Victoria attractions

Located on the Saanich Peninsula, Church and State Wines is proof that you don't have to stray far from Victoria to grow fantastic wine grapes. The Saamich location is one of two Church and State outposts in BC—the other is in the province's celebrated Okanagan wine region.

Named after the now-demolished fur trading post of the Hudson’s Bay Company, Fort Street has long been at the heart of Victoria’s commercial life. Once a hotbed for vintage and collectibles, this central artery is now home to an eclectic mix of shops and eateries, among them several remaining second-hand stores and auction houses.

With heritage architecture and cobbled streets, Old Town Victoria exudes historic character. The area sprang to life in the 19th-century gold rushes, and today it encompasses the city’s commercial core, Canada’s oldest Chinatown, and the waterfront. Visit to see its brightly painted Victorian buildings, which house shops and restaurants.

The childhood home of Canadian painter Emily Carr is a historic site dedicated to her adventurous life and beloved work. Period decor in the old-fashioned gingerbread house evokes 19th-century life in Victoria, and a carefully tended garden comes to life each spring. Rotating exhibits feature the work of local contemporary artists.

Sheer natural beauty is just the start of the appeal of of Beacon Hill Park, which sprawls across the southern edge of Victoria, British Columbia. It’s a popular spot for locals and visitors alike, with a petting zoo, splash parks, playgrounds, sports fields, seemingly endless footpaths, and one of the tallest totem poles in the world.

First established in the mid-19th century, Victoria Chinatown is among North America’s oldest. Now a National Historic Site, Victoria’s Chinatown is home to cafes, studios, herbalists, tea rooms, and shops, as well as the narrow Fan Tan Alley, which measures 35 inches (88.9 centimeters) wide at its narrowest point.

Victoria's main drag, Government Street is home to many of the city's most popular hotels, shops, and restaurants. It's also the location of many top Victoria attractions, including the Royal British Columbia Museum, Emily Carr House, and British Columbia Parliament Buildings. The street is popular for visitors to stroll.

Established in 2003, this national park encompasses 8,896 acres (3,600 hectares of forested islands and marine habitats between Vancouver Island and Vancouver city. Wildlife thrives in its Mediterranean-like climate with bald eagles, cormorants, and hawks patrolling the skies and orcas, porpoises, and seals occupying the waters.

Dotted around the Strait of Georgia between Vancouver Island and the British Columbia mainland, are the laid-back Gulf Islands. Come to browse farmers markets, visit artist studios, and experience nature—from woodland trails to pebbled beaches—all of which draw Vancouverites fleeing the city.

Life revolves around the water at this laid-back coastal community north of Victoria. The action centers on the seafront where you’ll find a sculpture-dotted walkway, a beach scattered with sea glass, and a pier where locals crab and cast fishing lines, as well as an aquarium housing marine life native to the Salish Sea.

In 1890 Scottish coal baron Robert Dunsmuir built Craigdarroch Castle in Victoria, British Columbia, to showcase his inordinate wealth. This 39-room hilltop mansion is rich with opulent details, including multiple turrets and chimneys, a red slate roof, stained-glass windows, wood carvings, antique furnishings, and gold-framed paintings.

Houseboats bob alongside shops, food kiosks, and commercial fishing vessels at Fisherman’s Wharf near Victoria’s Inner Harbour. A former hub of the city’s once-industrial shoreline, the wharf is now a popular hangout.

The grand style of the Fairmont Empress hotel sets the tone for Victoria’s Inner Harbour, where boats tie up just steps from the city’s most historic landmarks. Visiting the Fairmont Empress is not just for overnight guests; afternoon tea here has been a Victoria tradition for more than a century.

Constructed in the 1890s, the British Columbia Parliament Buildings still serve as home to the province’s legislature. Built according to the designs of young British architect Francis Rattenbury, the neo-Baroque complex’s imposing size, copper domes, turrets, and stained glass ensure a commanding and stately presence.

Butchart Gardens, established in 1904, treat visitors to an enchanting floral show that changes with the seasons. Covering 55 acres (22 hectares) on Vancouver Island in British Columbia, the botanical space is intricately laid out into separate themed gardens with landscaping that impresses and inspires gardeners and nature lovers alike.