THE 10 BEST Things to Do in Gastown, Vancouver
Top Things to Do in Gastown
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Travellers' Choice Awards winners (including the "Best of the Best" title) are among the top 10% of listings on Tripadvisor, according to the reviews and opinions of travellers across the globe.
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- Things to do ranked using Tripadvisor data including reviews, ratings, number of page views, and user location.
Points of Interest & Landmarks
Downtown
Points of Interest & Landmarks • Architectural Buildings
Gastown
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Gastown
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Points of Interest & Landmarks
Gastown
Points of Interest & Landmarks • Monuments & Statues
Gastown
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Gastown
Speciality & Gift Shops
Gastown
Theatre & Performances
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Points of Interest & Landmarks
Gastown
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What travellers are saying
- wielands530Auckland Central, New Zealand38 contributionsWe walked around and had dinner at The Greek restaurant ( which was GREAT ) but Gastown is lovely -beautifully lit up and the Steamclock and shoe shop etc are greatWritten January 6, 2025This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- issueskidCoventry, UK1,557 contributionsThis is a cool little contraption to see, as you approach you’ll see the steam piling out from the clock. Occasionally you’ll hear a tune. Take a close look to see some of the internals doing their thing, very cool.Written November 12, 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Chris DNew Westminster, Canada3,366 contributionsAs downtown Vancouver continues to grow (mainly upwards) and new gray buildings sprout like weeds, I always enjoy stopping for a few minutes to marvel at this 100 year old building - still functional, still useful.
As you rush through the concourse from one mode of transportation to another, take a moment to look at the murals up near the ceiling. Look at the flooring - ask yourself how old it is, and how it has lasted this long.
Then have a look at the surrounding office buildings and ask yourself if they will still be there in a hundred years or so. This will help you appreciate what a marvel of design, construction, and stability this building truly is.Written November 4, 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - IambicVancouver, WA511 contributionsThe gallery has a wide range of beautiful and interesting works by indigenous artists. Most works are modern, but there is a small selection of vintage and antique basketry. Works ran the gamut from ceramics to jewelry to sculpture. The prices put works outside of our budget, but if you a collector or just interested in looking, the gallery is well worth a stop while in Gastown.
(A tip: Don't go toward opening or closing times. We stopped by one day before the scheduled closing time and found the gallery closed. We came back at the scheduled opening time, but had to wait for the staff to arrive and invite us in.)Written August 19, 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - Chris DNew Westminster, Canada3,366 contributionsEvery year and old work friend and I get together just before Christmas to say hi and catch up. For years now, we've been coming here, as they continue to treat us properly, and provide great food at a reasonable price. Both the soup/salad and burger were great. Prices not bad for a downtown location. Katie did a great job of looking after us. Looking forward to next year already! Thanks, people!!Written December 12, 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Chris DNew Westminster, Canada3,366 contributionsWell, at least in the historical sense. It is said that this is downtown Gastown, where Gassy Jack's original saloon was located. From here you can see his statue, some original buildings (as in 100+ years old) and the cool looking Europe Hotel.
Tourists interested in architecture and/or history should plan to spend a while here.
Lots of food and drink available close by.
BUT - don't wander to far to the south, especially after dark.Written July 13, 2020This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - issueskidCoventry, UK1,557 contributionsThere’s not a huge amount to see here from what I can tell. There’s a few art shops around and the building is certainly an interesting design but not something you’ll spend too long around.Written November 12, 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- MistyFalcoBishops Stortford, UK20 contributionsI nearly walked past this and it was one of the things I wanted to see! It's a beautiful statue and a fantastic tribute to the fallen.Written July 6, 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- PookyCakeVictoria, Canada14,832 contributionsI’d written a far lengthier review of Gaoler’s Mews last year; however, it was rejected, apparently, because I talked too much about one of the ghost stories associated with this area of Gastown. Thus, I won’t say much about that in this revised – and much shorter – review. Instead, I’ll just say if you want to learn more about this area’s grim history (and its associated ghost stories), then check out Forbidden Vancouver’s excellent “Lost Souls of Gastown.”
In any event, it’s amazing how fast time flies. It’s hard to believe nearly a year has passed since my last visit to the Gastown neighbourhood. The biggest observable change in that time? A large section of Water Street has become a “pedestrian zone;” that is to say, there’s no vehicle traffic coming through Gastown less the odd tour bus and emergency vehicles. I will readily confess this was a surprising change, but it is apparently only in effect through the summer. Anyway, while ambling about Gastown, I decided to revisit the always exciting Gaoler’s Mews.
Gaoler’s Mews is one of those attractions where you need to do one of two things in order to really appreciate it: 1) Take a guided tour of Gastown; or, 2) Read up on the site before you visit it. Failing to do either of these will result in a comment similar to bl0ndie72’s below: “Not quite sure how Gaolers Mews is a tourist attraction as it’s a little alleyway [. . .] Probably of historic note?” To be fair, though, the comment isn’t out of line. If you’re walking through Gastown and come upon Gaoler’s Mews, all you’ll spy are the signposts. There’s no information plaque of note – at least not that I’ve seen – to provide that all-important historical context. It’s just a sign and “a little alleyway.” Thus, one’s confusion as to how this can be a “thing to do” in Vancouver is understandable. In my case, it wasn’t until I took a walking tour with Forbidden Vancouver (“Lost Souls of Gastown”) that the importance of Gaoler’s Mews came into focus.
It is indeed the history – most of which you can no longer see – that makes Gaoler’s Mews noteworthy. In the mid-1800s this area was the site of Vancouver’s first jail (which later burned to the ground in the Great Fire of 1886). The courtyard at the end of Gaoler’s Mews was also home to a hangman’s scaffold, which apparently saw over 40 persons hanged in public fashion. As you might’ve guessed, with such a tainted past, it is no surprise that many ghost stories have sprung up.
And, well, I’m not going to lie. The history is really neat and paints a darker picture of Gastown; however, Gaoler’s Mews is still very much just an alleyway. We may look at it a little differently once we learn and understand the ghoulish history; or, we might chuckle at the absurd juxtaposition of dark past with the trendy present. I mean, who wouldn’t want to enjoy some “terrine of duck foie gras” at L’Abattoir or indulge in an exclusive meal at No. 1 Gaoler’s Mews knowing over 40 people met the hangman’s noose nearby? Let them eat their cake, I say!Written August 25, 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - Winston S1 contributionCrab park is scary. What is scarier is a society when people need to live in tents with no access to sanitary conditions because the same people who hate looking at homeless people care more about the the value of their houses soaring than why so many people need to live in parks. Finland ended homelessness so could we.Written January 20, 2022This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- PookyCakeVictoria, Canada14,832 contributionsAh, Byrnes Block! What more is there to say about this edifice that hasn’t already been said? Really, I think Chris D offers an apt summary of this attraction: “This building exemplifies Gastown as it was, long before the t-shirt shops and tourist traps.” I couldn’t have said it better myself. I mean, if you think about it, this building is basically a portal into Vancouver’s origins. The city was incorporated in 1886 and Byrnes Block was built between 1886 and 1887. As such, it’s been a part of Vancouver quite literally since “day one” and is currently recognized as the oldest building in the city still in regular use today.
To those of us visiting Gastown, we just might simply remark that Byrnes Block is a nice old building suitable for a quick photo with the statue of “Gassy Jack” at the foreground. Indeed, from a practical perspective, that’s pretty much all we can do – unless we intend to patronize the resto housed within. Doing this, though, negates the historical significance of the building, which runs thick and deep through the arteries of the city.
Consider: Much of Vancouver burnt to the ground during the summer of 1886. Construction of Byrnes Block started shortly thereafter. It thus became one of the very first fire-proof buildings developed in the city. And while that is significant in and of itself, the real historical value of this building comes in the form of its Victorian Italianate architectural style – the elaborate window hoods, arched corner pediment, cast iron windows (ground floor), and double-hung windows (second floor). Within the context of history, the overall look of Byrnes Block was that of relative luxury compared to what would’ve surrounded it at the time. In a sense, then, one could make a compelling case that this building is representative of Vancouver’s fledgling economy.
As a tourist attraction, I’ll repeat what I’ve said of Gastown’s other historic buildings: Unless you’re a major architecture nerd, I wouldn’t make a special trip just to see ye olde Byrnes Block. Instead, I’d suggest making it part of a larger Gastown-themed itinerary. That way, you can take in the touristy aspects of the area while also gaining an appreciation of Vancouver’s unique history.Written October 25, 2020This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - Naomi KMemphis, TN27 contributionsProcess for storing luggage with West Coast was easy and Emma was lovely and helpful. Only thing that. would have made it better is ability to store past 430 as our flight was not until 10 pm.Written June 15, 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- on_the_go_98765Tucson20,551 contributionsThe store caters to tourists and now we tourists are finally making our way back! Canada opened the border to Americans on August 9th (with a host of conditions and requirements); but those with hardy souls persevered.
We appreciated being able to shop without being badgered by the sales staff and made our purchase in our own time, pressure-free.
Not much has changed here since our 2019 visit and that works for us!Written September 6, 2021This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - Chris DNew Westminster, Canada3,366 contributionsOther than stacks of paper on the floor, not much to see here. Helpful person in the back says to come back maybe late October.Written September 29, 2018This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Jane R5 contributionsWe had fun! We went to the early show, was the first in line, so had a great table. Got the meat/cheese board for 4 of us and that was plenty of food for dinner. The particular entertainer was okay, but it was just fun to be in a live music venue. The "grounds for divorce" drink was really yummy!Written September 29, 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
