Canada’s Snowbird Paradise
Victoria: An Insider’s Guide
The Ultimate Victoria Travel Guide
There are many things about Victoria that make it one of the nicest places to visit and live in Canada. The wilderness is easily accessible and abundant, the winters are mild, the gardening almost always in bloom, and there is a distinct laid back lifestyle.
In our Victoria travel guide we will help you find the best hikes in Victoria, as well as many of the top attractions to visit on your trip. Below is some Victoria travel information which will help you plan your trip to perfection, including how to get to Victoria and some of the best places to explore.
Victoria is a year round destination in Canada, with the best weather in Canada (if you don’t like winter and crave summer). You can ride a motorbike and gold year round in Victoria, and it rarely snows.
There are tons of incredible dining options and many great breweries and even wineries not too far away. We will list these further down in our featured partners section of the Adventures Canada travel guide to Victoria.
Victoria has a ton of public coastline, which means there are more panoramic walks with beach access than you could possibly explore on your trip to Victoria. Victoria is also a great city for biking and you can get anywhere by bike. Near Victoria you can visit Sooke, Sidney and Port Renfrew, as well as many of the provincial parks nearby.
We hope this insider’s travel guide to Victoria helps you plan the trip of a lifetime!
Top Attractions Near Victoria
Mount Doug
Mount Douglas is an easily accessible hike with the most under-rated views in Victoria. Mount Douglas has several hiking trails and variations that lead to a panoramic summit with views of Mt Baker, Victoria and the surrounding ocean.
Thetis Lake
Thetis Lake is the perfect place for a forest walk in Victoria with tranquil corners to explore all around the lake. Perfect place to bring your dog or go for a swim on a hot summer day!
Sidney By The Sea
Sidney is a short drive from Victoria and has an amazing ocean pier, as well as a great selection of beaches, ice cream shops and restaurants. The views of the Southern Gulf Islands are pretty special. Sidney is on the way to the ferries and near Brentwood Bay.
East Sooke Park
The spectacular and rugged coast line of East Sooke Park is not something you want to miss. Mossy forest floors and gnarled coastal trees form an incredible 10 km hike along the coast with perfect ocean views and the chance to spot whales.
Beacon Hill Park
Beacon Hill Park is steeped in history and is a staple to the downtown core of Victoria. The perfect place for a picnic, a long walk along the coastline, or to see some totem poles and animals at the petting zoo. This is also home to many rare species of trees.
Goldstream Park
Goldstream Park is the perfect wilderness getaway from Victoria’s downtown and a great place to go hiking in Victoria. Check out the waterfalls, watch salmon spawning, or hike up to the railway trestles for that Instagram moment.
Esquimalt Lagoon
Esquimalt Lagoon is a lovely beach just to the West of Victoria and a great place to go and hang out on a hot day, or to get near the water for sunset.
Things To Do In Victoria
Paddleboarding
With so many protected inlets and accessible beaches, Victoria is the ultimate place to go for a paddleboard.
Hiking
Victoria host’s a huge variety of hikes, with some of the best coastal hikes and walks in BC. Hike to nearby peaks for sunset, or go for a hike along the shore and search for whales.
Paddling
Victoria has an incredible amount of publicly accessible shoreline, making for the ultimate paddling area. There are many inlets to explore and several decent lakes nearby.
Biking
Victoria has some amazing bike trails that wind along the coastlines, and connect several towns and regions together with the Galloping Goose Trail. The neighbouring hills are filled with gnarly mountain biking trails too!
Nature & Wildlife Viewing
There are several wildlife viewing options, with daily whale watching excursions from each harbour, and salmon spawning in the rivers all around the southern coast. Victoria is filled with wildlife viewing opportunities.
Arts and Heritage
Galleries, totem poles, theatres and music shows are easy to find in Victoria. The perfect way to wind down after a fun day on the trails.
Victoria Travel Tips
Getting To/ From Victoria:
Getting to Victoria is super easy with an international airport, and ferries arriving every hour from the mainland and Vancouver. Victoria is the beginning of the Trans Canada Highway.
Driving To Victoria:
Victoria is easy to drive to with Highway 19 coming in from the North and Highway 1 coming from the ferries and Vancouver. Traffic can be pretty bad during rush hour!
Flying To Victoria:
You can fly into Victoria International Airport (YYJ) direct from many places in North America, and can connect with a short 15 minute flight from Vancouver. If the flight connection from Vancouver seems like a pain, compare it to several hours of ferries and connections.
Getting To Victoria By Bus/ Ferry:
Victoria is one several bus routes, including the Tofino Bus and Island Link bus that serve Northern Vancouver Island. You can also hop on a shuttle from Vancouver.
Taking the ferry from Vancouver to Victoria is easier than it seems. You can hop on public transit to get from Vancouver to the ferry in Tsawaassen, with just one connection. Once on the Island the buses are a bit of a pain, but not too bad. You can also hop in a cab from the ferry to downtown for somewhere in the $70 range.
Where To Go Hiking In Victoria
Victoria Top Hiking Trails- Easy Walks & Small Hikes
Dallas Road Trail
1.5 Hours
7 km Return
50 m elevation
Dallas Road shoreline trail is one of the best walking trails in Victoria, BC. You can park in any of the lots along Dallas Road and head east or west, wandering along the paved path. You can take the access points down the the water and if you want, you can head along the water’s edge in either direction as well.
Mackenzie Bight
2 Hours
4 km Return
145 m Elevation
Mackenzie Bight trail is a scenic walk through a lush forest, following a rushing creek as it flows into the ocean. You descend a trail to the ocean and pop out at a tranquil little cove with options to loop around to the right or the left. This is a great place to find some peace and quiet, and go for a swim if you’d like.
Westsong Walkway
1 Hours
4 km Return
No Elevation
The Westsong Walkway is a fun little stroll in downtown Victoria on the Esquimalt waterfront. The trail starts near the bridge over the harbour inlet and heads West, following the waterfront. This is a lovely walk at any time of day and a great place to take in the hustle and bustle of the harbour. There is a bathroom at the end of the trail.
Mount Douglas
7 Hours
12 km Return
1160 m Elevation
Wedgemont Hike is a burly but worthwhile hike in Whistler. There is a lot of elevation gain in not a ton of distance, which means it is consitently steep, with a relatively rough trail.
Wedgemont Lake is absolutely gorgeous and the juice is definitely worth the squeeze. The photos you get will make up for the massage therapy you’ll need after your descent.
Best Hiking Trails in Victoria- Big Day Hikes
East Sooke Park
3 Hours
6 km Return
90 m Elevation
The East Sooke Park hiking trails in Victoria are second to none for coastal views and feeling remote. There are chances to spot whales passing by, and plenty of opportunity to spot bald eagles on this hike in Victoria.
There are several options for this trail, starting from the north or south. The most popular area is starting in the south from Aylard Farm and heading north to Beechey Head. You can return along the same trail or head inland to form a loop. Check out the lichen growing on the trees here, which is a sign of really pristine air!
Mount Finlayson
Time: 2 Hours
4 km Return
450 m Elevation
Mount Finlayson hike in Victoria is a great place to escape the hustle of the city and get up high for some spectacular views of the Olympic Peninsula and surrounding wilderness. The Mount Finlayson (or Mt Finn) hike is in Goldstream Provincial Park and you start at the main parking lot off Highway 19.
Explore Nearby
Vancouver
Whistler
Tofino & Ucluelet
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