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The Forbidden Downtown and Gastown Walking Tour
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Vancouver, Canada
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From $28.14
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The Forbidden Downtown and Gastown Walking Tour
Free cancellation
Up to 24 hours in advance. Learn more
Cancellation policy
Free cancellation
- 24 hours prior100% refund
- Within 24 hoursNo refund
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
- Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
Learn more about cancellations
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Safety measures
Keeping you safe during COVID-19
Vaccine? Quarantine? Masking?
Vaccine? Quarantine? Masking? We know, there’s a lot to keep track of. Be sure to check local guidelines so you’re aware of all travel requirements before you go.
What you can expect during your visit
Contactless payments for gratuities and add-ons
COVID-19 vaccination required for guides
Safety precautions are provided by the tour operator and are not checked by Viator for accuracy
More questions?
(888) 651-9785
More questions?
(888) 651-9785
1 hour 30 minutes (approx.)
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English
Overview
Discover Vancouver’s bootlegging, rum-running, prohibition past on a walking tour through Victory Square and Gastown. Visit landmark buildings and historic sites as your guide brings the past to life with stories of the corrupt politicians, mob bosses, and showgirls that ruled the city’s dark side. Hear how the city bloomed from a frontier outpost to a cosmopolitan hotspot, and finish your walk in Gastown, where speakeasies and gambling dens have been given way to chic restaurants and hip bars.
- Discover Prohibition Vancouver on a fun walking tour
- Walk through Gastown and downtown Vancouver
- Hear stories of mobsters, corrupt politicians, and showgirls
- See key Vancouver landmarks and learn about their history
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From $28.14
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What's Included
Professional guide
Gratuities
Hotel pickup and drop-off
Departure & Return
305 Water St , 305 Water St, Vancouver, BC V6B 1B8, Canada
Maple Tree Square , Maple Tree Square, Vancouver, BC, CanadaMeet by the iconic Gastown Steam Clock in historic Gastown at Water and Cambie Streets.
The walking tour ends in Maple Tree Square, Gastown, in the heart of Vancouver's restaurant and bar scene! The start point is just an easy 2 minute walk back, and the guide can provide a map and directions if needed.
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Wheelchair accessible
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- Stroller accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Transportation is wheelchair accessible
- Surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 20 travelers
- OPERATED BY Forbidden Vancouver
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
- Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
Learn more about cancellations.
Frequently Asked Questions
The answers provided below are based on answers previously given by the tour provider to customers’ questions.
Q:
What is the social distancing policy during The Forbidden Downtown and Gastown Walking Tour?
A:The policy on social distancing is:
- Contactless payments for gratuities and add-ons
Traveler Photos



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Reviews
5.0
351 Reviews
5 stars
316
4 stars
26
3 stars
4
2 stars
3
1 star
2
Reviews by Viator travelers
We perform checks on reviews
Showing 1-10 of 351 reviews
History comes alive
Anja_S
, Jun 2022
Informative and fun
Natalia_L
, Jun 2022
Very interesting stories...
Jody_P
, Jun 2022
Fantastic tour!
Amanda_E
, Apr 2022
Glenn brought history to life
Kathy_P
, Apr 2022
Glenn was great!!
Katie_W
, Apr 2022
Excellent!
Frida_T
, Sep 2021
Glad we did it!
Brent_W
, Aug 2021
Intéressant
kathleencotemtl
, Sep 2019
Good acclimation tour to Vancouver
Liz_K
, Sep 2019
Fun and informative
Patricia_D
, Aug 2019
Downtown and Chinatown tour. I love walking tours for the perspective and proximity they offer. Highly recommend.
Forbidden Downtown
DIANE_S
, Aug 2018
I would not recommend this tour. The guide was excellent and made Vancouver history come alive but walking thru dirty streets with homeless people, drugged out teenagers and someone urinating 50 feet from out group is not my idea of a good time. Oh, did I mention needles on the side walk where we stopped to listen to our guide. This tour is a bust.
Guide Glenn Tkach did an excellent job...
Patrick H
, May 2018
The most professional guide ever...
Julie M
, Oct 2017
Excellent tour! The pace was perfect...
Jennifer O
, Oct 2017
This was a fabulous tour! Our guide...
Tiffany K
, Sep 2017
This was a fabulous tour! Our guide, Glenn, was extremely knowledgeable about the history of the city and presented the material with both stories and historic photographs. I'm a Vancouverite and learned something new! I'm going to look into the other tours that Forbidden Vancouver offers and do those as well. This tour was well worth it and I would recommend it to both visitors and locals!
The Guide really made this very fun and...
leon b
, Aug 2017
Great tour for what Roxanne had to...
Michelle D
, Aug 2017
Excellent guide Roxanne enthusiastic...
Wayne K I
, Aug 2017
So Much Fun..and Educational, too...
Pat J
, May 2017
So Much Fun..and Educational, too!! I had a free evening alone in Gastown and wanted to stay in the area until about 10 pm so this
Tour fit the bill. Leonard, our guide, was an excellent speaker and quite knowledgeable about both Vancouver Past and Present. I felt safe in his group, especially when he offered to walk me to my bus stop after the tour. I can't wait to take my whole family on his Tour when we return to Gastown. Thanks, Leonard, for a highly enjoyable evening and wonderful memories of Gastown!
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You’ll see some experiences with a “Promoted” badge, which means that the operators of those experiences have agreed to pay Viator more to have their experience highlighted.
If you see an Experience Award Winner label, the award is based on average review ratings, share of bookings with a review, and number of bookings through Viator over a 12-month period.
The importance of any one factor over any other in a sort order varies, and the balance is constantly being reviewed and adjusted. We’re always updating our systems and testing new ways to refine and improve your results to make them as relevant as possible to meet your needs.
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