We do not consider it a "ghost tour" as you mentioned, but rather a more immersive theatrical experience with the chilling true accounts of Gastown history. And all of our stops are curated to wher the history actually happened—despite a lot of rumors, Blood Alley is only called this because it's where the butchers disposed of their waste, rather than any true dark history. All said, I do appreciate your feedback, and for spending an evening with us. All the best!
Cole did an excellent performance (as George) of recounting the history of Vancouver and the sad events that took place. Bonus was a treat if you answered a question correctly.
Hi Debora, Thanks for the 5 star review! We're so glad you had such a blast on Cole's tour, he's a brilliant actor! Hope to see you back for another tour someday :)
Marina is knowledgeable, engaging and friendly. It was a pleasure to be in her tour group. Would highly recommend.
Hi Nancy, Thank you so much for your review! Delighted to hear your guide made your tour so special :)
My partner and I wanted a tour that would give us a quick and interesting history of Vancouver, and this 1.75 hour one was it (it certainly didn’t cover the entire history, but definitely the most colorful parts). Tour guide Lenard kept things informative and humorous with his easy, tongue in cheek delivery - he should do standup! At less than $30pp, the tour was a great value. It also didn’t involve a ton of walking and provided opportunities to sit later during the tour. I would 100% recommend this to anyone who likes to explore places or topics that are a little off the beaten path.
Hi there, Thank you so much for your review! We are over-the-moon to hear you had such a wonderful time with the ever quick-witted Lenard on tour. Delighted you could join us and hope to see you again soon :).
| Tour | Duration | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Forbidden Downtown and Gastown Walking Tour | 1h 30min | 4.9 (495) | $29 | |
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 Vancouver City Sightseeing Tour: Capilano Suspension Bridge & Vancouver Lookout | 6h 30min | 4.9 (2,067) | $144 | View |
 Whistler, Sea to Sky Gondola, & Shannon Falls Tour from Vancouver | 10 hours | 4.8 (2,091) | $156 | View |
 Whistler Tour from Vancouver + Sea to Sky Gondola + Shannon Falls | 10 hours | 4.8 (1,000) | $155 | View |
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