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Historical Victoria Walking Tour

Recommended by 100% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Victoria, Canada
  • 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.)
  • Mobile ticket
  • Offered in: English

Why travelers loved this

4.9
·
· Janine_R ·
Mar 2026
We learned so much! There’s a lot of interesting history in Victoria! Beautiful city. Thank you very much!
· Ben_D ·
Jan 2026
Great informative history.nice way to start the weekend. Answered all the questions we had. I would recommend.

Explore our promoted experiences

Overview

Explore quaint Victoria on this guided walking tour with a local historian. Along the way, take in picturesque views of the city’s Inner Harbour and wander the streets, alleyways, and town squares of Old Town, Bastion Square, and Chinatown, while learning about Victoria's history. Plus, hear about its past scandals like opium smuggling.
  • The tour is an inexpensive addition to a day of sightseeing
  • This comprehensive tour is ideal for first-time visitors
  • Headsets are provided to help you hear the guide clearly
  • Wear comfortable shoes; a moderate amount of walking is involved

What's Included

  • Professional local guide
  • Headsets to hear the guide clearly
  • Gratuities

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

  • 812 Wharf St, Victoria, BC V8W 1T3, Canada

    Meet your guide (wearing red) outside the main doors of the Visitor Information Centre at 812 Wharf St.

End point

  • Victoria’s Chinatown National Historic Site
    500 Fisgard St, Victoria, BC V8W 1R4, Canada

Operating hours
.2:00 pm

Itinerary

1

Inner Harbour

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

2

Government Street

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

3

Bastion Square

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

4

Market Square

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

5

Fan Tan Alley

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Additional Info

  • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
  • Wheelchair accessible
  • Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
  • A moderate amount of walking is required
  • Stroller accessible
  • Near public transportation
  • Infants must sit on laps
  • Transportation is wheelchair accessible
  • Surfaces are wheelchair accessible
  • Most travelers can participate
  • No health restrictions
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 15 travelers
Supplied by

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)
Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)
Gallery picture 3 (from a traveler's review)
Gallery picture 4 (from a traveler's review)
Gallery picture 5 (from a traveler's review)

Reviews

4.9
based on 175 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
We perform checks on reviews

We learned so much!...

Janine_R, Mar 2026
We learned so much! There’s a lot of interesting history in Victoria! Beautiful city. Thank you very much!

Response from Host, Mar 2026

Thank you for taking our Historical Walks. It’s great to know that you found our history interesting and were able to enjoy the beauty that Victoria offers.

Great tour

Ben_D, Jan 2026
Great informative history.nice way to start the weekend. Answered all the questions we had. I would recommend.

Response from Host, Jan 2026

Thanks for your recommendation for taking our Historical Walking tour. We’re so pleased that you found the tour a great way to start your week and that all your questions were answered.

Very informative, thank...

Michelle_W, Nov 2025
Very informative, thank you. Perfect way to be introduced to the city. I’d highly recommend this experience.

Response from Host, Dec 2025

You are most welcome! We’re so happy that you so highly recommend our Historical Walks as a great way to be introduced to Victoria.

Informative and Engaging Tour

Rosa_F, Oct 2025
Our guide was engaging and informative. We learned a lot about the City and really enjoyed our time.

Response from Host, Oct 2025

We’re very glad that you learned a lot about Victoria’s past on our Historical Walking Tour. Thanks for coming along with us.

Great Guide

LeAnn_A, Oct 2025
The guide was amazing! He was engaging and gave us great information that we couldn’t have gotten on our own.

Response from Host, Oct 2025

We’re thrilled that you enjoyed our Historical Walk so much. Thanks for joining us.

Great Story Telling

Robyn_B, Sep 2025
Our guide Chris was a great story teller of Victoria's past as he led us through the streets of downtown Victoria stopping to show and explain to us historic markers of the past. I particularly liked the acknowledgement and inclusion of Canada's First Nations peoples in Canada's history. Thank you.

Response from Host, Sep 2025

We’re so glad that you enjoyed the Historical Walk that you took with Chris. He is a local historian. We agree that including the story of the First People is an important part of Victoria and Canada’s story.

Retired teacher in Victoria

Patricia_F, Sep 2025
The guide paced the walk according to the needs of the group. He was knowledgeable of a wide range of historical events with human interest antidotes.

Response from Host, Sep 2025

Thanks for joining us on one of our Historical Walks and for pointing out that our guide was attentive to the needs of the group both physically and with the information that was provided.

The tour guide was very...

Paige_J, Sep 2025
The tour guide was very informative and friendly but I felt he went into too much detail at beginning of tour and about the empress hotel and harbor and not enough about the historical district or Chinatown. We spent to much time standing (in sun) or sitting at one place. I like when tours walk and talk, especially since we all have headphones. Instead of stand and listen for long periods of time.

Response from Host, Sep 2025

Thanks for your feedback regarding our Historical Walks. We strive to make our tours better all the time. If you would like to learn more about Victoria’s Chinatown, perhaps you would like to join us on one of our Chinatown Walks.

Deep historical knowledge

Marc_R, Aug 2025
Our guide provided insight into the motivations of the actors in the historical events he recounted, not just reciting a script prepared for the walk.

Response from Host, Sep 2025

Thanks for coming along on one of our historical walks. We’re so pleased that you found the tour insightful.

Strongly recommend!

Skyler_L, Jul 2025
Absolutely amazing tour! Strongly recommend if you're interested in the historical stories and cool spots. I also checked out other walking tours in Victoria and this one is my favourite. The guide is knowledgeable and friendly. I learnt a lot from the tour!

Response from Host, Jul 2025

It’s so great to know that you not only enjoyed our Historical Walking tour, but that you learned a lot about Victoria.

Well Done

Ruth_M, Jul 2025
Great tour, really interesting and knowledgeable guide, just the right amount of walking and sites. Excellent historical and geographical insight. A well spent hour and a half.

Response from Host, Jul 2025

It’s so nice to know that you found our Historical Walking tour so interesting and that the amount of time, walking and sites was perfect for you.

Must do Tour!

Elizabeth_M, Jul 2025
Chris is a true blue historian, he really knows the inside scoops of Victoria’s history. Just excellent!

Response from Host, Jul 2025

Thanks for joining Chris on one of our Historical Walks. Chris has been studying Victoria’s past from various perspectives and is always happy to tell Victoria’s story.

Great time

David_M, Jun 2025
Super narrative of Victoria from background to china town. Whispers were good addition to spread out a bit

Response from Host, Jul 2025

We’re so glad that you were impressed with the narrative of Victoria’s Chinese history. Thanks for coming along with us on the tour.

Good walking tour

Noel_S, Jun 2025
Very knowledgeable and did the tour at a reasonable pace for aging people . His stops allowed people to sit while he spoke.

Response from Host, Jul 2025

Thanks for joining us for one of our Historical Walking tours. We’re glad that the pace was good and that you learned some of Victoria’s story.

Chris had some...

Jack_P, Sep 2024
Chris had some fascinating stories and really added color relevant to the interests of the customers.

Response from Host, Nov 2024

Thanks for coming along on Chris' Historical Walking Tour. We're happy that you were fascinated by the stories you heard.

History revealing our Canadian identity!

Mariefrance_C, Aug 2024
The visit of the Canadian chinese museum is a must during your journey in Victoria. Our guide was an expert.

Response from Host, Nov 2024

Thanks for coming along with us on our Chinatown tour. Thanks for your recommendation about visiting the Chinese Museum.

Informative and interesting history tour of Victoria

Craig_J, Aug 2024
It was a good informative tour. He gave many interesting insights into Victoria and its history. The listening devices were helpful as there was much noise and people around.

Response from Host, Nov 2024

We're happy to know that you found our Historical Walk so interesting. The listening devices do help with being able to hear the guide.

Victoria History

Sarah_L, Aug 2024
Sheldon is a very knowledgeable tour guide! We learned a lot about Victoria history and culture. Would recommend the tour!

Response from Host, Sep 2024

Thanks for joining us on our Historical Walking Tour. We're glad that you learned a lot from Sheldon. Thanks for the recommendation

Our guide was excellent. It was Daniel. Great, informative tour!

John_K, Aug 2024
The amazing buildings and flowers!!! We felt we had a good exposure to the city of Victoria. I would recommend this tour to anyone with limited time; a.great way to get to know the city and its history.

Response from Host, Sep 2024

We're glad that you found our Historical Walking tour to be a great way to get oriented to Victoria and that you would recommend it for people with limited time for a visit.

Walking Tour of Victoria

Karel_H, Aug 2024
What a perfect tour! Just the right amount of detail from our engaging guide Chris, who clearly love telling about the history of this beautiful place!

Response from Host, Sep 2024

We're glad that you joined Chris for our Historical Walking tour. You are right, Chris is engaging, knowledgeable and does love Victoria and its history.

Great start tour of Victoria!

Charles_S, Aug 2024
Very informative walking tour. Our guide Danielle was excellent, and easy to hear and understand with the headphones. A great way to orient ourselves for our first time to Victoria. A good mix of history and understanding of the city attractions.

Response from Host, Aug 2024

We agree that our Historical Walks are a good way to get oriented to Victoria, past and present. The headphones are a big help especially on the busier streets. Thanks for that endorsement.

Zack was very open to...

Mark_B, Aug 2024
Zack was very open to questions or comments. He was very pleasant and gave a lot of information the about people that had an impact on life in Victoria's downtown

Response from Host, Aug 2024

Thanks for coming along on our Historical Walk. It's nice to know that you enjoyed Zach's storytelling style.

"Victoria's History Brought to Life"

Ruth_T, Jul 2024
Thank you for the informative tour, Chris. It provided insight into Victoria's history and the people who shaped the city. Your passion for history kept us engaged and entertained. I highly recommend this tour!

Response from Host, Jul 2024

Thanks for your high recommendation of our History Walks. Agreed Chris is passionate about Victoria's history and his knowledge is quite deep. He does paint a great picture of Victoria's past and present.

Well Versed Tour Guide

Sheree_H, Jun 2024
Learning the history of Victoria and Fan Tan Alley was fantastic. John was very knowledgeable with regard to both histories of Canada and Victoria.

Response from Host, Jun 2024

Thanks for coming along with us on our Chinatown Tour. We're glad that you learned some of Victoria's story. John actually wrote the book on the Chinese history of Victoria.

Outstanding Walking tour

Douglas_A, Mar 2024
Chris Adams was an excellent guide. Such an interesting and educational tour. Highly recommended. Great historical perspective.

Response from Host, Apr 2024

Thanks for joining us on our Historical History Walks. We're so glad that you were both interested and educated at the same time. Agreed Chris, is an excellent guide.

Interesting, Unique, Leisurely

Maggie_K, Nov 2023
Our tour guide John was extremely knowledgeable and friendly. Earpieces he provided made it comfortable to walk at one’s own pace and still hear the tour content.

Response from Host, Mar 2024

We're so glad that you joined John on one of our Historical Tours and that you found him quite knowledgeable and friendly. We agree that the listening devices have really improved the experience for everyone.

Chris is very...

gigi3boys, Oct 2023
Chris is very knowledgeable about the history of Victoria and very passionate about the history. Thank You

Response from Host, Nov 2023

Thanks for taking our History walk. Agreed, Chris is both knowledgeable and passionate about Victoria's stories.

Highlight of our trip to...

Lindsey_S, Jul 2023
Highlight of our trip to Victoria. Our guide was super knowledgeable and friendly. Would recommend 100%

Response from Host, Jul 2023

Thanks for your review and for your recommendation.

Great Experience!

Zoran_M, Jun 2023
History walks tour was the highlight of our stay in Victoria. It was great experiences,we learned a lot and we would highly recomend it to everyone.

Response from Host, Aug 2023

Thanks for letting us know that our history tour was the highlight of your stay in Victoria, and that you learned a lot.

Victoria walking tour

Joan_C, Jun 2023
Chris did a fabulous job of bringing the colorful history Victoria to life! It was a beautiful day - we really enjoyed it!

Response from Host, Aug 2023

We're glad that you joined Chris on his Victoria's history tour. As you mentioned, Victoria's story is rather colorful. It's even better when the weather is so beautiful.

From $17.66

per person

up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)

Book ahead!
On average, this is booked 11 days in advance.

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