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Where to Stay in Victoria BC: The Definitive Guide

Where to stay in Victoria BC is one of the most popular questions I get asked. And the answer, like so many questions is...it depends. It depends on what is important to you. When you are deciding on where to stay in Victoria BC, do you want:

tent and RV parks on the beach with ocean views
accommodations conveniently located downtown near most popular attractions
a luxurious spa
a place that is pet-friendly
a pool for the kids
budget friendly

You decide what you want, and I'll help you find it.

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Accommodations in Downtown Victoria BC

Accommodations in the neighbourhoods of Burnside-Gorge and Mayfair, Victoria BC

Accommodations in Burnside-Gorge and Mayfair Neighbourhoods

Accommodations in the neighbourhoods of Fairfield, Rockland and Oak Bay, Victoria BC

Accommodations in Fairfield, Rockland and Oak Bay

Accommodations in the Western Communities, Sooke and Malahat

Accommodations in the airport, Saanich Peninsula and Sidney regions of Victoria BC

Accommodations near the airport, Saanich Peninsula and Sidney

Pet-friendly accommodations

Bed & breakfast

Hotels with a spa

Hotels with a pool

Budget-friendly accommodations

Romantic getaways

Camping near Victoria

Car Camping on Vancouver Island

RV camping on the beach

Private Campgrounds on Vancouver Island

If you are mainly interested in our iconic sites and activities such as the beautiful harbour and Government Street, Royal BC Museum, British Columbia Legislature, The Empress Hotel, Emily Carr House and Craigdarroch Castle, then staying in downtown Victoria has distinct advantages. The core is very walkable with seasonal horse drawn carriages, pedicabs, hop on, hop off sightseeing buses and bicycle rentals if you tire of walking and prefer a different mode of transportation.

If, however, you have a vehicle and want to explore more than just downtown, the options for where to stay in Victoria BC are much more plentiful. The region is blessed with good bus service (several routes feature double-decker buses) that covers over 60km from Sidney to Sooke, which is the entire Greater Victoria area. So, you can still go into the core by transit without worrying about where to park.

Accommodations by Region

I have divided my guide to motels and hotels in Victoria BC by region/community. Included in the listings I have highlighted the key amenities, a brief list of nearby sites and activities and the overall guest experience for many of the accommodations.

For my favourite budget-friendly options, click here.

Cruise ships getting ready to dock at Ogden Point, Victoria BC

Bed and Breakfast

As the name implies, when staying at a bed and breakfast – often abbreviated to B&B, you get a place to sleep and (usually) get breakfast served in the morning. Most B&B’s are located within private residences and usually only offer 3 or 4 sleeping room options. They may or may not come with private washroom facilities. They often offer clean and inexpensive accommodations along with the opportunity to learn about day-to-day life and culture as they are most often run by the homeowner and not a management company.

With over 40 Victoria bed and breakfast locations in the region, I'm confident you could find the ideal spot to rest and recharge.

RV and Camping Accommodations

If tents, trailers and motor homes are more your type of accommodation, Victoria has some possibilities there too. One of the most popular spots for RVs is the Fort Victoria RV Park, located in picturesque View Royal beside the View Royal Park.

It is an expansive, full service RV park with 300 full-hookup sites with your choice of sunny or shady spots.

There is no tenting at Fort Victoria. The park does offer some long-term rentals. Contact them directly for rates and availability.

The closest tenting options are:

Island View Regional Park (they also have RV spots) open seasonally from Victoria Day weekend in May until Labour Day weekend in September.
Gardenside Acres, a small rural spot with just a few tenting sites located on the Saanich Peninsula.
Goldstream Provincial Park located at the base of the Malahat is another option. Goldstream is open year-round with fees collected for services from approximately March until October. The winter fee is in effect from November to mid March however there is no water, firewood or sani-station available. Campers must be self-sufficient.

For all of the camping options located within a one-hour distance from Victoria's Inner Harbour, refer to Camping in Victoria page. Be sure to sign up for our newsletter and download your free camping checklist.

Airbnb

If you don’t know the story behind Airbnb, it is pretty fascinating. A couple room mates in San Francisco couldn’t afford their rent and came up with the idea of throwing an air mattress on the floor and turning it into a B&B with the hopes of making a bit of cash. They officially launched when some design conference attendees had a hard time finding accommodations in the city. Now a few years later, the company is worth an insane amount of money and the shared economy concept has spread to numerous industries and changed the way we do business.

There are usually hundreds of listings in Victoria ranging from harbour front luxury condos to self contained cottages in the heart of Fernwood. There is something for everyone and every budget.

New to our city is a different kind of accommodation called Solo Suites, located in the heart of Langford.

They refer to themselves as not a traditional hotel but rather the ultimate brand-new Airbnb.

The concrete building is purpose-built with efficiency suites as well as one and two-bedroom suites.

It’s kind of like “no frills accommodation”. You’re expected to leave the place clean, just like you found it – including taking out the trash. Linen and towels are changed weekly or daily for an additional fee. There’s no room service, valet or bell hop.

There is free parking and they are conveniently located on a bus route.

If you give them a try, please come back and let us know what you think.

Stay in Victoria BC at a Hotel with a Pool

The following hotels and motels all have either an indoor or outdoor swimming pool. Find detailed reviews of many of these properties on the "Accommodations by Regions" pages above.