Canada · HISTORICAL TOURS

The 15 Best Historical Tours in Canada

27 tours  ·  from $19 a head

Every trip has one free day too few. These 15 historical tours justify the slot, priced and timed so you can decide in minutes and get back to the fun part.

Victoria Guided Food and History Tour - Market Square and Victoria’s working past
Guided, Historical Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours in Victoria

Victoria Guided Food and History Tour

1.Victoria Guided Food and History Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2,015 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $82Our pick

Spend about two hours walking from Phillips Brewing to Victoria’s Inner Harbour with Andy, an engaging local guide who blends city history with generous tastings. Expect chocolate, tea, biscuits, spring rolls, pierogi, beer, and other local bites, plus stops around Fan Tan Alley, Market Square, Bastion Square, and Chinatown.

“Second time on this tour. Great experience! Andy is an excellent tour guide and his tour provides a great combination of food and history. Would highly recommend!”

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Gastown Historic Walking Food Tour - Walking Gastown before the first bite
Food Tours, Historical Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours in Vancouver, Walking Tours, Walking Tours in Vancouver

Gastown Historic Walking Food Tour

2.Gastown Historic Walking Food Tour

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

Walk about five to eight flat city blocks through Gastown with an English-speaking guide such as Sean, Rachel, Andrea, or Connor. Expect six to seven food tastings, three to four drink samples, sit-down stops, local history, and dishes ranging from karaage and tortellini to poutine and waffles. Come hungry and dress for rain.

“Such great restaurant choices, fantastic variety and TWO dessert options. Loved that they include beverages (both alcoholic and non alcoholic options)”

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Vancouver: Gastown Historical Walking Food Tour - The Steam Clock and Gastown’s first chapter
Food Tours, Historical Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours in Vancouver, Walking Tours, Walking Tours in Vancouver

Vancouver: Gastown Historical Walking Food Tour

3.Gastown Historical Walking Food Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 539 reviews · 3 hours · from $113

Meet your English-speaking guide at Waterfront Station for a three-hour walk through Gastown. You’ll hear colorful stories about Vancouver’s early days, visit eight food and drink stops, sample six dishes and four alcoholic beverages, and finish near Maple Tree Square. Guides including Sean, Kate, Rachel, and Andrea are known for warm, funny presentations.

“Tour guide, Sean, was very good, lots of fun. Enjoyed the food and drinks. Not too far to walk around Gastown.”

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Evening Gourmet Tour 5 Course Dinner - History and Food in Old Quebec City - Starting at Rue Saint-Paul in Lower Town
Historical Tours, Old Montreal & Old Quebec Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours in Quebec City

Evening Gourmet Tour 5 Course Dinner – History and Food in Old Quebec City

4.Evening Gourmet Tour 5 Course Dinner – History and Food in Old Quebec City

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 496 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $224

Walk from Lower Town to Upper Old Quebec with a guide such as Luis, Marie, Danielle, or Etienne, stopping at four restaurants for five courses and paired beer or wine. Along the way, see Place Royale, Château Frontenac, Dufferin Terrace, and the Basilica. Expect moderate walking, historic streets, and a small group of up to 12.

“I had the greatest birthday experience of my life. My tour guide, Luis was very incredible., knowledgeable and kind. The food was beyond delicious and the experience was everything I wanted.”

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Quebec City: Old Quebec Historical Walking Tour - Starting at Sainte-Anne Street
Historical Tours, Old Montreal & Old Quebec Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours in Quebec City, Walking Tours, Walking Tours in Quebec City

Quebec City: Old Quebec Historical Walking Tour

5.Old Quebec Historical Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 409 reviews · 2 hours · from $24

Follow a costumed Cicerone guide through Old Quebec’s winding streets, from Place Royale and Notre-Dame Basilica to Dufferin Terrace and Château Frontenac. Expect French and English commentary, local stories, humor, and a steady walk with hills and possible stairs. Guides such as Pierre, Gary, Sylvain, and Marie-Anne bring the city’s past to life.

“Exceptional! Our guide, Sylvain, was knowledgeable and kept a good pace for all members of the group. Made us feel very comfortable and the tour provided a great overview of Old Quebec.”

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Peggy’s Cove & Halifax Historic Tour - Peggy’s Cove and its famous lighthouse
Historical Tours, Peggys Cove & the Nova Scotia Coast, Tour Reviews, Tours in Halifax

Peggy’s Cove & Halifax Historic Tour

6.Peggy’s Cove & Halifax Historic Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 375 reviews · 4 hours 30 minutes (approx.)

This 4.5-hour bus tour joins Halifax’s historic core with the Atlantic coast at Peggy’s Cove. You’ll visit the Citadel area, Fairview Lawn Cemetery, the Public Gardens, and the famous lighthouse. Guides such as Jonathan, Mamie, Richard, and Leslie have received strong praise for clear storytelling, though group size and guide quality can vary.

“The ride to Peggy's cove is gorgeous, and once you get there the view is spectacular. Our tour required us to be in a mini van instead of on the main bus and our driver was less than informative. When we made stops, the bus driver would do all the explaining on the particular spot. Our driver remained silent most the time and made our ride mostly boring”

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Montreal History Guided Sightseeing Cruise - The AML Cavalier Maxim and your seating choices
Boat Tours in Montreal, City Tours, City Tours in Montreal, Cruises & Boat Tours, Guided, Historical Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours in Montreal

Montreal History Guided Sightseeing Cruise

7.Montreal History Guided Sightseeing Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 363 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $37

Cruise 22 miles along Montreal’s St. Lawrence River aboard the AML Cavalier Maxim. A bilingual guide explains the city as you pass the Old Port, Jacques-Cartier Bridge, Biosphere, Olympic Park, La Ronde, and Boucherville Islands. Choose the 4 p.m. departure for one included drink.

“It’s pretty spacious. They have food and drinks ( non alcoholic) and the cruise is pretty smooth. First come first serve though, so get in the queue - to secure seats on deck.”

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Combo Historical and Food Tour of Old Quebec - Place Royale and the city’s French beginnings
Food Tours, Historical Tours, Old Montreal & Old Quebec Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours in Quebec City

Combo Historical and Food Tour of Old Quebec

8.Combo Historical and Food Tour of Old Quebec

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 360 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $224

Spend about three hours walking through Old Quebec with a local guide such as Lynn, Danielle, Guy, or Marie. You’ll visit landmarks including Place Royale and Notre Dame Basilica, ride the funicular, and enjoy five food-and-drink courses at four highly rated restaurants. Come hungry and wear comfortable shoes.

“Marie was very informative and congenial. Her love for her native city is apparent and understandable. The food and wine/beer were delicious and each course very different.”

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The Really Gay History Tour in Vancouver, Canada - Starting at 930 Burrard Street with the man in pink
Historical Tours, LGBTQ-Friendly, Tour Reviews, Tours in Vancouver

The Really Gay History Tour in Vancouver, Canada

9.The Really Gay History Tour in Vancouver, Canada

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 357 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $29

Join Glenn, the man in pink, for a two-hour walk through Vancouver’s LGBTQ2+ past. From Imperial Court coronations and the GRID crisis to Jim Deva Plaza, bookstore bombings, and Davie Street, you’ll hear vivid stories of protest, loss, courage, and community. The tour runs in English, rain or shine, with groups capped at 20.

“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.”

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Great Bears of Bute: Grizzly Bear Viewing & Indigenous Cultural Tour - The Salish Sea crossing from Campbell River
Historical Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours in Vancouver Island, Wildlife & Bear Tours, Wildlife Tours in Vancouver Island

Great Bears of Bute: Grizzly Bear Viewing & Indigenous Cultural Tour

10.Great Bears of Bute: Grizzly Bear Viewing & Indigenous Cultural Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 336 reviews · 8 to 9 hours (approx.) · from $457

Travel by heated boat from Campbell River through the Salish Sea to Orford Bay, where Homalco guides lead bear viewing from riverside towers and safe sites. Expect First Nations stories, salmon-fed grizzlies, marine wildlife, lunch, coffee, and a small-group setting. Guides may include Jon, Debra, and Tony.

“The best experience ever! I would do this 100 times again. We saw grizzlies, salmons and we loved the nature!”

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Pete's Historic Walking Tour - Water Street and Market Square: starting with Saint John’s turning points
Historical Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours in Saint John, Walking Tours

Pete’s Historic Walking Tour

11.Pete’s Historic Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 321 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $33

Walk through uptown Saint John with local guide Pete Ferguson, a former pub owner who connects Loyalist history, fires, immigration, architecture, and local characters. The 2.5-hour route includes Market Square, City Market, King’s Square, Trinity Church, Prince William Street, and the Marco Polo cruise terminal, with morning and afternoon departures.

“It was one of the best walking tours I ever experienced. His knowledge of the city was very impressive.”

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Toronto: Dark History Nighttime Walking Tour - Choosing the right route for your evening
Historical Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours in Toronto, Walking Tours, Walking Tours in Toronto

Toronto: Dark History Nighttime Walking Tour

12.Dark History Nighttime Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 273 reviews · 1h 15m · from $20

Join a cloaked English-speaking guide for a 75-minute outdoor walk through Toronto’s old streets, university campus, or Distillery District. Hear ghost stories, unsolved mysteries, wartime tales, and local history. Options change by season, and guides such as Cass, Dev, Jeff, and Cole are known for strong storytelling.

“Our guide was an amazing storyteller! excellent stories, right amount of history combined with the supernatural.”

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Toronto: Distillery District Historic Walking Tour - Gooderham & Worts and the rise of whiskey
Brewery & Distillery Tours, Brewery Tours in Toronto, Historical Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours in Toronto, Walking Tours, Walking Tours in Toronto

Toronto: Distillery District Historic Walking Tour

13.Distillery District Historic Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 267 reviews · 1 hour · from $20

Walk Toronto’s Distillery District with an English-speaking guide such as Eric, Nicole, Devin, or Tom. In one hour, you’ll see Victorian industrial buildings, hear how Gooderham & Worts became a global distilling giant, and learn about Toronto’s rough early years. The tour includes architecture and history, but no alcohol tasting.

“Great commentary, I learned so much about Toronto in an entertaining fashion.”

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Walking Tour Through Quebec City's History - Notre-Dame de Québec adds the spiritual story
Historical Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours in Quebec City, Walking Tours, Walking Tours in Quebec City

Walking Tour Through Quebec City’s History

14.Walking Tour Through Quebec City’s History

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 263 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $24

Walk through Old Quebec with a costumed local guide for about two hours. You’ll see Dufferin Terrace, Notre-Dame de Québec Basilica, Place Royale, Petit-Champlain, and the Breakneck Steps while learning how French and British rule shaped the city. The route includes steep hills, stairs, cobblestones, and a small group of up to 20 people.

“Quebec...what a wonderful, historic and romantic city. This guided tour was a delight and our host Louise was enthusiastic, charming and so knowledgeable of the city. She took us through the back streets and lanes to show us Quebec at its best 👌”

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Historic St. John's Newfoundland and Cape Spear Tour - Petty Harbour shows Newfoundland beyond the city
Historical Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours in St Johns

Historic St. John’s Newfoundland and Cape Spear Tour

15.Historic St. John’s Newfoundland and Cape Spear Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 248 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $66

See St. John’s highlights with a local driver-guide such as Larry, Cliff, Steve, Bill, or John. This small-group tour visits Cape Spear, Petty Harbour, Jellybean Row, Signal Hill, and Quidi Vidi in about 3.5 hours, with hotel pickup and short walks at each stop.

“Our guide was very knowledgeable of the area and because of that, came away with things I did not know about St John’s.”

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New in Historical Tours

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★ 5.0Bicyle Tour on Historical Kettle Valley Railway from Myra Canyon to PentictonFrom $18462 reviews
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