VICTORIA BC
Beautiful and historic, Victoria is a fantastic place to visit. Known as the Garden City, it's in full bloom in spring and summer, and has such a mild winter, you can golf year-round! Easily accessible from Vancouver, Victoria is the perfect day trip.
Wander the quaint downtown core with its British colonial architecture to shop, sightsee, admire heritage buildings, visit stunning gardens, then relax over afternoon tea. If you’re looking for a more active and adventurous day, rent bicycles to explore the city’s many paths and trails, or hit the water for an afternoon whale watching.
Don't miss Butchart Gardens - world-renowned for its 55 acres of year-round, spectacular floral displays and theme gardens!
GETTING HERE
One of the best things about Victoria as an incredible island destination is the journey itself. The only tough part is having to leave.
Whether you’re looking for convenience, affordability or comfort, Victoria and Vancouver Island are well served by transportation carriers. Go the ferry route for a relaxing, scenic cruise, hop on a float plane or helicopter and enjoy breathtaking aerial views, or fly directly to the Victoria airport.
Cruising through the Strait of Georgia aboard a BC Ferries vessel comes with many benefits, including fresh air out on the deck, breathtaking scenery you can only see from the water, and a good chance of spotting marine wildlife. Keep your camera ready, as whales, dolphins, and sea lions frequent this route, particularly in the spring and summer, and you’ll want to capture the scenery as you sail through Active Pass
To make the crossing in a decidedly West Coast way, fly with Harbour Air Seaplanes. Take off in the Vancouver harbour, and land about 40 minutes later in the Victoria harbour. The quick flight leaves you plenty of time to experience Victoria for a day, and frequent departures allow for lots of flexibility. Arrive early (or pay a small fee) to get a window seat. You won’t regret it. The views over Vancouver, the Gulf Islands in the Strait of Georgia, and the Victoria harbour are stunning.
Insider Tip: Be sure to make reservations in advance. These small planes have limited seating capacity, and they can fill up fast.
Helijet is another great option if you prefer to see the sights from up high. The smooth helicopter crossing takes about 35 minutes, and Helijet offers several daily flights between Vancouver’s waterfront and Victoria’s.
If you’re travelling with kids, book your flight in advance to take advantage of their Kids Fly Free offer, which allows for one child 12 years or younger to fly free with a fare-paying adult.
