I’m visiting Victoria! Now what?

I made this for my friends. You can look at it, too.

First to note! Victoria is the capital city of British Columbia (BC), and it is located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island. Vancouver (the city) is located on the mainland. Confusing, right? You’re not coming to Victoria Island, though. That’s here, and you didn’t pack enough layers.

These are all walkable from central downtown (or a quick hop on a bus) unless otherwise indicated. I’ve tried to organise things into little groups by area, so pick your vibe and enjoy! Follow the order if you don’t want to be wandering aimlessly

What am I supposed to do before 11 am! Everything is closed!

Early bird coffee shops

  • Habit Coffee (usually opens at 8am – both locations)
  • Fernwood Parsonage Cafe (7am)
  • North Perk Cafe (7am weekdays, 8am weekends)
  • Cafe Fantastico (7am)
  • Bean Around the World cafe (7am)

Nice walks

  • Inner Harbour, Songhees walkway
  • Dallas Road Waterfront
  • Beacon Hill Park
  • Inner Harbour, James Bay side

Things to do from morning to lunch 9am-2pm (ish) 

Cook Street Village and Beacon Hill Park

Fernwood & Rocklands

James Bay

The Downtown Tourist Special

Chinatown Foodie

Health & Wellness

  • HAVN Sauna ship in the Inner Harbour (book well in advance)
  • Lunch at Nourish Cafe in James Bay (15 minute walk)

Waterfront Walk and Cute Boutiques

  • Start off at Hey Happy! for coffee and/or brunch 
  • Walk across the Johnson St. bridge and down along the waterfront/Songhees Park
  • After 11am, loop back for shops on
    • Johnson St. (Don’t miss the Regional Assembly of Text, Good Vibe Space)
    • Market Square (Don’t miss Paboom, Vintage After Death, Thrift Craft)
    • Fan Tan Alley – Chinatown, narrowest street in North America
    • Fisgard Street (Don’t miss Fantan Home & Style, the Modern Mercantile)
    • Government Street north (Don’t miss Public Mercantile, Fat Sisters Vintage, CREDO home goods)

One with nature

Shop ‘til you Drop – the Vintage Edition

  • Get late breakfast at Picnic Too or the Breakfast Shop around Fort and Cook St.
  • Around 11, start at Fort St. between Cook & Vancouver and just use your eyeballs – you will spot vintage shops
  • Once you get to Blanshard, go north a few blocks and turn left on Yates for Cheers Vintage Collective

Afternoon and Evening 3-7pm (ish)

The Vintage Edition (continued)

  • In the 8ish blocks between Douglas, Yates, Wharf, and Pandora, you’ll find:
    • Second Degree Vintage
    • Bric a Brac Salvage
    • Key Vintage
    • Cherry Pick Vintage
    • Upstairs Vintage and Secondhand
    • Victoria Vintage
    • Vintage After Death
  • This will land you in an area with tons of restaurants. Have your pick!
  • If you want to keep up the vintage vibes, check out:
    • Tora Tiki for Mai Tais, Pina Coladas, and karaoke
    • Citrus and Cane, a stunning retro cocktail bar (this area can be a tad sketchy late at night, pay attention to your surroundings – but worth it!)

Craft Brew Tour

Bougie Art & Dining

Artsy Oddball Evening

-OR-

-THEN-

-OR-

Bookish with Fancy Cocktails

  • Start out at Russell’s Books on Fort St. 
  • Bastion Books (rare and old, closes at 5)
  • Munro’s books (open the latest)
  • Small plates and cocktails at the Humboldt Bar – and if you really want to get on theme, make one of your book purchases “The Invention of Nature” by Andrea Wulf and learn all about Humboldt

Or for a later evening 

Theatre:

Concerts:

Film: 

  • Odeon Cinema, with dinner at: 
  • Royal BC Imax (new releases and docs), with dinner at:
  • The Vic Theatre (indie and art-house films), with dinner at: 
    • Clives (classic lounge with foods and cocktails)
    • Tourist Wine Bar
    • Horin Ramen
  • The Roxy Theatre (single-screen)

Miscellany:

  • Dino Lab tours
  • Pub Trivia – Just Google. It changes, but there’s likely one happening somewhere.
  • Baseball – the Harbour Cats play June – early August (food trucks and concessions)
  • Hockey – the Victoria Royals play September – spring (concessions)

Kids (of all ages) stuff

Day trips

With a car

  • Farm and Cidery tour (just use Google and roam the Saanich peninsula)
  • Botanical Beach
  • South coast beach and waterfall tour (14W as far as you dare)
  • Salt Spring Island – or any of the nearby islands, catch a ferry!
  • Sooke Potholes (beautiful hikes, swimming in hot weather)
  • Bilston Creek Farm (lavender farm and restaurant) and Witty’s Beach
  • Duncan

Without a car (less than an hour-ish on the bus)

  • Sidney (cute little town by the water, catch bus 72)
  • Sidney Island – small island with hikes and beaches (catch bus 72)
    • Sidney Spit Ferry runs mid-May to labour day
    • Bring a picnic – there is nothing there except nature!
    • Also has camping, you could turn this into a weekend trip
  • Thetis Lake – scenic lake with hiking (take bus 95 > 53)
  • Island View Beach Regional Park
    • Rent a bike and head up the Lochside Trail (about 90 min)
    • Pack a picnic or stop by Michell’s Farm Market for bakery goods and produce

Weekend trips

With a car

  • Chemainus
  • Ladysmith
  • Sooke

Without a car

  • Sidney Island Camping (see above for transportation)
    • Register for a spot with Parks Canada (search Gulf Islands)
  • Sooke and Whiffin Spit (about two hours each way on the bus)
    • Whiffin Spit is a natural area – lots of birds!
    • Take the bus back to the Murray Rd. & Sooke Rd. intersection afterward and check out the shops and restaurants

Grand adventures

With a car

  • Strathcona Park
  • Courtney/Comox
  • Campbell River
  • Tofino/Ucluelet
  • North Island
  • Gulf Island hopping

Without a car

  • Anywhere Island Link bus goes
  • Bamfield and the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve (hiking, boats, wildlife)
    • Take the Island Link bus from Victoria to Port Alberni
    • Stay overnight in Port Alberni
    • At 8am, travel with the Lady Rose Marine to Bamfield (sails Tues, Thurs, Sat)
    • Do something fun in Bamfield for a couple of days
    • Get back to Port Alberni the way you came (Tues/Thurs/Sat at 1:30pm)

Dates to (potentially) plan your trip around

  • Phillip’s Backyard Concert series
  • Rifflandia musical festival
  • Times Colonist used book sale
  • The salmon run season
  • Cherry blossom season