vancouver walking tours

The Ultimate Self-Guided Vancouver Walking Tour

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Vancouver. My hometown, it is a city well-known for its ever-present veil of rain clouds. Regardless, Vancouver is an amazing city to walk around, with stunning views of the vast Pacific Ocean on one side and the towering North Shore mountains on the other. And, I would like to share my Vancouver walking expertise with you; this is my self-guided Vancouver walking tour!

While there are many possible walking routes around Vancouver, this one will take you from the Vancouver Art Gallery to the aquarium (two worthwhile visits on your Vancouver itinerary). Without any stops, this walk typically takes around 1.5 hours.

However, my favorite part of walking around a new city is the freedom to explore as I please. So, this walk will take you anywhere from 3 hours to a whole day to complete – you can go at your own pace! Browse the cute shops, admire the views of the endless Pacific, learn more about Vancouver’s marine life at the aquarium; you’ll have one incredible travel day.

Without further ado, let’s begin! This is my ultimate self-guided walking tour of Vancouver, BC.

Vancouver Art Gallery and Robson Square

First, we’ll start our Vancouver walking tour at the Vancouver Art Gallery.

Located on Robson Street, the Vancouver Art Gallery features incredible pieces of work, including paintings by one of the most famous Canadian artists, Emily Carr.

You can easily spend hours at Vancouver’s Art Gallery, admiring its selection of fine art, relaxing at the Vancouver Art Gallery café, and browsing the gift shop for souvenirs. And, if you’re visiting Vancouver in the winter, you can also go skating at Robson Square!

Overall, the Art Gallery in Vancouver, BC is definitely worth a visit.

• Address : 750 Hornby St, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2H7, Canada
• Cost : $24 for adults, $20 for seniors, $18 for students
• Hours : Tuesday and Friday: 12 pm – 8 pm. Every other day: 10 am – 5 pm.
• Website : https://www.vanartgallery.bc.ca/

Holy Rosary Cathedral

Next, you’ll head over to the Holy Rosary Cathedral, a catholic church in downtown Vancouver. A lovely cathedral with a gloomy, Gothic exterior and a charming interior, it is a delightful place to stop by.

Built in 1885, the Rosary Cathedral is not as extravagant as the majestic cathedrals you’ll see in Europe. Nevertheless, it holds its own charm on the modern streets of Vancouver. I definitely recommend checking out this downtown Vancouver church as you walk around Vancouver!

• Address : 650 Richards St, Vancouver, BC V6B 3A3, Canada
• Time to Get Here : 10 minutes from the Vancouver Art Gallery.
• Website : https://www.holyrosarycathedral.org/

Next, you’ll proceed to one of Vancouver’s oldest and coolest neighborhoods: Gastown. A key location for all walking tours in Vancouver, Gastown was founded by John ‘Gassy Jack’ Deighton in 1867 (the same year Canada became a country)!

Today, Gastown is one of Vancouver’s key historic districts, well-known for its Victorian architecture, cobble-stoned streets, old-fashioned lamp posts, and cute Gastown shops. There is also a large variety of delicious restaurants, making it one of the best places to eat in Vancouver !

Some key sights include the Gassy Jack statue and the Gastown Steam Clock!

• Address : 305 Water St, Vancouver, BC V6B 1B9, Canada
• Time to Get Here : It takes 7 minutes to walk from the Holy Rosary Cathedral to the Gastown Steam Clock.

Waterfront Station

After exploring the historic Gastown district, head over to Waterfront Station. Located neatly between Gastown and the Vancouver waterfront, it is the final stop on many of the Vancouver Skytrain lines.

However, there’s no need to stay here long, as it’s simply a train station. Nevertheless, it does feature some pretty lovely architecture!

• Address : Vancouver, BC V6C 2R6, Canada
• Time to Get Here : 4 minutes from the Gastown Steam Clock.

Want to learn more about the great things to do around Vancouver? Click here for my guide on the best hikes in Whistler !

Canada Place

Now, head over to Canada Place. Built for the Expo ’86 world’s fair, Canada Place is set right on the downtown Vancouver waterfront. With a cruise ship terminal and views of the seaplane terminal nearby, the Canada Place pier is the perfect place to relax and gaze at the surrounding scenery.

However, that’s not all you can do at Canada Place. Part of Vancouver’s main convention center, it includes the FlyOver Canada multi-sensory theatre experience.

Nevertheless, my favorite thing to do at Canada Place is to simply walk along the Vancouver waterfront, and admire the views of the tranquil ocean and North Shore mountains. And, fun fact, this is actually where I went after prom; as an introvert, I needed a place to relax after all the socializing that comes with graduation.

• Address : 999 Canada Pl, Vancouver, BC V6C 3T4, Canada
• Time to Get Here : 4 minutes from Waterfront Station.
• Website : https://www.canadaplace.ca/

Olympic Cauldron

Next, you’ll walk a few minutes from Canada Place to the Vancouver Olympic Cauldron. A prominent stop in all Vancouver walking tours, it was built for the 2010 Winter Olympics held in Vancouver.

Nowadays, the Olympic Cauldron is only lit for special events. Nevertheless, it is a cool display to check out as you walk along the Vancouver waterfront!

• Address : 1055 Canada Pl, Vancouver, BC V6C 0C3, Canada
• Time to Get Here : 4 minutes from Canada Place.

Digital Orca

Near the Olympic Cauldron sits the Digital Orca Vancouver statue. A sculpture by Douglas Coupland, it looks as if it was made by LEGOs. While some people don’t like the sculpture, I think it’s a pretty cool piece of art with a great backdrop, and a worthwhile stop on your Vancouver walking tour.

• Address : Vancouver Convention Centre West Building, 1055 Canada Pl, Vancouver, BC V6C 0C3, Canada
• Time to Get Here : 1 minute from the Olympic Cauldron.

Vancouver Seawall

While you can end your Vancouver walking tour at the Digital Orca (as the next portion of the walk is the longest), you’ll be missing out on some of the best views in Vancouver . So, I definitely recommend continuing, and heading down the Vancouver Seawall.

Not a destination, the Vancouver Seawall is one of the easiest Vancouver hiking paths. With construction beginning in Stanley Park in 1917, the Vancouver Seawall has since grown exponentially. Today, the Seawall is 22 kilometres (13.5 miles) long.

However, you’ll only be walking a portion of it, from Canada Place to Stanley Park.

But, the Seawall passes by some of Vancouver’s greatest attractions, including Granville Island, Science World, BC Place, Yaletown, Stanley Park, and Canada Place. So, while this Vancouver walking tour is only doing a small portion of the Vancouver Seawall, I definitely recommend walking the other portions as well!

Nevertheless, on this walking tour, you’ll walk on the Vancouver Seawall from the Digital Orca to our next destination: the Brockton Point Lighthouse.

Wondering what else to do around Vancouver? I recommend hiking! Click here for my guide to hiking in Vancouver , and click here for my guide to hiking the Greater Vancouver Area .

Brockton Point Lighthouse

Named after Francis Brockton, an engineer that surveyed the coast of British Columbia from 1857 to 1860, the Brockton Point provides some pretty incredible ocean views.

While the lighthouse itself is diminutive, it is a part of the history of Vancouver, as it was designed and built by Colonel William Anderson in 1914 (which is considered ancient in Canada )!

All in all, I recommend taking a small break on your walk to admire the delightful lighthouse and the beautiful ocean views, before heading into Stanley Park.

• Address : Vancouver, BC V6G 3E2, Canada
• Time to Get Here : 45 minutes from the Digital Orca.

Stanley Park

Once again, Stanley Park is less of a destination, and more of an opportunity to explore some of the Vancouver walking trails. Definitely one of the best parks in Vancouver, Stanley Park is huge, covering 400 hectares (1,000 acres).

Covering such an immense space, it’s not surprising that there are many things to do in Stanley Park. Filled with the temperate West Coast rainforest and surrounded by beautiful beaches, you can spend hours wandering through the Stanley Park trails.

But, one of the top sights is definitely the Stanley Park totems. Unfortunately, Canada’s indigenous (the First Nations people) have suffered a lot from colonization and the Canadian government. Stanley Park itself sits on the unceded territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh peoples (as is most of greater Vancouver). So, it’s always great to learn, appreciate, and pay respects to the First Nations people and culture.

If you want to learn more about the First Nations people of Vancouver and British Columbia, check out these great resources:

• If you want to learn more about the Musqueam Nation, click this link .
• If you want to learn more about the Squamish Nation, click this link .
• If you want to learn more about the Tsleil-Waututh Nation, click this link .
• If you want to learn more about the First Nations in British Columbia, click this link .
• Address : Vancouver, BC V6G 1Z4, Canada
• Hours : 6 am to 10 pm (unless otherwise posted)

Vancouver Aquarium

Finally, after exploring the vast forests of Stanley Park, head over to our final destination: the Vancouver Aquarium.

With more than 70,000 aquatic animals, from mesmerizing jellyfish, adorable sea otters, and Amazonian snakes, the Vancouver Aquarium is well-worth a visit!

It’s also a great educational experience. Part of the Ocean Wise initiative, the Vancouver Aquarium is the perfect place to learn more about the threats to the marine environment of British Columbia.

Overall, the Vancouver Aquarium is filled with both cute animals and educational resources, making it the perfect ending to our Vancouver walking tour!

• Address : 845 Avison Way, Vancouver, BC V6G 3E2, Canada
• Time to Get Here : 16 minutes from the Brockton Point Lighthouse.
• Website : https://www.vanaqua.org/
• Note : Due to financial difficulties caused by COVID-19, the Vancouver Aquarium is currently closed.

Other Things to Do in Vancouver

While this walking tour takes you to many of Vancouver’s best sights, there are still several more amazing things to do in Vancouver, including:

• Explore Granville Island . An essential for any beginner in Vancouver , this island is filled with charming boutiques, a lively public market, and several art stores, you can spend hours wandering around this man-made island.
• Relax at one of Vancouver’s beaches , like English Bay, Kitsilano Beach, or for all the nudists out there, Wreck Beach.
• Visit the UBC Museum of Anthropology . With several indigenous artifact displays, it is a great place to learn more about the First Nations’ history and culture, and one of the best places to visit in Vancouver in the rain .
• Embark on one of the many hikes in Vancouver , such as the Grouse Grind or the Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge. Or explore the hikes in the Greater Vancouver area .
• Check out some of the hikes near Whistler . With epic alpine views and enchanting turquoise lakes, these hikes are some of the best in BC.
• If you’re visiting Vancouver in the winter, check out some of the winter activities around Vancouver and Whistler , like the ski hills and the spas!
• If you’re visiting in the summer, check out the Richmond Night Market for some mouthwatering food.
• Wander around Steveston Village . While Steveston is technically located in Richmond, it is definitely worth a visit. A historic fishing village, it is teeming with cute boutiques, great boardwalk trails, and a public fish market (the Fisherman’s Warf)!
• Take a day trip to the US , and explore Seattle through a self-guided walking tour . Or admire the dazzling scenery surrounding Seattle ; from Mount Rainier to Olympic National Park, they’re definitely worth the drive!
• If you’re interested in exploring more of British Columbia, check out some of the weekend getaways from Vancouver , like Salt Spring Island or Victoria.

Planning on going on a Canadian Rockies road trip? Click here for my 7-day road trip itinerary from Calgary to Vancouver!

In Conclusion,

While Vancouver (otherwise known as Raincouver) is not known for having the best weather, it is a charming city filled with great waterfront boardwalks, lush parks, and lovely beaches; overall, it’s a great place to walk around! I hope this article helped you decide where to go in Vancouver, and I hope you’ll enjoy this Vancouver walking tour!

Thanks for reading the article! If you have any questions, feel free to comment down below, and if you want to see more travel and hike-related content, make sure to check out my other articles.

Photos by Pixabay.

Enjoyed this Vancouver walking guide? Want to read more? Click here for my walking guide to Ottawa, Canada , and here for my Montreal walking tour !

Or if you’re interested in exploring the islands off the coast of BC, click here for my list on the best things to do in Salt Spring Island !

About to embark on a trip? Here are some helpful articles to make your trip as awesome and stress-free as possible:

• How to Travel Without Breaking the Bank
• 15 Things to Do Before a Trip
• How to Start Hiking: 15 Beginner Hiking Tips

And here are some additional helpful links:

• Click here for my walking guides
• Click here for my hiking guides
• Click here for more posts on North America
• Click here for more posts on destinations in Canada
• Click here for more resources

Like this post? Share it!

Mia is the founder of Walk a While with Me, a travel blog dedicated to sharing the best self-guided walking tours, travel itineraries, and hikes for destinations around the world. A keen traveler, she has visited more than 20 countries in the past six years. She is excited for you to follow along on her adventures!

One Comment

Thank you so much for your article. I am going to be in Vancouver for only 16 hours and have been searching for things to do. Your article has been the most informative and well organized list of great activities with realistic timelines to help a newbie get as much out of a short trip. I appreciate it.

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13 Best Vancouver Walking Tours in 2024

Vancouver walking tours offer an engaging alternative to endlessly scrolling through Wikipedia.

With the city’s top guides, you’ll dynamically experience the city, ensuring you’re well-prepared to ace any Vancouver test with firsthand knowledge and bonus exercise.

Let’s discover the best Vancouver walking tours tailored just for you.

Vancouver Walking Tours

In a city known for its diverse neighbourhoods and cuisines, it’s only fitting that walking tours in Vancouver try and cover a lot of ground – both literally and figuratively.

I’m here to break down the best ones whether you want culture, history, food, or a bit of all three.

That said, here’s a list of the top Vancouver walking tours:

Lost Souls of Gastown – Best Vancouver History Tour

Location:  Gastown |  Length:  1.5 hours |  Cost:  From $37.80 CAD

Undoubtedly, Gastown is one of the best Vancouver historical walking tours neighbourhood – and the most interesting.

Its cobblestone streets and narrow alleys evoke the spirit of a wild frontier town – not a bustling metropolis of millions.

On this Vancouver walking tour, which we ranked #1 on our list of best Vancouver sightseeing tours , you’ll be led through the streets by a professional actor telling tales of:

• Vancouver’s Indigenous and colonial history
• The logging industry & the gold rush
• Unsolved murders
• The Great Vancouver Fire
• Smallpox outbreaks
• Tales of revenge and redemption

This tour is particularly popular with groups seeking a unique city experience , as it offers hidden Vancouver gems and plenty of opportunities for socializing .

For reviews of the Lost Souls of Gastown tour and the best online prices, click below:

Talking Trees Tour – Best Walking Tour in Vancouver for Nature

Location:  Stanley Park |  Length:  1.5 hours |  Cost:  From $75.00 CAD

There’s no better way to learn the history and culture of the First Nations peoples than this  captivating interpretive walking tour  in  Stanley Park .

Led by a knowledgeable cultural ambassador of the First Nations , this tour offers a firsthand perspective on the ways in which Aboriginal people have cared for these lands, forests, and oceans for generations.

Along the way, you’ll gain valuable insights into the rich heritage of local First Nations as you explore the natural beauty of Stanley Park.

The goal here? To deepen your understanding of their customs, traditions, and relationship with the environment .

For reviews of the Talking Trees Tour and the best online prices, click below:

Wok Around Chinatown Tour – Top Chinatown Walking Tour in Vancouver

Location:  Chinatown |  Length:  4 hours |  Cost:  From $137.50

Here’s a great way to indulge in the flavours of the Orient while learning the history of one of Vancouver’s most important neighbourhoods: Chinatown .

This is one of the best food tours in Vancouver . It’s led by a local chef , and you’ll explore traditional medicine shops, cookware stores, and a Chinese bakery in search of delicious goodies.

Along the way, you’ll also visit Chinatown’s best restaurants , sampling everything from crispy BBQ duck to exquisite teas from Asia.

But it’s not just about the food – this cultural tour also takes you to:

• Chinatown’s most iconic landmarks
• Chinatown markets
• Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden

And the grand finale? A sumptuous dim sum lunch to satisfy your cravings.

This is a small group tour so it’s mandatory to book way in advance . You can do so using the orange button:

Street Art Tour + Top Breweries – Best Street Art Walking Tour in Vancouver

Meeting point:  Olympic Village Square   | Length:  3 hours | Price: From CA$136.14

Vancouver is renowned for its thriving craft beer scene and vibrant street art culture , making for this unique cultural combo tour that’s beautiful and thirst-quenching at the same time.

This one-of-a-kind 3-hour tour takes you to the hottest street art spots in the city.

You’ll have the opportunity to explore the lively Mount Pleasant neighborhood , known for its stunning annual Vancouver Mural Festival , where you can admire the colorful artwork that adorns the streets.

Stops include popular breweries such as Faculty Brewing Co. and Electrical Bicycle Brewing.

Walking & Tasting Tour: Best Walking Tour in Vancouver for Food

Meeting point : The Dominion Building (Gastown) | Length : 3.5 hours | Price : $129.28

Experience the culinary delights of Vancouver with a unique walking tour that takes you on a gastronomic adventure through downtown Vancouver .

With a local guide to lead, you’ll discover the city’s diverse cuisine and indulge in delicious tastings of sushi, poutine, ice cream, a ‘secret dish’ and more.

This walking tour not only satisfies your taste buds but also immerses you in Vancouver’s rich culture and history, as your guide shares fascinating history along the way .

With a limited group size of 10 people , you’ll enjoy personalized service and the opportunity to ask questions and get insider tips on where to eat , drink, and explore.

Make sure you book ASAP because they sell out quickly – you can do it using the button below:

3-Hour Tips-Based Walking Tour of Vancouver

Meeting point : Canada Place | Length : 3 hours | Price : $7.35

Embark on a unique tips-based walking tour of Vancouver, led by a local guide, where you set the price.

Discover the city’s highlights, including iconic landmarks like the Marine Building and Gastown Steam Clock, while learning about its rich history and First Nations roots.

Connect with fellow travelers and make new friends from around the globe on this engaging 3-hour excursion , filled with insider recommendations and memorable experiences.

Don’t miss out on this opportunity to book this tips-based tour . Book now!

If you want to stay longer around this area, you can try any of the best Gastown Vancouver hotels .

The Forbidden Downtown and Gastown Walking Tour

Meeting point : Water St. | Length : 1 hour and 30 minutes | Price : $37,80

Explore Vancouver’s illicit history of bootlegging, rum-running, and prohibition on a guided best Vancouver walking tour spanning Victory Square and Gastown.

Journey through landmark edifices and historic locales as your knowledgeable guide animates the era with tales of corrupt officials , underworld figures , and glamorous showgirls who once dominated the city’s shadows.

Learn how Vancouver evolved from a rugged frontier settlement into a vibrant cosmopolitan center , concluding your stroll in Gastown, where former speakeasies and gambling establishments have transformed into trendy eateries and stylish Gastown bars .

This is one of the most interesting walking tour in Vancouver therefore get the change to book this already before it’s too late.

Top Vancouver Walking Tours Runners up:

Didn’t find something you’re looking for? Let me direct you to some runners-up:

• Gastown Historic Food Walking Tour : Try Canadian classic dishes like poutine, but also sample other top dishes from Vancouver’s foodie neighbourhood (CA$129.15)
• Prohibition City Walking Tour : The best cheap walking tour in Vancouver takes you through areas once famous for brothels, gambling dens, and speakeasies (CA$37.80)
• Food Walking Tour of Granville Island : Small group tour of Granville Island to try candied salmon, chocolate, cheese, and all sorts of artisanal products (CA$112.50)
• Craft Coffee & Street Art Walking Tour : Small group tour including a coffee roastery, a visit to a local art gallery, and a walk through Vancouver’s mural district (CA$136.14)
• Artisan Donut Walking Tour : A delightfully sweet look into Vancouver culture via donuts (CA$82.87)
• Vancouver Hidden Gems Walking Tour : Private and personalized tour of places you won’t find in the guidebooks (CA$131.84)

Why Take A Vancouver Walking Tour?

You learn the city history like nowhere else.

Each of the Vancouver walking tours listed above focuses heavily on Vancouver history .

This means you’ll learn how the city came to be, where the city is at, and where it is ultimately going.

If you’re a tourist this is a great education to take away from the endless consumption on holiday.

For locals, it’s a great way to learn about the place you grew up in – it’s amazing going around the city and having a new appreciation for familiar landmarks .

You Get Insider Information

The Vancouver walking tour options listed above also open new windows into the city.

Yes, having a knowledgeable local guide whose job is literally to entertain and send people to the city’s hotspots is an enormous advantage.

Ask them where to go after the tour. Get their opinion on the best things to do in Vancouver or how to properly craft your Vancouver itinerary .

These types of concierge services usually cost a bunch of money at hotels, but here it’s free.

It’s a Fun and Social Experience

I’ve been travelling around for most of my adult life and I’ve always met cool people on walking tours .

I’m not promising you’ll meet the love of your life on walking tours of Vancouver, but you’ll at least find a couple of drinking buddies for the evening if you’re looking for that kind of thing.

Hell, at the very least you put in a ton of steps – we all know exercise while on holiday is at a premium.

About to Take a Vancouver Walking Tour?

These best Vancouver walking tours are sure to immerse you in the experience.

However, since your preferences are unique, I may not have covered everything you’re seeking. If you’re still uncertain or have specific questions, feel free to reach out in the comments section—I’m here to assist.

Wishing you a fantastic time on your Vancouver walking tours!

Related posts

Where to Stay in Vancouver – Best Areas to Stay

3 Days in Vancouver: Plan the Perfect 3 Day Itinerary

Vancouver in April: Top Events & Things to Do in 2024

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• Gastown Gastown
• Stanley Park Seawall Stanley Park Seawall
• Inner Stanley Park Inner Stanley Park
• Chinatown Chinatown
• Coal Harbour Coal Harbour
• Vancouver Police Museum - Soul Food Vancouver Police Museum - Soul Food
• BC Entertainment Hall of Fame StarWalk BC Entertainment Hall of Fame StarWalk
• maple leaf from the flag of Canada EN EN

Explore Vancouver at your own pace

VanWalks is a walking tour web app that works on any device with a modern web browser. No app to download, no accounts to create, no ads to watch.

Walking tours of the most popular areas of Vancouver

Optimize your time in Vancouver by exploring the most popular areas of the city. Stop when and where you like, grab a coffee, and continue when you're ready.

Your virtual host, Chris King, has been living in Vancouver for 20 years and is excited to give you a unique look into the most interesting aspects of his city.

Our routes combine historical context, modern events, and local interpretation to provide an interesting and fun experience for tourists, new Canadians, and lifelong locals.

Welcome to Vancouver!

The Vancouver Bundle is a great way to optimize your time in Vancouver. It includes all the premium content of the most popular areas of the city. From the rugged history of Gastown to the majestic splendor of Stanley Park , the Vancouver Bundle has something for everyone.

Bundle includes Gastown and both Stanley Park walking routes

Available Routes

Stanley Park Seawall

Inner stanley park.

Coal Harbour

Vancouver Police Museum - Soul Food

BC Entertainment Hall of Fame StarWalk

Vanwalks in the media.

This new app guides users on history walks around Vancouver

Historic sites don't exist on a planned path, so Chris King built an app to help guide visitors and locals along some of the best routes in the city.

Surrey Now Leader - New ‘StarWalk’ tour maps B.C.’s most celebrated entertainers for free on VanWalks app

Chris King, founder of VanWalks, said he’s thrilled to launch the content collaboration with BC Entertainment Hall of Fame, the latest addition to the company’s tours, some downloaded for a fee. Other destinations in Vancouver include Gastown, Chinatown, Stanley Park Seawall and Coal Harbour.

“Seeing the names of our most well-known and well-loved public figures on the StarWalk is an important part of any trip to Granville Street,” King said. “Having the StarWalks route in VanWalks will allow people to easily learn more about their most beloved entertainers and to discover new favourites.”

Miss 604 - 10 Tours in Downtown Vancouver

VanWalks is beyond excited to be included in Miss 604's list of recommended tours in downtown Vancouver. There are some amazing companies on that list, so we are honoured to be included with such heavery hitters.

Radio Interviews

In the early days of VanWalks, Chris King was interviewed on two different radio programs. Unfortunately, they aren't available online, so you'll have to take our word for it that they were great!

THE LOST SOULS OF GASTOWN TOUR

• The Forbidden Vancouver Tour
• The Really Gay History Tour

THE DARK SECRETS OF STANLEY PARK TOUR

• The Hidden History & Sweet Treats Tour
• Private Groups
• School Field Trips & Outings
• Team Building and Corporate Events
• Retirement Home Activities
• Secrets of the Penthouse
• Backstage at the Commodore
• Last Gang in Town
• Meet The Team
• Tourism Challenge 2024
• BOOK YOUR TOUR

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.

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.

DAILY 7PM | $33

THE HIDDEN HISTORY & SWEET TREATS TOUR

Explore Vancouver’s heritage buildings – and their stories of murder, jealousy, sin and irresistible glamour. Enjoy treats at the city’s finest bakeries and chocolatiers and a private viewing inside the famous Marine Building.

SAT & SUN 11 AM | $69 + VICTORIA DAY (MAY 20)

THE FORBIDDEN VANCOUVER TOUR

Explore the breathtaking beauty and intriguing tales of Stanley Park. Beyond the lush forests, charming gardens, and beautiful beaches, lies a story of forced evictions, hidden treasures, chilling crime scenes, and the eerie legend of Deadman’s Island.

SAT 4 PM | $33

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 our city forever.

SUNDAY 10 AM | $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. Explore Vancouver’s hidden history. Reach out today to get started!

FROM $30 PER GUEST CUSTOM START TIMES

SECRETS OF THE PENTHOUSE EVENT

Explore backstage at Vancouver’s most notorious nightclub with club owner Danny Filippone as your guide, with a live jazz band, and spaghetti & meatballs dinner.

MAY 29, 2024 APR 17, 2024 DOORS AT 6:30 PM | $70

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.

• North America
• The 13 Best Walking Tours...

The 13 Best Walking Tours to Take in Vancouver

Vancouver is a very walkable city. It’s easy to stroll between tourist attractions and popular neighborhoods in the downtown peninsula. So take to the streets like a resident, and learn more about the incredible city through a walking tour. Here are 13 of the best ones to enjoy across the Greater Vancouver Area.

Gastronomic gastown.

Gastown is one of Vancouver’s coolest neighborhoods , and it’s also the oldest area in town, filled with many excellent local restaurants and bars. Learn more about the neighborhood’s history while sampling some of its best products on the Gastronomic Gastown Walking Tour . This all-inclusive three-hour walking tour includes stops at places such as Six Acres, Meat and Bread, and Nicli Antica Pizzeria. All of the walking and learning will definitely make you work up an appetite.

Explore Vancouver’s downtown core through a private walking tour. From the Olympic Cauldron at Jack Poole Plaza to Vancouver Art Gallery , this tour includes stops at the Marine Building, Christ Church Cathedral, and the Granville entertainment district. Your informative guide will tell you how the Marine Building is one of Canada’s most well-preserved Art Deco landmarks and about the famous people who have walked down Granville Street.

Secrets of Stanley Park

Who knew Stanley Park was filled with secrets? You can learn all about them through this walking tour. Your guide will take you along the seawall first to check out the beautiful vistas, totem poles, and a secret cemetery. It’s then time to head into the park and along the forested trails, where you’ll learn about a long-lost indigenous village. Following the tour, you can head off along the seawall on your bike or check out one of Stanley Park’s many beaches .

North Vancouver Foodie Tour

Unfortunately, visitors to Vancouver often overlook North Vancouver. This fantastic food and walking tour combines the history of North Vancouver’s Lower Lonsdale area with eight tastings, two alcoholic beverages, and desserts. Learn more about the neighborhood’s historic shipyards while you sample dishes such as turkey meatloaf, homemade soups, and candied salmon, brie, and pear pizza.

Brewery Tour

For beer lovers, this is the number one craft brewery tour in Vancouver. Tours depart every Wednesday and Friday and visit three breweries in the Brewery Creek neighborhood. Wednesdays include Brassneck Brewing, Faculty Brewing, and Big Rock Urban Brewery & Eatery, while Fridays highlight Main Street Brewing instead of Big Rock. Guests get to go behind the scenes at each brewery; receive a flight of beer at every stop; and get a free Vancouver Brewery Tours beer glass following the outing.

Downtown Ghost Walk

Many cities and towns around the world do ghost walking tours, and Vancouver is one of them. Step back in time and learn about the history of the city and its many hauntings. Along the tour, you will visit the Orpheum Theatre, Vancouver Art Gallery, and the Hotel Vancouver. Your animated guide will regale stories based on local legend, personal experiences, and paranormal investigations.

This urban hike takes you out of the downtown core and through residential Vancouver, from Granville Island to Queen Elizabeth Park. It goes for six kilometers (four miles) and includes stops at Charleson Park, Vancouver City Hall, Cambie Village, Hillcrest Centre (the former Vancouver Olympic/Paralympic Centre), and Nat Bailey Stadium. You will also pass “one of the city’s best ice cream shops” before arriving at Queen Elizabeth Park and its panoramic city views.

Little Italy

“From savory to sweet, if you are a fan of Italian food, you will love the Little Italy Food Tour.” Explore Commercial Drive and its Little Italy community through this foodie tour. Learn more about the neighborhood’s lesser-known history as you stop at eight different places and sample Italian dishes such as panini, deli meat, Italian sausage, authentic Neapolitan pizza, traditional spaghetti and meatballs, cannoli, and gelato. The guide will also introduce you to some of the owners of the family-run businesses that have shaped The Drive since the 1950s.

Architecture Tours

Learn more about the architecture in six Vancouver neighborhoods with the Architectural Institute of British Columbia. Their summer architecture walking tours include Gastown, Chinatown, Downtown, Yaletown , West End, and Strathcona. The best thing about these tours is learning about the areas’ buildings from passionate local architects. If you’re a fan of architecture, this is the tour for you.

Enjoy one of four free seasonal walking tours with the Tour Guys , one of Canada’s most popular tour companies. The four free tours take people to Granville Island, Downtown Vancouver and its Waterfront, Granville Street and Gastown, and Chinatown . Although free, the guides hope you enjoy their tours so much that you’ll leave a gratuity at the end. Tour Guys also offer private tours year-round.

Self-guided audio tour

“This culturally exciting audio tour will guide you through Vancouver . See popular sights such as the vibrant area of Gastown, the modern Olympic Cauldron, and the significant Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Chinese Garden.” If you enjoy walking tours, but want to go at your own pace, this self-guided audio tour through Viator is an excellent choice. When purchased, you’ll receive a mp3 audio guide, as well as a map. Let the fully narrated tour take you from the waterfront in Downtown Vancouver to Chinatown.

First Nations Interpretive Walk through Stanley Park

Back in Stanley Park, this walking tour is completely different to the secrets tour previously mentioned. It is an interpretive walking tour with a trained, local First Nations Cultural Ambassador. Your guide will share their own family history before leading you around Beaver Lake within Stanley Park. On this tour, you will learn more about the history of the park and the Coast Salish First Nations people . Discover how the First Nations lived and managed the land for many generations. You will undoubtedly end the tour with a deeper understanding of the First Nations people.

Lost Souls of Gastown

Vancouver’s oldest neighborhood, of course, has the most ghost stories and the most gruesome history. Follow your guide’s lamplight on this Lost Souls of Gastown walking tour, and learn more about the horrific Great Vancouver Fire , Vancouver’s smallpox outbreaks, and the unsolved murder of John Bray. The tour is made for adult audiences, and it is not only a walking tour but also a theater piece, so expect to be entertained from beginning to end.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.

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ANCIENT TREES OF VANCOU VER

Step back in time on a walking tour of the city's last ancient trees, and discover  the stories and secret locations of these hidden centuries old giants.  Encounter Canada's largest known maple tree, towering 600+ year old douglas firs, and majestic sprawling cedars nearing a 1000 years old. 

Map of Stanley Park 1911

Stanley Park during the 19th century

Vancouver's largest Western Redcedar

Ancient Douglas Fir

Giant Western Redcedar

Stanley Park's famous Hollow Tree

WALK AMONGST GIANTS

Experience the last remaining old growth in the city's historic Stanley Park. Follow our expert guide to these natural wonders, including towering douglas firs, wide and wondrous cedars, and the largest known maple tree in all of Canada. As we marvel at these ancient trees, we'll also learn about the ecological importance of old-growth forests and the threats they face today. You'll be told about the park's history and the original Coast Salish inhabitants who called this area home for thousands of years before it was an urban park. Many of the trees on this tour have been growing for half a millennium, long before the founding of Vancouver.

What Makes Us Unique

Local expert guide.

BC Big Tree Committee Member and well-known ancient tree seeker Colin Spratt personally guides you to these ancient wonders

Vancouver's Only Big Tree Tour

This is the only tour focused on the last ancient giant trees left in the Vancouver city limits

Hidden Trees

Many of these trees are well hidden and their locations secrets. You will learn how to respectfully visit these trees without damaging their root systems

Meeting Place We begin our adventure at Stanley Park's Third Beach  

Our land acknowledgment.

We acknowledge that our tour takes place within the unceded, ancestral territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations

Thanks for submitting!

John has created, and conducts, a number of unique and popular walking tours throughout the City of Vancouver. He brings an insight of urban planning and development, a love of architecture, and the fascination of the curious to all his tours.

Walks take approximately 2 hours - depending on the group size and route - and are organized year round. Tours cost 15 dollars per person. Custom tours can also be organized for groups or individuals, contact John for information.

Please note for groups less than ten, there is a 150 dollar minimum charge.

� 2006-19 John Atkin

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WALKING TOURS

Guns and gold, mobsters and murders – Vancouver has an intriguing past. Our actors and historians take you on small group walking tours to explore the city’s oldest neighbourhoods of Downtown and Gastown, where fire, smallpox and unsolved murders left their gruesome mark.

What are WALKING TOURS ?

The Forbidden Vancouver Tour

This scandal-filled history tour traces the city’s shady prohibition past through the city’s oldest streets. You’ll hear tales of rum runners, corrupt mayors, and enterprising bootleggers. Walking the streets and alleyways once governed by notorious 1920s mob boss Joe Celona, you’ll hear stories of riots, beer parlours, and blind pigs. The walking tour weaves its way through historic Gastown before it wraps up near the city’s trendiest bars and restaurants for those who want to keep the fun flowing.

Price: $32 adult, $29 senior/student | Duration: 2 hours Start Times: Fri 10 a.m., Sat 7:30 p.m., Sun 4 p.m. | Start Location: Outside Buro Coffee, 356 Water St, Gastown

• Explore Gastown at night
• Vancouver’s prohibition history
• Professional Forbidden Vancouver guide
• Tales of illicit booze, shocking riots, and mob crime
• Visit must see heritage buildings including the Dominion Building
• Finish in Gastown near all the city’s best bars and restaurants

What guests say on tripadvisor

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The Lost Souls of Gastown Tour

Explore Victorian Gastown at night on this gothic theatre adventure. You’ll follow the lamplight of your guide as you discover the Great Fire, smallpox outbreaks, and the unsolved murder of John Bray. Designed for adult audiences, the experience is both a walking tour and a theatre piece. The plot line is woven together as the tragic tale of one person’s life, ending in a dramatic finale in the heart of Gastown’s Maple Tree Square. On the way you’ll visit the city’s oldest hotel, its first bawdy house, and walk its oldest street. Do not expect a ghost tour or conventional walking tour – this is a gothic experience that will pull you in so deep, you might have a hard time finding your way back out…

Price: $32 adult, $29 senior/student | Duration: 1 hour, 45 minutes Start Times: Every night 7 p.m. | Start Location: Outside Buro Coffee, 356 Water St, Gastown

• Gothic Theatre Adventure
• Vancouver’s darkest early history
• Tales of smallpox, deadly fire and unsolved murder
• Unique hybrid of walking tour and theatre piece
• Backstreets and alleyways of Victorian Gastown
• Finish in Gastown near all the best bars and restaurants

How does it work?

You’ll venture through Vancouver’s oldest neighbourhoods with a Forbidden Vancouver Storyteller as your guide. At each stop you’ll hear the twists and turns of our city’s shadiest history while you soak in the cobblestone streets, Victorian era alleyways and heritage buildings.

Where does it go?

The Forbidden Vancouver Tour visits two of Vancouver’s oldest neighbourhoods: Victory Square and Gastown. The Lost Souls of Gastown Tour takes a walk off the beaten path through Gastown’s backstreets and alleyways. Both tours finish in the heart of the city’s restaurant and bar scene.

Who is my guide?

Our Storytellers are guides, actors, historians, comedians, writers, performers — they’re people who love Vancouver and love to entertain. They’re also some of the nicest, most passionate, and most creative people you’ll ever have the pleasure to meet. We guarantee it!

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Get ready for an absolute blast in Calgary—our 3-hour Walking Tour is a one-of-a-kind experience that combines two of life’s greatest pleasures: soaking in street art vibes and sipping on delicious craft beer!

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Experience the heart of Calgary in style as you glide through the city on an eScooter, accompanied by our expert local guide who weaves the fascinating tapestry of Calgary’s history.

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Discover Calgary with a local and unlock the city’s true essence with Toonie Tours. Our free walking tour isn’t your typical touristy outing; it’s a warm invitation to get to know the city’s pulse.

Embark on an unforgettable 3-hour Bike Tour of Calgary and experience the city like a local, guided by the stories and insights of our enthusiastic guides.

Toronto Free Walking Tour

Delve into the Heart of Canada. Free, Paid, & Private Tours Available.

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Discover Toronto in a uniquely thrilling way with our Scooter Tour – an unparalleled experience in the city. Blast off on a delightful tour that unveils hidden gems and historical sites across Toronto.

The Toronto Free Walking Tour is more than a touristy sightseeing excursion; it’s a chance to be immersed in the buzzing downtown of Canada’s largest city.

Vancouver Free Walking Tour

Explore Nature at it’s Best. Free, Paid, & Private Tours Available.

Take in colorful, breathtaking murals while wandering through the charming tree-lined streets of Mount Pleasant. Delight yourself in the malty aroma of freshly brewed beer as you sample different artisan creations, each with their own unique notes.

• Coffee Tours

Indulge in the delightful scents of freshly roasted coffee in Mount Pleasant, where the legendary Pete, a local coffee maestro, is ready to craft you the perfect cup.

The Vancouver Free Walking Tour has been a trip highlight for more than 10,000 guests to Vancouver! It’s not just a touristy sightseeing excursion; it’s a heartfelt invitation for you to truly know the city.

Discover Vancouver on the all-encompassing route to Vancouver’s must-see neighbourhoods and points-of-interest. With fun and safety at the forefront, this tour is ‘geared’ to giving you an intimate, up-close, and personal introduction to Vancouver.

Victoria Free Walking Tour

Jump into the West Coast Culture. Free, Paid, & Private Tours Available.

Connect with Victoria on a tour that combines two of her treasured delights, art and beer. Beer brewing in Victoria goes right back to her beginning, providing us a unique window to explore her past.

Embark on a genuine exploration of Victoria with Toonie Tours, where our Free Walking Tour isn’t your typical sightseeing venture—it’s an immersive invitation into the heart of the city.

Embark on a delightful exploration of the beauty and culture that Victoria has to offer with our exceptional bike tour. Your adventure begins at Sports Rent BC, where you’ll be provided with top-quality bikes to experience “The City of Gardens” like a true local.

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Take a tour with a guide who is primed and on-point every time. Our guides compensation is primarily focused on tips-based tours, rewarding and retaining the best performing guides in the industry. Our guides are constantly developing their skills and their stories, and getting real-time feedback on every tour to improve and set the bar constantly higher.

We understand your time is valuable, especially when visiting for the first time with a limited schedule and budget. That’s why our company is the most logical choice when choosing a tour operator – join our Free Tour risk-free, and get the best guides the city has to offer who hone their craft day-in-and-day-out with real, tangible feedback from the tips-based reciprocity. 

Toonie Tours customers are unmatched! Our tours attract the most spontaneous, adventure-seeking crowd that is currently trotting the globe! Our customers are our secret ingredient, guaranteeing your tour will be fun and entertaining, every single time! You and the rest of the group are our good company. 

Our guides are authentic, down-to-earth locals who enjoy traveling just as much as you do. This is one of the reasons they have become tour guides in the first place – to serve the travel community and keep in touch with awesome people like you while they’re at home and resting from their latest adventure.

The guides bring their unique personality, and seasoned traveler point-of-view to their local surroundings. Our guides are always unscripted, and known to take you off-the-beaten path to sharing with you the things they ACTUALLY care to share and think you ought to experience. Our guides craft their own stories, and integrate their stops along our skeleton outlined routes.  

Come be blown away by the candid storytelling, and local tips and tricks that they have to share with you to make the most of your trip.

We have partners across the country in high and low places. Our guides can set you up with exclusive access to deals, day-trips, events, venues, attractions, and more. 

Take a tour with the most connected guide network in the country – Toonie Tours. 

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We strive to leave you with a once in a lifetime experience, by being there for you at the time you need it most, to create meaningful connection to the places you visit and the people you meet.

Let us connect you to the best locations, people, tours and experiences. We eagerly await your next booking.

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Vancouver Walking Tours

This post provides information about a variety of free walking tours you can take in Vancouver.

We include services that cover the history of Gastown, the architecture of the city, and locations such as the Waterfront.

• Overview + Schedule
• Historic Gastown
• Architecture Tour
• Hollywood North

OVERVIEW + SCHEDULE

Vancouver is an interesting city filled with history and culture, so it shouldn’t be too surprising that there are a lot of free walking tours you can take in the area.

Most of these tours focus on the historic Gastown neighborhood, but there are some that cover additional subjects such as the architecture of Vancouver.

There are also free tours of popular filming locations in the city, so fans of popular movies and television shows may want to consider these options.

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Alternatively, you could also take a free bike tour which will provide a look at one of the most beautiful parks in the city.

Almost all of these free walking tours are offered on a tip-based basis, which means you can pay however much you think the tour was worth once it is completed.

Most people feel comfortable tipping anywhere from $10-$20, which is a more than fair price, considering that many paid tours in the city will cost much more than that.

These pay-what-you-wish walking tours are a very affordable way to see the city.

But, if you’d rather take a bus, boat, or even a seaplane, there are several paid Vancouver tours you may want to consider instead.

HISTORIC GASTOWN

There are a few different pay-what-you-wish walking tours that cover the most historic area of Vancouver, otherwise known as Gastown.

In addition to learning about how this settlement grew from its roots as a timber town in the 1860s into a hub of culture and artistic vision.

While on these free walking tours, you can expect to see sites like these:

• Sinclair Centre
• Granville Plaza
• The Steam Clock
• Maple Tree Square
• Waterfront Station
• Gaoler’s Mews

If you’re interested in learning more about these locations, consider one of the following services listed below.

Toonie Tours

This highly-rated tour covers a lot of topics related to the history of Vancouver.

In addition to learning about the city, you’ll also get recommendations for the best places to eat, grab a drink, go for a hike, and more.

At 3 hours in length, this is the longest free walking tour on our list .

With an overall rating of 5 out of 5 stars , Toonie Tours is arguably one of the best tour services in the city, and guests indicate that they will answer any questions you may have about Gastown.

They offer tours daily at 10 am year round. In summer (June-August), you can also find tours at 2 pm and 6 pm.

Book this tour in the calendar above .

Additional Historic Gastown Tours

If you’re looking for a tour that either covers more ground or offers a different type of experience in Vancouver, there are several paid tours that provide information about the history of the city.

While some of these services are walking tours, others take place on a boat, seaplane or even hop-on, hop-off bus. Ticket prices range from $20-$100 or more.

Learn more about these paid Historic Gastown tours .

VANCOUVER ARCHITECTURE TOURS

There is a lot of interesting architecture in Vancouver stretching from the oldest buildings in the city to an art-deco-inspired skyscraper.

In addition to covering these locations, you can also expect architectural tours to provide details about a variety of public artwork and even some places you may want to visit if you’re interested in seeing more art.

Here are just a few of the sites you’ll see while on an architecture tour:

• Christ Church Cathedral
• Vancouver Art Gallery
• Olympic Cauldron
• Marine Building
• Canada Place
• The Seawall

Self-Guided Architecture Tours

If you’re looking for another free opportunity to explore the most significant examples of architecture in Vancouver, there are a few self-guided tours you may want to consider.

The first opportunity is provided by the city of Vancouver.

Their self-guided architectural tour includes a map and several notable stops with details about each notable building you’ll see along the way.

In addition to that option, there is also a self-guided walking tour offered by the Architectural Institute of British Columbia.

This service also includes a map and covers multiple neighborhoods in Vancouver.

HOLLYWOOD NORTH TOURS

Vancouver has earned the nicknames “Hollywood North” and “Maplewood” thanks to all of the film studios that have set up shop in the city and often shoot some of the biggest, most popular movies and television shows in the area.

Although there aren’t a lot of walking tours covering this subject, there are at least a few options you should consider if you want to see some of the most notable filming locations in the city.

Here are just some of the movies and television shows you can expect to learn about on these tours:

• The X-Files
• Bates Motel
• Supernatural
• 50 Shades of Grey

If you’re interested in seeing where scenes from these popular films and TV shows were shot, consider one of the tours listed below.

Self-Guided Hollywood North Tours

Although there aren’t currently any free guided walking tours in Vancouver that cover this subject, you may want to think about using one of these self-guided film location tours instead.

The first option comes from Canadian Sky , and this one is written more like an article with a variety of information about filming locations you may want to visit.

You might need to plot these sites out on a map before heading out because they don’t offer any maps or GPS guidance.

Inside Vancouver has a similar self-guided tour that actually offers some directions to help you find your way around the city until you find each filming site.

Fans of Vancouver

This is one of the only companies in the city that offers a Hollywood North walking tour, but their service isn’t free.

That said, they are well-reviewed with a 5 out of 5-star rating on TripAdvisor.

Their filming location tour lasts for about 1-2 hours on average, and it is frequently updated to account for new film productions taking place in Vancouver.

Learn more or book this tour .

VANCOUVER BIKE TOURS

If you’re looking for more than just a walking tour, there is at least one free bike tour you can take in Vancouver.

The only thing you’ll have to account for is the bicycle, and you can either bring your own or rent one for the tour.

While the only free bike tour in this city focuses on Stanley Park, there are some other paid bike tours that branch out to additional locations like Chinatown, Granville Island, and more.

In addition to learning about some of the most interesting attractions in Vancouver, you’ll also receive tips on the best views in the city.

Mortour Guides

In addition to its Historic Gastown tour, this company also has a bike tour that will take you through Stanley Park to see some of the most popular landmarks in the area.

While riding through the park, your tour guide will take you down some of the best trails to reach locations with beautiful scenic overlooks.

This 3-hour tour is pay-what-you-wish, but you’ll need to provide the bike yourself. There is a bike shop where you can rent a bicycle for $20 at the meeting point for this outing.

Expect to cover 10 Km on this outing, much of it offroad. While some guests won’t find this challenging, it could be difficult for some riders. 

You can take this tour every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 10:30 am in English. Alternatively, it is also available daily in Spanish at 14:00 (2 pm).

Book this tour or learn more .

Additional Vancouver Bike Tours

If you’re interested in exploring and learning about more than just Stanley Park, consider taking a paid bike tour instead. 

These services cover several other locations and subjects in Vancouver. Ticket prices range from $45-$80 and tours last for 2-4 hours on average.

Check this list of Vancouver bike tours to find one that fits your itinerary.

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Walking Tours

• Upcoming Tours
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Past Walking Tours

One of the best ways to learn about a new area or neighbourhood is on foot. Get up close to the city’s heritage buildings and distinctive neighbourhoods with one of our popular walking tours!

Get your walking shoes ready – our summer walking tours are back! From May to September, join us on a stroll around Vancouver’s historic neighborhoods with our beloved walking tour guides on select Saturday mornings at 10 am and afternoons at 1 pm. Historian John Atkin will explore various neighborhoods, speaking about lost streams throughout the city and Rob Howatson will focus on South Vancouver with points of interest along Fraser Street, Fraserview and the River District. Tickets go on sale on May 1 st at 10am!

Tours require 10 participants to run and have a maximum capacity of 20. Tickets will be available for purchase until 5pm the day before each tour.

For the most up-to-date news on our upcoming walking tours, sign-up for our e-newsletter or follow us on social media!

Can’t join us in person?

Join us to explore local history and heritage from home on a virtual walking tour. While we are transitioning back to offering in-person programming, we can still experience the streets of Vancouver’s neighbourhoods and discover some of the history and heritage places of diverse communities from the comfort of your home.

2022 Walking Tour below 45th Avenue with John Atkin. Credit: S. Carlson

Rob Howatson taking participants back in time by Vivian Creek during a walking tour of Fraserview's War Veteran's housing in 2022. Credit: S Carlson

Learning about the Japanese Canadian community in Lower Mount Pleasant during a 2022 walking tour with Christine Hagemoen. Credit: S Carlson

Participants reading the Heritage Building plaque on the Ceperley Rounsefell Building at 848 W Hastings Street.

Exploring the Glen Park neighbourhood during a 2022 walking tour with John Atkin Credit: S Carlson

Participant takes a photo of a building during a Architectural Photography walk in 2017.

Christine Hagemoen leading a group on a 2022 walking tour through Mount Pleasant, Credit: S Carlson

One of the stops on the 'In the Footsteps of the Past: Retracing South Asian History in Kitsilano' tour in 2015.

Guide Michael Schwartz explores the pioneers of Vancouver’s Jewish Community at Mountain View Cemetery in 2019.

Guide Maurice Guibord outside of St. Andrews Wesley Church (1022 Nelson) on a tour through the West End in 2013.

Guide Michael Schwartz leads participants on a tour through Oakridge in 2019.

Guide Rob Howatson at the start of 'Fraserview: The Real Story of the War Vets' Pleasantville' walking tour. Credit: S Carlson

Guide John Atkin leading a walking tour along W Hastings in 2017.

Participants chat with guide Maurice Guibord and look at archival photos during a 2012 tour in Gastown.

Guide John Atkin leading a group through Gastown in 2018.

Guide Samuel Mickelson leads a summer walking tour along W Hastings in 2015.

Participants on a tour of historic Powell Street in 2018.

Guide John Atkin leading a 2017 tour in Kerrisdale.

Guide John Atkin and participants outside the Mah Society Building on E Pender Street during a 2015 Asian Heritage Walk.

Guide John Belshaw leading a tour on Gore Ave in 2018.

2019 walking tour participants of The Narrows with John Belshaw, on the corner of Southern and Station St.

Guide John Atkin stops in front of a modified Storybook house in Kerrisdale in 2014.

Landscape architect Adrienne Brown leads a walk identifying 100 year old trees in The Crescent (Shaughnessy Park) in May 2016.

Guides Paneet Singh and Naveen Girn lead the 'In the Footsteps of the Past: Retracing South Asian History in Kitsilano' tour in 2015.

Guide Maurice Guibord and participants outside of the Commodore Ballroom at 868 Granville St during a 2012 Art Deco tour.

Participants on a walking tour in 2006 with guide John Atkin.

2016 False Creek Flats walking tour with guide Maurice Guibord in front of Pacific Central Station (1150 Station St).

2017 Francophone Village walking tour with Maurice Guibord outside of Heritage Hall (3102 Main Street).

A stop inside Nat Bailey Stadium (4601 Ontario St) during a 2014 walking tour with John Atkin.

with John Atkin February 24: Water, Muck and Trains: The Shrinking Shoreline of False Creek

Walk the Plan with John Atkin May 20: Glen Dr & 10th Ave June 17: Manitoba St at 13th Ave July 8: Hemlock St at 13th Ave July 29: Maple St at 14th Ave August 19: Yew St at 6th Ave September 2: Hemlock St at 6th Ave September 16: Columbia St at 4th Ave October 7th: Scotia St at 6th Ave

with Rob Howatson June 24: The River District: From Carbolineum to Condominum July 22: Fraser Street: South Van’s Original Heartline August 12: Fraserview: The Real Story of the War Vets’ Pleasantville

Where Have I Been Walking with John Atkin June 25: Glen Park July 16: Knight and 49th Avenue August 13: Below 45th Avenue August 20: Above the Grandview Cut August 27: Revival Styles, Bogs and Post Modernism

with Christine Hagemoen June 18: Lower Mount Pleasant: Industry, Immigrants and Institutions July 9: Secrets of Mount Pleasant

with Rob Howatson July 23: Fraserview: The Real Story of the War Vets’ Pleasantville August 6: Life’s a Ditch: Grappling with the Fraser’s North Arm September 10: Fraserview’s Shifting Shores

‘An Industrial City’ with John Atkin May 4: The Waterfront May 25: Railtown June 8: Vernon Street July 6: From Creeks to Trains July 20: Shipyards, Salt and the Olympics August 10: Beer, Boxes and Tents August 31: Vegetables, Furniture and Flowers September 7: Lumber and Telephones October 5: Foundries, Lumber and Baseball October 19: Take Me to the River

with Michael Schwartz July 14: Foundations of the Jewish Community in Gastown & Strathcona August 25: Pioneers of Vancouver’s Jewish Community at Mountain View Cemetery September 22: Oakridge Community History

with John Belshaw April 27: Gore: The Avenue That Slashes the East End June 22: From Cedar Cove To Port Town September 21: The Narrows

with Rob Howatson June 23 & September 15: Fraserview’s Shifting Shores

with Christine Hagemoen July 28: Lower Mount Pleasant: industry, immigrants and institutions

‘Following the Creeks’ with John Atkin March 18: Gastown Revisited April 7: China Creek Basin (NE Mount Pleasant) April 21: China Creek Ravine (SE Mount Pleasant) June 16: Davey Creek (SE Mount Pleasant) June 24: A Brewery and A Stump (Kensington-Cedar Cottage) July 21: The Lake Bottom (Renfrew Heights) August 11: Bogs, Farms and a Dairy (Killarney) September 8: Memorial Park (S Kensington) October 27: Skunk Cabbage and Tudors (W Point Grey) November 3: A Country Lane and the Mid-Century (Southlands)

with John Belshaw May 5 & July 7: Gore – The Avenue That Slashes the East End June 9: From Cedar Cove To Port Town June 23: The Narrows

with Adrienne Brown May 12 & August 25: Vancouver’s Waterfront – History Found Near the Seawall July 28 & September 22: Open Spaces of Vancouver’s Downtown

2018 Special Event Walking Tours May 13: Revitalizing UBC – Cultural Landscape and Twentieth Century Design Legacies October 27: Historic Powell Street Walking Tour

‘Here and There: A Few Bits of the City’ with John Atkin April 15: The Southern Sunny Slope (Kerrisdale) May 13: Royal Nurseries (South Kerrisdale) June 10: Pleasant View (Fraserview) June 17: Bon Accord Park (Renfrew-Collingwood) July 15: Welton Heights (Riley Park) August 12: Strathcona Place (West Side) August 19: Selkirk Heights (South Shaughnessy) September 9: Strathcona Hill (South Cambie) October 14: On the Edge of Shaughnessy (North Shaughnessy) October 28: Tatlow Park (Kitsilano) November 19: Chinatown Walk & Dim Sum Lunch

with Maurice Guibord April 28 & July 29: The Viaducts Quandary May 6 &  June 23: East Fraser Lands May 20 & August 18: Vancouver’s Art Deco June 9 & September 30: Vancouver’s “Francophone Village” June 24 & October 20: False Creek South

with John Atkin April 30: Carrall Street – Between Forest & Mill (Gastown) May 7: The Other Shore (Olympic Village/False Creek) May 21: The Suburbs (Mount Pleasant) June 18: Edge of the City (Mount Pleasant/Little Mountain) July 2: Where’s 24th Avenue? (Little Mountain/Riley Park) July 16: Next to the Mountain (Queen Elizabeth Park) July 30: Church and School (Sunset/Oakridge) August 6: Sunset and Golf (Sunset) October 1: Specials and More (South Vancouver) October 15: Industry and River (Fraser River)

with Maurice Guibord April 23 & August 19: Grandview – Places of Worship May 14 & 27: Vancouver’s Art Deco May 20 & June 25: Hastings Park & The PNE Fairgrounds June 10 & August 13: Mountainview Cemetery July 8 & September 10: The False Creek Flats

with John Atkin May 2: At the Edge of the City (Renfrew-Collingwood) May 16: A Stream and a Ravine (Kensington-Cedar Cottage) May 23: Former Farms and the Interurban (Kensington-Cedar Cottage) June 14: The Wonky Grid (Kensington-Cedar Cottage) June 20: Markets and Market Gardens (Little Mountain) July 4: Hobbit and Other Houses (South Cambie) July 18: The Edge of Shaughnessy August 8: Asthma Flats (Arbutus Ridge) October 3: On the Ridge (Dunbar-Southlands) October 10: The City Ends (Dunbar-Southlands near Pacific Spirit Park)

with Maurice Guibord May 8 & July 25: Post-War Architecture (Burrard St) May 22 & August 29: East Hastings June 12 & August 15: Sunrise – At the Water’s Edge June 27 & July 10: Commercial Drive – Little Italy October 9 & 17: Vancouver’s Art Deco

2015 Special Event Walking Tours May 19-24: Asian Heritage Walks September 20: In the Footsteps of the Past – Retracing South Asian History in Kitsilano

‘Off Broadway’ with John Atkin May 3: On the Edge of the City May 24: A Garden Oasis June 7: A Little Bit of Mount Pleasant June 14: The Lost Neighbourhood July 12: An Eclectic Apartment District August 2: Interurbans and Garden Plots August 16: A Brewery and Cricket September 6: A Little Bit of Everything October 4: A Craftsman Neighbourhood October 18: The End of the Road

with Maurice Guibord March 29 & April 20: Grandview – Commercial to Clark April 5 & June 20: Japantown May 2 & 17: Granville Island July 4 & August 9: Art Deco Downtown August 8 & 30: International Style

2014 Special Event Walking Tours October 14-17: Early Immigrant History Walks

‘Architects and Their Neighbourhoods’ with John Atkin April 27: The West End May 18: 1890s Mount Pleasant June 1: Kitsilano June 15: Old Roads #1 – Alexander St. July 6: Kerrisdale July 13: Triangle West August 3: Arthur Erickson August 17: Old Roads #2 – Chinatown September 7: The Lighthearts October 5: Old Roads #3 – False Creek

with Maurice Guibord April 12, June 7 & August 23: West Hastings April 26, June 21 & September 6: Railtown July 12, August 9 & September 20: Yaletown May 24, July 26 & October 11: West End

2013 Special Event Walking Tours June 15, July 20 & August 17: Stanley Park Bike Tours with Maurice Guibord May 25: Places that Matter Bike Tour with John Atkin

with John Atkin May 5: Clark & E 6th Avenue May 19: Pender & Victoria June 16: Commercial & Franklin – The Other Chinatown July 7: Nanaimo & Oxford, Beacon Hill August 4: 54th & Vivian – Diaperville August 11: Park Dr & Fremlin – Timber Lease & Old Estates South August 25: Killarney & 45th – Farmland to Suburbia October 13: Nelson & Thurlow – West End Apartments October 27: Nelson & Thurlow – West End Houses

with Maurice Guibord April 13, May 11 & June 8: Gastown April 27, May 27 & June 22: Chinatown July 13, August 10 & September 14: Art Deco July 27, August 31 & September 28: Burrard St

2012 Special Event Walking Tours September 8: Public Art Walking Tour (Downtown)

with John Atkin July 16: Market Alley – Opium, Laundry and Pawnshops July 23: Blood Alley, the Early City – A Real History August 13: Laneway Housing: Been There, Done That August 20: Trails, Creeks and Lanes – A Westside Ramble August 28: Eveleigh Street – An architect, the CPR and nothing

with Maurice Guibord October 14 & November 25: Historic Hastings Street West October 28 & November 25: Historic Hastings Street East

2011 Special Event Walking Tours August 20: Mole Hill Art & Heritage Walk

with John Atkin July 10: Marpole July 17: Italian Strathcona July 24: Jewish Strathcona August 14: Sunset August 21: Oakridge

with John Atkin July 11: Chinatown July 25: Carrall St August 8: Japantown August 22: Mid-Century Modern August 29: Strathcona

East End with John Atkin July 5: Strathcona – Part 1 July 12: Strathcona – Part 2 August 2: Japantown August 23: Downtown Eastside August 30: Chinatown

Hometown tourist: Alternative places in Vancouver to take out-of-town visitors

You’ve seen those blue buses chugging through downtown traffic, folks hopping on and off at various tourist sites, but you have probably never ridden on one. Or taken a harbour tour by boat. Even a walking tour of Vancouver. Postmedia sent reporter Gord McIntyre to spend a couple of days seeing the city of Vancouver through the eyes of the tourists. Here is Part 2 of his dispatch. Read Part 1 here.

If you are visiting New York or Paris for the first time, you are expected to take in the Empire State Building or the Eiffel Tower, maybe even buy a “I Heart Paris/New York” t-shirt.

But friends might tell you about the secret garden at St. Lukes in the Fields in New York’s West Village, a perfect spot to pitch a picnic blanket and enjoy a book. Or Le Squat du 59 Rue de Rivoli , just down from the Louvre in Paris. These are places the local chamber of commerce might not have included in their helpful sites-to-see maps.

So when your cousins come to town and want to see Stanley Park and Gastown, by all means encourage them, then let them know about some of the lesser-known things to see and do in Vancouver.

See if they will try sockeye sashimi or raw Okeover Inlet oysters — there aren’t many cities where you can get seafood so fresh. See a play at The Cultch or anything at the Rio . Check out a Sofarsounds secret concert — it’s a worldwide phenomenon, but also a great way to enjoy off-the-beaten-path Vancouver from a hole-in-the-wall coffee shop on East Hastings or a downtown rooftop for performances by local artists.

Or head to Guilt and Co. , a dark basement with a speakeasy feel under Maple Tree Square in Gastown, or Tyrant Studios atop the Penthouse Night Club downtown for great local acts, says Will Woods, a travel guide who offers alternative tours of Vancouver through his Forbidden Vancouver walking tours.

Woods takes visitors on walks called Lost Souls of Gastown, Really Gay History, Monumental Scandals, and a tour of the Penthouse itself where hidden cubbies in the furniture hid bootleg hootch during Prohibition (the club only obtained a liquor licence in 1968) and the likes of Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong pe rformed.

Woods, an alternative-Vancouver guide for 12 years, has just and conveniently published his own virtual off-the-beaten-path guidebook to Vancouver for those who have taken his tours, so he seemed a natural to turn to for hints about hidden treasures:

The virtual guidebook is strong on local, independent and BIPOC-owned sites, and forgive Woods if No. 1 on his list is one of his walking tours.

“Otherwise, I think that the Marine Building is well worth a visit if anybody’s got any interest at all in architecture, or even isn’t interested in architecture because it’s a very cool historic space,” he said.

“It’s well worth a visit on a weekday. Get inside and look at the lobby, go to the mezzanine and look around. That would be one of my recommendations.”

You’ve probably heard it at some point, that big boom resonating over Burrard Inlet at 9 p.m. every night. But you really need to be close enough to see the Nine O’Clock Gun firing, Woods said.

“It really goes off, it’s incredible,” he said. “I think what it must have been like to have like 40 of those cannons going off at the same time, it would have just blown your ears apart.

“It’s really a pretty cool thing to do. But don’t get too close, it’s loud!”

Good tidings

You need to get to Spanish Banks early, Woods said, to enjoy low tide to its fullest, and it’s one of his favourite places to bring friends who are in town.

“I really like doing this with everyone who visits. I go to Spanish Banks at low tide and walk right out as far as we can. It must be at least a mile out at low tide.

“My recommendation is not to get there at low tide but 90 minutes before because it takes such a long time to walk out.”

Paging bibliophiles

Massy Books is an Indigenous-owned and -operated store on East Georgia between Main and Gore streets, specializing in rare, offbeat and out-of-print books to today’s bestsellers.

“It’s got an incredible variety of writing, Canadian and from elsewhere,” Woods said. “It’s got a really big queer section, and it’s got a children’s section hidden behind a secret door, which is really cool.”

Rite of passage

Woods’ favourite Vancouver museum is in Kitsilano’s Vanier Park.

“The Maritime Museum is my favourite, I think it really fits with the history of B.C. and the province, and us being right on the water,” he said.

“And the St. Roch , to think it went through the Northwest Passage,” the schooner’s thick Douglas fir and hard Australian eucalyptus becoming the first hull to plow the Arctic route from west to east, while also becoming the first ship to circumnavigate North America.

Guerrilla in the midst

There’s one place Woods’s Stanley Park tour doesn’t get to because it’s on the far side of the park, but Woods can’t recommend enough a short hike to see a piece of guerrilla artwork known as Two Spirits .

Its creator remains a mystery to the public and the artwork is not sanctioned by the Vancouver Park Board: Two silhouetted faces carved into a huge stump. Come spring and summer, vegetation growing on the top gives it a nice coif, like if Carrot Top’s hair was green.

You reach Two Spirits from the park’s English Bay side, the trailhead is near Second Beach. Indigenous beliefs about two spirits (masculine and feminine sides) meld seamlessly with the West End’s queer history, Woods said, as well as commemorating the history of the land Stanley Park is on, home to Indigenous settlements for thousands of years until they were forcibly removed during colonization.

“I’m passionate about this piece, two spirits carved into a tree trunk and hidden in Stanley Park,” Woods said. “It’s really something when you’re on the trail and you’re sort of looking for it and you go to this little unofficial side trail and it sort of appears in front of you.

“That’s a really impressive piece of artwork.”

[email protected]

twitter.com/gordmcintyre

Hometown Tourist

You’ve seen those blue buses chugging through downtown traffic, folks hopping on and off at various tourist sites. But you have probably never ridden on one. Or taken a harbour tour by boat. Even a walking tour of Vancouver. Postmedia sent reporter Gord McIntyre to spend a couple of days seeing the city of Vancouver through the eyes of the tourists.

• What’s it like to ride Vancouver’s Hop-On, Hop-Off bus?

• Alternative ways to see Vancouver

June 9: Seeing Vancouver from the water

• Hometown Tourist: What's it like to ride Vancouver's Hop-On, Hop-Off bus?
• Vancouver expecting a record 331 cruise ship visits in 2023

Candace Parker, 3-time WNBA champion and 2-time MVP, announces retirement: ‘It’s time’

One of the all-time greats is walking off into the sunset.

Candace Parker — a two-time MVP, two-time NCAA champion, three-time WNBA champion and two-time Olympic gold medalist, among many other accolades — announced her retirement from basketball Sunday.

“I promised I’d never cheat the game & that I’d leave it in a better place than I came into it,” she wrote in a post on Instagram . “The competitor in me always wants 1 more, but it’s time.

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“My HEART & body knew, but I needed to give my mind time to accept it. I always wanted to walk off the court with no parade or tour, just privately with the ones I love. What now was to be my last game, I walked off the court with my daughter. I ended the journey just as I started it, with her.”

Parker had signed a non-guaranteed deal with the Las Vegas Aces after missing the second half of the 2023 season with a foot injury. She posted that her foot wasn’t cooperating with the rehab from surgery — her 10th procedure in her pro career — thus resulting in her retirement 16 years after she was drafted No. 1 overall. The announcement came less than an hour before the Aces were set to begin training camp for the 2024 season.

Forever a GOAT. Forever an Ace. pic.twitter.com/zGiCaIsBfh — Las Vegas Aces (@LVAces) April 28, 2024

Parker leaves the game as one of the best to ever grace a basketball court. Her athletic prowess captured national attention as early as her high school career. She won the McDonald’s All-American Game slam dunk contest as a senior, becoming the first woman to ever do so.

At Tennessee, she became the first player to dunk in an NCAA Tournament game. She was also the second woman to dunk in a WNBA game, following former Los Angeles Sparks teammate Lisa Leslie. Parker was also the first to ever dunk twice in the WNBA.

As a frontcourt player in name only, Parker revolutionized the power forward position in women’s basketball. She routinely brought the ball up and ran the offense in college and as a pro, showcasing handles that were normally associated with guards, which expanded the definition of what a 4 could be.

“The biggest thing is she did it her way, always,” Courtney Vandersloot , who played with Parker on the Sky in 2021 and 2022, said. “She was the type of player that changed the game. What we see now, Candace was doing that early. Like she says, 10 surgeries later, she was still working at a really high level because she was a true professional.”

Parker also made a mark as a basketball analyst, driving attention to the women’s game with her work for Turner Sports on the men’s side. In doing so, she paved the way for current players to have second careers in the broadcast space.

“Everyone knows Candace Parker,” A’ja Wilson said. “Candace set the tone, and I don’t think she gets enough credit for being a face of the W. Young Black girls that like to hoop, you don’t come across one that doesn’t say, ‘Candace Parker,’ because that’s what we saw.”

Wherever she went, Parker won. She was a two-time NCAA champion at Tennessee, earning player of the year honors twice in her college career. The Lady Vols haven’t won another title since Parker graduated in 2008. The Sparks selected her at No. 1 in the 2008 WNBA Draft, and Parker proceeded to be the only player to ever win MVP in her rookie season.

She led Los Angeles to its third WNBA title in 2016, winning Finals MVP and dedicating the honor to her late coach Pat Summitt, who passed from Alzheimer’s earlier that year. In 2021, Parker went home to Chicago and brought the Sky their first (and only) WNBA title in franchise history. In 2023, she made the move to Las Vegas and was part of one of the most dominant lineups in league history before suffering a foot injury in July.

The Aces nonetheless won the championship, giving Parker three rings in her WNBA career to match her jersey number.

“I think, obviously, Candace has had an amazing career. … I’m a little bit sad about (her retirement) because you love going up against her and the legend that she is,” Breanna Stewart , a two-time WNBA MVP, said. “What she’s done on this court and off the court has been amazing for our league. Really appreciate what she’s done to help me get to where I am.”

Parker’s success extended overseas, where she was a EuroLeague champion and won the Russian league five times. She played for USA Basketball in the World Championship team after her sophomore year of college, the only collegian on the senior team, and subsequently competed in two Olympics . Her exclusion from the 2016 roster was widely panned, and it served as motivation for her first WNBA title that year.

Parker exits the game as the WNBA’s ninth all-time leading scorer, seventh in assists and third in rebounds. She was a starter up until her final contest with the Aces, choosing to retire before being relegated to a bench role in the twilight of her career.

Ben Pickman contributed to this report.

Required reading

• Candace Parker gets historic NBA All-Star Game broadcast analyst gig with TNT
• Candace Parker on her plan to play another WNBA season, her TNT role and NBA opportunities for women

(Photo: Ethan Miller / Getty Images)

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