Victoria, Canada

British Columbia’s island capital of harbourfront strolls, heritage architecture, gardens, and afternoon tea.

victoria bc and inner harbor in Victoria, Canada

🏛️ Sights & Attractions in Victoria

  • Butchart Gardens — The Butchart Gardens is a floral display garden in Brentwood Bay, British Columbia, Canada, located near Victoria on Vancouver Island. The gardens receive over a million visitors each year. The gardens have been designated a National Historic Site of Canada.
  • Royal BC Museum — The Royal British Columbia Museum, founded in 1886, is a history museum in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. The "Royal" title was approved by Queen Elizabeth II and bestowed by Prince Philip in 1987, to coincide with a royal tour of that year. The museum merged with the Britis
  • British Columbia Parliament Buildings — The British Columbia Parliament Buildings are in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, and are home to the lieutenant governor and the Legislative Assembly.
  • Craigdarroch Castle — in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, is a historic, Victorian-era Scottish baronial mansion. It was designated a National Historic Site of Canada due to its landmark status in Victoria.
  • Hatley Castle — Craigdarroch Castle in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, is a historic, Victorian-era Scottish baronial mansion. It was designated a National Historic Site of Canada due to its landmark status in Victoria.
  • Beacon Hill Park — is a 75 ha park located along the shore of Juan de Fuca Strait in Victoria, British Columbia that is popular both with tourists and locals. The park contains a number of amenities including woodland and shoreline trails, two playgrounds, a waterpark, playing fiel
  • Inner Harbour — Victoria’s iconic waterfront harbour, bustling with boats, floatplanes, and the historic Parliament Buildings and Empress Hotel along its shore.
  • Parliament Buildings — The Neo-Baroque provincial legislature overlooking the Inner Harbour, topped by a statue of Captain George Vancouver and lit by 3,300 lights at night.
  • Fairmont Empress Hotel — A historic 1908 château-style hotel on the Inner Harbour, famous for its afternoon tea served in the Tea Lobby to over 130,000 guests annually.
  • Fisherman’s Wharf — A working wharf with floating homes, food boats serving fish and chips, and seal-watching tours, a 10-minute walk from the Inner Harbour.
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🥾 Trails & Hikes in Victoria

  • Dallas Road waterfront walk — A scenic 5km path along the ocean from Clover Point to Ross Bay, with views of the Olympic Mountains and Strait of Juan de Fuca.
  • Beacon Hill Park loop — A leisurely walk through Victoria’s oldest park, passing gardens, ponds, heron rookeries, and the Mile 0 marker of the Trans-Canada Highway.
  • Galloping Goose Trail — A 60km multi-use trail from Victoria to Sooke, following a former railway line through forests, farmland, and along the harbour.
  • Mount Douglas Park summit trail — A forested trail to the 213-metre summit of Mount Douglas, offering 360-degree views of Victoria, the Saanich Peninsula, and the San Juan Islands.

🏖️ Beaches in Victoria

  • Willows Beach — Willows Beach, Victoria is a beachfront in the Municipality of Oak Bay, in Victoria, British Columbia. Along Willows Beach is Willows Park, where a tea-room is run by the Kiwanis Club in spring and summer. It takes its name from the Willows Fairground built in 1891 and which rema
  • Gonzales Beach — A quiet sandy cove in the Gonzales Bay area, popular with locals for swimming and sunbathing, with a rocky headland for tide-pooling.
  • Cadboro-Gyro Park Beach — A family-friendly beach in Cadboro Bay with a large climbing octopus sculpture, calm water, and views toward Haro Strait.
  • Thetis Lake Park Beach — A freshwater lake beach with a grassy area, swimming float, and surrounding forest trails, popular on hot summer days.

🍽️ Restaurants in Victoria

  • Red Fish Blue Fish — A converted cargo container on the Inner Harbour serving sustainable fish and chips, tacones, and seafood from a dockside counter.
  • Il Terrazzo — An Italian restaurant in a historic brick building with a stunning indoor-outdoor courtyard and water feature, serving northern Italian cuisine.
  • The Empress Tea Lobby — The Fairmont Empress’s legendary afternoon tea, serving over 20 loose-leaf teas with scones, finger sandwiches, and pastries in a grand setting.
  • Brasserie L’Ecole — A French brasserie in a former schoolhouse in Old Town, serving classic dishes like steak frites and escargot in a warm, convivial setting.
  • 10 Acres Bistro — A farm-to-table restaurant sourcing from its own 10-acre farm, serving seasonal Pacific Northwest cuisine in a stylish heritage space.
  • Nourish — A plant-focused restaurant in Beacon Hill Park serving creative vegetarian and vegan dishes with ingredients from local farms.
  • Olo Restaurant — A small, intimate restaurant in Old Town serving seasonal, foraged, and farm-sourced Pacific Northwest cuisine with a daily-changing menu.

🍸 Bars & Nightlife in Victoria

  • The Bengal Lounge — A colonial-India-themed lounge in the Fairmont Empress with curry buffets, leather chairs, and a fireplace, serving classic cocktails.
  • Clive’s Classic Lounge — A sophisticated cocktail lounge in the Chateau Victoria Hotel with leather seating, a fireplace, and a menu of inventive craft cocktails.
  • Herald Street Cafe — A bohemian cafe-bar in Old Town with a leafy patio, serving coffee by day and cocktails by night alongside a Mediterranean-inspired menu.
  • Canoe Brewpub — A brewpub in a 1894 heritage building on the Inner Harbour, brewing craft beer on-site with a rooftop patio overlooking the harbour.
  • Spinnakers Gastro Brewpub — Canada’s oldest licensed brewpub, across the bridge in Esquimalt, with harbour views, cask ales, and a gastropub menu using local ingredients.

🎯 Activities & Tours in Victoria

  • Ghostly Walking Tour in Victoria — Behind Victoria’s old-world charm lie tales of eccentric characters, heroic deeds, intrigue, love, humour, hangings, murder and ghosts! During your 1 hour walking tour, expect to hear great storytelling as you travel through the streets and alleys of Victoria, a ghost-hunter’s pa
  • Axe Throwing in Victoria — Drop in for an hour, let us introduce you to this great sport and guide you through the basics of throwing an axe and hitting the bullseye! Bring your friends and family, a stranger you met on the bus, a tinder date you want to make a great first impression on… grab an axe and ge
  • Summer Whale Watching Tour in a Zodiac Boat in Victoria — Join us for a thrilling whale watching experience on the Salish Sea aboard our 12-passenger open-air Zodiac vessels. These custom-built boats are designed for agility, stability, and an up-close connection with the ocean, making them ideal for guests who enjoy adventure and being
  • Butchart Gardens and Victoria Sightseeing Tour from Vancouver — Victoria, the capital of British Columbia, is located on gorgeous Vancouver Island and is considered one of the world’s most beautiful cities. It is famous for the historic Empress Hotel, the Parliament buildings and beautiful Butchart Gardens. Upon leaving Vancouver, you will ta
  • 24 Hour Hop On Hop Off Double Decker Victoria City Tour — Discover the best of Victoria at your own pace on a Hop-On Hop-Off bus tour. The comprehensive route takes you to 15 of the city's most popular locations, including China Town, Ogden Point, Fisherman's Wharf, and Craigdarroch Castle. On board commentary offers insight into the ci
  • Halloween Ghostly Walking Tour in Victoria — Our special Halloween walking tour explores Victoria's darkest past. Every year, we change our Halloween route and add new stories that we don't get a chance to tell on our regular walks. Join us for gruesome tales of murder, mayhem and ghosts on the streets and alleys of Victori
  • Victoria and Butchart Gardens 1-Day In-Depth Tour from Vancouver — No Football Match Today? Here's the perfect way to spend your off-days around Vancouver & surrounding areas Discover the charm of beautiful Victoria, BC, on this full-day tour from Vancouver. Cruise through the stunning Gulf Islands on a scenic ferry ride, taking in breathtaking
  • Victoria Harbour Sunset Kayak Tour — Watch the day turn into night on this guided, 2.5-hour sunset kayak tour in Victoria Harbour, British Columbia. See brilliant pinks, stunning blues, and dazzling yellows — plus the colours of building and street lights — while traversing the Inner Harbour, Upper Harbour, and hist
  • Victoria City Highlights Pedal or E-Bike Tour - Hoods & Legends — Weave your way along Victoria’s picturesque streets by bicycle as you learn about the history of British Columbia’s charming capital on this 2+ hour tour. Explore neighborhoods like Fernwood, Chinatown and Cook Street Village; cruise along  bike paths through parks such as Beacon
  • Experience Victoria and Butchart Gardens Premium Tour — Your journey begins in the picturesque Inner Harbour as you board your premium vehicle with black tie driver-guide, and discover some of Victoria’s most notable attractions. Drive through the city's beautiful Beacon Hill Park admiring the local foliage and peacocks and enjoy a f
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🏨 Hotels & Stays in Victoria

  • Fairmont Empress — Historic 431-room castle hotel on Victoria’s Inner Harbour with afternoon tea, indoor pool, spa, and two restaurants near the Parliament Buildings.
  • The Magnolia Hotel & Spa — Boutique hotel in downtown Victoria with 65 rooms, spa, restaurant, and walking distance to the Inner Harbour and Royal BC Museum.
  • Delta Hotels by Marriott Victoria Ocean Pointe Resort — Waterfront resort on the Inner Harbour with 236 rooms, LURE Restaurant, indoor pool, tennis courts, and 24-hour fitness club.
  • Hotel Grand Pacific — 304-room hotel on the Inner Harbour with FATHOM restaurant, Victoria Athletic Club with 25m pool, and walking distance to Parliament Buildings.
  • Oak Bay Beach Hotel — Heritage hotel in Oak Bay with 100 rooms, Boathouse Spa, mineral pools, Kate’s Cafe, and English-style gardens near the beach.
  • Ocean Island Inn Backpackers — Popular backpacker hostel in downtown Victoria with dorms and private rooms, shared kitchen, lounge, and social atmosphere.
  • Inn at Laurel Point — Waterfront hotel on Victoria harbor with indoor pool, Aura restaurant, Japanese gardens, and pet-friendly rooms.
  • Abigail's Hotel — Adult-only boutique hotel in a historic 1930s building with gourmet breakfast, fireplaces, and antique furnishings.
  • Strathcona Hotel — Historic downtown Victoria hotel with multiple on-site restaurants, rooftop volleyball courts, and central location.
  • The Embassy Inn — The Embassy Inn is a hotel in Victoria city center, Victoria. Guest review score: 8.9/10. Check current rates and availability via the booking link.
  • +6 more hotels & stays
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