what is the best time of year to visit victoria bc?
Located on the southern tip of Vancouver Isle, the charming metropolis of Victoria is ane of the oldest cities in the Pacific Northwest. It's besides the city where nosotros met almost 20 years ago during our academy days (read about our love matter with Victoria here). Today, we'd like to share some of our favourite things to practise in Victoria with you.
It'due south no surprise we have a soft spot for Victoria. We endeavour to visit at to the lowest degree in one case a year and we're constantly recommending Victoria to readers of this travel weblog.
Victoria is located only 100 kilometres (62 miles) from both Vancouver BC and Seattle WA, making it the perfect weekend getaway for tourists and residents who live on the mainland.
That said, don't brand the mistake of thinking you tin can properly do Victoria in one 24-hour interval (unless yous take a bladder airplane from Vancouver to Victoria). Nosotros recommend yous spend at to the lowest degree two days in Victoria, preferably three days if your itinerary allows it.
With that in listen, nosotros've put together this list of things you should do on your next trip to Victoria.
The Best Things to do in Victoria, BC
Please note – leisure travel for non-Canadian residents is however restricted due to the ongoing COVID-xix pandemic. Things are constantly changing, so brand sure you do further research before making travel arrangements to Victoria.
one. See Orca Whales on a Whale Watching Bout
Vancouver Island is domicile to some of the best whale watching in Canada. The best place to spot orcas in their natural habitat is the Salish Body of water and Strait of Juan de Fuca. Whales, ocean birds and other marine animals are attracted to the expanse to feed, resulting in a 95% success rate on whale watching tours.
While information technology is possible to run into whales whatsoever time of the year, the acme Victoria whale watching season is in the summer months, from May to October during the salmon migration.
Victoria whale watching tours depart from the Inner Harbour. Tours depart several times per solar day. We went on a tour with Prince of Whales and would recommend them. You can book whale watching tours online ahead of time or merely prove up and leap on the adjacent departing boat.
We hit the jackpot on our tour and spotted over 25 orca whales! We could not have scripted a amend whale watching feel. The water was calm, the sun was shining and we witnessed a super pod.
Read about our whale watching experience here. Book a tour here.
Related – The Best Road Trip from Vancouver for first timers
2. Take a Victoria Equus caballus Carriage Tour
A unique fashion to observe this historical city is by horse-drawn carriage. The relaxing and informative horse-drawn carriage tours permit visitors to meet the city's attractions in style, while traveling through former residential neighbourhoods, breathtaking waterfront roads and the 2d oldest Chinatown in North America.
If you're in the mood to turn up the romance, about operators allow you lot to open up a bottle of champagne or wine while yous tour the city by nighttime.
We recommend using Victoria Wagon Tours. The horse carriage will pick you lot upwards straight from your hotel or restaurant. Yous can also organize your trip directly from the horse wagon operators, located abreast the British Columbia Parliament Buildings. Tours range from 30 minutes to an ane.5 hours.
Book your Victoria horse carriage tour here.
3. Ride a Harbour Ferry effectually Inner Harbour
A fun manner to get around Victoria'due south Inner Harbour is to take a small Harbour Ferry. The little ferries depart from diverse points around the harbour, so you lot can bounce around the harbour and plow this user-friendly style of transportation into a mini gunkhole prowl.
You can stop off at Spinnakers Gastro Brewpub and grab a refreshing pint of craft beer or visit the Fisherman's Wharf and sample the world famous fish and chips at Barb's Fish and Chips.
Tickets for the Victoria Harbour Ferry tin can exist purchased as a Harbour Tour ($30), Gorge Prowl ($30) or one-mode fares starting from $7.00 per person.
Look for the 'Ferry Stop' signs at major waterfront locations around the harbour.
iv. British Columbia Parliament Buildings
The iconic British Columbia Parliament Buildings are one of the star attractions in Victoria's Inner Harbour. The architectural fashion of these impressive buildings has been described equally a alloy of Neo-bizarre and Romanesque.
Construction of the Parliament Buildings began in 1893 and they were officially opened in 1898. Other notable landmarks on the grounds are the Cenotaph (statuary War Memorial to the Unknown Soldier), Queen Victoria Statue, Douglas Obelisk, Knowledge Totem Pole, Speak Chair, Front Fountain and the Premier'due south Rose Garden.
Visitors have the choice to explore the inside of the BC Parliament Buildings. Door are open to the public Mon to Friday, between the hours of 8:30 am to 5:00 pm.
You lot can join a regularly-scheduled guided tours or explore the buildings on y'all ain. Guided tours are costless and last approx 30 minutes.
The to a higher place photo is the fountain at the back of the BC Parliament Buildings.
Search for Victoria hotels and accommodations here.
5. Ride bikes along Dallas Road
Visitors to Victoria will detect that most of its famous landmarks and tourist attractions are within walking distance to the BC Parliament Buildings and Inner Harbour.
To encounter what's across the downtown core, rent a bike and cruise down Dallas Route to Beacon Hill Park, Clover Point Park and Ross Bay. The ocean views on Dallas Road are incredible, especially at sunset.
Start your bicycle ride in the residential area of James Bay. It's a quiet area with some of the most beautiful heritage homes on Vancouver Island. James Bay's claim to fame is that it's said to be the oldest neighbourhood on the W coast of North America that'south north of San Francisco. Say that x times fast.
After a brief end at Fisherman'south Wharf, continue riding south on Dallas Road towards Ogden Bespeak (the big pier where the cruise ships dock). Continue along the waterfront road towards Beacon Hill Park. You can ride your bike around the park or continue to Ross Bay and Gonzales Beach.
If wheel riding is not your thing, you can likewise walk on the Dallas Road Waterfront Trail and visit The netherlands Point Park, Fonyon Beach, Finlayson Bespeak and Screw Beach.
half dozen. Visit the Royal BC Museum and IMAX
Located between the Empress Hotel and the BC Parliament Buildings, the Royal BC Museum specializes in British Columbia'due south human and natural history.
The elaborate galleries offer dissimilar environments, making it a smashing museum for all ages and preferences. There is a First Peoples Gallery, Modern History Gallery, Natural History Gallery and different traveling exhibitions. Our favourites are the life size woolly mammoth and the incredible collection of totem poles.
Plan to spend at least 3 hours at the museum, especially if you lot want to catch an IMAX moving picture.
Imperial BC Museum Hours of Performance tin can be found here. Pre-purchase tickets here.
While you're in the neighbourhood, check out Thunderbird Park, located directly beside the Royal British Columbia Museum. Thunderbird Park is home to many totem poles and Get-go Nation monuments.
Above – the woolly mammoth exhibit at the Victoria museum.
7. Explore Buoy Colina Park in Victoria
Located along the shore of the Juan de Fuca Strait, Beacon Colina Park is the largest and most treasured park in Victoria. The 200 acre park is within walking altitude to most downtown Victoria hotels, so it's easily accessed past pes or bike.
There are plenty of things to practice in Beacon Loma Park, including a walk through its beautifully manicured gardens and weeping willows at Goodacre Lake, feed the goats at the Beacon Hill Children's Subcontract, photo the peculiar Moss Lady sculpture and admire the earth's tallest free-standing totem pole.
Y'all can access the Dallas Route Waterfront Trail from Beacon Colina Park. Walk towards Finlayson Point and search for little crabs on the rocky beaches. Have a seat on some driftwood and scan the sea horizon for breaching whales and marine wildlife.
Take a deep breath and soak up those stunning Pacific Northwest views!
8. Play Beach Volleyball on a Rooftop Bar
Have you played beach volleyball on the rooftop of a eating house in the urban center? We're guessing you oasis't considering the Rooftop Surf Order at the Strathcona is habitation to the globe's only rooftop beach volleyball courts.
We fondly remember our university days drinking pints with classmates and playing beach volleyball on the Strathcona rooftop. If you've got the time and desire, nosotros recommend you give it a endeavor!
If beach volleyball is not your matter, enjoy a pint at the Sticky Wicket or Big Bad John'due south, one of Victoria's best dive bars. The Strathcona has been a downtown Victoria landmark with roots dating back to the historic gold rush era in the early 1900's.
With 7 venues, v levels, 5 various restaurants and ane,200+ seats, information technology's the perfect place to unwind afterward a day of sightseeing. It'southward also a good place or crank it up and paint the town red.
9. Hatley Park National Celebrated Site
Located in Colwood, about xx minutes west of Victoria, the Hatley Park Historical Site is abode to Hatley Castle (pictured to a higher place) and beautiful gardens, including the Japanese Garden and Rose Garden.
Since 1995, the mansion and estate have been used for Royal Roads University, which is where Cameron went to academy (more on that story here).
You tin can accept a bout of the castle and gardens, wander around the university grounds, hike through the woods and snap a photo with ane of the resident peacocks (only don't get as well close, a few of them accept tempers).
Hatley Castle has been featured in many blockbuster movies, including X-Men 2, X-Men: Last Stand, Deadpool, and Arrow. See the list of movies filmed at Hatley Castle here.
10. Fort Rodd Colina & Fisgard Lighthouse
Subsequently visiting Hatley Park National Celebrated Site, cheque out nearby Fort Rodd Hill and Fisgard Lighthouse Historical Site, the first lighthouse on Canada's west coast that is still in operation.
The Fort Rodd Loma National Historic Site allows visitors to encounter the 100-year-old coastal gun batteries, camouflaged searchlight emplacements, command posts, guardhouses and barracks.
These ii national historic sites in Victoria are located on the same site.
11. Walk the Inner Harbour Pathways
Victoria'southward picturesque Inner Harbour is ane of Victoria's most celebrated landmarks and attractions.
It's oft labelled equally 1 of the most beautiful harbours in the globe. We agree.
The most pop section of Victoria'south Inner Harbour is the marina in front of the Fairmont Empress and British Columbia Parliament Buildings (picture in a higher place). In the summer, this esplanade is filled with merchants, artists, street performers and food trucks.
Although the promenade in front of the Empress Hotel is the well-nigh popular, there are several pathways around the Inner Harbour, including the David Foster Harbour Pathway and Songhees Walkway. These pathways are the perfect place to watch the float planes take off and land on the bustling harbour.
Walk the Songhees Walkway for a different perspective of the city.
To become the this waterfront path, cross the new Johnson Street Bridge and pass the Delta Ocean Pointe Resort. The three km trail is flat and paved, so it's fine for baby strollers, wheelchairs and bikes.
Views of Victoria Inner Harbour on the waterfront Songhees Walkway.
The former Johnson Street Span in the distance. It was replaced in 2015.
12. Continue a Brewery Pub Crawl
Downtown Victoria is the perfect location for a brewery pub crawl. Victoria is very walkable and many of the brewpubs, bars and micro-breweries are located within walking distance to each other.
Our favourite brewpubs and breweries in Victoria
- Spinnakers Gastro Brewpub
- Swans Brewery and Pub (pictured above)
- Irish gaelic Times Pub
- Bard & Banker
- CANOE Brewpub
- Driftwood Brewery
- Vancouver Island Brewing
- Phillips Brewing Tasting Room
- Hoyne Brewing Company
If you've got the stamina, y'all can visit all of the above breweries and brewpubs by foot. They are located inside about a 2-3 km radius.
Here'south an interactive Victoria map with hotels, restaurants and attractions.
Spinnakers Brewery is a long time favourite of ours. Information technology's located on Songhees Walkway.
Above is a flying of beer at Irish Times pub in Victoria.
thirteen. Craigdarroch Castle
The Victorian-era Craigdarroch Castle is another National Historic Site in Victoria. Built in 1890 by a wealthy coal baron, during the reign of Queen Victoria, this fairy-tale castle has over twenty,000 foursquare anxiety of interior space. Larn more about this history of the castle here.
Ticket price to enter Craigdarroch Castle:
- Adults –$14.lx
- Seniors –$xiii.sixty
- Students –$9.50 (13+ with Valid ID)
- Children –$5.x (six-12)
- Family –$36.00 (two Adults/Seniors and two Students/Children)
Craigdarroch Castle hours of performance are from x:00 AM to 4:30 PM daily.
14. Visit the Victoria Bug Zoo
If yous're travelling to Victoria with kids, we recommend a visit to the Victoria Bug Zoo, also known as the Bug Museum. It'due south a 2-room mini-zoo located in downtown Victoria, one block n of the Fairmont Empress Hotel.
The zoo creates an opportunity for you lot to view and feel live tropical bugs from around the world. It has approx 50 different species, including giant walking sticks, praying mantis, glow-in-the-dark scorpions, hairy tarantulas, and Canada's largest emmet colony.
Victoria Bug Zoo hours of performance and rates can be constitute here.
15. Experience huge at Miniature World Victoria
After yous visit the Victoria Bug Zoo, walk one block south and check out Miniature World, 1 of the most popular tourist attractions in downtown Victoria.
Miniature Earth is trademarked at "The Greatest Little Show On Earth!" Information technology has over 85 miniature dioramas and displays, including the Earth's Smallest Operational Sawmill and i of the longest model railways.
Miniature World hours of performance and rates can exist plant here.
After your visit to Miniature Earth, cross the street and visit the Maritime Museum of British Columbia. Here you will detect historical objects, art, photos & models showcasing the maritime history of the Pacific Northwest.
17. Squeeze through Fan Tan Alley in Chinatown
Chinatown Victoria is the oldest Chinatown in Canada and the second oldest in Northward America after San Francisco. You'll want to start your visit to Chinatown at The Gate of Harmonious Involvement, an ornately decorated curvation at the archway to Chinatown on Fisgard Street.
Fan Tan Alley is a popular Chinatown tourist attraction.
One time domicile to brothels and opium dens, Fan Tan Alley is named afterwards the Chinese gambling game Fan-Tan.
Today, its home to more than a dozen locally owned shops selling everything from vintage records to hand-crafted jewelry to organic treats.
Fan Tan Alley'south mod 24-hour interval claim to fame is that information technology'south said to be the narrowest street in Canada. Nosotros love the unique compages and red brick buildings that line this historical alley.
Here'due south a Victoria Chinatown map.
The Gate of Harmonious Interest in Victoria'south Chinatown.
xviii. Swallow fish and chips at Fisherman'due south Wharf
Victoria'due south Fisherman's Wharf is a fun identify to spend an hour or two. Enjoy Affront's famous fish and fries on the pier and watch the playful seals swim effectually the colourful floating village.
You will find a variety of shops and food kiosks at the pier, including freshly caught seafood, ice cream and milkshakes, sweet mini donuts, pizza and authentic Mexican cuisine.
Fisherman'due south Wharf is best reached via an Inner Harbour water taxi (see signal #iii). Y'all can too walk or ride bikes forth the the scenic Harbour Pathway. It's an piece of cake fifteen minute walk from the BC Parliament Buildings to the Fisherman's Wharf.
While it may be tempting, do non feed seals or marine wild fauna from the pier at Fisherman's Wharf.
Many travel sites will recommend feeding the seals, just it's now banned by the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority. A scary incident happened with a seal that was fed at the Steveston dock in Richmond, BC.
Watch the seal attack video here.
Nicole and a very immature Braydon watching the seals at Fisherman's Wharf.
Barb's famous fish and chips on the pier at Fisherman'due south Wharf.
19. Aroma the roses at The Butchart Gardens
The Butchart Gardens has become one of Victoria's most visited tourist attractions with over 1 million visitors per year. Once a limestone quarry, these beautiful gardens have now been designated a National Historic Site of Canada.
The Butchart Gardens are located 30 minutes bulldoze due north of Downtown Victoria. If y'all do non have a vehicle yous tin join an organized tour that runs daily trips from Downtown Victoria to Butchart Gardens. More info on how to go to Butchart Gardens here.
Butchart Gardens hours of operation for the summer are from 8:45 AM to 9:00 PM. Christmas hours of operation are from nine:00 AM to ix:00 PM.
The all-time time to visit Butchart Gardens is before ten:xxx AM or afterward 3:30 PM. Not only is the natural light amend at this time, simply you'll avert the large crowds and omnibus tours that visit mid-day.
For updated ticket rates, visit the Butchart Gardens website hither. You tin also purchase a tour to take to you to Butchart Gardens here.
The Butchart Gardens fireworks happen on Saturday evenings during the summer, starting end of June and finishing the last Saturday in Baronial.
Hither's an interactive map of Butchart Gardens.
20. Hike at Goldstream Provincial Park
Goldstream Provincial Park is located only sixteen km northward of Victoria yet it feels far removed from the urban sprawl of downtown Victoria. The park is domicile to several hiking trails for all levels, ranging from an easy forest walk to the more challenging Mountain Finlayson trail to the highest bespeak in Greater Victoria .
Goldstream Park is known for the annual chum salmon runs in the Goldstream River that happen in the autumn. Hundreds of bald eagles congregate to the park to feed on the expressionless salmon. Read more about this impressive natural phenomenon here.
The park is likewise home to Niagara Falls. Not the Niagara Falls in Southern Ontario, a smaller version that flows from Niagara Creek and drops 48 meters. The waterfall can be reached via a short ane.3 km circular-trip hike (more info here). The other waterfall, Goldstream Falls, is located in the southwest corner of the park, near the campground.
Another popular hike is the Goldstream Railway Trestle Bridge. The iii km hike takes well-nigh two hours round trip. Although it may exist tempting, do Not walk on the trestle bridge. There are no safety sidings and spacing betwixt beams is inconsistent and can be quite slippery.
Parking at Goldstream Park can exist chaotic on the weekends. To avoid the crowds, plan to arrive before 10:00 AM in the morning or after 3:00 in the afternoon.
This Goldstream Park map shows the hiking trails, parking lots and campgrounds. The Goldstream Park campground fill up fast, so you're best to make reservations well in advance.
Where to stay in Victoria?
We've stayed at the Magnolia Hotel, Victoria Ocean Pointe Resort, Fairmont Empress and Best Western Carlton Plaza and nosotros would recommend them all. They are centrally located and family unit friendly.
Other family friendly hotels in Victoria:
- Days Inn past Wyndham Victoria Uptown
- DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel & Suites Victoria
- Inn at Laurel Point
- Best Western Plus Inner Harbour
Search for more Victoria hotels here.
There is an increasing supply of brusque term flat rentals in Victoria. Staying in a furnished apartment is user-friendly and affordable, peculiarly if you're traveling with a large family unit. Search for Victoria apartment rentals here.
The stunning Fairmont Empress hotel in Victoria is recognized by National Geographic Traveler magazine as one of the nearly Iconic Hotels in the World.
Where to eat in Victoria?
You will not go hungry in Victoria. There are endless options for every type of cuisine. Being on the west coast, nosotros'd recommend you dine at a seafood eatery. The west declension is too known for quality sushi and Japanese cuisine.
- Fresh oysters and share plates at 10 Acres Commons
- Fish tacos and fish & chips at Red Fish Blue Fish
- Patio with waterfront views at LURE Restaurant & Bar
- Popular Brew pubs – Spinnakers, Swans Brewpub and CANOE brewpub
- Other favourites – Bard & Banker, Nautical Nellies and Irish Times
How to get to Victoria from Vancouver
Most people will grab the ferry that departs from Tsawwassen BC Ferries Terminal (and vice versa). You can also catch a bus from downtown Vancouver that will drib you lot off in downtown Victoria (ticket includes the ferry crossing).
Plan to get in at the ferry terminal at least one hour before your departure time. It's wise to book a reservation ahead of time because it tin get quite busy over a holiday weekend. If you miss the ferry information technology volition exist at to the lowest degree 2 hours earlier the side by side i.
The ferry volition have about four hours, including drive time and waiting to board the ferry. Each ferry crossing from Vancouver to Victoria will take nigh 1.5 hours. The bulldoze from Vancouver to the Tsawwassen Ferry Concluding takes near 45 minutes, depending on traffic. The drive from the Swartz Bay Ferry Terminal to downtown Victoria takes about xxx minutes.
Y'all tin too accept a bladder plane or Helijet from downtown Vancouver, which is a lot of fun. If y'all've but got one solar day to spend in Victoria, the bladder plane or helicopter is the fastest and most convenient pick.
Have you visited the city of Victoria?
Share your recommendations for things to do in Victoria in the comments section below.
Read more posts from British Columbia:
- 25 Awesome Day Trips from Vancouver
- Things to do at Harrison Hot Springs with kids
- 20 Things to do in Whistler this Summer 2021
- 25 Gratuitous Things to practise in Vancouver
- Best Things to do Forth the Sea to Sky Highway
Some links are affiliate links. At that place'due south no extra price to you lot. Nosotros may receive a small-scale commission if you book.
Source: https://travelingcanucks.com/2021/07/things-to-do-in-victoria-british-columbia/
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