Victoria:
China Town:

Fan Tan Cafe Restaurant   548 Fisgard St, Victoria

14 Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Victoria, BC

https://www.planetware.com/tourist-attractions-/victoria-cdn-bc-bcvc.htm

At the southern tip of Vancouver Island, Victoria is sheltered by mountains and influenced by the warm North Pacific current – creating the mildest climate in Canada. It’s a popular tourist destination for Canadians and international travelers, with things to do year-round.

The capital of British Columbia, Victoria is a small city with a friendly small-town atmosphere. With no land connection to mainland Canada, it also has a slightly remote feel. And due to the size – a population of less than 100,000 – getting around is quick and easy, and much of the sightseeing can be done on foot.

Some of the things to see include the parks and gardens, festooned with foliage and flowers throughout the year. The charming city center is set around the scenic Inner Harbour, which retains its Victorian heritage buildings and atmosphere. In the Empress Hotel, people still gather for traditional afternoon tea.

Victoria is one of the key highlights of Vancouver Island. Ferries make it an easy day trip from Vancouver, but regular flights connecting through Vancouver also make it a perfect getaway destination from anywhere in North America. It’s also a great place to kick off a trip to other parts of the island.

For ideas on things to do and places to visit, see our list of the top tourist attractions in Victoria.

See also: Where to Stay in Victoria

1. Inner Harbour

Victoria’s Inner Harbour is the main attraction and the best starting point for tourists. You can walk along the waterfront, pass by the Empress Hotel, watch street buskers perform on sunny days, or stop in at restaurant for a bite to eat. Festivals and other events frequently take place in this area and there is always plenty of activity. This is also where whale watching tours depart and where float planes land and take off, with service to Washington.

2. Royal BC Museum

British Columbia’s provincial museum and archives is one of the best museums of natural and cultural history in Canada, with many three-dimensional displays offering a feast of sights, smells, and sounds. Walk through a rainforest, view animals on West Coast beaches and in tidal wetlands, sit among aboriginal ceremonial poles and masks, walk through a big house, and learn of First Nations people’s struggles after European settlement. Other interactive features include a replica HMS Discovery – the ship that brought Captain Vancouver to these shores, and a street of shops in Old Town.

Outside, Thunderbird Park is home to traditionally carved memorial and house poles. Nearby, the small mid-19th century, Helmcken House is the oldest residence in British Columbia still standing on its original site. The house once belonged to J.S. Helmcken, a practicing doctor and local politician. He campaigned vigorously for the then British colony of Victoria and British Columbia to join the newly established confederation of Canada.

The museum is situated midway between the Parliament Buildings and the Fairmont Empress Hotel.

Address: 675 Belleville Street, Victoria

Official site: http://royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/

3. Butchart Gardens

Although the garden is a short drive from downtown Victoria, it is one of the premier tourist attractions in the area and worth taking the time to see. It’s also a place you can visit several times a year to see the changes throughout the seasons. Even in winter, the gardens are a lovely sight, with an outdoor skating rink and a fabulous display of lights around Christmas.

The garden was started in 1904 by Jennie Butchart, wife of a wealthy quarry owner. She laid out a fragrant garden in this abandoned limestone quarry. Flourishing, not least because of the mild climate, the gardens have since been developed into a 20-hectare horticultural tour de force without rival in Canada.

The Italian garden, rose garden, Japanese garden, and sunken garden are among the loveliest. Open spaces among the pools, fountains, and the many exotic plants are used for artistic and musical performances.

To reach Butchart Gardens, follow Highway 17A north for 22 kilometers to Brentwood Bay on the Saanich Peninsula.

Address: 800 Benvenuto Ave, Brentwood Bay

Official site: http://www.butchartgardens.com/

4. Fairmont Empress Hotel

Built in 1908 for Canadian Pacific, like the Château Frontenac in Québec City, the Fairmont Empress Hotel on the Inner Harbour is one of Victoria’s best-loved landmarks. This historic hotel has hosted celebrities and famous people throughout the decades, including members of the British Monarchy.

Architect Francis M. Rattenbury designed the Empress, and entering the vast lobby of this luxurious hotel is like journeying back in time to before the First World War.

Enjoying Afternoon Tea, served with great style in the Lobby Lounge, is one of the most popular things to do if you are visiting the city. Be sure to make a reservation if you want to guarantee a spot.

An extension on the north side of the Empress Hotel houses a collection of several dozen scenes in miniature at Miniature World. The models of historical events, castles, and dollhouses captivate young and old alike.

Address: 721 Government Street, Victoria

Accommodation: Fairmont Empress Hotel

5. Parliament Buildings

Dominating the south side of the Inner Harbour is the imposing seat of British Columbia’s provincial government, the Parliament Buildings. Designed by Yorkshire architect Francis M. Rattenbury and erected in 1897, the imposing stone buildings have neat, orderly gardens and are very attractive in appearance – especially in the evening when lit by festoons of lights.

Perched high above the massive dome is a gilded statue of Captain George Vancouver (1757-98), who accomplished the first circumnavigation of Vancouver Island. Figures of famous personalities from the province embellish the façade. A large statue of Queen Victoria surveys the Inner Harbour from the terrace. Tours of the town center by horse-drawn carriage leave from nearby.

Address: 501 Belleville Street, Victoria

6. Beacon Hill Park

Green and well tended, Beacon Hill Park is a favorite outdoor area close to the city center. From its highest point, lovely views look across Juan de Fuca Strait to the snowy peaks of the Olympic Peninsula. The park features gardens; walking trails; and recreational areas for baseball, tennis, cricket, and lawn bowling. Two water parks provide summer fun for kids.

A milestone on the southwest edge of the park marks the western end of the Trans-Canada Highway.

Address: 100 Cook Street, Victoria

7. Craigdarroch Castle

Victoria’s fairy-tale mansion, Craigdarroch Castle, is considered a gem of Victorian architecture and is a National Historic Site. Immigrant Scottish entrepreneur Robert Dunsmuir, who made his fortune in coal mining, commissioned the home in the 1880s but died before his mansion was completed. Family drama around the home ensued.

The house is situated in a particularly affluent area of Victoria. Elegant Rockland centers on Rockland Avenue, which is lined with grand heritage homes including Government House – the official residence of Her Majesty’s representative in British Columbia. The house is open to the public but is not equipped with ramps or elevators.

Address: 1050 Joan Crescent, Victoria

Official site: http://thecastle.ca/

8. Hiking Trails and Scenic Areas

Victoria is one of the most scenic cities in Canada, and if you want to fully appreciate some of the views, head for the parks and tackle some local hiking trails. Many of these are short and can be done in a half-day or a couple of hours.

For coastal scenery, the Coastal Trail in Sooke is a wonderful seaside trail looking out to the distant mountains. The Mount Work hiking trail is another great hiking trail and good workout, leading to a highpoint with views to the Olympic Mountains and down Sanich Inlet.

For a little history, check out the Trestle Bridge Hiking Trail in Goldstream Provincial Park, and along the way, stop at Niagara Falls. Or, for something a little easier, try the Kinsol Trestle Bridge Trail, perfect for all abilities.

9. Fort Rodd Hill National Historic Site

The gun batteries at Fort Rodd Hill National Historic Site, about 13 kilometers west of Victoria, used to guard the sheltered waters of Esquimalt Harbour, once a British naval base. The guns were in service from 1895 to 1956. Today, the well-preserved fortress can be visited. About a 10-minute walk from here, the point’s Fisgard Lighthouse was the first on the west coast of Canada and is a definitive local landmark.

Address: 603 Fort Rodd Hill Road, Victoria

Official site: https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/lhn-nhs/bc/fortroddhill

10. Hatley Park National Historic Site

Hatley Park National Historic Site consists of Hatley Castle, built in 1908 by former British Columbia Premier and coal baron, James Dunsmuir. This Edwardian estate also showcases Japanese, Italian, and rose gardens.

The castle has also been featured in several films. Most famously, it was a filming location in the X Men movie series, as the School for Gifted Youngsters run by Professor Xavier.

The building today houses the administrative office of Royal Roads University, but is open to the public. Visitors can choose to walk through the gardens or take a guided tour of the castle.

Address: 2005 Sooke Road, Victoria

Official site: http://hatleypark.ca/

11. Maritime Museum Of British Columbia

The former Court House (1869) in Bastion Square is now the Maritime Museum of British Columbia, displaying a host of items from the age of sail. A centerpiece to the museum is the “Tilikum”, a large Indian canoe in which, at the beginning of the century, some fearless souls voyaged to England. Also commemorated – appropriately enough in the old Court House – is the legendary Richard Matthew Begbie, whose administration of justice at the end of the 19th century led to his being christened “the Hanging Judge.”

Surrounding Bastion Square are the principal thoroughfares of Victoria’s Old Town – Wharf Street, Government Street, and Douglas Street running north-south, and Johnson Street, Yates Street, and Fort Street crossing them. A lovely area to stroll, Old Town boasts some historic buildings and old-fashioned shops such as Roger’s Chocolate and the tobacconist E.A. Morris.

Address: 28 Bastion Square, Victoria

Official site: http://mmbc.bc.ca/

12. Victoria Butterfly Gardens

Located near Butchart Gardens, the Victoria Butterfly Gardens feature much more than just butterflies. These indoor tropical gardens house up to 75 species of exotic butterflies and moths, plus tropical birds, fish, and reptiles. In 2017, the Butterfly Gardens also opened an Insectarium.

Ducks, flamingos, parrots, tortoises, frogs, and iguanas wander around the jungle environment. This interesting facility, which incorporates waterfalls, trees, and flowers, makes for a wonderful escape on a cool winter day and is the best place to visit in Victoria for an indoor hit of nature.

Address: 1461 Benvenuto Ave, Central Saanich

Official site: http://www.butterflygardens.com/

13. Victoria Bug Zoo

This may not be for everyone, but if you want to explore the wonderful world of bugs, or perhaps attempt to get over your fear of spiders, this is the place to visit. Enter a world of insects and spiders at the Victoria Bug Zoo. The facility has a range of bugs from all over the world, many of which you can hold and interact with. The critter-focused attraction is located near Victoria’s Inner Harbour.

Address: 631 Courtney Street, Victoria

Official site: http://www.victoriabugzoo.ca/

14. Chinatown

Adjoining the Old Town is Victoria’s small, but nevertheless charming, Chinatown. Entered through a conspicuous gate, it occupies just two blocks close to Government Street and Fisgard Street. A century ago, 8000 people lived in the Chinese quarter. In 1971, it became a designated historic district. One of the favorite sightseeing stops is the exceedingly narrow Fan Tan Alley.

We have wondered if there has been any effect of the radiation leak from Fukishima, Japan – across the pond current wise.  Tidal pools, which were years ago pungent and overflowing with life we now almost barren of life.  Pollution or ??  How much can Mother Earth sustain?