British Columbia
We’ve compiled the best of the best in British Columbia - browse our top choices for the top things to see or do during your stay.
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1. Beacon Hill Park
This 154-acre park links Downtown Victoria to the waterfront. Its rambling lawns overlook the Pacific Ocean, the Olympic Mountains, and the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Kite-fliers, hang gliders, and dog walkers are numerous. Take your photo at the Mile 0 marker of the Trans-Canada Highway, at the foot of Douglas Street. Beacon Hill includes ponds where you can feed ducks, cycling, jogging and walking paths, flowers and gardens, a cricket pitch, and a petting zoo (closed in winter). There's live music in the bandshell on summer evenings, and on Saturday nights in August the Victoria Film Festival screens free movies.
View Tours and ActivitiesBordered by Douglas St., Southgate St., and Cook St., Victoria, British Columbia, V8V 3T2, Canada250-361–0600Sight Details
Rate Includes: Free -
2. Craigdarroch Castle
RocklandThis magnificent and somewhat imposing mansion, complete with turrets and Gothic rooflines, was built as the home of one of British Columbia's wealthiest men, coal baron Robert Dunsmuir, who died in 1889, just a few months before the castle's completion. It's now a museum depicting life in the late 1800s. The castle's 39 rooms have ornate Victorian furnishings, stained-glass windows, carved woodwork, and a beautifully restored painted ceiling in the drawing room. A winding staircase climbs four floors to a tower overlooking Victoria. Castles run in the family: son James went on to build the more lavish Hatley Castle west of Victoria. Although the very modern visitor's center is fully accessible, as is the summer-only café, the castle itself is not wheelchair accessible and has no elevators.
View Tours and Activities1050 Joan Crescent, Victoria, British Columbia, V8S 3L5, Canada250-592–5323Sight Details
Rate Includes: C$20 -
3. Malahat Sky Walk
Only a 35-minute drive north of Victoria, this adventure starts with a short walk along a boardwalk through coastal forest before reaching the tower itself—a spiral ramp that rises 31 meters (104 feet) to the top. With only a 5% gradient, it is purposefully designed to be fully accessible for strollers and wheelchairs. Views over Finlayson Arm are stunning. Daring-of-heart can walk across the sturdy net suspended across the center of the tower and choose the spiral slide down for a faster exit. There are also traditional hiking trails to enjoy, and picnic areas. Note: drones are not permitted.
901 Trans Canada Hwy., Malahat, British Columbia, V0R 2L0, Canada833-625–2428Sight Details
Rate Includes: C$35 -
4. The Butchart Gardens
Brentwood BayThis stunning 55-acre garden and national historic site has been drawing visitors since it was started in a limestone quarry in 1904. Highlights include the dramatic 70-foot Ross Fountain, the formal Japanese garden, and the intricate Italian garden complete with a gelato stand. Kids will love the old-fashioned carousel and, if they're running, the 45-minute mini electric boat tours around Tod Inlet. From mid-June to mid-September the gardens are illuminated at night with hundreds of hidden lights. In July and August, jazz, blues, and classical musicians play at an outdoor stage each evening, and fireworks draw crowds every Saturday night. The wheelchair- and stroller-accessible site is also home to a seed-and-gift shop, a plant-identification center, two restaurants (one offering traditional afternoon tea), and a coffee shop; you can even call ahead for a picnic basket on fireworks nights. To avoid crowds, come at opening time, in the late afternoon or evening (except busy fireworks Saturday evenings), or between September and June, when the gardens are still stunning and admission rates are reduced. The grounds are especially magical at Christmas, with themed lighting and an ice rink. The gardens are a 20-minute drive north of Downtown; parking is free but fills up on fireworks Saturdays. You can get here by city Bus 75 or 70 from Douglas Street in Downtown Victoria, but service is slow and infrequent. CVS Tours ( 877/578–5552) runs shuttles from Downtown Victoria.
View Tours and Activities800 Benvenuto Ave., Victoria, British Columbia, V8M 1J8, Canada250-652–5256Sight Details
Rate Includes: C$38 -
5. Abkhazi Garden
FairfieldCalled "the garden that love built," this once-private garden is as fascinating for its history as for its innovative design. The seeds were planted, figuratively, in Paris in the 1920s, when Englishwoman Peggy Pemberton-Carter met exiled Georgian Prince Nicholas Abkhazi. World War II internment camps (his in Germany, hers near Shanghai) interrupted their romance, but they reunited and married in Victoria in 1946. They spent the next 40 years together cultivating their garden. Rescued from developers and now operated by the Land Conservancy of British Columbia, the 1-acre site is recognized as a leading example of west coast horticultural design, resplendent with native Garry Oak trees, Japanese maples, and mature rhododendrons. The teahouse, in the parlor of the modernist home, serves lunch and afternoon tea daily until 4 pm, with reduced hours in winter.
1964 Fairfield Rd., Victoria, British Columbia, V8S 1H4, Canada778-265–6466Sight Details
Rate Includes: By donation, Closed Mon. and Tues. Oct.–Mar. -
Recommended Fodor’s Video
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6. Art Gallery of Greater Victoria
RocklandAttached to an 1889 mansion, this modern building houses one of Canada's largest collections of Asian art. The Japanese garden between the buildings is home to the only authentic Shinto shrine in North America. The gallery, a few blocks west of Craigdarroch Castle, displays a permanent exhibition of works by well-known Canadian artist Emily Carr and regularly changing exhibits of Asian and Western art.
1040 Moss St., Victoria, British Columbia, V8V 4P1, Canada250-384–4171Sight Details
Rate Includes: C$13 -
7. Bastion Square
DowntownJames Douglas, the former colonial governor for whom Douglas Street was named, chose this spot for the original Fort Victoria and Hudson's Bay Company trading post in 1843. In summer the square comes alive with street performers, and crafts vendors (Thursday–Saturday), and on Sunday a weekly farmers' market. The former courthouse, currently closed awaiting seismic upgrades, creates an historical backdrop to this people-gathering place.
View Tours and ActivitiesOff Wharf St., Victoria, British Columbia, VB8W 1H9, Canada250-885–1387 -
8. British Columbia Aviation Museum
Volunteers passionate about the history of flight have lovingly restored several dozen historic military and civilian airplanes, and even a 1910-era flying machine, at this museum near Victoria's International Airport. A 1957 Vickers Viscount, one of the world's first commercial turbo-prop airliners, a 1970s kit-built helicopter, and a model of Leonardo da Vinci's Ornithopter are among the many aircraft displayed in the museum's two hangars. Tours take about an hour.
1910 Norseman Rd., Sidney, British Columbia, V8L 5V5, Canada250-655–3300Sight Details
Rate Includes: C$15 -
9. Cadboro-Gyro Park
SaanichA long, sandy, driftwood-strewn beach backed by a grassy park with plenty of picnic tables and shade trees draws families to this sheltered bay, accessible via the Scenic Marine Drive. Kids enjoy the sea creature structures in the play area (including a replica of the legendary "Cadborosaurus" sea serpent said to live in these waters). Hiking trails, a boat launch, and tennis courts keep adults busy; swimming is safe here, if you don't mind the cold (or the sea creature). Snacks can be had at nearby Cadboro Village. Amenities: parking (free); toilets. Best for: walking; sunrise.
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10. Church and State Wines
Brentwood BayA vineyard-view bistro and tasting bar make this expansive winery a popular stop en route to nearby Butchart Gardens. Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir are grown on-site; several Bordeaux blends from a sister winery in the Okanagan Valley are also worth a try. Wine tastings can be perfectly paired with items from an extensive tasting menu.
1445 Benvenuto Ave., Victoria, British Columbia, V8M 1J5, Canada250-652–2671Sight Details
Rate Includes: C$12 for tastings -
11. Cordova Bay
SaanichWalkers, swimmers, and sunbathers flock to this long stretch of forest-backed sand, pebble, and driftwood beach, which is just north of Mount Douglas Park. There are several access points along Cordova Bay Road. The Beachhouse Restaurant, perched on the sand about midway along the beach (at 5109 Cordova Bay Road), serves take-out snacks plus casual lunches and dinners. Amenities: food and drink; toilets (May 1–October 30). Best for: swimming; walking.
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12. Deep Cove Winery
At the northern tip of the Saanich Peninsula, the three-acre estate of Deep Cove Winery specializes in estate-grown Ortega and Pinot Gris varieties. There's a year-round tasting bar as well as an area (and a patio in summer) that hosts many special events from jazz evenings, yoga-chocolate-wine sessions, and paint nights.
11195 Chalet Rd., North Saanich, British Columbia, V8L 5M1, Canada250-656–2552Sight Details
Rate Includes: Tastings: C$9.50 -
13. Emily Carr House
DowntownOne of Canada's most celebrated artists and a respected writer, Emily Carr (1871–1945) lived in this extremely proper, wooden Victorian house before she abandoned her middle-class life to live in the wilds of British Columbia. Carr's own descriptions, from her autobiography Book of Small, were used to restore the house. Art on display includes reproductions of Carr's work—visit the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria or the Vancouver Art Gallery to see the originals.
View Tours and Activities207 Government St., Victoria, British Columbia, V8V 2K8, Canada250-383–5843Sight Details
Rate Includes: C$5 (or by donation), Closed Sun.–Mon. May–Sept.; closed Oct.–Apr. -
14. Fairmont Empress
DowntownOpened in 1908 by the Canadian Pacific Railway, the Empress is one of the grand château-style railroad hotels that grace many Canadian cities. Designed by Francis Rattenbury, who also designed the Parliament Buildings across the way, the solid Edwardian grandeur of the Empress has made it a symbol of the city. The elements that made the hotel an attraction for travelers in the past—old-world architecture, ornate decor, and a commanding view of the Inner Harbour—are still here although they exude a fresh, contemporary air. Nonguests can reserve ahead for afternoon tea (the dress code is smart casual) in the chandelier-draped Tea Lobby, meet for Pimm's cocktails or enjoy superb Pacific Northwest cuisine at the Q Lounge and Restaurant, or enjoy a treatment at the hotel's Willow Stream spa. In summer, lunch, snacks, and cocktails are served on the veranda overlooking the Inner Harbour.
View Tours and Activities721 Government St., Victoria, British Columbia, V8W 1W5, Canada250-384–8111Sight Details
Rate Includes: Free; afternoon tea C$89 -
15. Fan Tan Alley
Mah-jongg, fan-tan, and dominoes were games of chance played on Fan Tan Alley, said to be the narrowest street in Canada. Once the gambling and opium center of Chinatown, it's now lined with offbeat shops (few of which sell authentic Chinese goods). The area's history is exceptionally well presented in the tiny Chinese Canadian Museum. Look for the alley on the south side of Fisgard Street between nos. 545½ and 549½.
South side of Fisgard St., Victoria, British Columbia, Canada -
16. Fisherman's Wharf
DowntownThis favorite nautical spot is only a 20-minute walk from Downtown, along a waterfront path just west of the Inner Harbour. Or you can get here by hopping aboard one of the many Victoria Harbour Ferries. You can watch fishers unload their catches and admire the various vessels, or picnic in the shoreside park. If you stroll the docks and walk among the colorful houseboats, you'll come across several floating shacks where you can buy ice cream, fish tacos, and live crabs, take kayak tours, or buy tickets for whale-watching cruises. Other booths sell fish to feed the harbor seals who often visit the quay (you can even watch them on the underwater "seal cam"). The busiest vendor is Barb's, an esteemed fish-and-chips spot that is open only in the summer, from May through October.
Corner of Dallas Rd. and Erie St., Victoria, British Columbia, V8V 1V4, Canada -
17. Fort Rodd Hill and Fisgard Lighthouse National Historic Sites of Canada
The world's best-preserved coastal artillery fort (it dates to 1895) and Canada's oldest west coast lighthouse occupy a parklike backdrop 13 km (8 miles) west of Victoria. You can walk through most of the buildings, including the lighthouse keeper's house, guardhouses, and the delightfully named fortress-plotting room. Interactive exhibits in the lighthouse let you navigate a 19th-century schooner. Wandering deer, forest trails, an interpretive nature trail, and historic military hardware share the rolling seaside site, and the views from the gun emplacements over the entrance to Esquimalt Harbour are fabulous. Between mid-May and mid-October you can stay the night in one of five oTENTiks (a cross between a tent and cabin) on-site. Each sleeps six and must be reserved in advance. To get here, take Highway 1A west to Ocean Boulevard.
603 Fort Rodd Hill Rd., Colwood, British Columbia, V9C 2W8, Canada250-478–5849Sight Details
Fort C$8.50; tent cabins C$128 per night -
18. Goldstream Provincial Park
Eagles, bears, and three species of salmon thrive in this 477-hectare (1,180-acre) wilderness park 16 km (10 miles) north of Downtown Victoria. Picnic areas, easy riverside walks, and challenging hikes draw visitors in summer. The latest addition is a skills development trail for mountain-bikers. In winter, a spotting scope is set up in the Goldstream Nature House to watch hundreds of bald eagles gather to feed on salmon. Naturalists provide guidance and interpretive programs at the Nature House, a year-round visitor center that's a 10-minute walk from the parking lot.
Hwy. 1, Malahat, British Columbia, V0R 2L0, Canada250-474–1336Sight Details
Rate Includes: Donations accepted -
19. Government House
RocklandTake a stroll through the walled grounds and 35 acres of formal gardens at Government House, residence of British Columbia's lieutenant governor, the King's representative in BC. The 19th-century Cary Castle Mews on-site are home to an interpretive center, a costume museum, and a tearoom. The main house is open for guided tours one Saturday a month.
1401 Rockland Ave., Victoria, British Columbia, V8S 1V9, Canada250-387–2080Sight Details
Rate Includes: Free -
20. Legacy Art Gallery Downtown
DowntownRotating exhibits from the University of Victoria's vast art collection, as well as contemporary installations, are displayed in this airy Downtown space. Shows in the 3,000-square-foot space focus on mostly Canadian works, including many by First Nations artists, but international painters are represented, too.
630 Yates St., Victoria, British Columbia, V8W 1K9, Canada250-721–6562Sight Details
Rate Includes: Free, Closed Sun.–Tues.
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