HOW TO SPEND FOUR DAYS IN VICTORIA
Four days is the perfect amount of time to spend in Victoria, a great destination for your next long weekend. With a European vibe, Victoria feels like stepping back in time. There’s a rich cultural heritage, and a British influence that can be seen in its architecture and traditions.
Victoria is a great choice for a relaxing weekend of shopping, strolling, and sightseeing, though you can be as active as you’d like on Vancouver Island. The island is flush with natural landscapes and history, making Victoria the perfect jumping off point if you’d like to extend your vacation and road trip up the coast.
Getting There
Victoria is nestled on the southern tip of Vancouver Island, and while Victoria technically has its own international airport, it’s much more economical to fly into Vancouver (YVR) on the mainland and take the ferry over.
You’ll take the 90 minute ferry from Tsawwassen terminal on the mainland to Swartz Bay on Vancouver Island, then travel 40 minutes by car or 90 minutes by bus to downtown Victoria. The ferry runs at $19.50 CAD one-way.
Getting Around
Downtown Victoria is pretty walkable, and if you’re not extremely mobile, the bus has many routes throughout the city.
For travel outside the city center, you can take the bus, like we did, but it’ll cost you a lot of time. It’s far more convenient to rent a car when exploring more of the island. When possible, we always opt for public transport, but Victoria was pretty car friendly.
Where to Stay
There are a great variety of accommodation options, ranging from budget hostels to luxury hotel chains and boutique stays. The most famous hotel in Victoria is the historic Fairmont Empress Hotel, known for its crawling ivy and high tea. But if you’re on a budget, you can find great rates at hotels like the Doubletree or Best Western.
We chose to stay at a great AirBnB in Chinatown, about a 10 minute walk from the Inner Harbour. We stayed in Victoria for a week and with a stay that long, we always choose an AirBnB so we can cook our own meals and do our laundry. Personally, I love staying in an apartment in a real neighborhood as I feel so much more immersed in the culture than from a hotel.
Day One
Arrive in Victoria, drop off your bags, and get out and stretch those legs.
Walking Tour
We try to include a walking tour in every city we visit and Victoria was no exception. We reserved spots with Toonie Tours and thoroughly enjoyed our guide. Tours run everyday at 10 am and again at 2 pm and 6 pm during high season. If you’re getting in too late for a tour, you can do this in the morning on day 2. On your tour, you’ll visit popular Victoria sights including the BC Legislative building, the Empress Hotel, and the Inner Harbour before the main drag of shops on Bastion Square and Chinatown.
Stroll through Downtown
If you get in too late for a walking tour or dislike the formal tour style, you can recreate your own by walking down Government Street. Start at the BC Legislative building and walk north on Govt to see all the sights mentioned.
Beacon Hill Park
Grab yourself some ice cream off Bastion Square and head to Beacon Hill Park to spend the afternoon and watch the sunset. With 183 acres of parkland, Beacon Hill is Victoria’s best green space. You’ll often find peacocks strutting through the manicured flower beds and greenbelt. The park stretches to the southern tip of Vancouver Island, giving you a lovely view of the sunset and Mt. Olympus over the water. Tip: there are also free public restrooms here, if you’re in a pinch.
Day Two
Spend your first full day immersing yourself in Victoria and the history and culture of the small Coastal city.
Craigdarroch Castle
Start the day off at Craigdarroch Castle, where the Dunsmuir family built their legacy in the late 1800s. Built during the Victorian era, the large mansion was a staple of its time. Through a self-guided tour, you can visit the four floors of the castle and see how it changed through time. Tickets for self-entry are $20.60 CAD and can be purchased on site.
High Tea at the Empress
To carry on with your Victorian experience, stop at the Empress next for afternoon tea. Really more of a meal, this traditional English tea is the quintessential Victoria activity. Of course, the Empress experience is quite expensive, at $95 CAD per person. If you’re on more of a budget but still want to enjoy the British pastime, many spots in the city serve high tea. Try the White Heather or one of the boutique hotels along the harbour. As this is a very popular tourist activity, make sure to book a reservation ahead of time to guarantee your spot.
Fisherman’s Wharf
Just around the corner from the Inner Harbour, Victoria’s Fisherman’s Wharf is a small pier with various shops, food stalls, and marine tour origination points. It’s known for the colorful floating homes and shops along the wharf. Make sure to visit before evening to hit the shops before they close. We found it not a significant destination, but a cute area to walk through if you have the time.
Day Three
On your last full day in town, get out of the city to explore.
Butchart Gardens
If you only do one thing in Victoria, I would recommend visiting Butchart Gardens. The 120 year old gardens are world famous for their whimsical design and year round blooms. The gardens are north of the city, about 30 minutes by car or an hour by bus. The grounds include 55 acres of manicured flower beds, pathways, ponds, and more, where you can easily get lost for several hours. Tickets are pro-rated based on the season, ranging from $22.90 CAD in the winter to $41.50 CAD in peak summer.
You can bring a picnic lunch into the gardens and enjoy it on the lawn, or even eat at one of the onsite restaurants. We chose to indulge in their afternoon tea, as the garden felt like the perfect setting. (I loved the experience -- Jarod not so much).
Royal BC Museum
After lunch, head back into town and learn more about Victoria’s history at the Royal BC Museum. Exhibits feature the natural and cultural heritage of British Columbia, including displays about local wildlife, colonial history, and indigenous peoples. The attached IMAX theater often offers pieces that complement or further explain the exhibits. Tickets cost $18 CAD per person. We didn’t actually visit the museum, but I’ve heard great things about it!
Whale Watching
Victoria is one of the best places to see whales in the wild, situated on the tip of Vancouver Island in between the Haro Strait and Salish Sea. Many operators originate out of Victoria, so you can take your pick to find the best itinerary for your needs.
Day 4
On your last morning in town, squeeze in a quick morning hike before checking out and saying goodbye to Victoria.
Mount Douglas
If you’re game for some physical movement, Mt Douglas is the perfect short hike with a big view payoff. Located about 25 minutes from downtown Victoria by car or an hour by bus, Mt Douglas Park offers a network of trails, connecting down to the beachy coast and up to the summit of Mt. Doug. It’s a fairly quick, but steep path up to the summit, or you can choose to take the winding road up the mountainside, for an easier incline. Bring a picnic or a blanket and take in the 360 degree views of Victoria and Vancouver Island.
Our Thoughts
We visited Victoria in tandem with Vancouver on a trip to the Pacific Northwest last year and found the city quaint and charming. We spent six days on the island and if we had to do it again, I think we’d choose no more than four. Victoria itself is very small and without a car, we had troubles trying to explore much outside the city itself. I would definitely visit again, but the city didn’t rank highly on my must-sees. Read more about our time in the two cities here.
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