15 Best Hotels in Victoria, British Columbia

From the on-site spa to the soaker tubs, sauna, and herb tea, this locally owned boutique hotel, without actually saying so, caters beautifully to the female traveler—though the attention to detail, hop-to-it staff, and central location won't be lost on men either. Rooms are large, with tall windows, soft colors, and lots of natural light; some have gas fireplaces. All the high-end details—duvets, turndown service, room service, and valet parking—are here, too. Guests can book the fitness center privately for one-hour sessions. Check out the themed walking and cycling maps to explore the city (e.g., shopping, food) and free use of bicycles. The hotel's Courtney Room restaurant serves locally sourced Pacific Northwest fare in a lively setting. Book directly with the hotel, online, and breakfast is included.

Original art, Viennese antiques, and dramatic furnishings shine in this lavish 1885 Italianate mansion. Set in parklike gardens in the tree-lined Rockland district, the Fairholme has spacious, high-ceiling rooms. The rooms are massive and most have a king bed, a fine view, and a fireplace. The Olympic Grand Suite has lush white sofas, bay windows, and private ocean-view decks. In the lower-floor Fairholme room, the bathroom is big enough for a chaise lounge next to the double-soaker tub. Small groups like the kitchenette and private deck in the two-bedroom Rose Garden suite. Elaborate breakfasts—the hostess is a best-selling cookbook author—are served by the fireplace in the art-filled dining room, or at tables for two on the porch.

Opened in 1908, this harborside "castle on the coast" and city landmark has aged gracefully—refurbishments have given the "grand lady" a more contemporary feel, with a snazzy lounge (with live music) and restaurant, set against top-notch service, and sympathetically restored Edwardian furnishings. The many different room and suite configurations include standard and harbor-view rooms with 11-foot ceilings. State-of-the-art gym equipment and an indoor pool are welcome touches. If you stay on the Fairmont Gold floors, one of Fairmont's finest, you will enjoy a private lounge with central balcony overlooking the harbor, a continental breakfast, all-day snacks, and evening hors d'oeuvres. The hotel is a tourist attraction, but a guests-only lobby separates hotel guests from the throng.

A self-confessed "rebel against the ordinary," Hotel Zed's megawatt color scheme and retro-chic interior have transformed a former, run-of-the-mill motel into one of Victoria's hippest stays, cocooned in a midcentury vibe with modern elements. Guest rooms feature 1960s-style rotary dial telephones, refurbished Tanker steel desks in neon colors, media hubs, comic books, and 42-inch flat-screen TVs. Guest amenities include a vinyl record listening station, vintage typewriters where you can type up a postcard and mail it for free, as well as free use of vintage bicycles, roller skates, skateboards, and the hotel's shuttle bus, a fully restored 1967 Volkswagen van. There's even an Airstream trailer for a family camp-out. Kids will also love the pool's Zedinator, a bubble-gum pink waterslide, and the games room with its Wii station and old-fashioned Ping-Pong table. Staff dudes are exceptionally cool, adding to this groovy blast from the past. Other Zed locations are in Tofino and Kelowna.

A Tudor-style inn built in 1930, this adult-oriented boutique hotel is four blocks from the Inner Harbour—the big sunny rooms are individually furnished in a sumptuous style, with textured wallpaper, upholstered headboards, and rich fabrics. Whirlpool tubs and wood-burning fireplaces in many rooms add to the luxurious aura. The six large rooms in the Coach House building are especially lavish and a new-build has added eight more rooms (these ones have elevator access). Prices include a three-course breakfast; beer, wine, and complimentary appetizers are served each evening in the library. A spa-treatment room adds to the pampering.

Far-reaching views from the upper-floor suites are a plus at this good-value, centrally located, independent hotel. Most units are one-bedroom suites with full balconies and up-to-date earth-tone color schemes; the upper-floor two-bedroom suites are huge and have private decks. Lower-floor standard rooms are small and plain but clean and well-priced. An indoor pool, plus kitchenettes in most rooms, make this a good family choice, too. Clive's Classic Lounge, just off the lobby, is an au courant spot for cocktails; higher up, the views from Vista 18, the top-floor restaurant/lounge, extend across the harbor. You might even be able to spot the hotel's rooftop honey bee hives. When the hotel upgraded its elevators, it created vertical art galleries in its stairwells, all done by local artists, so be sure to take them in.

Rooms at the Hotel Grand Pacific are large and surprisingly quiet, with deep soaker tubs, floor-to-ceiling windows, balconies, and a chic monochromatic color scheme. Upper-floor rooms have views of the harbor, the Parliament Buildings, or the mountains, which you can admire from your private balcony, big enough to sit out on and perhaps even share with a resting seagull or two. There are eight fully accessible rooms including roll-in showers and automatic doors. The Pacific Restaurant serves Asian-influenced Pacific Northwest fare and hosts a popular high tea featuring blends from Silk Road Tea. Its health club offers day passes (C$18) to non-guests.

This historic Downtown landmark has been transformed into a 21st-century boutique hotel—marble, hardwood, and tapestries reflect a subtle Italian theme in the public areas, while rooms blend two eras with their high ceilings, crown moldings, and chic black-and-cream color scheme. Heated floors and soaker tubs make the roomy bathrooms feel especially luxe. The hotel has been renovated to high environmental standards and guests are encouraged with small rewards for going green by foregoing housekeeping. The hotel's The Palms Restaurant & Lounge is a stylish spot for small plates and cocktails.

With water views from every room, a museum-quality art collection, and public areas designed to feel as if you are on a prow of a ship, this Asian-inspired independent hotel on the Inner Harbour's quiet south shore is a favorite among Victoria regulars. Landscaping includes a seaside Japanese garden has taken on a new lease of life as part of the hotel's extensive renovation program. Rooms in the older Laurel wing are fairly standard in terms of size, but have been revamped to match the expectations set by the hotel's swanky lobby. Rooms in the Arthur Erickson–designed southern wing are larger, lighter and airier with blond wood and Asian touches. All rooms have balconies, and some have large harbor-view decks. In-room spa services, a fitness center and an indoor pool are among the pluses. The event space, off the lobby, is a top choice for weddings. TheAura restaurant—one of the city's finest—also offers the best dining patio on Victoria's harborfont. Note that your room key comes with discounts to selected attractions. 

From the three-story glass atrium with babbling fountains to the rooftop terrace and on-site spa, this Downtown condo-hotel feels like an escape from the city and is a good family choice. Rent its 29-seat movie theater (C$60 inclusive of film and popcorn); head up to the rooftop for a marshmallow roast (C$40) or work out in the well-equipped fitness room overlooking the ozonated indoor pool. The guest rooms—all one- and two-bedroom suites with space for families to spread out—have kitchen facilities, living and dining areas, and private balconies, and if you're not doing your own cooking, you can pop down to the lobby-level café for breakfast or light meals. Signs throughout the property tout its environment-friendly features, including water-saving showers, charging stations for electric cars (overnight parking is C$17), and bicycle storage. Book directly online for savings.

Stylish and ecologically friendly, this glass-and-stone boutique hotel on the parklike waterfront has helped introduce Sidney to more travelers. Rooms, done in chic dark woods and crisp white fabrics, range from standard rooms with views (a good value) to apartment-size suites with kitchens and private ocean-view balconies. West coast farm-to-table cuisine is the focus at 10 Acres Farm restaurant overlooking the water. A small café on-site is a good spot for picnic fixings. Other pluses include a full-service spa, a 24-hour fitness center, and a concierge who'll set up whale-watching, kayaking, and scuba-diving trips.

Film people, business travelers, and tourists like this full-service hotel located two blocks east of the Inner Harbour. The large, traditionally decorated guest rooms have floor-to-ceiling windows, great views, crisp duvets, and marble bathroom floors; many have balconies. A large work desk, ergonomic chair, and plenty of outlets make life easier for business travelers as does the onsite fitness center and pool. Concierge-floor guests enjoy access to a private lounge with sweeping harbor views. The on-site Fire & Water Restaurant serves burgers, sandwiches, and fish-and-chips, as well as steaks and prime rib. 

Two Nicklaus Design golf courses are the draw at this resort about 30 minutes northwest of the city center—two hotel buildings, several restaurants, a spa, and an extensive health club (with tennis, bikes, yoga, a pool, hot tub, and infrared sauna) form the core of the resort village. Rooms and suites in the Clubhouse and Fairway buildings are large, with slate bathroom floors, soft green and gray earth tones, and large shared balconies; suites have full kitchens and electric fireplaces. The on-site Callisto Restaurant, with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the fairway, serves west coast fare, much locally sourced.