City Tours in Vancouver

The city of Vancouver is rich in natural and cultural attractions with an excellent variety of tours on offer to visit all of these.

Explore historic places such as Chinatown, Granville Island and Gastown, and great natural features such as the scenic Stanley Park, Queen Elizabeth Park, and English Bay.

To have even more fun, combine your city tour in Vancouver with special lunches, beer tastings, and outside-town wine tastings.

Here's all you need to know about city tours, one of the most captivating options for sightseeing tours in Vancouver.

What are the best city tours in Vancouver?

Vancouver: City Highlights Private Tour

Explore Vancouver’s highlights on this private guided tour of the city with complimentary pickup in a luxurious Mercedes Benz van.

Visit Stanley Park’s lush rainforest, with beautiful gardens, and discover the background to the unique First Nations’ totem poles. Admire the beauty of False Creek and English Bay, where the annual Polar Bear Swim is held.

Explore the heritage haven of Granville Island, browse for souvenirs and enjoy the street performers. Behold the great views of Queen Elizabeth Park, the city, and the North Shore Mountains.

You will visit the best places of interest Vancouver has to show. The beautiful Stanley Park is the largest urban park in North America, where you can admire the totem poles at Brockton Point.

The point is also the home of a 100-year old lighthouse. Then marvel at the views from the historic Prospect Point lookout point. Also enjoy stunning views of the ocean and beaches at English Bay.

Stop at old Granville Island and explore former workshops, warehouses and mills, all transformed into restaurants, a market place and various shops.

At Queen Elizabeth Park you can view the city from 152 meters above sea level, the highest point in Vancouver. It offers spectacular views of Stanley Park, the city, and North Shore Mountains.

Continue to well-known Chinatown, the largest in Canada, and wander down Shanghai Alley and the Chinese Garden. Finish your tour in Gastown, where you can discover the early history of Vancouver.

Vancouver City tour with grand lunch and wine

See the main attractions of Vancouver and enjoy a delicious lunch on this 6-hour private tour of the city. The tour covers the major tourist spots in Vancouver, including Gastown and Granville Island.

Highlights also include beautiful Stanley Park, English Bay and Vancouver Lookout.

You will be picked up at your hotel, or airport or cruise port and driven around in an air-conditioned vehicle. Along the way, there will be stops for photos. Enjoy cocktails at a mega bar and choose lunch from over 70 food items, including butter chicken and lamb curry.

Tour Downtown and experience the buzzing food scene of Chinatown, and look at Robson Street for shopping. Wander through lively Gastown with its famous Steam Clock, and variety of shops in attractive Victorian buildings.

Explore Stanley Park, one of the world’s greatest urban parks, and admire the colorful totem poles.

Visit Canada Place, home to the Convention Centre and FlyOver Canada, and the main terminal for cruise ships. Pass through Granville Island, south of False Creek, with its restaurants and public market.

Visit English Bay, and look for Stanley Park Seawall running along its east side. It's part of the Vancouver Seawall, the world's longest uninterrupted waterfront path.

Vancouver Lookout is a real highlight. Go up in the glass elevator to 168 meters for a 360° view. Also explore the old restored warehouse district of YaleTown and the downtown area of Coal Harbour, where the seaplanes take off. At the end of your tour, you’ll be returned to your accommodation.

Best of Vancouver private city tour and beer tasting

Enjoy a full day of craft beer tasting and sightseeing on this 8-hour private tour of Vancouver.

Explore the city’s attractions like Stanley Park, Chinatown and Gastown, and spend the afternoon tasting craft beer at several of Vancouver's best craft breweries.

You will be picked up by a private limo and driven to lovely Stanley Park, from where you will enjoy the city skyline, harbor and mountain views.

Stop at Brockton Point to see the totem poles and view Lions Gate Bridge from Prospect Point, the highest point in the park.

Continue into Vancouver’s West End through the main business district, explore Granville Island’s shops and wander in the Artists’ District. Next, visit Queen Elizabeth Park, which offers great views of Vancouver city below.

Then, scout Chinatown, the second-largest of its kind on North America’s West Coast. Conclude the morning’s itinerary in historic Gastown and explore the quarter’s shops and restored old buildings.

You will enjoy a midday break for lunch (not included) and afterwards spend the afternoon at some of the city’s top craft breweries. These include beermakers such as the Big Rock Urban Brewery. Your tour includes all tasting fees.

At the end of your beer-tasting excursion, you will be driven back to your hotel in Vancouver.

Which places are visited on a city tour in Vancouver?

Vancouver Lookout

The Vancouver Lookout is one of the city’s most popular attractions. Its height is the equivalent of 40 storeys. The building was designed by WZMH Architects and completed in 1977.

It was opened on 13 August 1977 by astronaut Neil Armstrong, the first man to walk on the moon. Its architectural style is described as “Brutalist/Modernist” that was popular during that era.

The glass elevator takes you 168 meters up to the panoramic observation deck, from where you'll enjoy breathtaking 360° views.

Granville Island

Granville Island is a shopping district in the Fairview quarter of Vancouver. It lies across False Creek from Downtown Vancouver under the southern end of the Granville Street Bridge.

In 1915, with the growth of the port of Vancouver, the Harbour Commission approved a reclamation project for an industrial precinct in False Creek. Eight years later, virtually all lots on the Island were occupied by corrugated-tin factories.

The peninsula was named after Granville Leveson-Gower, 2nd Earl Granville. Today the district includes a public market, a marina, a community center and hotel.

How much does it cost?

The City highlights private tour costs US$410 per person, with private transportation and hotel or cruise ship terminal pickup and drop-off.

The Vancouver private city tour and beer tasting costs US$360 per person, including hotel pickup and drop-off and private transportation.

The Vancouver city tour with lunch and wine costs US$370 per person with private transportation and hotel pickup and drop-off.

What is included?

The City highlights private tour includes a driver/guide, private transportation and hotel or cruise ship terminal pickup and drop-off. The Vancouver private city tour and beer tasting includes hotel pickup and drop-off and private transportation.

Live commentary on board, all taxes, fees and handling charges and GST are also included. The Vancouver city tour with lunch and wine includes pickup and drop-off from your hotel, cruise port, airport and all railway stations.

Where does it start?

Many of the Vancouver City tours offer pickup and drop-off at hotels, the cruise terminal, airport, BandB locations, Rocky Mountaineer Station and other railway stations.

Otherwise tours start from various points in Downtown Vancouver, such as the Georgian Court Hotel.

How long does it last?

The duration of the City highlights private tour is about 6 hours, with visits to the city’s main attractions. The Vancouver private city tour and beer tasting lasts for 8 hours, with stops at different craft breweries.

The Vancouver city tour with lunch and wine lasts 6 hours with lunch and highlight stops.

When is the best time for a city tour in Vancouver?

The best time to visit Vancouver is during the months of July and August for the best weather. The best time for shorter tours are early in the morning or later in the afternoon, when you can avoid most visitors.

Are there any combos available with city tours in Vancouver?

Vancouver: Full-Day City Tour and Wine Tasting: Travel in a classic Cadillac limo and explore interesting sites before enjoying wine tasting at four local wineries right outside the city.

Visit Stanley Park and the Lions Gate Bridge, explore bustling Chinatown and marvel at Granville Island, its shops and street performers.

Full Day Best of Vancouver Private City Tour and Wine Tasting: Combine sightseeing and wine tasting on a private 9-hour tour of Vancouver.

See top attractions such as Chinatown, Queen Elizabeth Park and Lions Gate Bridge before visiting some top wineries later.

Travel tips

• Make sure to book your Vancouver City tour in advance.
• Wear comfortable clothes and walking shoes.
• Smoking is banned in all indoor public spaces and Metro Vancouver parks, including on the Seawall and Stanley Park.
• Bring your camera.