Forbidden Vancouver

Tour Details

Uncover Vancouver's dark secrets while exploring Market Alley and other key attractions where gritty Prohibition-era crimes took place when you embark on this thrilling walking tour in Vancouver. Learn why former mayor L.D. Taylor implied that this port city is far from a Sunday school, as your expert guide shares its dark tales of bootlegging booze, blind pigs and opium dens along Shanghai Alley in Chinatown, and the mobsters and crooked politicians involved in a myriad of crimes and vice about town. Walk Maple Tree Square's cobblestoned streets and take in the beautiful architecture of buildings like the Dominion Building and the Hotel Europe. This walking tour is perfect for history buffs and culture enthusiasts alike.

Start your journey by meeting your guide at Monaco Cafe at the entrance to Historic Gastown, where you'll first hear about the rowdy days of Vancouver's role in the Klondike Gold Rush. You'll learn from your guide about Vancouver mayor LD Taylor's link to corrupt figures as your guide shares Vancouver's dark tales of bootlegging booze, mobsters and crooked politicians involved in countless crimes and vice. When Prohibition came into effect in British Columbia in 1917, Vancouver experienced an increase in crime as a result of the closure of the city's saloons. Illegal alcohol production and distribution, gambling, and other crimes also became common in the city. When Prohibition arrived in British Columbia in 1917, Vancouver saw increased crime as saloons closed, and a myriad of illegal booze manufacturing and distribution, gambling, and more crimes became rampant in the city. Joe Celona, the primary gangster in Vancouver, had a notoriety comparable to Al Capone's, and he owned a growing number of brothels and gambling establishments while L.D. Taylor was the city's mayor.

View the Vancouver landmark structures that were constructed during the city's boom. Gaze on the intricate architecture of the Dominion Building, Water Street, and Hotel Europe. Discover the popular shopping districts and public spaces like Woodward's Complex.

Your tour guide will also share stories about the rum-running routes used to smuggle illicit booze. Pass by the Old Grand Hotel--a stylish hotel known as the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver that was built post-Prohibition and also served as a secret gay meetup location. Wrap up your guided walking tour as you walk down Maple Tree Square's cobblestoned streets to see some of the popular restaurants and bars in Gastown, like the Lamplighter- Vancouver's oldest pub. It's the perfect place to cherish all the details of the tales you've learned on your trip while engaging in a drink or two with friends before returning to your port of call.

This walking tour gives visitors a behind-the-scenes glimpse into Vancouver's scandalous secrets through thrilling tales of mobsters and crime during the Prohibition era and visits to the locations where these crimes occurred. Reserve a spot on this amazing walking tour, and get ready to explore Vancouver's dark history!