Vancouver · TOUR REVIEWS

The 15 Best Tours in Vancouver

205 tours  ·  from $15

A long weekend or a fortnight, the problem is the same: a city wedged between a mountain range and an ocean, and not enough mornings. The 15 below are the days that earn their place, priced and timed, with the full catalogue underneath when you want to go deeper.

Vancouver Half-Day Whale Watching Adventure with Free Photos - Orcas, humpbacks, and the smaller wildlife
Half-Day, Photography Sessions, Tour Reviews, Vancouver Whale Watching Tours, Whale Watching

Vancouver Half-Day Whale Watching Adventure with Free Photos

1.Vancouver Half-Day Whale Watching Adventure with Free Photos

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 5,000 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $193Our pick

Cruise from Granville Island aboard a 95-passenger catamaran with heated cabins, open decks, hot drinks, and wildlife photographers. Guides such as Petra, Ashley, Wilma, and Megan may share local ecology and help identify orcas, humpbacks, seals, sea lions, and eagles. Free photos arrive by email.

“This was the family's favorite of all Vancouver activities. Staff was so nice and informative and pictures provided were amazing. Worth the trip!”

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Big Bus Vancouver Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing Tour - Canada Place begins the city overview
Tour Reviews, Tours, Vancouver Hop-On Hop-Off Tours

Big Bus Vancouver Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing Tour

2.Big Bus Vancouver Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing Tour

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 3,028 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $48

See Vancouver from an open-top bus with a 24- or 48-hour pass. Ride between Canada Place, Stanley Park, Granville Island, Chinatown, and Gastown, using recorded commentary or the Big Bus app. Some buses feature lively live narration from guides such as Sherry.

“There are plenty of bust stops where you can start and stop your trip and there is a good app which gives you a live feed as to where the buses are on the route so you can gauge how long you need to wait for the next one. The route visits the main attractions in the city and so is a great way of getting round and seeing the sites. The commentary on board is a little hard to follow as it is often not in sync with exactly where you are and so you are trying to see things that may not be there. The self guided tour…”

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Victoria & Butchart Gardens Tour with Ferry from Vancouver - Getting to Tsawwassen and onto the ferry
Tour Reviews, Tours, Victoria and Butchart Gardens Day Trips

Victoria & Butchart Gardens Tour with Ferry from Vancouver

3.Victoria & Butchart Gardens Tour with Ferry from Vancouver

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 2,703 reviews · 13 hours (approx.) · from $228

Travel from downtown Vancouver to Victoria by coach and BC Ferries, with a 90-minute sailing through the Gulf Islands. Your guide, such as Anthony, Bobby, Alex, or Leslie, provides commentary before leading you through Butchart Gardens. You then get two hours to explore Victoria independently.

“We had a wonderful tour with Leslie and couldn’t have asked for a better experience. There was plenty of time throughout the day, including well-timed stops for meals and restrooms. We loved exploring the city of Victoria, and the gardens were absolutely beautiful in December with the Christmas lights. The ferry ride was incredibly scenic as well. Overall, it was a fabulous experience that I would highly recommend.”

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Vancouver: Covered Whale Watching Adventure with Free Photos - The ride out is part of the experience
Photography Sessions, Tour Reviews, Vancouver Whale Watching Tours, Whale Watching

Vancouver: Covered Whale Watching Adventure with Free Photos

4.Covered Whale Watching Adventure with Free Photos

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 2,260 reviews · 5 hours · from $188

Leave Granville Island aboard a fast, covered catamaran for guided whale watching in the Strait of Georgia. Look for orcas, humpbacks, seals, sea lions, and seabirds while guides such as Ashley and Victor explain the wildlife. Choose a half-day or sunset departure, with hot drinks and free wildlife photos included.

“Everything was wonderful. A fantastic team. A comfortable vessel. Thank you to everyone involved for the amazing emotions. The organization was top-notch! We’ll definitely come again during orca season.”

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Victoria and Butchart Gardens Day Trip from Vancouver - The morning coach ride and the trip to the ferry
1-Day Tours, Tour Reviews, Victoria and Butchart Gardens Day Trips

Victoria and Butchart Gardens Day Trip from Vancouver

5.Victoria and Butchart Gardens Day Trip from Vancouver

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 2,242 reviews · 13 hours (approx.) · from $232

Travel from Vancouver to Victoria by coach and BC Ferries, then see downtown Victoria and 55-acre Butchart Gardens with a professional guide. Expect about 13 hours, hotel pickup by arrangement, free time for lunch, and ferry admission included.

“Gavin, our guide was experienced and knowledgeable. We did this tour on O Canada Day so the crowds were a bit overwhelming. Our guidance was spot on and we had a great time! The gardens were absolutely beautiful and VICTORIA ISLAND was great fun! It was a delightful day all around.”

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Gastown Historic Walking Food Tour - Gastown’s streets, stories, and first tastings
Food, Food & Drink, Gastown Walking Tours, Historical Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Vancouver Food Tours, Walking Tours

Gastown Historic Walking Food Tour

6.Gastown Historic Walking Food Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,863 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $116

Walk about five to eight easy city blocks through Gastown with an English-speaking guide such as Sean, Rachel, Andrea, or Connor. Stop for roughly six to seven food tastings and three to four drinks, including karaage, pasta, poutine, waffles, beer, and wine. Come hungry, wear good shoes, and expect stairs.

“Delicious food and drink! Our tour guide Connor, was enthusiastic and shared so much of Vancouver’s history.”

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The Grand Bicycle Tour by Cycle City Tours - Granville Island brings a needed pause
City Tours, Cycling Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Vancouver Bike Tours

The Grand Bicycle Tour by Cycle City Tours

7.The Grand Bicycle Tour by Cycle City Tours

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,827 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $96

Cycle City’s five-hour Grand Bicycle Tour covers Stanley Park, Granville Island, False Creek, Olympic Village, Chinatown, and Gastown. You’ll ride mostly protected lanes with a guide such as Heidi, Greg, Marion, or JT, pause for lunch, and use a city bike, helmet, and lock.

“The 5 hour trip around the city was beautiful & provided a well rounded introduction to Vancouver. We saw all the hot spots, got top Line history and it helped us know where we wanted to spend more time. Our guide was Heidi & she was AWESOME! She set a good biking pace for the group, she related to each group on our tour & she had a lot of fun facts about the city. This was my second time & I’d do it a 3rd. Bravo city cycle 👏”

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Capilano Suspension Bridge Park Ticket - Kia’palano, Totem Poles, and the Story Centre
Capilano Suspension Bridge Tours, Tickets, Tour Reviews

Capilano Suspension Bridge Park Ticket

8.Capilano Suspension Bridge Park Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,814 reviews · 2 to 3 hours (approx.) · from $61

Explore Capilano Suspension Bridge Park independently, crossing the 230-foot bridge, seven Treetops Adventure bridges, and Cliffwalk. Your ticket also covers the Story Centre, Kia’palano cultural area, self-guided paths, and same-day luggage storage. A free downtown shuttle is available, but seating is first come, first served.

“Really cool place! Took about 2 hours or so the walk all around it. If you love nature, you'll love the views and scenery here! The canopy walk was very pretty! And they had it decorated for Halloween, so lots of nice picture ops! Fun little place in Vancouver to check out.”

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Vancouver: Hop-on Hop-off Sightseeing Tour with 10 Stops - Canada Place gives you the clearest starting point
Tour Reviews, Tours, Vancouver Hop-On Hop-Off Tours

Vancouver: Hop-on Hop-off Sightseeing Tour with 10 Stops

9.Hop-on Hop-off Sightseeing Tour with 10 Stops

★★★★★★★★★★3.9 · 1,807 reviews · 1 - 2 days · from $47

Use a 24 or 48-hour Big Bus ticket to explore Vancouver from Canada Place to Stanley Park, Granville Island, Gastown, Chinatown, and False Creek. You can follow the audio guide in seven languages, or hope for live commentary from drivers such as Sherry, Dan, Mary, and Spencer.

“The great stopping points close to places to check out, Granville Island, the bus animators and Sherri's sense of humor.”

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Vancouver City Sightseeing Tour: Granville Island & Stanley Park - Pickup matters more than the advertised three and a half hours
City Tours, Granville Island Tours, Stanley Park Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Vancouver City Tours

Vancouver City Sightseeing Tour: Granville Island & Stanley Park

10.Vancouver City Sightseeing Tour: Granville Island & Stanley Park

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,782 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $68

Explore Vancouver by comfortable coach with a local guide, stopping at Granville Island Public Market, Stanley Park’s totem poles, Prospect Point, Gastown, and Chinatown. Hotel and cruise-terminal pickup simplify a short stay, though multiple pickups can reduce sightseeing time.

“Tour around Stanley Park and different sections of Vancouver with Alex was informative and enjoyable.”

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Vancouver Tour: Stanley Park, Granville Island & Capilano Bridge - Crossing Lions Gate Bridge into the North Shore
Capilano Suspension Bridge Tours, Granville Island Tours, Stanley Park Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Vancouver Tour: Stanley Park, Granville Island & Capilano Bridge

11.Vancouver Tour: Stanley Park, Granville Island & Capilano Bridge

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,778 reviews · 5 to 6 hours (approx.) · from $136

This 5 to 6-hour Vancouver tour combines Canada Place, Robson Street, Stanley Park, Lions Gate Bridge, Capilano Suspension Bridge, and Granville Island. A local guide such as Steve, Leslie, or Herman may provide city stories along the way. Hotel pickup, coach transport, and Capilano admission are included.

“Leslie is the best. I'm almost certain he's a walking encyclopedia. I've never learned so much history about a place as I did with him and I love it!, you can see the love he has for what he does, not to mention his great sense of humor. As for the tour itself, it was excellent; all the stops are 100% recommended, and I think the time allotted for each stop is perfect. On the way back, he was incredibly kind and dropped us off at a stop much closer to our accommodation. I definitely recommend this tour—100 out of 10.”

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From Vancouver: Whistler & Sea to Sky Gondola with Shannon Falls - The morning start from downtown Vancouver
Sea to Sky Gondola Tours, Shannon Falls and Squamish Tours, Tour Reviews, Whistler Day Trips from Vancouver

From Vancouver: Whistler & Sea to Sky Gondola with Shannon Falls

12.Whistler & Sea to Sky Gondola with Shannon Falls

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,640 reviews · 10 hours (approx.) · from $173

Ride the Sea to Sky Gondola above Howe Sound, pause at Shannon Falls, and spend three hours in Whistler Village on this guided day trip from Vancouver. Expect an informative driver-guide, hotel pickup from many downtown hotels, scenic stops, and moderate walking. Alex, Jason, Andrea, and Jessica have earned especially warm praise.

“This was an excellent trip. Our driver/guide Alex was a wealth of knowledge and was very accommodating. Because we were a small group he allowed some extra stops to see eagles and an amazing sunset. There was ample time at our stops to see everything.”

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Whale-Watching Tour from Vancouver - The boat ride and the best viewing spots
Tour Reviews, Tours, Vancouver Whale Watching Tours, Whale Watching

Whale-Watching Tour from Vancouver

13.Whale-Watching Tour from Vancouver

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,572 reviews · 3 to 5 hours (approx.) · from $157

Cruise from Steveston into coastal British Columbia waters with a captain and naturalist guide such as James D. or Rhiannon. Look for orcas, humpbacks, seals, sea lions, eagles, and porpoises while enjoying Gulf and San Juan Islands scenery. Choose the shuttle from downtown Vancouver or drive and park free.

“The crew was great, particularly the Naturalist James D. Besides communicating to the group as a whole, he went around to each individual guest to answer any questions and pass on additional information. Ride was comfortable, weather was perfect. We saw two pods of orcas, and a pair of humpback. Amazing how he and the photographer Rhiannon were able to identify individual whales by their markings!”

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Vancouver City Sightseeing Tour: Capilano Suspension Bridge & Vancouver Lookout - Gastown, Chinatown, and English Bay from the road
Capilano Suspension Bridge Tours, City Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Vancouver City Tours, Vancouver Lookout Tickets

Vancouver City Sightseeing Tour: Capilano Suspension Bridge & Vancouver Lookout

14.Vancouver City Sightseeing Tour: Capilano Suspension Bridge & Vancouver Lookout

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,556 reviews · 6 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $145

See Vancouver’s key sights in about 6.5 hours with hotel pickup, an English-speaking guide, Vancouver Lookout, Granville Island, Stanley Park, Gastown, Chinatown, and Capilano Suspension Bridge Park. Guides such as Sarah, Brent, Sam, and Jordan are praised for clear commentary and smart crowd timing.

“Sarah was an engaging and super knowledgeable tour guide - real history & funny stories, safe driver, clear instructions on itinerary and times, and really comprehensive tour of Vancouver in a compact timeframe. Loved it.”

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Vancouver: Scenic Panorama Seaplane Tour - The first minutes above downtown
Tour Reviews, Tours, Vancouver Seaplane Tours

Vancouver: Scenic Panorama Seaplane Tour

15.Scenic Panorama Seaplane Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 1,395 reviews · 30 min · from $130

Fly from downtown Vancouver’s Coal Harbour for about 20 minutes above Stanley Park, Lions Gate Bridge, English Bay, BC Place, and the North Shore. Harbour Air pilots provide a smooth, scenic flight, though commentary is limited and window seating is not guaranteed.

“Was great would’ve been good if it was a bit longer but really fun experience!”

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Stanley Park Tours14Capilano Suspension Bridge Tours22Whistler Day Trips from Vancouver14Vancouver Harbour Boat Tours14Vancouver Food Tours7Vancouver City Tours15
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Explore Vancouver

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In the city

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