38 Things to Do in Victoria BC (Full Guide!)
Last Updated on April 10, 2024 by Kelly
Victoria BC is easily one of Canada’s best destinations. Victoria is known for its gardens, parks, harbor, castles, and Victorian traditions (like enjoying a High Tea service!). Victoria has often been ranked as the most romantic city in Canada and it’s also known for its restaurant scene (there are more restaurants per capita than any other Canadian city). The city is so picturesque, movies are often filmed her.
We recently visited Victoria for our babymoon, and in this post, we’re sharing the best things to do in Victoria. We’re also including our full guide with lots of photos, hotel recommendations, restaurant recommendations, and more!
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I may earn commissions from qualifying purchases. We were gifted admission tickets to the Butchart Gardens in exchange for our honest review. We partnered with Tourism Victoria, which provided admission tickets to many of the attractions mentioned in this article.
38 Best Things to Do in Victoria BC
We created this map of the experiences to help you easily plan your trip to Victoria:
1. Experience Afternoon Tea
One of the best things to do in Victoria BC is to experience High Tea. There are a few places that are well-known for their High Tea services: Pendray Inn & Tea House, Fairmont Empress, and the Butchart Gardens’ Dining Room.
We made our High Tea reservations for the Pendray Inn & Tea House. What we liked about the Pendray Inn & Tea House was its quaint Victorian tea room, historic home, and beautiful gardens. We checked out the tea room at the Fairmont Empress, and although the tea service looked incredible, the room itself felt like a large hotel lobby. The Pendray, on the other hand, felt like we were having tea in a fancy Victorian dining room.
We chose to try their Afternoon Tea and West Coast Tea service. We picked out two types of tea from a very long list of available teas. The tower of treats they brought out to us included savory sandwiches, freshly made scones, and an array of cookies and pastries. We highly recommend the Pendray Inn & Tea House for High Tea in Victoria BC!
Tip: The morning is a great time to go out and explore Victoria BC. The cruise ships and ferries typically don’t arrive until late morning or early afternoon, so you can easily see a lot of sites if you wake up a little earlier before the tourists arrive.
2. Visit the Fairmont Empress
The Fairmont Empress is a luxury hotel located right in front of Victoria’s Inner Harbour. It is the most famous hotel in all of Victoria. Numerous celebrities and royalty have stayed at the Fairmont Empress over the years.
We stayed at the Fairmont Empress during our most recent trip to Victoria BC, and we had no regrets. The Fairmont Empress is centrally located and within walking distance of almost all of Victoria’s attractions. Our room was comfortable, the service was excellent, and the grounds were beautiful.
Even if you’re not staying at the Fairmont Empress, it’s still worth checking out. You can dine at one of the restaurants, experience High Tea, or visit their boutique shops.
We wrote all about our stay at the Fairmont Empress if you’d like to see our full review and more photos!
3. View the Parliament Building
One of the most iconic buildings in Victoria is the Parliament Building. This massive building is also located along the Inner Harbour, and it’s one of the first things you will see if you are arriving to Victoria through the ferry system or seaplane.
Guests are welcome to take photos outside of the Parliament Building, and they’re also invited inside as well. There are numerous free guided tours that are scheduled throughout the year (daily during the summer). The Parliament Building was officially opened in 1898, so it’s been operating for well over 100 years.
Tip: Be sure to visit the Parliament Building at night too! The building is outlined in thousands of white lights.
4. Take a Food Tour
Hands down one of the highlights of our trip to Victoria was taking this award-winning food tour.
Our tour guide, Andy, took us to some of the best restaurants and eateries in Victoria. We started at the Victoria Public Market at the Hudson, made our way to Chinatown, ate our way through Government Street, and ended at the Inner Harbour.
We tried tons of great foods, including meatballs, pierogis, biscuits, pastries, matcha, chocolates, and more. Our tour guide also gave us background information for each restaurant, an overview of Victoria’s history, and he pointed out numerous attractions along the way.
If you’re looking for something fun to do in Victoria, we highly recommend a food tour!
5. Walk Along the Inner Harbour
Victoria’s Inner Harbour is a beautiful spot to spend a couple of hours. There are lots of walking paths along the waterfront, the most famous of which is the Inner-Harbour Walkway. There’s also lots of shops and restaurants.
We enjoyed sitting on a bench and watching the ferries and cruise ships come in, the seaplanes take off and land, and the water taxis go back and forth.
6. Stroll Down Government Street
The main tourism corridor in Victoria’s downtown is Government Street. There are tons of shops, including Munro’s Books, boutique fashion stores, and several souvenir shops. There are also lots of really great restaurants. We particularly liked our lunch at the Irish Times!
7. Visit Chinatown
As you follow Government Street away from the Inner Harbor, you’ll run right into Victoria’s Historic Chinatown. You might be surprised to learn that Victoria is actually home to Canada’s oldest Chinatown! It was named a National Historic Site in 1995.
At the entrance to Chinatown you’ll see the Gate of Harmonious Interest. On either side of the gate is a statue of a lion. One lion holds a cub and the other holds the world.
Numerous persons of Chinese heritage came to Victoria during the gold rush in the mid 1800s. By the early 1900s, there were thousands of Chinese people living in Victoria. After the gold rush, many of the Chinese immigrants left the city. Today, Chinatown is just three square blocks.
We visited Victoria’s Chinatown several times, and some of our highlights included: Fan Tan Alley (more on that below!), Chinese restaurants, La Roux Patisserie, and the Chinese Canadian Museum.
8. Squeeze Through Fan Tan Alley
The most narrow street in all of Canada is Fan Tan Alley, which is located in Victoria’s Chinatown. (It’s actually the most narrow commercial street in all of North America!) At it’s most narrow point, it is less than 3 feet wide (.9 meters).
The alley is named after the popular Chinese game Fan Tan. Historically, it was home to numerous opium dens and gambling houses. At the time, opium was legal in Canada, yet it was heavily taxed and regulated. Numerous other shops were constructed to avoid the heavy taxes. The narrow alley allowed businesses to be more discreet, with plenty of exit options if needed.
The alley also has 1/2 address markers throughout. An address of 23 1/2, for instance, refers to the top level of the business.
We had fun exploring the many shops in Fan Tan Alley. We especially liked the music records shop The Turntable, Friends and Family Filipino Bakery, and Pure Lovin’ Chocolate.
9. Take the Hop On Hop Off Bus Tour
With so much to do and see in Victoria BC, we highly recommend the Hop On Hop Off bus tour. The double-decker bus will take you to all of Victoria’s most beloved sites. We especially recommend adding the option for Craigdarroch Castle, because that is quite the walk from downtown!
10. Admire the Blooms at the Butchart Gardens
Make sure that you do not leave Victoria BC without seeing the world-famous Butchart Gardens. The gardens are located about 35-40 minutes’ drive outside of Victoria. We easily reached the Butchart Gardens by taking a tour bus.
There are over 5 distinct gardens with over 900 plant varieties. We especially enjoyed the Sunken Gardens, the Rose Garden, and the Japanese Garden. You can read all about our trip to the Butchart Gardens. We include lots of photos of the blooms!
11. Walk Through the Rooms of Craigdarroch Castle
Craigdarroch Castle is a historic home that is located in Victoria BC. It took us about 30 minutes to walk from downtown Victoria to Craigdarroch Castle (some of which was uphill), so if you’re in a hurry or have difficulty walking, we highly recommend taking the Hop On Hop Off bus tour or arranging other transportation.
Craigdarroch Castle is definitely worth seeing while you’re in Victoria. The castle itself is beautiful from the outside, but the real draw is being able to walk through its numerous rooms. The castle has been extremely well-preserved, and many artifacts are on display from the original Dunsmuir family. The life of the Dunsmuir family is especially interesting. In the Guest Room, there was a panel outlining the lives of each of the family members. There was tons of gossip and conflict to read about, so we ultimately spent 20 minutes in this room!
After the Dunsmuir family left the castle, it was used as a hospital and school before becoming the museum it is today.
12. Have a Pastry at La Roux Patisserie
La Roux Patisserie was one of the stops we made on our Victoria BC food tour. We got to meet the owner, and she shared with us how she started La Roux Patisserie after a career in legal. Her dream was to make European-style food, and she definitely accomplished her goal! We tried the Paris Brest pastry, which is named after the pastries given to athletes that complete the Paris Brest bike race. The pastry is flavored with praline-flavored cream, and it was delicious!
We also learned that La Roux Patisserie is featured in numerous Hallmark movies. The owner shared with us that they had already filmed three Hallmark movies this year! La Roux Patisserie also has partnered with Hallmark to make the cakes that are seen in their films. Next time you see a wedding cake in a Hallmark movie, it just might be from La Roux Patisserie!
13. Indulge at Rogers’ Chocolates
Another stop on our food tour of Victoria was Rogers’ Chocolates. We tried their Victoria Creams, which are one of their most iconic candies. The Victoria Creams contain a filling of naturally-flavored cream which is then covered in dark chocolate. We tried the vanilla flavor and it was easily one of my favorite chocolates! We learned that these chocolates were some of Queen Elizabeth II’s favorites as well. She would have them shipped to London during Christmas time! Rogers Chocolates also sell decorative tins filled with chocolates that make for the perfect souvenir from Victoria! The shop is also known for its architecture. It’s one of the best examples of Art Nouveau in Victoria.
14. Visit Fisherman’s Wharf
Fisherman’s Wharf is a charming cluster of shops, restaurants, and homes floating on Victoria’s Inner Harbour. We were able to easily reach Fisherman’s Wharf by walking 15 minutes from our hotel at the Fairmont Empress. Fisherman’s Wharf is one of the stops on the Victoria Harbour Ferry, which is a fun little water taxi you can take as well.
We really loved the brightly colored buildings of the wharf, and there’s tons to do there. You can eat fresh seafood (the fish tacos looked amazing!), go on an eco-tour, or watch the hustle and bustle of the Inner Harbour. Whether you visit Pirate Pizza or Barb’s Fish & Chips, you’re sure to have a good meal there!
A highlight for us at Fisherman’s Wharf was watching an otter catch a fish and swim away with it!
15. Eat at Victoria’s Public Market at the Hudson
The Victoria Public Market opened in 2013 in the historic Hudson building. The Hudson building first opened for retail operations in 1921. Today, Victoria’s Public Market at the Hudson contains lots of vendors that sell fresh produce, artisan crafts, and local food. We were lucky enough to at Roast when we visited during our food tour. We tried the beef and pork meatball that was topped with grana padano cheese and salsa verde. We learned that during the lunch hour, locals line up around the corner to order some of their famous sandwiches. Roast has been so successful selling their meatball sandwiches, they opened a freshly-made pasta joint next door.
16. Ride a Water Taxi
The best way to get around Victoria’s Inner Harbour is by taking the water taxi, which is run by Victoria Harbour Ferry. The water taxi has a total of 12 stops at different points around the harbour. Some of these stops include Fisherman’s Wharf, the Empress Dock, and Selkirk Landing.
17. Go Whale Watching
One of the most popular things to do in Victoria is to book a whale-watching cruise. Many of the vendors have a “whale guarantee,” which means that if you don’t see a whale, you’ll get free tickets to go again on another day. (The guarantee is in place during whale-watching peak season.) Most of the tours are about 3-4 hours long, so expect to spend half a day for the tour. There are lots of different companies that offer whale-watching tours. We’ve linked this popular whale-watching tour for you to check out.
18. Fly in a Seaplane
What better way to see Victoria than from the sky? When you book a seaplane tour, you’ll be able to see many of Victoria’s notable sites and landscapes from above. The tour that we linked above is a 20-minute flight that will take you over the Straight of Juan de Fuca, with view of Vancouver Island’s shore and the Olympic Mountains in the distance. Taking off and landing from the water is a unique experience in-and-of itself!
19. Eat Poutine
Whenever we visit Canada, we have to order poutine. Poutine is a dish that contains of french fries, gravy, and cheese curds. We ordered poutine at several different restaurants in Victoria BC, and our favorite was at Bartholomew’s Public House.
20. Visit Bastion Square
Bastion Square is located in the center of Victoria’s downtown area. The square was the original site of old Fort Victoria, and today contains lots of excellent restaurants, many of which have outdoor patios. Bastion Square is also a notable stop for those interested in Haunted Victoria. Some say it’s the most haunted place in the city!
21. Stop by Market Square
Market Square is located right next to Chinatown, and it contains lots of shops and restaurants. Since the pandemic, many of the restaurants were granted permits for patio dining within the square. Thanks to that, it’s a popular dining spot in the city.
22. Take a Haunted Tour
Victoria is known as the most haunted city in British Columbia. If you’re interested in learning about it’s haunted past, be sure to sign up for a ghost tour of the city. Some of the locations that are thought to be the most haunted include the Helmcken House, the Fairmont Empress hotel, Bastion Square, and the Maritime Museum.
23. Try a BeaverTail
This Canadian pastry has been a hit since 1978. A BeaverTail is a flat pastry that’s topped with a variety of sweet spreads and treats. There are a lot of different options for toppings, and we liked that they allow customers to order one BeaverTail and have the toppings split. We chose to have one half of our BeaverTail feature the Bananarama (chocolate hazelnut spread and banana), and the other half Triple Trip (chocolate hazelnut spread, drizzled peanut butter, and Reese’s Pieces). It was the perfect dessert for our first night in Victoria!
24. Visit Beacon Hill Park
Beacon Hill Park is one of Victoria’s best outdoor spaces. The large park is easily reached from downtown Victoria. The park is over 200 acres, and features playgrounds, spray parks, trails, sports fields, and numerous gardens.
25. Go Stand Up Paddle Boarding
There are numerous lakes and water passages near Victoria. You can rent stand up paddle boards and spend some time exploring.
26. Visit the Royal BC Museum
The Royal BC Museum is located right in Victoria’s Inner Harbour, and just steps away from the Parliament building. The museum boasts a number of permanent collections and traveling exhibitions. We’ve heard great things about this museum!
27. Visit the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria
The place to view fine art in Victoria is the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria. The gallery contains a total of 7 modern galleries which are adjacent to a Victorian Mansion, that was the original site of the gallery.
28. Visit Studio 106
Studio 106 is an art gallery located near Fisherman’s Wharf. This gallery features local artists. The gallery features a gift shop with lots of ideas for authentic souvenirs. We enjoyed seeing the glass art and sculptures.
29. Explore Hatley Castle
Hatley Castle is located about 30 minutes’ drive from Victoria BC. The castle was built in 1908 and is a National Historic Site. It’s currently the administrative centre for Royal Roads University. You can visit this castle by booking a guided walking tour of its grounds.
30. Play Mini-Golf at Haunted Manor
On our first night in Victoria, we went to Haunted Manor to play some mini-golf after dinner. I wasn’t sure what to expect at this indoor miniature golf course, but I was pleasantly surprised! This was the most unique miniature golf course we have ever experienced. Each of the rooms in the Haunted Manor was beautifully decorated, with many unique holes and challenges. We definitely recommend it!
31. Ride in a Hot Tub Boat
One of the most relaxing ways to explore Victoria’s waters is by renting a hot tub boat! Regardless of the outside temperature, you’ll be nice and warm as you cruise around. The hot tub boat comes with a waterproof speaker, so you can also listen to your favorite music. There’s also a boat ladder if you choose to jump in the harbour before returning to the warm waters of the hot tub.
32. Visit the Victoria Bug Zoo
The Victoria Bug Zoo contains numerous varieties of insects from around the world. We recommend spending between 30 and 60 minutes at the zoo.
33. Check Out the Puzzle Lab
Puzzle Lab creates unique wood jigsaw puzzles. The unique puzzle shapes often create images from local artists.
34. Visit a Cafe
Victoria BC is known for its many cafes. Like other cities in the Pacific Northwest, the coffee culture is strong. We personally like the coffee at Milano Coffee Roasters. Their approach to coffee blends the West Coast with the artisanship of classic Italian coffee. (They also have really good breakfast bites!)
35. Check Out Miniature World
Miniature World is a museum that features dollhouses and extravagant miniature scenes. If you’ve always liked miniatures, be sure to see their pieces!
36. Play Video Games at Quazar’s Arcade
Quazar’s Arcade is an arcade filled with tons of video games right off of Government Street. We stopped by and we thought they had a great collection of classic and modern games.
37. Drink Beers at the Rolling Barrel Pub Crawl
The Rolling Barrel Pub Crawl is a tour that lasts about 2 hours and will take you to 3 pubs in Victoria BC. There’s no alcohol served on the trolley itself, but cold beverages are provided between stops.
38. Stop By the Visitor Centre
The Visitor Centre, located in the Inner Harbour, contains tons of information about local sites, activities, and events in Victoria BC. We visited the Visitor Centre on our first day in Victoria, and we were glad we did. Their staff gave us tons of ideas for how to spend our time in Victoria.
About Victoria BC
Victoria BC is located on Vancouver Island. It’s only accessible by boat or plane. Getting there is half the fun! You can easily take a ferry to Victoria from major cities such as Vancouver and Seattle. (We took the Victoria Clipper’s passenger ferry from Seattle and it was a beautiful journey.)
Victoria is especially known for its gardens. Many people consider the Butchart Gardens one of the best things to see on Vancouver Island. We learned that the municipalities have contests for the best gardens, which results in a lot of effort to beautify every inch and corner of the city. Because of this, Victoria is known as Canada’s Garden City.
Numerous production companies also choose to film in Victoria BC due to its picturesque streets. There are over 11 Hallmark movies alone that have been filmed in the Victoria area.
Victoria BC has also been consistently ranked as one of Canada’s most romantic cities. This is due to the number of romantic novels and comedies ordered, as well as romantic products purchased like flowers and chocolates.
Finally, Victoria has some of Canada’s most mild weather. The temperate weather allows for lots of outdoor recreational opportunities, including hiking, boating, camping and more.
Our Favorite Restaurants
We ate at some phenomenal places during our extended trip to Victoria BC! Here are the places we recommend and why:
Il Terrazzo
For a nice meal out, definitely consider Il Terrazzo. They have indoor dining as well as a picturesque patio, and their dishes are stunning. We particularly enjoyed the tapenade prior to the meal, and we loved the cannelloni. This was one of my favorite meals from the whole trip!
Bartholomew’s Public House
Just steps away from the Fairmont Empress is Bartholomew’s Public House. We stopped by for the poutine and it was some of the best we’ve ever had.
Shanzee’s Biscuit Cafe
If you’re looking for a brunch spot, definitely consider Shanzee’s Biscuit Cafe. We visited Shanzee’s on our food tour, and we liked it so much, we came back for breakfast the next day! Shanzee’s serves homemade Southern-style biscuits. Over the course of our two visits, we tried the Biscuits & Gravy, the Sweet Biscuit (topped with Nutella, grilled banana, whipped cream, and sprinkles), and the Trailer Jam (a biscuit topped with maple peanut butter). We highly recommend this place!
Frankie’s Modern Diner
We visited Frankie’s Modern Diner for dinner, and the dinner menu did not disappoint! We had a really delicious chicken parmesana in a cream sauce. We liked Frankie’s so much, we wished we had more time to come back again for a second meal.
Pendray Inn & Tea House
We had lunch at the Pendray Inn & Tea House. The high tea service was spectacular, and we really enjoyed the savory sandwiches.
La Roux Patisserie
Stop by La Roux Patisserie in Chinatown for a pastry, croissant, or macaron. We ordered the Paris Brest during our food tour, but everything in their display case looked amazing!
Fan Tan Cafe
We definitely recommend at least one meal in Victoria’s famous Chinatown. We had dinner at the Fan Tan Cafe, and it really hit the spot. The portions were large and each dish was fantastic. It was definitely some of the best Chinese food we’ve ever had.
Roast
As we mentioned previously, Roast is a popular spot among the locals for lunch. Definitely order the meatball sub sandwich!
Sult Pierogi Bar
We stopped by Sult Pierogi Bar on our food tour, and the pierogis were fabulous. The also serve pierogi poutine, sausages, and uniquely-topped hot dogs.
The Dutch Bakery & Diner
We heard good things about the Dutch Bakery & Diner, so we had to stop by on our way to Craigdarroch Castle. We ordered an eclair to-go, and it was very good. The Dutch Bakery had tons of choices in their glass case, so if you’re looking for something sweet, be sure to check them out.
Irish Times
Located right on Government Street, Irish Times serves hearty pub fare. It has actually been voted the best pub in North America! The restaurant resides within a gorgeous building that was constructed in 1894 for the Bank of Montreal. We ordered the Fish & Chips with Sticky Toffee Pudding for dessert. It was the last meal of our trip, and it was the perfect way to wrap up our trip to Victoria!
Best Hotels
There are number of excellent hotels in Victoria. After visiting Victoria and seeing many of these properties, here’s our recommendations for your consideration:
Fairmont Empress
We personally stayed at the Fairmont Empress. The Fairmont Empress is hands-down the most famous hotel in Victoria BC. Celebrities and royalty alike have stayed there over the year. The hotel is one of the first things you see as you approach the Inner Harbor, and the Fairmont Empress is famous for their luxurious accommodations and high tea service. Our room was comfortable and we especially liked the hotel’s location: We could walk to practically everything! You can read our full review of the Fairmont Empress for more details.
Days Inn by Wyndham Victoria on the Harbor
The Days Inn by Wyndham Victoria on the Harbor was located almost directly across from the Victoria Clipper’s terminal. If you’re planning on taking the Clipper to Victoria, all you need to do is walk across the street and you’ll be at the hotel. This hotel is also located within easy walking distance of the Parliament Building, Royal BC Museum, and Fisherman’s Wharf.
Huntingdon Manor Hotel
The Huntingdon Manor Hotel is the hotel connected with the Pendray Inn & Tea House. This hotel has lots of character and is surrounded by beautiful landscaping and gardens. This hotel is also located right across from the Victoria Clipper’s terminal, and also within easy walking distance of numerous sites in Victoria. When you stay here, you’ll definitely feel like you’re staying in a country manor.
Hotel Grand Pacific
The Hotel Grand Pacific is another luxurious hotel located on the waterfront. The hotel has an ideal location, with the top attractions of Victoria within easy walking distance.
More Photos of Our Trip
Summary
We traveled to Victoria BC for our babymoon, and we were really impressed with the city. Everything was so clean and beautiful. We loved how walkable Victoria was, and we spent most of our days walking from attraction to attraction. We were also really impressed with the restaurant scene. We didn’t have one bad meal in Victoria! Highlights of our trip included High Tea at the Pendray Inn & Tea House, The Butchart Gardens, the Food Tour, and the Haunted Manor mini-golf. We hope this guide helps you to plan your own trip to Victoria!
Disclaimer: We always strive for content accuracy. Since the time of publishing, travel-related information regarding pricing, schedules, and hours may have changed. Please look up such information directly from each vendor or institution for the most current information.
