A Landsby Spotlight on Victoria

Last Updated: 29 June 2022

Written By: Landsby Editorial Team

Parliament Buildings lit up at night in the Inner Harbour. Photo by Destination BC/Reuben Krabbe

With a picturesque island location surrounded by rainforests, mountains and the ocean, what’s not to love about British Columbia’s capital city? Victoria is easy on the eyes and a joy to explore any time of the year.

You’ll find Victoria on the southern tip of Vancouver Island off the west coast of Canada. Please see Landsby’s Vancouver Island Experiences for immersive experiences on the island.

A couple cycling along a seawall in Victoria beside beach and ocean. Photo by Reuben Krabbe/Destination BC

What’s there to see in Victoria?

Victoria is a city designed for walking and cycling — scenic strolls along the Inner Harbour and Fisherman’s Wharf and bike rides along the ocean are excellent ways to explore the city. Popular attractions in the city include Butchart Gardens (which has 55 acres of gardens), Victoria Butterfly Gardens, Craigdarroch Castle and Canada’s oldest Chinatown.

Close-up of a totem pole in Thunderbird Park in Victoria. Photo c/o Destination BC

Indigenous Experiences

The land on which Victoria now sits has been the home of the Coast Salish people for thousands of years. Visit Destination Indigenous or download the app from Indigenous Tourism BC for a list of local and authentic Indigenous tourism providers who can help you explore this region through the eyes of its original inhabitants. If you happen to be visiting during the Victoria Indigenous Cultural Festival, you’ll be able to experience the culture of the Esquimalt and Songhees Nations through food, storytelling, dance and other demonstrations and activities.

Photo by Reuben Krabbe/Destination BC

Water Activities

Getting out on the water is a must when in Victoria. Go whale watching, sailing or kayaking. Visit one of the many stunning beaches in the area for a day of sand and surf. If you are interested in fishing, there are both freshwater and deep sea fishing options available.

Goldstream Provincial Park. Photo by Jordon Deck/Destination BC

Get Out Into Nature

Beautiful hiking options are never far away when you are visiting British Columbia and the same holds true for Victoria. A great option close-by is Goldstream Provincial Park, just 20 minutes away from downtown Victoria. Here you’ll find short hiking options that are wheelchair-accessible as well as more challenging hikes, such as the rugged trek to the top of Mount Finlayson — one of the highest points in the area. The park has beautiful old-growth forests and stunning waterfalls.

Photo c/o Harbour Sea Airplanes

How to get to Victoria

Since this beautiful capital city is located on an island, you’ll have to arrive either by boat or by air. Direct flights to Victoria arrive at the international airport or you can take a seaplane directly into the harbour. Regular hourly ferry service runs between Vancouver and Victoria. The scenic ride takes about an hour and a half.

Photo by Tanya Goehring/Destination BC

Our 2022 Summer Spotlight series has short introductions to Canada’s 14 capital cities (10 provincial, 3 territorial and 1 national) and was created to inspire us Canadians to explore more of our own country. For more details on each province or territory, visit our Experiences page or search our Journal by location. Better yet, reach out to us! We’d love to tell you more about these great places and create travel itineraries for you to explore them.