Victoria City

British Columbia's Beautiful Capital

Hop on the ferry and cross the water from Vancouver to Vancouver Island to see British Columbia's Capital City! Victoria is home to a wealth of culture, food and landmarks, while also being ranked as one of the friendliest cities in the world. Aside from this, another notable title of Victoria's is the "City of Gardens." Thanks to its temperate climate on the coast of Vancouver Island, the city boasts a large number of public and ticketed gardens, with stunning displays of flowers, varieties of trees, plant sculptures and more!

The shopping in Victoria is another draw for much of its tourism. The famous Government Street is lined with shops for all to enjoy or you can squeeze into the small passage of Fan Tan Alley for some local hidden gems. Victoria's Chinatown is exceedingly popular with a diverse array of Asian cuisines and shops, always popular with locals and visitors alike. Wherever you turn in the city, there is bound to be something to catch your interest!

Victoria Day Trip Itinerary

7:00 – Depart from Canada Place
9:00 – Arrive at ferry to depart for Vancouver Island
9:20 – Depart bus to explore ferry
11:00 – Return to bus and depart ferry
11:30 – Arrive by tour bus to downtown Victoria
11:40 – Stop 1: Canada Parliament Building
11:50 – Stop 2: The Empress Hotel
12:00 – Stop 3: Government Street
12:30 – Free time (meet back 5:30 at Royal Museum entrance)

5:30 – Travel to ferry bay on tour bus
6:30 – Board ferry for free time during travel

8:30 – Depart ferry on bus to Vancouver

9:30 – Return to downtown Vancouver

BC Ferries

Hop aboard BC's primary large-scale water travelling vessels! This large ship transports hundreds of people and vehicles between Vancouver Island and the mainland each day, with plenty of amenities aboard to occupy its passengers.

Upper Viewing Deck

You won't find a better up close and personal view of the water than on the ferry's upper decks. The mountains, small islands and rolling waves gently roll by as you travel on your way to your destination. Hold onto your hats, it will be windy!

Local Wildlife

It's not uncommon to see different varieties of marine life while travelling over the water. Sea birds like gulls and terns are quite common, but it's not unlikely to spot a pack of seals or sea lions sunning on a rock off to the side of the boats. If you're lucky, you may see a pod of whales, orcas or dolphins swim by on your journey!

Restaurant and Seating

With multiple different cafeterias and ample seating, there is always a place to grab a bite and recharge aboard the ferries. Food options range from burgers and sandwiches to cafe options like coffee, tea, pastries and snacks.

Gift Shops

Multiple gift shops are placed on several decks of the ships, allowing for a variety of shopping while your voyage passes. There is a broad selection of clothing and accessories as well as branded BC Ferries merchandise, which may come in handy if you need a sunhat, extra coat or other items before departing.

Victoria City

Landing on Vancouver Island, there will be a short charter bus ride into the city itself. The rolling fields of farmland and rural houses will fly by on the way into Victoria, the home of cobblestone streets and an eye-catching mix of retro and modern architecture. With so many places for shopping, museums, historical landmarks and things to eat, there is no shortage of things to explore!

Government Street

Victoria's most popular shopping street spans a large length of the downtown area. With partial car-free zones, there is plenty of space to walk around and take in the various shops, as well as the occasional crafters or small business markets.

The Empress Hotel

Standing tall in the middle of the downtown area, The Empress is one of the oldest hotels in Victoria and once hosted many famous people such as Queen Elizabeth II, Princess Margaret, Rita Hayworth and John Travolta. It is located close to the harbour and surrounded by gardens, making it an excellent place to take pictures.

The Parliament Buildings

British Columbia's Legislative Assembly lives right here in this gorgeous stone and copper building, built by the same person as the Empress Hotel! Many Canadian students visit this building in their formative years to learn about their governing bodies and tour the facilities. The green grounds in front of the building with a large fountain and statue of Queen Victoria make for an excellent photo spot.

Butchart Gardens

A short drive away from the downtown Victoria area, Butchart Gardens is an excellent escape away from the rush of the city. This exhibit of colourful flowers and artfully sculpted hedges is the city's most popular garden. The tunes of seasonal music acts carry through this vast 22 hectare landscape of themed gardens, 26 greenhouses and the occasional stop for food and drink throughout the day. Butchart is both a curated art experience and a lovely way to escape into nature.

Page updated

Report abuse