Things To Do in Victoria

With so many things to do in Victoria, the hardest part is deciding what to do first! You will want to incorporate some of the main attractions such as these Victoria landmarks into your itinerary for sure but I’m pretty certain you’ll want to do more than that! 

Whether you are super chill and want to explore the city on foot (downtown Victoria) or get your heart racing with an invigorating activity like windsurfing, Victoria has it all! And of course, we have world-class shopping and spas too!

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For Those Who Like to Walk

West Coaster’s love to get outside and explore our natural surroundings as much as possible and we’ve got some great places to do just that. One of my absolute favourites is the Esquimalt Lagoon – a serene area located in Colwood, very close to Hatley Castle and Fort Rodd Hill and Fisgard Lighthouse national historic sites. With a protected bird sanctuary on one side of Ocean Boulevard and the open ocean on the other, it is a place to awaken the soul. Search among the log strewn beach and you may even find a painted rock!

Some of my other favourite places to walk are:

• Dallas Road
• The Inner Harbour
• The neighbourhood of James Bay – this is an especially fantastic place to see cherry blossoms in the spring
• Saxe Point in Esquimalt
• Victoria’s Chinatown
• Other charming locations are in the various Victoria neighbourhoods of Cook Street Village, Fernwood, Oak Bay and Sidney. 

The City of Langford is not usually on people’s list when they think of beautiful places to walk, but a trip to one of their 3 small local lakes – Langford Lake, Glen Lake and Florence Lake - may have you thinking differently.  

TIP: I have walked a lot over the past year after being rather sedentary for a number of years and the best thing I have done is invest in a pair of walking poles. They are especially handy on the local trails where the terrain isn't always flat and smooth. 

Maybe you weren’t thinking of an ocean-front walk or under the canopy of towering trees. Urban walking is very do-able in downtown Victoria. It is flat and compact and there are lots of sights to see. If you like history and architecture, a walking tour of churches in Victoria should be considered or one of the extremely popular food tours!

Sightseeing Without the Walking

The very best way to see all the cute squares and alleys and funky shops of Victoria is on foot. But for many reasons, sometimes that’s just not possible (like blisters from all the walking you did the day before!)

When you just want to relax but still experience some of the great things to do in Victoria, guided trips and tours might be just the ticket. A professional guide can help you experience your perfect west coast adventure. We suggest using TourScanner to compare prices and find the best things to do in Victoria for you and your family. See popular Victoria BC attractions with these tours:

• City Sightseeing
• Butchart Gardens Tour
• Sooke to Port Renfrew (the wild west coast of the island)
• Wine Tasting Tours
• Whale Watching Tour

Things to do in Victoria for the Whole Family

Whether it is romantic ideas for couples, family-friendly activities or something to do when its raining outside – we’ve got you covered with these entertaining things to do in Victoria: 

• 8 Fun Things for Kids to Do in Victoria
• 7 Romantic Ideas for Couples Who Love Adventure - explore Victoria in an active way
• 8 Relaxing Things for Couples To Do in Victoria - recognized as one of the most romantic cities in Canada
• Romantic Vacation Ideas for Foodies - mix and match these ideas to ensure your Victoria getaway is unforgettable
• Wildplay: A Nature Adventure Park in the City
• 9 of our Best Teens Entertainment Ideas
• Shopping on Historic Government Street - if you're looking for local, unique clothing, accessories, gifts or souvenirs you'll find it here 

Museums, Galleries and the Arts

Victoria and the surrounding Gulf Islands have always had an artsy vibe. There are no shortage museums, galleries and independent artisans displaying (and selling) their goods. The spectacular Royal British Columbia Museum is a must see and for Robert Bateman fans, his namesake gallery at the Inner Harbour should be on your list also. Our most famous event celebrating the arts has got to be the Moss Street Paint In. Add this to your list of things to do in Victoria in mid July.

Other galleries include:

• The Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, 1040 Moss Street
• The Avenue Gallery, 2184 Oak Bay Avenue
• Out of the Mist Gallery, 740 Douglas Street
• Legacy Art Gallery, 630 Yates Street
• Madrona Gallery, 606 View Street

For performing arts:

• McPherson Playhouse, 3 Centennial Square
• The Royal Theatre, 805 Broughton Street
• The Belfry Theatre, 1291 Gladstone Avenue

For more folksy arts and crafts, try creating your own at a place like 4Cats Arts Studio or participating in a Yaymaker event like a Paint Nite. 

Vancouver Island Travel

As fabulous as Victoria is, we recognize that some of our visitors want to see even more of the west coast. And quite frankly, we don’t blame them! There are some spots just too magical to miss if you have the time. Cathedral Grove is one of them. Located in MacMillan Provincial Park just east of Port Alberni (en route to Tofino) this place will take your breath away. Get there if you can.

Tofino and Ucluelet are two other destinations worth of a visit – you’ll want to spend at least 2 or 3 days in the area if you make the journey. It is an approximately 4.5 hours drive (or bus) from Victoria with Hwy 4 being especially scenic.   

Two other spots worthy of your time are French Beach and Goldstream Provincial Park. 

Finally, when planning a trip, you need to know essentials like what the weather might be like, what foods are in season and what’s going on and all the things to do in Victoria on any given month. Our handy vacation planner will answer those questions and so much more!

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