Gastown Steam Clock

It’s one of those landmarks that’s simple, iconic, and surprisingly fun—especially if you time it right and catch it “performing.” The clock whistles/steams on the quarter-hour, and the little crowd moment that happens around it makes it feel like a mini event every time. Great spot for photos, quick videos, and a memorable “we were here” stop. The area around it is lively, walkable, and full of shops and cafes, so it’s easy to work into an afternoon in Gastown. It does get crowded, but the turnover is quick and it’s open 24/7, so you can swing by early morning or later at night for a calmer experience. If you’re visiting Vancouver, it’s worth a stop—quick, free, and genuinely charming.

A charming and iconic spot in the heart of Gastown. The steam clock has a unique character, and watching it release steam and play its whistle is a lovely experience, especially for first-time visitors. The surrounding area is full of character with historic buildings, cafés, and great photo opportunities. It can get busy, but that’s part of the atmosphere. Definitely worth stopping by if you’re exploring Vancouver.

Visiting Vancouver during the autumn season is truly magical—crisp air, golden leaves, and fewer crowds. Our walk to Gastown was chilly yet beautifully colorful, making the experience even more charming. Seeing the famous Gastown Steam Clock up close was amazing. As one of the few clocks in the world powered entirely by steam, it’s a fascinating piece of engineering and a true Vancouver icon. No tickets are needed, and it’s conveniently just a 5-minute walk from the Convention Centre train station, making it easy to visit anytime. Whether you’re a tourist or a local, this landmark is definitely a must-see.

The Gastown Steam Clock is proof that Vancouver can romanticize a manhole cover and call it heritage. Built in 1977 by Raymond Saunders to disguise a steam vent, it proudly pretends to be Victorian while being younger than disco. Every 15 minutes it wheezes, whistles, and performs like a steampunk asthmatic, delighting tourists who film it as if history itself just coughed. To be fair, it’s charming. An industrial cosplay with excellent timing. Not ancient, not essential, but undeniably iconic. Gastown wouldn’t be the same without this clock reminding us that even steam can be rebranded as culture.

Cool exhibit.. The Gastown Steam Clock in Vancouver, BC, is a famous 1977 landmark built by Raymond Saunders to cover a steam vent, using low-pressure steam from the city's heating system to power its whistles and chime Westminster melodies on the quarter-hour, creating a unique, nostalgic attraction that attracts tourists for its hourly steam shows and charming Victorian-era aesthetic in historic Gastown.

A tourist attraction that is centered around a unique steam powered clock in the Gas Town district of Vancouver. The clock runs entirely on steam, and although as of October 2025 the clock is under maintenance, it still plays sound every 15 minutes. Thats the real attraction around this clock and you can time your visit. There is usually a long queue of tourists trying to capture their photo in front of the clock. The neighborhood and the road itself are really nice to be around. This has to be part of your Vancouver visit itinerary.

The Vancouver Steam Clock is definitely one of the most iconic and charming sights in Gastown. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Even though it’s a quick stop, it’s worth visiting for the atmosphere alone. The area around the clock has a beautiful old-town feel with brick sidewalks, historic buildings, cute shops, and cafés all around. The clock itself is unique — watching it release steam and hearing the whistle every quarter hour is such a fun experience, especially if you’re visiting for the first time. It’s a great photo spot during both day and evening, and the entire street has a cozy, vintage vibe. Gastown is lively, walkable, and full of character, so the steam clock becomes a perfect starting point to explore the neighborhood. Expect small crowds taking pictures, but it moves quickly. Overall, a lovely landmark in Vancouver and a must-see for anyone walking through Gastown. Great for photos, sightseeing, and soaking in the historic charm of the city.

One of Vancouver's main landmarks. A very unique watch which sounds a large whistle every hour, the Westminster chimes will be sound each quarter hour and the steam every 4.5 minutes. If you want to take a picture beside it you will have to be patient because it is super busy.

Pretty unique and lots of tourists taking pictures here. If you are close by, worth a visit. I would come again. Pretty amazing looking of steam coming out of the clock.

This brewpub and eatery was awesome. Many types of beers and the couple I have was fantastic. The was warm welcoming comfortable.

So much for telling time. Hence the reason for 3 stars. Showtime starts a little late. Other than that, it's a pretty cool attraction. It runs on steam. Maybe that's why the time was wrong. It ran out of steam. The funny thing was that I was the only one that noticed it didn't perform on the hour.

One of the very few steam-powered clocks left out there, and this one is located in Gastown. You'll know it when you see it because there's usually a crowd of tourists surrounding the clock. It's not the most accurate or the loudest, so personally I think it's a fun stop but not worth the wait to hear the clock chime.

busy crowd from time to time. u rly gotta be quick and hop in to get a picture with it. i suggest going rly early in the day. it's way nicer at night though. apparently i heard the owner passed away so maintenance had gone down and the steaming doesn't have a routine time as it should every 10-15min.

Really neat and unique attraction in the Gastown area of Vancouver, however, two stars are taken off rather than one because the clock sounded way past the hour during the times I was here. By way past, I mean at least 7 minutes. Not cool, especially if one is on a tight schedule and is literally planning their schedule around this attraction if in the area. I'd say this is worth going out of your way to check out, but do be prepared for the possibility the clock may sound late. So much for telling time, eh?

I LOVE THIS CLOCK. I mean just look at it. Steam powered clock? What the heck! It's silly. My watch goes all day and it doesn't require any steam. I guess that's why it's one of only 6 remaining steam clocks left in the world. The steam punk crowd is probably bummed about that, but you have to just sit back and appreciate what we still got, ya know? Only complaint is that in changing times, growth isn't a choice--it's a response. The winds may shift, but it's how you set your sail that defines your direction. 5 stars.

Gastown is a great place to visit, not only for the steam clock but also the shops along the way. Lots of great restaurants around, souvenir shops are pricey though. It's also walking distance to Canada Place

After our early dinner we decided to walk some of it off. We took a five minute walk over from the restaurant to take a look at the steam clock. We saw a small crowd and knew we found it. The steam clock is situated on the corner. And the live steam was very noticeable. I'd seen it years back but no recall of it. Maybe it was just a drive by back then. This time we were on foot. I learned a new vocabulary word today- horologist - someone who makes or repairs watches. It was built in 1977 but appears 19th century antique. It whistles on the quarter hour instead of a bell chime. It certainly draws a crowd.

Come here closer to the hour so you can see the steam clock really work It's magic. Although I feel like the time is a little off by five minutes it goes off on the Hour. Fun little tourist attraction you shouldn't miss and there's lots of souvenir stores in the area.

This is a very touristy area. Very crowded and overrated. Lots of souvenir shops. Not worth the congestion.

A bunch of stood around waiting for the clock to play the Westminster Chimes at 15 after 11am but nothing happened. The crowd dispersed and five minutes later it tooted when we were inside Lee's Donuts. Turned out the clock hands were off by 5 minutes but matched 15 after on our watches. Someone needs to adjust the clock!

We got here super early, and a local told us that the clock doesn't start going off until 9:00 a.m. so it was unfortunate we didn't get to hear the clock but nonetheless it was still very cool to look at and watch. The whole area here is very nice.

I heard about this clock and just had to see it for myself. So I decided to drive to Gastown to find it. What do you know... it only took me 5 minutes to locate the clock due to the swarm of people surrounding it. One minute after I spotted it I saw steam, then I heard the infamous whistle. It all happened so very quickly, literally only seconds long. It was definitely worth the drive to see it all in action. It's an absolutely beautiful clock, the little show it gives off only adds to the beauty. The clock whistles every quarter hour, so you won't have to wait long to see the show. Enjoy! If you ever find yourself in Vancouver. I highly recommend you drive down to Historic Gastown to check it out. Highly Recommended!

The most famous landmark in Gastown is the historical stream clock. It is located on the corner of Cambie and Water Street. You can't miss it since there are groups of people taking photos of it. Stream powers the clock and the whistles. The whistles chime every quarter hour. The whole process is really interesting to watch. The Gastown steam clock is a must see and continues to draw visitors from all over the world. Fun fact: it's the only fully functioning steam clock.

I saw this Gastown Steam clock a couple of days ago, which was my last night in Vancouver. This was a last-minute decision that I was very happy that I made. It was neat being at this clock just seeing how it operates. It was cool reading the information plate on it. It sounds off every 15 minutes, and it's so neat how the steam coming out at the top makes the noise. The steam runs 24/7. It was also a very cool fact to know that a lot of the clock machine parts are underneath the ground in order for the clock to work. It was awesome to see how many people stopped by just to check this old landmark out. It was neat to see people just stop and chat around it, just waiting for the next soundoff. I was definitely one of them. Thanks to the Dawson Creek couple that I met two nights ago, we had a great conversation and then went our ways. I will never forget this experience. A must do and see when in Vancouver Gastown!!!

Steam clocks are fully or partially powered by a steam engine. Only a few exist in the world and this is one of them. Maybe the original one. It's basically a regular clock, that looks a little vintage. On the quarter hour, it has a whistle chime. And then at the top of the hour it puffs out some more steam. It will not take you long to visit this attraction, but you might want to time it with the quarter hour or the end of the hour. It's located at the corner of Cambie and Water Street.

Very cool sight! We were looking for it on our walk, and suddenly, it was there! It had a crowd around it, but I was still able to take some good pictures.

This clock is full of hot air. Well, hot steam. My favorite thing about the clocks is that I can make sounds just like the clock and make people think it's doing its little half hour show.

It's a clock. It operates off steam. Lots of people standing around and taking pictures. Plays sounds every 15 minutes. Seen it, done it.

It's fine. There were too many tourists and you could barely see the clock. The clock is cool and all, but not worth the effort to find parking and then walk through a sketchy area to get there. If you even want a picture of it, expect to have a bunch of strangers in your photo.

I enjoyed visiting one of Vancouver's most historical landmarks. The gas town steam clock is located in a gorgeous part of the city. It's a beautiful area at night. It's a very popular attraction and many people where taking photos of/and or with the clock. I was able to snag a few photos when the traffic slowed down a bit. I was happy I was able to see it. I even got to see the part where it whistled on the half hour. Very enjoyable experience, and it was free so you can't beat it!

It's a clock. A cute, mesmerizing, and elegant clock. To be honest with you, I would recommend it; as simple as it is, it really is an interesting piece.

This tick-tock is powered by steam instead of swipes, and far more interesting. It may not be nearly as old as it seems, based on appearance and location, but it's still an impressive piece of engineering. Every fifteen minutes, this clockwork contraption spits, steams and bellows like a train whistle, signaling the phase and/or count of the hour, like your grandfather's...well, grandfather clock, but much wetter. I wouldn't spend a lot of time waiting for it to do it's thing, but it's still a marvel worth beholding at least once, particularly at the top of an hour, when it really puts on a show.

The Gastown Steam Clock is one of Vancouver's must-see attractions. Plus, it is free. It was easy to get to the steam clock. I was staying on Grainville St and all I had to do was walk down toward the Waterfront Station, turn right on Cordova St, and a slight left onto Water St and then I was there. I went in the morning around 9-ish on a Monday and there were little to no people around the clock. It is amazing to see the steam coming right out of it. Plus, it was a chilly day and I feel that it made the steam stand out more. Every half hour the clock would chime. I went a little down the street to eat at a cafe and I could hear it. The chimes are a cute touch. Definitely would stop by to see the clock again.

I swear! I visited the Gastown Steam Clock. It was designed by Raymond Saunders. Only a few steam clocks exist in the world today. The clock whistles every 15 minutes. It is good for a photo op. It could be interesting if you are into this kind of stuff. It is a historic landmark. But, where are my photos? I fail as a Yelper.

The oldest steam clock ever! It's a free attraction in Vancouver, so who wouldn't check that out?! So cool to see the steam literally flowing out and powering the clock. We were there on a Thursday and it was pretty busy. Lots of tourists checking it out and taking photos. The clock does have some info in a placard written on itself. The street around it feels very historic with brick pavers and old-buildings. Definitely check this out!

This was one of the spots we were looking forward to when visiting Vancouver. Unfortunately, it was so hard to find a parking space and the area was extremely crowded. We went on a tour instead to come visit another day and it has some unique history. Not sure I would come again, but it was interesting to learn about.

A steaming clock! So cool! The gastown steam clock is right in downtown Vancouver and it was super easy to find street parking nearby on a Sunday morning. We just stopped to do a token picture and I enjoyed watching the steam come out the top. Unfortunately we didn't stay for the hour where supposedly it makes a sound. The clock was running a little slow (~2-3 min) which was a little odd. Check out the informational plaques on each of the four sides!

It's not a business it's an attraction. Right along the road the chimes operated by steam.

Haven't researched the history of this clock yet but definitely something worth seeing. Not everyday you see steam coming out of a clock in the middle of a sidewalk. Time to ask Siri about the history of this clock.

Expect large crowd near this clock. The clock goes off every 15 minutes. I feel it a great place tonstop for a quick picture and see the whistler gas go off on top. It is a quick 30 second show.

Hard to park and the area is infested with bums. Cool attraction otherwise. Better to take a taxi and only come in the day

Explored Gastown in Vancouver--popular, iconic, and a National Historic Site since 2009. It's packed with attractions, shops, restaurants, and historic features like cobblestone roads and brick buildings.

I guess you have to visit the steam clock when you're in Gastown. It plays every 15 minutes. We saw it play and moved on.

It is a fun little attraction but not worth revolving your day or specific time to visit. It is cute and the history is interesting but the attraction in and of it is very minimal for the effort it takes to get there and dealing with the crowds and homelessness of the city.

I wouldn't make any special trip, but if you happen to be in the area when this thing gets ready to blow, it's worth a pause. It goes off every 15 min and may do something on the hour...not sure.

It was cool to see and hear. It's not set on time, so we had to wait to hear it. I thought it would be bigger. You could walk past it and not realize it. Gastown is a cool area.

This is a definite must stop for all new visitors to Vancouver. The steam powered clock goes off every 15 minutes. Every hour it lets off a huge blow/song and everyone around claps. My suggestion is to have lunch across at the Water Street Cafe and watch from outside while dining.

It's a clock on a street. Pretty cool touristy spot. See it once and you're good. The whole city of VanCouver is amazing so this is a nice little stop in the downtown area

It's a quirky thing to visit but if you happen to find yourself in Gas town then why not? It's fun too watch and learn some history about steam clocks and how it was made.

The clock is a work of art. The steam whistles plays every 15 minutes and plays a song on the hour mark. It's a fan favorite for picture taking opportunities.

The Gastown Steam Clock, a must see landmark and attraction for any visitors to Vancouver! Uhhh, well... Get ready to be disappointed unless you're really into steam clocks. The size of the clock was a lot smaller than I imagined. It's as tall as the sidewalk light posts, and like a Grandfather clock atop a pedestal. Nothing that cool about it, but I guess it's interesting to see the mechanisms of the clock, and wait for steam come out to some notable tunes. I guess it's cool to take a look when you're around this area, but temper expectations. It'd be cooler if a steam locomotive choo-choo'ed by, but that's just me.

While it's a touristy spot, I think it's still worth stopping for both the photo op and atmosphere. I can't say that I'm familiar with its history or anything like that, I'm sure that knowledge would add even more value to it, but even then I think it's a nice stop if you're in Vancouver. Great thing is, there are multiple things to do in the area, so even if you venture over, there's still likely to be something for you.

The clock itself is quite fascinating; intricate workings inside make for interesting "entertainment" as you watch the gears and balls switch places, roll along, move. Every fifteen minutes, the steam whistles blow, in slow drawls "brrr brrrr brrr brrrrrrr..." and the crowds gather to watch, listen, photograph. Each hour, on the hour, too, you get a bit better "show".

I've read many blogs that make it sound like there are multiple clocks, let me clear that up. There is one clock. Just one. The one clock is located on a really cute brick paved road with adorable old timey lights which makes it very photo worthy. There are a bunch of cute little shops and a few restaurants. The clock itself it pretty cool to look at and It goes off every 15 minutes. The downside of this pretty nifty clock is that everyone wants to take pictures with it which makes it difficult to get a photo of just the clock. I would recommend going in the evening during the week, there should be less people and you can get a very pretty photo with all the lights in the background.

Very cool and unique experience. In a clean and safe area. Lots of shops and charming restaurants

Amazing place for tourists. Love the uniqueness of the clock. This clock and suspension bridge were the one of the main reasons I visited Vancouver

We were walking around the Gastown area when we happened across the Gastown Steam clock. There isn't a whole ton to write about it other than to say that it really makes a lot of noise and pumps out the steam out of the top of the clock every 15 minutes or so. lol It was kind of cool just to watch it go off there. It's styled like an old school grandfather clock, which looks pretty cool. It's basically a neat little trinket that is situated on a corner downtown. I wouldn't necessarily go out of my way to find it, but if you happen to come across it the clock may amuse you for a bit. 3 stars. A-Ok.