I recently visited Vancouver and spent most of my time adventuring on its west coast in Ucluelet and Tofino. While I prefer small towns like these, city goers should not overlook beautiful Victoria!
There ae many things to do in Victoria for all tourists, from families to solo travelers. I saved one day of my weeklong trip to Vancouver Island for a self-made walking tour of the city.
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Where to Stay in Victoria
I began my stroll from Abigail’s Hotel, a Tudor style, 30-room bed-and-breakfast where I stayed for the night. I chose this boutique hotel for its elegance, location, and price. The historic main house, built in 1930, features two lounges with coffee, spirits, wine, beer, a daily newspaper, books, and games.
My stay in a charming room with a fireplace and a claw foot tub, included cookies upon arrival, an afternoon snack, and a gourmet three-course breakfast. The price relative to the popular Fairmont Empress Hotel on the marina was quite affordable and only a few blocks away from all the activity.
Beacon Hill Park
My walk took me south to Beacon Hill Park, the jewel of Victoria’s park system. Its 740,00 square meters of parkland include ballfields, playgrounds, a bandshell, as well as natural and manicured areas with ponds.
Many walking trails wend through the green space home to wildlife such as deer and bald eagles. I spotted both as I ventured to one of the world’s tallest totem poles. Carved in 1956, this 127 foot totem pole is a highlight of Beacon Hill Park.
Another historic marker to visit is the mile “0” western terminus of the 8,000 kilometer Trans-Canada highway near the park’s southwest corner.
Victoria’s Coastline
The southern end of the park leads to Victoria’s coastline and Holand Point Park which provides lovely views. Continuing along the coast to the right, I skirted the James Bay neighborhood as I reached Ogden Point, the cruise ship terminal, whose Unity wall is decorated in murals.
Fortunately, no cruise ships were in port. With the Canadian Coast Guard nextdoor, this area was a bit industrialized, but it didn’t take long to reach Fisherman’s Wharf.
Fisherman’s Wharf
What a pleasant surprise! This tourist attraction in Victoria, with its bright, colored floating houses, is a photographer’s delight! Throngs of tourists strolled the docks and dined at the variety of outdoor restaurants. So much so that I felt sorry for the residents, but perhaps they feel like it is a small price to pay to live on the water in such a lovely area.
Hungry for lunch, I devoured some grilled halibut tacos at The Fish Store, though I must say I had a little food envy as others delighted in their fried fish baskets. Regardless, sitting at the high-top, wooden table while soaking in the sea air at vibrant atmosphere was welcome rest.
Stroll the Harbour Marina
From the Fishermans’ Wharf, I probably could have caught a yellow checkered water taxi to the Harbour Marina, but instead I logged some more steps as I took in the sights of the Inner Harbour, the stately Provincial Legislature building, and the impressive Fairmont Empress Hotel which serves afternoon tea.
This active area includes a visitor information center, many boat tours such as whale watching, and the ferry terminals. In fact, you can take a passenger ferry from Seattle and disembark a few hundred yards from the Fairmont for afternoon tea!
Tea at The Fairmont
The enormous tearoom at the Fairmont faces the marina. Its black and white checkerboard floors and white tablecloths provide an elegant setting. Visitors to Victoria should definitely make time for the tiered trays of sandwiches and sweets with a cup of tea.
Shopping in Victoria
From the Fairmont, I passed by many brand-named stores and restaurants as I window shopped along the pedestrian only street. For those with kiddos that don’t want to shop, consider visiting the nearby Miniature World
Miniature World
Miniature World, one of the most popular tourist attractions in downtown Victoria, BC, Canada, features a variety of exhibits. From two of the largest dollhouses in the world, to the Great Canadian Railway, to the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace, Miniature World displays a little bit of everything. Its circus display reminds me of the Ringling Circus Museum in Sarasota, Florida
Chinatown in Victoria
Continuing to the northern section of Victoria, I visited Chinatown, the oldest one in Canada. Its eye-catching Gates of Harmonious Interest welcomed me into its streets lined with Chinese restaurants and businesses.
The red and gold decorations and Chinese lettering make Victoria’s Chinatown National Historic Site a street photographer’s paradise. Don’t miss weaving through the narrow Fan Tan Alley. This was a favorite for me.
Sip Some Suds
The end of a walking tour of Victoria calls for a brewsky. Beer is the most popular alcoholic beverage in Canada. As a result, there are many craft breweries in Victoria. Swift Brewing & Good Time, Herald Street Brew Works, and The Rolling Barrel Tours are all highly rated craft beer breweries near Chinatown.
The Butchart Gardens
While I spent most of my time on a walking tour of Victoria, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention visiting The Butchart Gardens outside of the city. The National Historic Site hosts over one million visitors a year.
Previously an exhausted limestone quarry, the 55-acre property now features five gardens, night light shows, summer Saturday fireworks, and even afternoon tea. The five gardens are the sunken garden, the Japanese garden, the rose garden, the Italian garden, and the Mediterranean garden. The summer season is short in Victoria, so plan accordingly!
In all, Victoria is a lovely city in British Columbia, Canada, and I am grateful I saved a day to visit, though it warrants at least a weekend stay. ETB
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This article is also featured on GPSmyCity. To download this article for offline reading or create a self-guided walking tour to visit the attractions highlighted in this post, go to Walking Tours and Articles in Victoria.
Great guide. I’ve explored Victoria several times since friends of ours live on Vancouver Island, and it’s such an easy city to enjoy in one day. It’s also a very popular stop on Alaska cruises, so this walkthrough is especially helpful for cruise passengers who want to see highlights like the Inner Harbour, Fisherman’s Wharf, and Beacon Hill Park without feeling rushed.