37 Best Sights in Victoria, British Columbia

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Victoria is small and easily explored. A walk around Downtown, starting with the museums and architectural sights of the Inner Harbour, followed by a stroll up Government Street to the historic areas of Chinatown and Old Town, covers most of the key attractions, though seeing every little interesting thing along the way could easily take two days. Passenger ferries dart across the Inner and Upper harbors to Point Ellice House and Fisherman's Wharf, while more attractions, including Craigdarroch Castle and the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, lie about a mile east of Downtown in the residential areas of Rockland and Oak Bay. Most visitors also make time for the Butchart Gardens, a stunning exhibition garden 20 minutes by car north on the Saanich Peninsula. Free time is also well spent strolling or biking through Beacon Hill Park and along the Dallas Road waterfront, heading out to such less-visited sights as Hatley Castle and Fort Rodd Hill, or checking out any of the area's beaches, wilderness parks, or wineries.

Beacon Hill Park

Fodor's choice

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.

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Craigdarroch Castle

Rockland Fodor's choice
This 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.
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Malahat Sky Walk

Fodor's choice

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.

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The Butchart Gardens

Brentwood Bay Fodor's choice
Butchart Gardens, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
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This 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.

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Abkhazi Garden

Fairfield

Called "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, BC, V8S 1H4, Canada
778-265–6466
Sight Details
Rate Includes: By donation, Closed Mon. and Tues. Oct.–Mar.

Art Gallery of Greater Victoria

Rockland
Attached 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, BC, V8V 4P1, Canada
250-384–4171
Sight Details
Rate Includes: C$13

Bastion Square

Downtown
James 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.
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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.

Cadboro-Gyro Park

Saanich

A 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.

Church and State Wines

Brentwood Bay
A 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.

Cordova Bay

Saanich

Walkers, 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.

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, BC, V8L 5M1, Canada
250-656–2552
Sight Details
Rate Includes: Tastings: C$9.50

Emily Carr House

Downtown
One 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.
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207 Government St., Victoria, BC, V8V 2K8, Canada
250-383–5843
Sight Details
Rate Includes: C$5 (or by donation), Closed Sun.–Mon. May–Sept.; closed Oct.–Apr.

Fairmont Empress

Downtown

Opened 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. 

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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.

Fisherman's Wharf

Downtown
This 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.

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.

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.

Government House

Rockland

Take 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, BC, V8S 1V9, Canada
250-387–2080
Sight Details
Rate Includes: Free

Legacy Art Gallery Downtown

Downtown
Rotating 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.

Maritime Museum of British Columbia

Downtown
If you have any interest in the province's seafaring history then this museum is for you. Its current location is a temporary one while its home base in Victoria's original courthouse undergoes seismic upgrades. Although the smaller space means that many of its artifacts are in storage, and displays aren't as interactive as some museums, enthusiasts will still see a selection of model ships, weaponry, ships' wheels, and photographs that chronicle the province's seafaring history, from its early explorers to whale hunters to pirates.
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634 Humboldt St., Victoria, BC, V8W 1A4, Canada
250-385–4222
Sight Details
Rate Includes: C$10, Closed Sun. and Mon. in summer; Sun.–Wed. in winter

Market Square

During the late 19th century, this three-level square provided everything a sailor, miner, or lumberjack could want. Restored to its original brick-and-beam architectural character, it's now a pedestrian-only hangout lined with cafés and boutiques. Shops sell gifts, jewelry, and local art while a microbrewery serves its local brews on tap. In the summer, watch for open-air art shows, a flea market, and street entertainers.

Miniature World

Downtown
At this charmingly retro attraction, more than 85 miniature dioramas—including space, castle, and fairy-tale scenes, and one of the world's largest model railways—are housed in kid-height glass cases with recorded narration. The level of detail is impressive in the models, some of which date to the site's 1969 opening. Some of the models are animated, and you can start and stop trains and turn dollhouse lights on and off with push buttons. Most people walk through in 30 minutes, but dollhouse collectors, model-train builders, and preschoolers can be absorbed for hours.

Mount Douglas Regional Park

Saanich

A footpath and a road lead to the 213-meter (758-foot) summit of Mt. Douglas, offering a 360-degree view of Victoria and the Saanich Peninsula. On a clear day, you can even see the Gulf and San Juan islands and the Olympic Mountains of Washington. The park, known locally as Mt. Doug, is also home to a long sandy beach, evergreen forests, hiking trails, and wildflower meadows. 

Point Ellice House

The O'Reilly family home, an 1861 Italianate cottage overlooking the Selkirk Waterway, has been restored to its original splendor, with the largest collection of Victorian furnishings in western Canada. You can take a half-hour audio tour of the house (presented from a servant's point of view) and stroll in the English country garden. Point Ellice House is only a few minutes' drive north of Downtown Victoria, but it's in an industrial area, so it's more fun to come by sea. Victoria Harbour Ferries leave from a dock in front of the Fairmont Empress; the trip lasts about 15 minutes and takes in the sights of the harbor. The house is open only on weekends from noon until 4 pm.

Royal British Columbia Museum

Downtown
Royal British Columbia Museum, Victoria, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada
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Currently undergoing extensive restoration, this excellent museum—one of Victoria's leading attractions—is a shadow of its former self. Original plans called for a C$789 million investment for both structural upgrades to the building as well as the preservation of the more than 7 million artifacts and 2.1 km of archival records. As might be expected, such hefty plans are controversial in light of housing affordability and other social issues. Still, hopes are high that a totally refurbished 23,000-square-meter facility will reopen in 2030. Until then, access is limited to some of its temporary exhibits; they are part of the traveling exhibits that are touring various community museums around the province.

The museum complex still offers several more interesting sights, beyond the expected gift shop and café. In front of the museum, at Government and Belleville streets, is the Netherlands Centennial Carillon. With 62 bells, it's the largest bell tower in Canada; the Westminster chimes ring out every hour, and free recitals are occasionally held on Sunday afternoon. The Native Plant Garden at the museum's entrance showcases 400 indigenous plant species. Behind the main building, bordering Douglas Street, are the grassy lawns of Thunderbird Park, home to 10 totem poles (carved replicas of originals that are preserved in the museum). One of the oldest houses in BC, Helmcken House (open late May–early Sept., daily noon–4) was built in 1852 for pioneer doctor and statesman John Sebastian Helmcken. Inside are displays of the family's belongings, including the doctor's medical tools. Behind it is St. Ann's School House, built in 1858. One of British Columbia's oldest schools, it is thought to be Victoria's oldest building still standing. Both buildings are part of the Royal British Columbia Museum.

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Sea Cider Farm & Ciderhouse

Saanich
Traditional ciders, made with apples grown on-site and nearby, are paired with local cheeses, preserves, and other artisanal delectables at this Saanich Peninsula ciderhouse. It's open year-round for tours and tastings.
2487 Mt. Saint Michael Rd., Victoria, BC, V8M 1T7, Canada
250-544–4824
Sight Details
Rate Includes: Samples from C$8.50

Shaw Centre for the Salish Sea

A simulated ride underwater in a deep-sea elevator is just the beginning of a visit to this fun and educational marine interpretive center. Devoted entirely to the aquatic life and conservation needs of the Salish Sea—the waters south and east of Vancouver Island—the small but modern center displays local sea life, including luminous jellyfish, bright purple sea stars, wolf eels, rockfish, and octopi. 

Sidney Spit

In summer, a passenger ferry makes the half-hour trip several times a day to this long stretch of beach on Sidney Island, part of the Gulf Islands National Park Reserve. Hiking trails and picnic sites make for a pleasant day on the island.

St. Ann's Academy National Historic Site

Downtown
This former convent and school, founded in 1858, played a central role in British Columbia's pioneer life. The academy's little chapel—the first Roman Catholic cathedral in Victoria—has been restored to look just as it did in the 1920s. The 6-acre grounds, with their fruit trees and herb and flower gardens, are free to visit. They have also been restored as historic landscapes, and are a delightful, quiet respite from the Downtown bustle.