Forbidden Vancouver Hidden History & Sweet Treats Tour

The Sinners & Sweets Tour is the newest walking tour from Forbidden Vancouver. It features iconic buildings in downtown Vancouver and tasty treats.

As of 2026 the tour has been running for about four years. It was originally called the Monumental Scandals Tour and then the Hidden History & Sweet Treats Tour. Since 2025, the tour has been called the Sinners & Sweets Tour. It’s a terrific walking tour and highly recommended.

During the winter holiday season, Forbidden Vancouver offers the Holiday History & Hot Chocolate Tour. It’s mostly the same as the Sinners & Sweets Tour (in the non-Christmas season), but with a winter twist! Guests can explore the history of downtown Vancouver while sipping hot chocolate and surrounded by Christmas decorations.

Visit forbiddenvancouver.ca for the official website of this tour and other related ones. For the tour running from mid-November through the second weekend in January (with a complimentary cup of hot chocolate included), click Holiday History & Hot Chocolate Tour.

This article includes the following information about the tour:

Tour Schedule & Admission | What to Expect | Tour Video | Other Forbidden Vancouver Tours | Other Information

The Sinners & Sweets Walking Tour in Downtown Vancouver

Forbidden Vancouver offers a series of guided walking tours around Vancouver. They cover a range of topics from the city’s past, with a focus on the darker elements of that history.

The Sinners & Sweets Tour is a recent addition to the regular, very popular lineup. The tour is recommended for ages 10 and up, unlike most Forbidden Vancouver tours, which are recommended for ages 14 and older. That said, the scandals discussed on the tour still cover some darker topics, including murder. Participants are led through the downtown area and can also visit some of the buildings discussed.

On the tour, you’ll see and learn about some of Vancouver’s most iconic buildings, including the Vancouver Art Gallery, Hotel Vancouver, Marine Building, and Sinclair Centre. You’ll also explore famous streets and neighbourhoods like Robson Square and Granville Street.

Visit the Forbidden Vancouver website for details about all of its tours.

Walking Tour in Downtown Vancouver — On the Tour Near Robson Square

Tour Schedule & Admission

The Sinners & Sweets Tour runs on Saturdays and Sundays for most of the year, but also on other days and at other times. During the winter holiday season between late November and mid-January, they run even more often (including almost every day in December except for Christmas Day), but as the Holiday History & Hot Chocolate Tour (which features a decadent hot drink instead of food treats).

Tickets must be purchased online. As of early 2026, the Sinners & Sweets Tours cost $69 for adults (ages 19-64) and $64 for seniors and youth (but just $49 or $45 during the Christmas holiday season for the Holiday History & Hot Chocolate Tour). The Sinners & Sweets Tour is the most expensive one that Forbidden Vancouver has to offer, but that’s because of the delicious treats you get to try! For what you get and the experience, the price is very reasonable and well worth it! Sinners & Sweets is an exceptional historical walking tour and a city food tour combined into one activity.

The tour begins at the corner of Robson and Granville Streets in front of the Old Navy store. It runs for about two hours.

Holiday History & Hot Chocolate Tour

During the holiday season, the Sinners & Sweets tour is suspended. Its replacement is the Holiday History & Hot Chocolate Tour, which begins in mid-November and runs almost daily until the second Sunday in January. The only days without a tour are usually December 25th and January 1st.

This tour begins outside of Trees Cafe at 738 Granville Street. It runs for about 90 minutes, or slightly longer. There’s limited availability, so book your spot in advance if you want to take part.

The Holiday History Tour is a little less expensive at $49 for adults and $45 for seniors and youth. That’s because you’re not getting the same sweet treats you get on the standard tour (though you do get some high-quality hot chocolate).

The normal Sinners & Sweets tour returns in January after the Holiday History tour is over.

Visit the Forbidden Vancouver website for tickets to this and other related tours.

Forbidden Vancouver Tour on Granville Street — Forbidden Vancouver Group on Granville Street

What to Expect

Participants on the tour are guided through downtown Vancouver and hear several true stories from the city’s past. The tales range from how Vancouver’s richest families came to power, to class warfare during the Great Depression, to the murder of famous architect Sir Francis Rattenbury.

While several buildings are discussed and examined in detail, the Marine Building is probably the one examined most closely. In 1930, the Marine Building was the tallest building in the city (and one of the tallest in the British Empire). The tour offers an exclusive look inside the heritage building, which is also near the tour’s end. Along the way, on the regular Sinners & Sweets tour (and not the holiday one) there are stops for attendees to taste high-quality chocolates, macarons and pastries.

The stories told on the tour are historically accurate and based on real facts. It’s a great way to learn about some of the early history of Vancouver.

Walking Tour Video

For a good idea of what to expect on the Sinners & Sweets walking tour, check out the video below. It features scenes from our 2023 tour (when it was still called the Monumental Scandals Tour and before they added the sweet treats element).

Other Forbidden Vancouver Tours

Sinners & Sweets isn’t the only walking tour on offer. Forbidden Vancouver has five tours that run regularly. The most famous and popular is the Lost Souls of Gastown tour, which is all about the famous Gastown district.

Other tours on offer are The Really Gay History Tour (in the Davie Street Village), Forbidden Vancouver (about the prohibition era) and The Dark Secrets of Stanley Park. All of them are excellent.

There are also sometimes special one-off tours or events. For example, the Secrets of the Penthouse happens about once a month. This tour of Penthouse Nightclub, led by the club’s owner, includes dinner and a jazz performance. It too is exceptional.