Vancouver Lost Souls of Gastown Walking Tour
Traveler rating
4.8/5
Based on 1,476 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Vancouver Lost Souls of Gastown Walking Tour worth booking?
Vancouver Lost Souls of Gastown Walking Tour is a 1.8-hour experience in Vancouver, Canada, from $28 per person. It scores 88 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Exceptional”, based on a 4.8/5 rating across 1,476 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 88 / 100
- Rating
- 4.8/5 (1,476)
- Duration
- 1.8 hours
- From
- $28 per person
Step inside a world of murder, revenge, and true grit in a dramatic history of Victorian Gastown. This roving one-person play is led by a professional actor in character. Stories of deadly fire and smallpox emerge from the shadows as you venture through cobblestone streets to the shocking finale in this unique performance-theatre experience.
What you get
About this experience
Step inside a world of murder, revenge, and true grit in a dramatic history of Victorian Gastown. This roving one-person play is led by a professional actor in character. Stories of deadly fire and smallpox emerge from the shadows as you venture through cobblestone streets to the shocking finale in this unique performance-theatre experience.
What's included
Included
- Live theatrical performance / Roving one-person play
- Professional actor in character
- Dramatic historical storytelling
- Walk the oldest backstreets and passageways in Gastown
Not included
- Gratuities
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
What you'll see and do
Meet your guide at the entrance into Historic Gastown, outside of Monaco Coffee at the intersection of Cordova and Water St.
10 minutes here
After venturing down a long forgotten alleyway we arrive at the historic Hotel Victorian to discover how our character's life took shape...and what really happened to them in the Klondike.
10 minutes here
Gastown
We enter the cobblestone streets of Vancouver's famous Gastown district...
30 minutes here
We weave a path into Gastown, discovering back streets and alleyways, to arrive in the heart of Gastown at the famous steam clock. Along the way you'll hear the tragic stories of the woman in the well and the Great Vancouver Fire, and discover Gastown in the 1800s.
10 minutes here
Gaoler's Mews
You'll follow the lamplight of your storyteller into Gaoler's Mews as the shocking finale is revealed...
10 minutes here
Maple Tree Square
After hearing tales of smallpox, George Vancouver's journey to the end of the earth, and the infamous bawdy house run by Madam Birdie Stewart, you'll emerge in iconic Maple Tree Square - one of Vancouver's most photographed and loved locations.
10 minutes here
Where it starts and ends
Meeting point
Vancouver
Meet outside Monaco Cafe at 356 Water St. in Gastown. Close to Waterfront Skytrain and Seabus Station.
Hotel pickup
No pickup: everyone meets at the start point.
Ends at
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 10 minute walk back, and the guide can provide a map and directions if needed.
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Languages
- en
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Every day
- Group size
- Up to 25 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- Forbidden Vancouver
Know before you go
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
- Please arrive at least 10 minutes before the scheduled start time
- Our tours are designed for adult audiences and do contain some references to adult themes. Our age recommendation is 14+ but certainly children aged 10+ can attend and enjoy our walking tours if parents are comfortable with their children hearing mature subject matter.
Photos
What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 1,476 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
Knowledge and storytelling
6 mentionsReviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.
The guide
5 mentionsTravelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
Photo opportunities
2 mentionsThe views and photo stops come up again and again.
Traveler reviews
1,476 verified traveler reviews for Vancouver Lost Souls of Gastown Walking Tour. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
A fantastic and...
A fantastic and informative tour of Gastown. Billy, our guide was a wonderful storyteller and kept us mesmerized with his stories. I would highly recommend this tour!
via Viator
Excellent! Fantastic guide!
My first experience with Forbidden Vancouver Walking Tours and it was excellent! The Forbidden Gastown tour to add just a touch of spooky to October. I can best describe the night as a walking historical play as our guide Stuart Jansen is also an actor and managed to stay in character for the evening. Add a good friend and dinner afterwards and it was a 5⭐️ evening! www.forbiddenvancouver.ca
via Tripadvisor
Gastown by Gaslight
I'm in Vancouver for a work trip and get to spend the weekend exploring and doing the touristy stuff before working. I was very excited, but didn't know what to do. Literally I Googled what to do in Vancouver and this tour was one of the first ones to pop up. I figured in the spirit of Halloween might as well try something new. Incidentally, this is my very first ghost/history tour ever, so I didn't really know what to expect. After exploring Gastown earlier in the day, I decided to get to the meetup point early since I wasn't sure if there was going to be a sign or something for the tour. Turns out when you see a woman dressed in old fashioned clothes with a lantern tends to be a dead give away. That and she started asking people standing around the cafe if they were there for the tour. Vanessa was an amazing tour guide. She was so good at keeping the group captivated on the stories of Gastown. Not to mention her improvisation skills were on point. One of the things I can see very appealing this tour aside from the rich history is that every tour can be completely different because of the different people you might encounter on the tour. One of the best parts of the tour was when we stopped in front of a building where two buskers were playing music. Vanessa, the brilliant actress that she is, found a way to incorporate the buskers into the tour. Overall this was a great experience and something I would recommend to anyone who likes to learn about history. One of the key takeaways I got from this tour aside from Mr. Hackman being a snitch, is that every city needs to have more tours like this to teach people about the history. Not told from a documentary or a history book, but orated through story telling. If history was taught like this in school, I'm sure more kids would like it more. Please keep doing this and I hope to join another tour next time I come back to Vancouver. Moral of the story, Mr. Hackman is a snitch and Vanessa is an amazing tour guide and thank you for staying to take pictures because I'm a terrible tourist and need to be better about taking pictures of my travels.
via Viator
Excellent and informative trip
The Lost Souls of Gastown walking tour was fantastic! The storytelling, Sarah was captivating, and the recital was excellent. A unique and memorable way to experience Gastown’s history. Highly recommend!
via Tripadvisor
I was expecting more ghost-related stories and historical details of Gastown, would have made it more interesting for m
Finding out at the end of the tour that some of the stories we were told were made up - was kind of disappointing. I would have preferred more real history mixed with the spooky tales.
Response from the operator: Hi Angela and thanks for your review. Sorry to hear that you weren't into the Lost Souls of Gastown. I'm the writer and creator of the experience, and my intention was to build an experience that weaves together historical record and fact, with compelling theatre and drama. But it's not for everyone! Every story you heard is indeed based on historical accounts that I researched personally. The difference to a conventional walking tour is that each story is turned into a first person account by a fictional character who lived through Gastown's early, harrowing years. So rather than hearing, "the great fire swept down Water Street faster than a sprinting man," you hear, "I was the man, running for my life as Water Street exploded around me." So rest assured the tour you saw was packed with real history! It was also packed with drama and tension, but it sounds like that part of the experience wasn't your thing. Hope the rest of your stay in Vancouver went well and all the best. Will
via Viator
Good to know
- Duration
- 1.8 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Price range
- $28 to $39
- Hotel pickup
- No pickup, meet at start point
- Booked in 30 days
- 517
- Verdict
- Exceptional
Who runs this experience
Operated by Forbidden Vancouver, who run 5 experiences we rank across 1 city, with an average Outty Ranking of 84.6 and 1 in the 90+ Club.
See everything Forbidden Vancouver runsWhy this scores 88
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Vancouver Lost Souls of Gastown Walking Tour: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Vancouver.
How much does Vancouver Lost Souls of Gastown Walking Tour cost?
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Prices start at $28 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Vancouver usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does Vancouver Lost Souls of Gastown Walking Tour take?
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Plan for about 1.8 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Vancouver is not rushed.
Is Vancouver Lost Souls of Gastown Walking Tour worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 88 out of 100, which we label "Exceptional". That score blends traveler sentiment (4.8/5 across 1,476 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable most popular in Vancouver, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule Vancouver Lost Souls of Gastown Walking Tour?
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Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.
Is Vancouver Lost Souls of Gastown Walking Tour suitable for kids and families?
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Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 1.8-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book Vancouver Lost Souls of Gastown Walking Tour?
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Around 517 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Vancouver can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Vancouver and add a light layer if any part of the 1.8-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Vancouver Lost Souls of Gastown Walking Tour start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Vancouver within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in Vancouver?
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On Outty we rank every Vancouver experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include The Grand Bicycle Tour of Vancouver, The Stanley Park Bicycle Tour, Vancouver City Sightseeing Tour: Capilano Suspension Bridge & Vancouver Lookout. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit Vancouver?
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Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in Vancouver?
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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
What is included in Vancouver Lost Souls of Gastown Walking Tour?
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Included: Live theatrical performance / Roving one-person play; Professional actor in character; Dramatic historical storytelling; and Walk the oldest backstreets and passageways in Gastown. Not included: Gratuities; and Hotel pickup and drop-off. Always check the voucher for the final list before you travel.
Where is the meeting point for Vancouver Lost Souls of Gastown Walking Tour?
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Meet outside Monaco Cafe at 356 Water St. in Gastown. Close to Waterfront Skytrain and Seabus Station. Hotel pickup is not included, so plan your own transport and arrive 15 minutes early.
What languages is Vancouver Lost Souls of Gastown Walking Tour offered in?
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It runs in English. Pick your language when choosing a date and time, as not every departure runs in every language.
Will I get instant confirmation and a mobile ticket for Vancouver Lost Souls of Gastown Walking Tour?
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Confirmation is sent by the operator after booking, usually within 48 hours; if it is not confirmed you are not charged. Mobile tickets are accepted, so you can show the voucher on your phone.
Is Vancouver Lost Souls of Gastown Walking Tour wheelchair or stroller accessible?
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The operator notes: Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller. If accessibility is critical, contact the operator after booking to confirm arrangements for your date.
What happens to Vancouver Lost Souls of Gastown Walking Tour if the weather is bad?
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This experience depends on good weather. If it is canceled because of poor weather, you are offered a different date or a full refund.
What do travelers say about Vancouver Lost Souls of Gastown Walking Tour?
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Across 1,476 reviews averaging 4.8 out of 5, recurring themes include knowledge and storytelling, the guide, photo opportunities. Reviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.
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