Canada · HISTORICAL TOURS
Fur-trade posts, fortified towns and the buildings that survived the fires. These 15 compare the guided walks and the site tickets on price, length and how much of the story you get standing in the right place.
Walk Victoria’s Old Town and Chinatown with Andy of A Taste of Victoria Food Tours. In about two hours, you’ll sample chocolate, tea, biscuits, spring rolls, pierogi, and other local foods while hearing stories at Fan Tan Alley, Market Square, Bastion Square, and the Inner Harbour.
“Friendly guide and amazing food. I am considering going back to one place for the whole meal experience.”
Walk five to eight easy city blocks through Gastown with guides such as Sean, Rachel, Andrea, or Connor. Expect Japanese karaage, tortellini, poutine, waffles, wine, beer, and lively stories about Vancouver’s early days. The tour runs rain or shine and suits adults who arrive hungry.
“Our family has an amazing time on the tour! Dan was a great guide and fun to be with, highly recommend!”
Meet inside Waterfront Station for a three-hour English walking tour led by guides such as Sean, Kate, Rachel, and Andrea. You’ll visit Gastown landmarks and eight eateries, sampling six foods, two desserts, and four alcoholic or non-alcoholic drinks.
“Liked the tour guide giving us the history of Gastown while going to different restaurants. Most restaurants, we got to sit down inside, bathrooms available. Stops were a little too short. Connor was a great guide”
Meet your guide at 112 Rue Saint-Paul for a three-hour evening of five gourmet courses, paired drinks, and Old Quebec history. Guides such as Luis, Danielle, Marie, and Etienne lead small groups through four restaurants, with a funicular ride and views of the St. Lawrence included.
“Marie, our guide was a true delight. She was informative, fun and knows great food. We enjoyed short walking tours between restaurants. The restaurants chosen for the tour were charming and comfortable with friendly accommodating staff. I would highly recommend this tour for foodies and non-foodies alike.”
Follow a French or English-speaking guide in colonial costume through Old Quebec’s walled streets. See Place Royale, Dufferin Terrace, Notre-Dame Basilica, and Château Frontenac while learning how the city grew. Guides such as Pierre, Bernard, and Marie-Anne bring the past to life with stories, humor, and local detail.
“A fantastic tour! Our guide was magnificent. Great knowledge, great story teller, and played an exceptional role as an old time French native bringing to life all that historically happened to create this unique Canadian nation. She made Old Quebec come alive! Thank you!!”
Combine Halifax’s Citadel, Public Gardens, and Titanic cemetery with a one-hour stop at Peggy’s Cove Lighthouse. English-speaking guides such as Jonathan, Mamie, Richard, and Leslie lead the tour, while pickup is timed for cruise ship arrivals. Expect a coach tour with up to 55 people.
“Noneventful tour. Overpriced meal. Extended time on bus. Save your money. I wouldn’t book this tour again.”
Cruise 22 miles along Montreal’s St. Lawrence River aboard the AML Cavalier Maxim. You’ll see the Old Port, Jacques-Cartier Bridge, Biosphere, Olympic Park, La Ronde, and Boucherville Islands, with live bilingual commentary, eight-language audio, and an optional 4 pm happy hour drink.
“I was not pleased with the communication as it relates to directing us to the boat cruise. No clear directions and when I called the telephone I was placed on hold and the call was disconnected. We walked along the Port and could not get clear directions. The cruise was not eventful and not long enough.”
Spend about three hours walking through Old Quebec with a guide such as Lynn, Luis, Marie, or Danielle. Visit Place Royale, Petit Champlain, Notre Dame Basilica, and Terrasse Dufferin, while enjoying five food-and-drink courses at four highly rated restaurants. The group is capped at 12.
“Lynn was a fabulous guide for this food & history tour. She's witty, knowledgable and was a wonderful guide to show us around the key historical spots and most amazing restaurants that Quebec City has to offer. We came hungry and left full and delighted. Highly recommend!”
Join Glenn, the man in pink, at 930 Burrard Street for a two-hour walk through Vancouver’s LGBTQ2+ past. Hear true stories of Pride, protest, the GRID crisis, bookstore bombings, two-spirit resistance, and Davie Street’s gay village. The tour ends at Jim Deva Plaza.
“What an amazing tour! Glenn is a masterful storyteller who weaves together a unified history of the community and city. He honors the lives of real people in a deeply insightful way. We laughed, we cried and we learned a lot. I would recommend this tour to anyone interested in a deeper understanding of Vancouver.”
Travel by covered, heated boat from Campbell River to Orford Bay with a skipper and First Nation guide. Visit bear-viewing towers with Homalco guides, look for salmon-feeding grizzlies, and hear local legends. Lunch and coffee are included, with marine wildlife sightings possible en route.
“Seeing grizzlies was the highlight but so were the knowledgeable guides on the ground and on the boat. The captain was also wonderful with her knowledge of marine life. To hear more about the First Nations culture was a privilege. We loved it all.”
Join Saint John local Pete Ferguson for a 2.5-hour English walking tour through Market Square, King’s Square, Trinity Church, Prince William Street, and the waterfront. Expect rare photos, local stories, pub lore, Loyalist history, and an easy route that may use pedways, escalators, and an elevator.
“Small tour size combined with him projecting his voice well makes it very easy to hear him. The tour is well paced, with frequent stops where he would tell us about the history of the place we were in front of. Utilizing the walkway system from one area to another made what could have been a grueling hill climb into an easy walk. Escalators and an elevator does all the hard work. We skipped the last point of interest to eat at a pub. We mentioned our tour with Pete and the waitress said "fish and chips, right?" Everybody seems to know him. The tour was informative, giving insight about…”
Choose a 75-minute nighttime walk through Toronto’s financial district, old town, University of Toronto campus, or Distillery District. A cloaked English-speaking guide such as Cass, Dev, Jeff, or Cole blends ghost stories with local history. Tours run outdoors, rain or shine.
“Meredith was very nice ! The way the tells the stories are very scary! I won’t sleep tonight !”
Spend one hour walking Toronto’s Distillery District with an English-speaking guide such as Eric, Nicole, Devin, or Tom. See preserved Victorian industrial buildings, hear how Gooderham and Worts became a global distilling giant, and learn how Toronto grew around it. The easy route is wheelchair accessible.
“Nicole was our knowledgeable and marvelous guide. We learned so much about the distillery district. We especially liked the white building with meter-thick walls!”
Spend about two hours walking Old Quebec with a local guide in period costume. See Dufferin Terrace, Notre-Dame de Québec, Place Royale, Petit-Champlain, and Breakneck Steps while learning how the city grew from Champlain’s 1608 settlement.
“Our tour guide was excellent, taking us through the history of Québec through the buildings and areas of the city. His knowledge of the different rulers and how Québec evolved over time was very detailed and his love for it's history was evident.”
Spend about 3.5 hours touring St. John’s and the coast with a local driver-guide such as Larry, Cliff, Steve, or Bill. Visit Cape Spear, Petty Harbour, Signal Hill, Quidi Vidi, and Jellybean Row, with hotel pickup, small-group transport, and plenty of local stories.
“Brilliant mini tour of one of the friendliest places on earth. Dave was a brilliant tour guide, his humour and knowledge of the island made it a joy to be on.”
Pick a mountain, a shoreline or a table.
