Top Things to do in Victoria
The 10 Best Free Things to do in Victoria, Vancouver Island
Victoria is a thriving city of heritage architecture and time-honored traditions like afternoon tea. With the ocean at its doorstep and wilderness in its backyard, it’s also a perfect place for outdoor enthusiasts. You can find everything from a world-class science and natural history museum to a blooming public park where peacocks roam freely, plus a range of unique shops, cafes and restaurants. And more cycling routes than any other Canadian city, providing a great way to explore the scenery.
Restaurants in Victoria
1. Westsong Walkway
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 113 reviews
Reviewed By dew882mt - Victoria, Canada
This paved walkway borders the northern shore of the harbour. You can walk part or all of it. The whole thing will take you an hour. It is flat-ish and you'll meet runners, dog-walkers, and other friends. Very scenic. Stop for lunch at Spinnakers. Watch the seaplanes take off and land. Take pictures of the legislature and harbour.
2. Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3,095 reviews
Welcome to the Parliament Buildings. Home to the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia, visitors are welcome for free guided tours year-round. Please note, the buildings are currently closed to the public due to the ongoing health crisis.
Reviewed By l0lee123 - Vancouver, Canada
Adrienne was a wonderful tour guide on our free one-hour tour. We went during the COVID-19 pandemic so the tour only covered the outside of the building. We were also lucky in that only the two of us signed up for that time so we basically had a private tour! Adrienne was bubbly, knowledgeable - and really loves the history of not just the Legislative Building, but also other areas of Victoria too. Her passion and enthusiasm rubs off and she's a wonderful storyteller. Highly recommend this free tour of the Legislative Building - it'll add some interesting facts, stories, and context to your visit.
3. Scenic Marine Route
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 723 reviews
Scenic running and hiking trail along the Pacific.
Reviewed By ravenB1885MR - Kingston, Canada
We always rent a car to do the scenic drive... right from the empress , thru James bay , past beacon hill... past willow, past oak bay... all the way to the university... so pretty... Grab lunch at oak bay marina restaurant or oak bay ave ( their main strip) or cadboro beach ( Sinclair road).
4. Ross Bay Cemetery
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 199 reviews
A Victorian-style cemetery containing the earthly remains of Vancouver's most prominent families.
Reviewed By 970wandak - Kelowna, Canada
Overlooking the ocean, this is a lovely final resting place for many Victorians. It is large and well kept, and an interesting place to think of the past and ones future!
5. Government House
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 698 reviews
Government House is the office and official residence of the Lieutenant Governor and the ceremonial home of all British Columbians. The house is located on the traditional territory of the Songhees and Esquimalt First Nations, in the heart of the Rockland neighbourhood in Victoria, British Columbia. While Government House is not open to the public and currently closed for tours, the expansive grounds are open from dawn to dusk.
Reviewed By nicole154945 - Victoria, Canada
not sure why it took me over 30 years to visit govt house. this place is beautiful. take some time to smell the roses and wander past the beautiful flowers.... check out the views of the ocean and mountains on the back side of the house, and enjoy the water ponds, and fountains.... i loved it!
6. Government Street
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 979 reviews
Busy street lined with some of Victoria's biggest tourist attractions.
Reviewed By PookyCake - Victoria, Canada
There can be little doubt that Government Street is an important hub in Victoria. With clear access to the harbour and home to the seat of the Province’s government, it is a major political, economic and transport center; however, reading through the myriad of TripAdvisor reviews, it would be difficult to garner such a picture. Instead, most tend to simplify the Government Street experience to that of a bastion for tourists: “A nice downtown street with lots of stores, restaurants and pubs” is an apt summary of what most say about this significant area of BC’s capital. To a certain extent, such sentiment isn’t entirely wrong – Government Street does carry many a tourist shop and is bustling with visitors from Spring through Fall – but it’s not entirely right, either. Government Street is packed with a lot history. We just need to put down our selfie sticks and open our eyes to see it. Indeed, to talk about Government Street as if it were nothing more than “T-shirt-beach towel & maple syrup shops” is to do it a gross disservice and, I think, just plain ignorant. Such views downplay or outright ignore the history that’s staring them right in the face. For one, Government Street is littered with heritage buildings erected anywhere between 1869 and 1931. Some are listed on TripAdvisor, but a lot aren’t. The fact that a number of these edifices – many built during the Victorian period – are still in use and beautifully maintained speaks to the character of the city. Second, Government Street has held the key to Victoria’s political history since at least the late 1800s, when it became the formal gathering place for our Provincial politicians. Many a consequential decision has been rendered in these handsome Parliament buildings since 1893. Third, Government Street is also home to what I’ll call BC’s earliest example of the cultural mosaic. A large section of Government Street actually cuts through Victoria’s Chinatown (the oldest in Canada), which is a destination in itself. Granted, the Chinese faced segregation in the early years, but the tides of history have worked hard to eliminate this. The end result has been a touring experience – through Government Street – that is socially rich, culturally complex, and thus so much more than mere shops and restaurants. What I really appreciate about Government Street – and Victoria – is the fact that it seems to have struck the proper and right balance between its past and the contemporary present. As you wander this “golden route,” you can explore and see many of this city’s great landmarks and sites: The Inner Harbour, Parliament Buildings, Royal BC Museum, Empress Hotel, Emily Carr House, Historic Chinatown, Munro’s Books, Murchie’s Tea, Cowichan Trading, the ever popular Roberta’s Hats and, to a lesser extent, The Bay Centre. Between all of these sites, there’s a good mix of social, economic, political and even religious history. There’s also a good dose of our current ethos. In short, unlike other major areas I’ve visited elsewhere (Robson Street in Vancouver, for example), Government Street hasn’t jettisoned its vibrant Victorian-era architecture in favour of post-modern gentrification. After ambling about Government Street, one is likely to get hungry. Given that this area of Victoria is such a hub of social activity, it should come as no surprise that there’s a healthy plethora of dining options to be had. If you want something high end, you can certainly have it, but there’s plenty of wallet-friendly options, too. Off the top of my head, I’d recommend attending any one of: Irish Times Pub (building erected in 1894), Q at the Empress, Bard & Banker (opened in 1885 as the Bank of BC; Robert Service worked here a short while), and Brasserie L’Ecole. Or, if you don’t mind deviating off Government, great eateries like Little Jumbo, The Keg, Nautical Nellies and IL Terrazzo are just a few minutes’ walk away. I love how many of these establishments maintain their Victorian-era charm and openly acknowledge their history. Government Street has certainly evolved over the years but, thankfully, it hasn’t willfully chosen to ignore its rich history unlike so many other places. We can come here and admire the Victorian-era heritage, or we can shop and play tourist – it’s our call. At day’s end, we’ll all recognize that Government Street epitomizes Victoria, regardless of why we’re here. Try it – I challenge you. Google “Victoria BC.” The first image you’ll see is of the Inner Harbour with the Parliament Buildings in the background. We all come to Government Street, whether we’re actively looking for it or not; thus, to say “This is not a destination” is foolhardy in the extreme.
7. Wharf Street
8. Beacon Hill Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 4,017 reviews
This park holds a tree planted by Winston Churchill in 1929.
Reviewed By BoardingPass518854
Lovely park - beautiful gardens, paths, playgrounds, ponds, the beach, history, world’s tallest totem pole
9. Inner Harbour
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 5,293 reviews
This scenic patch of waterfront is the location of Victoria's many tourist attractions, recreational activities, restaurants and shopping. For a special treat, have afternoon tea at the grand Empress Hotel or board a ferry for a harbor tour.
Reviewed By Redkitewatcher64 - Andover, United Kingdom
The Inner Harbour is the highlight of any visit to Victoria. Its a perfect place to walk around as there is a pathway around the whole harbour. From here there is a wide selection of shops, restaurants and bars and is the perfect place to watch the float planes and cruise ships visiting the harbour. Here you can watch the water taxi's travelling around the harbour and people out rowing in the harbour. From here you can walk to Chinatown and the main shopping areas, visit the museums and view historic sites like the hotels and Government buildings, Its a perfect place to watch the sunset , and a walk around at night reveals stunning views of the parliament buildings lit up at night
10. Destination Greater Victoria Visitor Centre
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 119 reviews
The Destination Greater Victoria Visitor Centre is Victoria's official visitor resource. Our friendly and knowledgeable staff will answer your questions, make reservations for tours, transportation, hotels, and tickets and share insider tips to make your stay even more enjoyable. Drop in to pick up our Victoria vacation guide, brochures, maps and so much more.
