Canada · HISTORICAL TOURS

History Tours in Canada: Book These 15 First

58 tours  ·  from $16

Strongest first. Costs, timings and traveller verdicts on all 15 history tours below, so the decision takes minutes rather than an evening.

Victoria Guided Food and History Tour - Starting at Phillips Brewing on Government Street
Food & Drink, Guided, Historical Tours, Historical Tours in Victoria, Tour Reviews, Tours, Victoria Tours

Victoria Guided Food and History Tour

1.Victoria Guided Food and History Tour

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

Andy of A Taste of Victoria Food Tours leads a maximum of 12 people through Old Town, Chinatown, and the Inner Harbour. Expect chocolate, tea, biscuits, spring rolls, pierogi, and other local bites, with stories about Victoria’s past and advice on where to eat next. Morning and afternoon departures are available.

“Andy was very knowledgable and we had a great walking tour! The local food was excellent and so was Andy's knowledge of the history.”

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Gastown Historic Walking Food Tour - From the Steam Clock to Gastown’s first stories
Food & Drink, Food Tours, Food Tours in Vancouver, Historical Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Vancouver Tours, 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 Gastown with guides such as Sean, Rachel, Andrea, or Connor, stopping for karaage, pasta, poutine, waffles, beer, and wine. You will cover about five to eight flat city blocks, pause at several sit-down venues, and hear stories of Vancouver’s Wild West past. Come hungry, dress for rain, and allow three hours.

“The history part is equal to the food part. So you get a small beer and 40 minutes of history before the first bite. Then the food part becomes the main thing until the end.”

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Vancouver: Gastown Historical Walking Food Tour - Starting at Waterfront Station and reaching Gastown
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Vancouver: Gastown Historical Walking Food Tour

3.Vancouver: 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 Gastown walk with six food tastings, two desserts, and four alcoholic drinks. Guides such as Sean, Kate, Rachel, Dan, and Connor mix Vancouver stories with stops at eight restaurants. Non-alcoholic choices and dietary accommodations are available with 24 hours’ notice.

“We loved the tour- our guide Rachael was fantastic- full of fun facts & enthusiasm- loved all the beer & wine selections - more than we expected but perfect - not too much- fantastic food & made friends in the tour- that we caught up with later- very friendly group!!!”

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Evening Gourmet Tour 5 Course Dinner - History and Food in Old Quebec City - The funicular and the climb toward upper town
Dining Experiences, Evening Experiences, Food & Drink, Historical Tours, Historical Tours in Quebec City, Quebec City Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

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

Start in Lower Old Quebec with a guide such as Luis, Marie, Danielle, or Etienne, then walk between four restaurants for five gourmet courses and paired drinks. Ride the funicular, see Place Royale and Château Frontenac, and finish near Rue Saint-Jean. The tour is in English, capped at 12 people, and includes alcoholic beverages.

“Truly delicious food even for a self proclaimed food snob. Final restaurant was Michelin Bib Gourmand. Marie was an absolutely lovely host, full of vibrancy and knowledge and history and fun. Attended solo but felt like I was out with friends. Highlight of my stay in Quebec City and cannot recommend enough.”

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Quebec City: Old Quebec Historical Walking Tour - Starting at Sainte-Anne Street
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Quebec City: Old Quebec Historical Walking Tour

5.Quebec City: Old Quebec Historical Walking Tour

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

Walk Old Quebec with a licensed guide in colonial costume, following streets from Château Frontenac and Dufferin Terrace to Place Royale and Notre-Dame Basilica. Guides such as Pierre, Bernard, and Marie-Anne Barbel use humor, storytelling, and period characters to make Quebec’s past easy to follow. Expect English or French commentary, a small group when available, and some hills.

“Great tour with an in-character guide. We learned a lot and had lots of laughs.”

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Peggy’s Cove & Halifax Historic Tour - Halifax Citadel: a quick military introduction
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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 Halifax tour pairs city sights with Peggy’s Cove lighthouse. Expect a coach or minibus, English commentary, and stops at the Citadel, Fairview Lawn Cemetery, and Public Gardens. Guides such as Jonathan, Mamie, and Richard have led especially engaging outings, though service can vary by day and group size.

“The tour operator was excellent with communication beforehand, informing us where to meet and what to look for. The bus was clean and comfortable with wifi available. Our driver, Robert, was an expert at navigating some of the narrow roadways and was always so welcoming. Mamie, our tour guide, was amazing knowledgeable about all facets of Halifax and surrounding area history and folklure. She makes time to speak with everyone on the tour and her manner of speaking is easy to understand over the bus intercom. The stops, as outlined in the itinerary, were very good; we just wish we would have had a bit more time at Peggys Cove.…”

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Montreal History Guided Sightseeing Cruise - Commentary, languages, and where to sit
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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. You’ll see the Old Port, Jacques-Cartier Bridge, Biosphere, Olympic Park, La Ronde, and Boucherville Islands while a bilingual guide shares city stories. The 4 p.m. departure includes one drink for guests age 13 and up.

“This trip was a bait and switch and false advertisement. It was advertised as a 1.5 hour Montreal History Guided Sightseeing Cruise, but it was in reality a 3.5 hour cruise with no guide. We were stuck on this boat for 3.5 hours with crappy food and drinks for sale being foisted on us, most of it in the dark with no view. And to top it off, half the boat was cordoned off to us due to a private party. Total rip off.”

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Combo Historical and Food Tour of Old Quebec - Starting with the Quebecois mural and Place Royale
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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 three hours walking through Old Quebec, riding the funicular, and tasting five courses at four well-regarded restaurants. Guides such as Lynn, Guy, Marie, Danielle, and Luis lead the group through landmarks including Place Royale and Notre Dame Cathedral. Wine, beer, and mocktails are included, with food enough for dinner.

“Our tour guide was very informative, funny, and accommodating. The food at the restaurant were beyond amazing! I would highly recommend it”

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The Really Gay History Tour in Vancouver, Canada - The GRID crisis, Patient Zero, and difficult chapters
Historical Tours, LGBTQ-Friendly, Tour Reviews, Tours, Vancouver Tours

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 guide in pink, for a two-hour walking tour through Vancouver’s LGBTQ2+ history. Starting at Trees Organic Coffee Shop, you’ll hear stories of Pride, the GRID crisis, drag culture, activism, Two-Spirit identity, and the Davie Street village before finishing at Jim Deva Plaza.

“Our guide was as exceptional the second time around as the first tour last yearL Glenn was very knowledgeable, enthusiastic, conscientious with a delightful sense of humour! Highly recommended!”

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Great Bears of Bute: Grizzly Bear Viewing & Indigenous Cultural Tour - Reaching Orford Bay and Homalco territory
Bear Watching Tours, Historical Tours, Historical Tours in Victoria, Indigenous Culture Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Victoria Tours

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 to Orford Bay, watching for whales, orcas, seals, dolphins, and eagles. Homalco guides then lead you by minibus to riverside viewing sites for grizzlies and salmon, with lunch, coffee, cultural stories, and a return boat ride included.

“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 - City Hall and the story behind Pete’s Pub
Historical Tours, Saint John Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Walking Tours

Pete’s Historic Walking Tour

11.Pete’s Historic Walking Tour

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

Join Saint John guide Peter Ferguson for a 2.5-hour walk through uptown landmarks, old streets, murals, churches, and waterfront sites. Pete uses rare photographs, personal stories, and local lore to explain the city from 1783 to today. The pace is generally easy, with morning and afternoon departures, small groups, and some use of indoor walkways.

“Not a strenuous walk at all, anyone can do it. Pete was extremely knowledgeable with a great sense of humour. Thoroughly enjoyable!”

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Toronto: Dark History Nighttime Walking Tour - The Original Haunted Walk from the Hockey Hall of Fame
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Toronto: Dark History Nighttime Walking Tour

12.Toronto: Dark History Nighttime Walking Tour

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

Follow a cloaked English-speaking guide through Toronto’s old town, downtown campus, or Distillery District for 75 minutes of ghost stories, unsolved mysteries, and local history. Choose from four seasonal routes. Expect an outdoor walk in all weather, with guides such as Cass, Dev, Jeff, and Caroline bringing the tales to life.

“Visiting for our wedding anniversary and we do ghost tours every new city we go to and this one was great our guide was great spoke great explained every story in great detail and kept us awake the whole time cant remember if his name was Jeff but we went on 10-06-24 at 8pm Highly recommend it for anyone”

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Toronto: Distillery District Historic Walking Tour - Beginning at 11 Gristmill Lane
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Toronto: Distillery District Historic Walking Tour

13.Toronto: 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 world-leading distillery, and learn about Toronto’s rough early years. The tour is easy, wheelchair accessible, and does not include alcohol tastings.

“Yesterday I did a tour with Erik. I had an amazing time and learned a lot about the area and the history of Toronto. Thanks a lot!”

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Walking Tour Through Quebec City's History - Starting at Dufferin Terrace beside Château Frontenac
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Walking Tour Through Quebec City’s History

14.Walking Tour Through Quebec City’s History

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

Follow a costumed local guide through Old Quebec 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 the city grew from a French colony into Canada’s most distinctive historic center. The tour is in English, limited to 20 people, and ends at Place Royale.

“I enjoyed it when the host put himself back in time and commented many times that he was dead. He tried to shock us with the truth such as having 18 kids...with one wife.”

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Historic St. John's Newfoundland and Cape Spear Tour - Cape Spear: the tour’s essential stop
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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

This small-group St. John’s tour takes you to Cape Spear, Petty Harbour, Jellybean Row, Signal Hill, and Quidi Vidi in about 3.5 hours. Guides including Larry, Cliff, Steve, Bill, John, and others provide local history and humor along the way. Pickup is available from many hotels, with groups capped at 20 people.

“We had a great tour with lots of information about history, food, nature etc. Cliff the guide and driver was excellent”

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New in Historical Tours

★ 5.0Mi’kmaq Heritage Path Tour23 reviews
★ 4.5Family visit to the Acadian Historic VillageFrom $407 reviews
★ 4.5In the Shadow of the Mountain: Montreal Jewish History Walking TourFrom $2433 reviews
★ 4.5Rabbis, Writers and Radicals: Montreal Jewish History Walking TourFrom $2452 reviews
★ 5.0Private Montreal City Tour by Car, History & Hidden GemsFrom $22422 reviews
★ 5.0Making Their Mark: Montreal Jewish History Walking TourFrom $24166 reviews
★ 5.0Guided Bike Tour on Historical Kettle Valley Railway at Myra Canyon & Wine TourFrom $21619 reviews
★ 5.0Private 5 Hour Tour to Peggys Cove and Historic Halifax7 reviews
★ 4.5Peggy’s Cove/Mahone Bay & Lunenburg UNESCO HERITAGE SITE.139 reviews
★ 5.0Horse Drawn Historical Guided TourFrom $3724 reviews
★ 4.5Canmore Cowboys and Coal Miners History Tour – 2H WalkFrom $4815 reviews
★ 5.0Canmore Walking Tours: Discover Local History and SceneryFrom $508 reviews
★ 5.0From Calgary to Waterton National Park Nature History and WondersFrom $15722 reviews
★ 4.8Toronto: Prohibition & Spirits History Walking TourFrom $435 reviews
★ 4.8Toronto: Niagara Falls & NOTL Heritage Town Guided Day TourFrom $7228 reviews

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