Victoria Overview
Victoria is a timeless capital where you find grand, classic architecture standing alongside a harbour of houseboats and sailing ships. Stately homes feature manicured gardens, but they overlook the clear, untamed waters of the Salish Sea. Victorians savour their way of life, moment by moment. Encounter a city ready for your kind of adventure at a pace that you choose. It is a place to breathe the sea air and enjoy the feeling, nature and culture so different from everyday life.
Whether this is your first or twentieth visit, the Royal BC Museum’s extensive galleries and interactive spaces will surprise you with something new and engaging. With 26,000 square feet of indoor exhibits and seven million artefacts there is no better place to see all of BC in an afternoon.
Home to the mildest climate in Canada it’s no wonder Greater Victoria has been dubbed The City of Gardens. The Butchart family has built a legacy of a world-renowned garden with over a million bedding plants in 900 varieties, The Butchart Gardens is a must-see year round. Discover the epic love story between a prince and a commoner that stretched decades at Abkhazi Garden or wander through nine acres of gardens set in a conservation park at The Gardens at HCP.
Home to quaint shops, local food markets and unique boutiques there are a variety of great shopping opportunities in Victoria! Lower Johnson Street, more commonly known as LoJo, is a district of trendy boutique shopping with independent fashion and accessory shops, it’s also home to the entrance of Market Square where you’ll find a wonderful selection of one-of-a kind merchandise. If you’re after something more offbeat, head to Canada’s oldest Chinatown and stroll down Fan Tan Alley, North America’s narrowest street, lined with quirky shops and restaurants. For an assortment of local artisans, farmers, butchers and bakers head to the historic building housing Victoria Public Market.