The 15 Best Granville Island Tours

1.Vancouver City Sightseeing Tour: Granville Island & Stanley Park

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,782 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $68Our pick

Take a 3.5-hour Vancouver overview by coach, with hotel or cruise-terminal pickup, a local guide, and stops at Granville Island Public Market and Stanley Park. Expect about an hour for the market, a brief visit to the Brockton Point totem poles, and city history along the way. Guide assignments vary; recent tours have featured Sam, Sean, Alex, and others.

“Good guide and visit to Stanley Park and Granville. I would’ve liked more time in city e.g. Robson St.”

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2.Vancouver Tour: Stanley Park, Granville Island & Capilano Bridge

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,778 reviews · 5 to 6 hours (approx.) · from $136

Take a guided coach tour from downtown Vancouver to Canada Place, Robson Street, Stanley Park, Capilano Suspension Bridge Park and Granville Island. You get about 90 minutes at Capilano and 75 minutes at Granville Island, plus city commentary and hotel pickup at most downtown hotels. The tour runs about five to six hours and costs $136.06 per person.

“It was great tour around points of Vancouver as we headed to Stanley park with a totem pole picture stop and other drive by points in the park great trip over lions gate bridge and so much fun at Capilano suspension bridge so fun and the catwalk. Then on to Granville Island for great food wonderful shops and the Public Market! It was a wonderful time.”

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3.Vancouver Highlights: Capilano Bridge & Granville Island

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 700 reviews · 5 hours · from $119

This five-hour Vancouver tour pairs a guided city circuit with 90 minutes at Capilano Suspension Bridge Park and an hour at Granville Island. Walk the bridge, Cliffwalk and Treetops Adventure, then browse the market. Guides such as Leslie and Jason have led the route, but your guide will vary.

“We had the best afternoon. Our tour guide was amazing. Was a great tour”

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4.Granville Island Market Food Tour by Vancouver Foodie Tours

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 552 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $123Top rated

Spend about two hours tasting your way through Granville Island Public Market with a local guide and a group capped at 12. Expect more than 20 regional bites, from Oyama salami and Lee’s doughnuts to cheese, tea and Thai food, plus stories about vendors and useful Vancouver recommendations. Vegetarian and pescatarian options are available with advance notice.

“Lots of good samples with interesting stories and local flavor. Nolan was personable and kept the group entertained. Would highly recommend this tour - pace was great and gave us an opportunity to sample and see tons more than we could have on our own.”

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5.A Wok Around Food Tour of the Granville Island Public Market

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 160 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $112

Follow a chef-guide through Granville Island Public Market and nearby artisan areas on a two-hour tasting walk. Expect samples that may include cheese, charcuterie, seafood, bread, soup, pickles, chai and sweets, plus stories about the market and its food. Groups are capped at 10. The tour starts at 4:00 pm and costs $112.66 per person.

“Very nice guide who showed us all around the Public Market (it was raining so we stayed mainly in the market). Such an amazing place; we tasted some wonderful foods and drinks.”

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6.Gastown, Chinatown & Granville Island – Vancouver Bike Tours

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 105 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $74

Ride about 11 miles through Vancouver with a local guide, using a road bike, helmet and water bottle. The route links the False Creek Seawall with Gastown, Chinatown, Strathcona and Granville Island, with stops for public art, city history and waterfront views. Groups are capped at eight, and an Aquabus crossing may be included.

“Jeremy was a fantastic tour guide! A third generation Vancouverite who was full of local history, neighborhood insights and cultural context. He was able to explain and share his knowledge in an approachable, yet nuanced format. Excellent tour with a superb tour guide. I’ve already recommended his tour to a friend who business travels to the area frequently.”

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7.Granville Island Ferry Hop-On Hop-Off Day Pass

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 97 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $16Best value

Use a mobile pass to ride False Creek Ferries between nine Vancouver docks, from Granville Island to Science World and the Maritime Museum. Boats arrive every five to 15 minutes during operating hours, and the crew may share local stories as you travel. Plan about two hours for a ride around the route, or spend longer hopping off at waterfront sights.

“The experience was great overall. I was expecting a boat similar to the one in the advertisement, but a smaller one arrived instead. However, the boat driver was very friendly, which made the trip enjoyable.”

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8.Vancouver City Tour: Stanley Park, Granville Island & False Creek

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 56 reviews · 4 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $54

This 4.5-hour guided trolley tour covers Stanley Park, Granville Island, Olympic Village and False Creek, with shorter stops at key viewpoints and an hour at the Public Market. Expect live English commentary and a group of up to 32. Guides have included Grant, Maria, Sarah and Braydon, though your guide may differ.

“Maria was our tour guide and she was fantastic. So nice and helpful. Provided so much detail about everything when we were going around on the tour. Would definitely recommend this tour to anyone looking for a good city tour”

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9.Open-air Whale Watching Tour, Granville Island

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 51 reviews · 5 hours · from $165

From Granville Island, join captain and marine naturalist Julia’s team aboard Eagle Eyes, an open-air catamaran with 360-degree views. The 3-to-5-hour trip searches the Salish Sea for orcas, humpbacks, dolphins, seals and seabirds, while guides explain whale behavior and conservation. Bring warm layers: there is no enclosed cabin.

“Our naturalist Julia was excellent and super knowledgeable. I loved learning about humpback whale behaviours and how to identify them as we tracked the 3 we found during the excursion. I also loved seeing the harbour seals and learning about other marine wildlife like sea otters even though we didn't see them on our trip. I wish we could have stayed out in the northern sound longer to track them but acknowledge that our naturalist and captain tried their best. Overall an excellent experience. I would do it again in a heartbeat and will be recommending Wild Whales to all my friends, family and colleagues.”

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10.Granville Island Market Tour with Tastings

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 45 reviews · 2 hours · from $119

Spend two hours tasting your way through Granville Island Public Market with an English-speaking guide. Expect locally cured meats, cheeses, artisan breads and other sweet and savory bites, plus stories from the vendors behind them. Guides have included Michael, Mack, Angela and Léa. Tastings can change, and transportation to the island is not included.

“Excellent, Michael was a very good knowledgeable tour guide. This tour is very good value for money and the samplings are generous.”

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11.Granville Island Vancouver’s Elite Walking Food Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 35 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $92

Explore Granville Island with a guide and a group of no more than 12. Over roughly two and a half to three hours, you’ll sample food at five spots, hear stories about the island, and enjoy a cocktail if you’re 19 or older. Past tours have included lobster rolls, tacos, donuts, and ice cream. Tell the operator about dietary needs in advance.

“Great walking tour with plenty of shops to visit post tour. Our guide Nicole was friendly and knowledgeable and we had a fabulous time.”

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12.Catamaran Whale Watching Tour, Granville Island

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 27 reviews · 5 hours · from $165

From Granville Island, sail the Salish Sea aboard Jing Yu, a semi-covered catamaran with a sheltered cabin and open decks. A marine naturalist explains local wildlife and conservation as you look for orcas, humpbacks, dolphins, seals, and more. The trip lasts three to five hours, and sightings vary with wildlife and weather.

“Avevamo paura che 3-5 ore di tour sarebbero state troppo lunghe e noiose. Nonostante si tratti sicuramente di un’attività dove è necessaria un po di pazienza, non essendo in uno zoo, ci siamo ricreduti! Il tour è stato molto divertente e interessante, anche grazie alla simpatica e disponibile naturalista Julia che ci ha raccontato aneddoti riguardanti tutti gli animali marini che abbiamo visto. La sua passione era palpabile e ci ha entusiasmati. Siamo riusciti a vedere una megattera anche se per poco tempo, molte orche (a caccia e con tanto di preda in bocca!) e moltissime foche. Il prezzo non è basso ma per chi non lo ha mai fatto…”

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13.City & Granville Island Sightseeing Trolley Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 26 reviews · 4h 30m · from $60

Ride a classic trolley through Vancouver, stopping at Stanley Park’s totem poles and Prospect Point before an hour at Granville Island Public Market. The route also takes in English Bay, Olympic Village and Chinatown. Your English-speaking guide provides live commentary; guides named on recent tours include Maria, Grant and Dan.

“Eine wunderbare und sehr unterhaltsame Tour in einem tollen alten Trolley mit einem ausgezeichneten Guide. Hat riesig Spass gemacht!”

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14.Vancouver Jet Ski Rental from Granville Island

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 14 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $201

Start at Granville Island for a three-hour Sea-Doo rental, with a wetsuit, life jacket, full tank, one-day boater’s license, and safety training included. Head toward English Bay and Howe Sound, where you may spot seals near Pam Rocks and stop at islands to swim, eat, or shop. Guides named Max, Greg, Simon, and Sven have led rides with the operator, but your guide is not specified.

“The views were awesome, and Max our guide was very nice and knowledgeable! Helped us all feel safe in the water, and we got to see a ton of wildlife too! Joe the photographer was great too!! Would do again :)”

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15.Granville Island Vancouver Kayak Tour with Coffee & Snacks (3hrs)

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 9 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $111

Set out from Granville Island at 11:30 am for a three-hour guided kayak route through False Creek, past Olympic Village, Science World and Kitsilano Beach. Kayak, paddle, life vest, coffee and a beach snack are included. A guide shares local history, and you may spot seals near Kitsilano.

“I'm not very good at kayaking and had a hard time at first, but the staff were friendly, fun, and kind, and taught me very well. So That’s way It’s good my life experience Thank you so much”

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