On the ancestral lands of the Lekwungen people of the Esquimalt and Songhees Nations, Victoria is the capital city of British Columbia and sits at the southern tip of Vancouver Island. Blending an old-world European look with a modern hipster vibe, you can find history, culture, wine and cuisine, all while enjoying the scenic outdoors around you.
Attractions
There are many iconic attractions right at our fingertips. The inner harbor is surrounded by the famous Empress Hotel, the B.C. provincial Legislative Building, and the Royal British Columbia Museum. Hit the streets and explore at your own pace, or choose a pedicab, horse drawn carriage, water taxi or rental bike. Join the millions of visitors from around the world each year as you choose from all that the city has to offer.
Arts and Culture
Rich in arts and culture, Victoria boasts many diverse offerings from the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, Victoria Symphony, jazz and other live music around the town, Belfry theatre, and the many beautiful totem poles and a grand offering of Indigenous and local art through the city. You don’t need to go far to see our history, in fact you can visit Canada’s oldest and North America’s second oldest Chinatown!
Food and Drinks
Surrounded by the rich farming regions of the Saanich Peninsula and Cowichan Valley, Victoria’s restaurants and cafés are blessed with an abundance of local ingredients. Seafood — particularly salmon and shellfish — can be caught fresh from adjacent Pacific waters and is a mainstay of West Coast cuisine. Enjoy creative cocktails and fresh preparations as you make your way through the food establishments of downtown. This list of restaurants yields some of Victoria’s best eats.
Gardens and Beaches
Victoria is also known as the garden city and a wander around the region during summer months will show many of the beautiful private and public gardens. See castles and their impeccably maintained grounds, stunning Government House and beautiful neighbourhoods along Victoria’s storied waterfront roads. Walk down the breakwater at Ogden point, then visit the beach along Dallas Road. The outdoor awaits and you don’t have to look far to find a beautiful beach, a scenic walk in a friendly neighbourhood or a hike in a forest.
And this is only a sample of what Victoria has to offer! Want more? Check Tourism Victoria or Vancouver Island Travel.
Interested in exploring other parts of the island? There are plenty of enticing travel options available through West Nest, Tourism Tofino and Discover Ucluelet.
