Top Oz Tours offers a great range of Victoria BC tours and experiences. You can browse the options here.
As we wing our way over the Strait of Juan de Fuca in a jaunty de Havilland seaplane, the city of Victoria glitters in the sunshine below us like a gilded jewellery box.
Situated on the southern tip of Vancouver Island, this is the regal capital of British Columbia — Canada’s fifth largest province. While it was named after a diminutive queen, Victoria is seriously big on hospitality and trademark Canadian charm. It has a wealth of Victorian and Edwardian architecture, a vibrant cultural scene, a diverse culinary landscape, and a laidback waterfront lifestyle that will appeal to just about everyone.
Here’s a checklist of our top ten things to do in Victoria BC on a first visit.
Watch our video of ten great things to do on a Canadian Rockies road trip:
Ten Top Things to Do on a Canadian Rockies Road Trip | Victoria, Whistler, Banff, Jasper, Vancouver
Related | https://topoztours.com.au/ten-top-things-to-do-in-canada/Welcome to The Big Bus tour and travel guide’s YouTube channel. In this video, we bring you…
1. Make an entrance by air
If you’re transiting through Vancouver en route to Victoria, a seaplane transfer will deliver you right into the capital’s inner harbour. Harbour Air Seaplanes offers several flights a day and it’s a fabulous way to begin your visit. As you disembark at Empress Dock, the first thing you’ll notice is the kaleidoscope of colour emanating from the city’s streets. It’s thanks to sixteen hundred hanging flower baskets packed with petunias, geraniums, marigolds, and more. The baskets are hung every year from June to September.
Immediately in front of you stands the fabulously grand Fairmont Empress hotel, which has presided over Victoria’s waterfront since 1908. A recent multi-million-dollar refurbishment saw the controversial removal of the ivy which covered much of the building’s exterior. It’s revealed more of the century-old brick and stone work, topped by the hotel’s fairytale turrets and soaring roofline.
To your left are the imposing British Columbia Parliament Buildings — home to British Columbia’s Legislative Assembly. Built in the Romanesque Revival style, the complex dates back to the late 1800s. It’s open to the public and free 40-minute guided tours are offered a couple of times most days. Check the website for details.
To your right is Victoria’s Downtown — a neat grid of largely one-way streets. Downtown is home to cafes, restaurants, bars, theatres, and designer boutiques, and incorporates the Old Town and Chinatown precincts.
Time to explore!
2. Visit the Royal British Columbia Museum
History buffs should pay a visit to the Royal British Columbia Museum — a mind-blowing cache of cultural treasures that document British Columbia’s natural and human history. There’s a significant emphasis on First Nations heritage, with thousands of pieces of clothing, ceremonial wear, tools, and carvings in the collection. While only a fraction is on display at any one time, there’s still a lot to see — so allocate yourself plenty of time here.
3. See amazing art
Art lovers, head for the wonderful Art Gallery of Greater Victoria. It’s located about ten minutes’ drive from Downtown and offers access to one of the most significant collections of Asian art in Canada. There’s also a gallery devoted to the work of trailblazing turn-of-the-20th-century Victorian artist Emily Carr.
4. Explore Chinatown
Victoria was founded in 1843 as a Hudson’s Bay Company fur trading post. The Gold Rush of 1858 to 1863 saw the settlement boom and Victoria became the capital of the colonies of Vancouver Island and British Columbia in 1866. The Chinatown precinct — which came into being during the Gold Rush — is an important part of the city’s historical make-up. It’s the second oldest Chinatown in North America (behind San Francisco). One of the highlights is atmospheric Fan Tan Alley, which is less than a metre wide at its narrowest point. Once home to illicit gambling and opium dens, it’s now filled with quirky boutiques and camera-clicking tourists.
5. Tour Craigdarroch Castle
They say a man’s home is his castle, and that’s literally the case at Craigdarroch Castle — another enduring link with Victoria’s past. Located east of the city centre, this National Historic Site was built by Scottish immigrant and coal baron Robert Dunsmuir to house his family of twelve. Craigdarroch has been fully restored and is open to the public for tours from Wednesday through to Sunday (at the time of writing).
6. Feast on fresh fish and chips
Seafood is a staple on many menus across Victoria — and while you can splash out on posh piscatorial nosh, the simple things in life are often the best. For a feed of fresh fish and chips, grab one of the cute yellow water taxis bobbing up and down at the Empress Dock and head around to Fisherman’s Wharf. It’s home to Barb’s Fish and Chips, which has been serving up great fried fare seasonally (in the warmer months) for 30+ years. While you’re in this watery neck of the woods, take a stroll among the permanently moored and beautifully maintained houseboats.
7. Shop local
While big name boutiques are on hand if you want them, the best thing about shopping in Victoria is seeking out quirky boutiques and independent retailers. As you’re sidling down Fan Tan Alley, pop into The Umbrellatorium and Canery, which conjures up visions of a Victorian yesteryear with its range of brollies and canes. Over on Government Street, Munro’s Books is well worth a visit to purchase a holiday read and admire the heritage setting and stunning artwork that adorns the walls. Check the website for literary events happening during your stay.
With its past firmly rooted in British tradition, it’s no surprise that ‘taking tea’ is a popular pursuit in Victoria. If you are in the market for taking tea home with you, head to Murchie’s Tea and Coffee (right next door to Munro’s Books). They’ve been purveying fine tea leaves for more than a century.
Sweet tooths, cross Government Street and pay a visit to the heritage store of Rogers’ Chocolates. Rogers also started more than a century ago and the Victoria Cream was Charles Rogers’ original creation. It remains popular to this very day.
8. Stop and smell the flowers
Victoria is home to many gorgeous green spaces in which to enjoy a shaded meander. Beacon Hill Park is within easy reach of the city centre, and comes complete with play areas, fountains, walking trails, and an English cricket pitch. One of the world’s tallest First Nations story (totem) poles can be found on the southern edge of the park.
You should also arrange to visit the fabulous Butchart Gardens at Brentwood (a shuttle pass is the easiest way to get there and back). Mrs Jennie Butchart’s early 20th century efforts to transform a disused quarry into the ultimate Victorian pleasure garden now draws visitors from across the globe. This labour of horticultural love has passed through the Butchart generations and today it reigns as possibly Victoria’s most popular attraction.
9. Go on a whale watching trip
While orcas (killer whales) can see spotted in the waters off Vancouver Island all year round, April to October is when the activity really ratchets up. Many giants of the deep migrate to the region around this time annually, and whale watching trips from Victoria are hugely popular. Cruise in a comfortable catamaran or ride the waves in an open-air zodiac-style craft with Prince of Whales (which offers a sighting guarantee). You may see humpbacks, greys, and the occasional minke.
10. Take tea at the Empress
If all that activity has left you ready for a relaxing cuppa, it’s time for tea at the Empress. Afternoon tea at this prestigious hotel has been a much loved ritual for more than a century. Settle into the sumptuous surroundings of the Lobby Lounge for the famous tea service, which includes a choice of 20+ specialty teas, along with three tiers of devilishly delicious sandwiches and pastries.
Need a place to stay?
Fairmont Empress
Built in the tradition of Canada’s great railway hotels, the Empress has set a high bar for luxury accommodation in Victoria for more than a century. And that bar was recently raised even further, thanks to a $60 million upgrade. Each guest room and suite strikes exactly the right balance between period character and modern convenience. Many have gorgeous views of the inner working harbour.
As you arrive at the hotel for the first time, the sweeping porte-cochere and spectacular new lobby set the scene for what is guaranteed to be a memorable stay.
The writer travelled as a guest of Destination Canada and Tourism Victoria.
Browse our range of Victoria BC tours and experiences here.
Do you have any suggestions to add to our list of the top things to do in Victoria BC on a first visit? We would love to hear from you. Join the conversation on our Facebook page.
Additional images: Bigstock
About the writer
Adam Ford is editor of Top Oz Tours and Travel Ideas, and a travel TV presenter, writer, blogger, and photographer. He has travelled extensively through Europe, Asia, North America, Africa, and the Middle East. Adam worked as a travel consultant for a number of years with Flight Centre before taking up the opportunity to travel the world himself as host of the TV series Tour the World on Network Ten. He loves to experience everything a new destination has to offer and is equally at home in a five-star Palazzo in Pisa or a home-stay in Hanoi.
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