Things to do in Victoria
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Victoria whale watching tour: Salish Sea Eclipse with free photosA 3.5-hour whale watching tour in Victoria's Salish Sea aboard the Salish Sea Eclipse, a 95-passenger catamaran built in Canada. You cruise the Strait of Juan de Fuca with a captain and 3–4 marine naturalists who identify orcas, humpback whales and bald eagles; the boat includes a heated cabin, two washrooms, and complimentary tea, coffee and hot chocolate. Free high-resolution photos of wildlife and your group are included, along with downloadable guides in five languages. If you don't see whales, you get a complimentary return tour from any location until you do.Is it for me?Book this tour for a morning or afternoon in Victoria when you want wildlife and photography without arranging transport or managing your own camera—the boat departs from the Inner Harbour, the cabin keeps you warm, and the naturalists handle both the narration and the photos.
Victoria Food and History Tour: Six Local TastingsA 2-hour guided food and history tour of Victoria begins at Phillips Brewing Tasting Room and moves through seven stops—The Gates of Harmonious Interest, Fan Tan Alley, Market Square, Bastion Square, Government Street, the Inner Harbour, and Parliament Buildings—with six local tastings woven through the route and a live guide in English. The tour runs rain or shine and is wheelchair accessible; children under 19 cannot participate in tastings.Is it for me?Book this if you want a guide leading you through Victoria's history with six tastings built in, or choose the under-19 version if you'd prefer the same route and stories without the food stops.
Victoria Zodiac Boat Whale Watching: 3-Hour Salish Sea TourA 3-hour whale-watching tour from Victoria's Inner Harbour on a 12-passenger open-air zodiac boat, searching the Salish Sea for whales, seals and marine life with an expert guide and all-weather exposure suits. The tour includes a whale sighting guarantee—if you don't see whales, you get complimentary return trips until you do. Children are welcome from age 7, and the $5 Salish Sea Conservation Fee is built into the price.Is it for me?Book this tour if you want to watch from water level instead of a high deck—the open-air zodiac and small group size mean you're close to the action, and the whale sighting guarantee means you'll keep coming back until you see them.
Ghostly Walking Tour in Victoria: Ghost Stories & Local HistoryA one-hour walking tour through Victoria's streets and alleys led by a local guide who tells stories of eccentric characters, heroic deeds, intrigue, murder and ghosts. The tour begins at the Visitor Information Centre on the Inner Harbour (or Market Square during Halloween season) and covers the ground where these tales happened. Suitable for all fitness levels and operates in any weather.Is it for me?Book this if you want to hear Victoria's darker history and strange characters told by someone who knows the city—the guide's storytelling and the real locations where the stories happened make the hour stick with you in a way a museum visit won't.
Victoria - Butchart Gardens Shuttle: Fast Entry & Flexible ReturnYou’ll board a narrated shuttle from downtown Victoria straight to Butchart Gardens—with fast-track entry if you grab your ticket at check-in—and spend hours wandering through themed gardens, lily ponds, and even a carousel if you’re feeling playful. Flexible return shuttles mean you can linger as long as you like before heading back into town with zero hassle.
Victoria: City Tour & Butchart Gardens with Entry TicketYou get hotel pickup, a one-hour guided loop through Victoria's landmarks with three photo stops, entry to Butchart Gardens, and 2.5 hours to explore on your own. A local guide shares the garden's history on the drive and tips on where to spend your time. Small groups and flexible departure times — morning, midday, or evening — mean you can fit it around your schedule.Is it for me?A good fit if you want both Victoria's highlights and Butchart Gardens in one outing without arranging separate transport or buying tickets separately. Plan for a full morning or afternoon out — that's what makes fitting both the city and the gardens into one trip possible.
Victoria: Whale Watching Tour on Covered Boat with Marine BiologistYou’ll step onto a comfortable covered boat in Victoria for three hours of whale watching guided by marine biologists, with indoor warmth or outdoor decks to choose from. Spot orcas and humpbacks in Juan de Fuca Strait while sipping hot drinks and listening to stories from locals onboard. That hush when you see your first fin will stay with you long after you’re back on land.
Victoria Whale Watch Tour: Salish Sea orcas & marine wildlifeA whale watching cruise departing from downtown Victoria's inner harbour aboard the 61-foot Marauder IV, with expert marine naturalists narrating wildlife sightings and natural history throughout the Salish Sea. The boat's side decks run the full length, offering unobstructed viewing and photo opportunities; a heated cabin with large windows keeps you warm if the weather turns. Complimentary coffee, tea and hot chocolate are included.Is it for me?Book this tour if you want to watch for orcas and marine wildlife without arranging your own boat or navigation — the naturalists handle the spotting and the storytelling, the side decks give you room to move and frame shots, and the heated cabin means you stay comfortable no matter the weather.
Victoria: Pedicab Tour from Cruise Terminal with Old Town & ChinatownYou’ll step straight from your cruise ship into a pedicab for an easy-paced tour of Victoria’s character-filled neighborhoods—James Bay’s painted homes, Beacon Hill Park’s peacocks, Emily Carr’s storybook house, Old Town’s lively streets, and Canada’s oldest Chinatown. With local pickup and return included, you’ll soak up real moments—maybe even feed a peacock or taste something new—before heading back to your ship.
Whale Watching Tour in Victoria: Zodiac Boat on the Salish SeaA whale watching tour in Victoria on the Salish Sea aboard an open-air Zodiac boat with a certified Skipper who doubles as a naturalist guide. You wear a Transport Canada-mandated Mustang flotation suit and travel with up to 11 other passengers on a custom-built vessel designed for stability and close approach. The operator guarantees a 95 percent whale sighting success rate during peak season; if no whales appear, you receive a complimentary return trip.Is it for me?Book this tour if you want to be close to the whales and don't mind being out in the open ocean—the Zodiac's design trades a sheltered cabin for agility and the chance to see marine life up close.
Victoria Chinatown & Old Town Food Tour: Chef-Driven TastingsA small-group food tour of Victoria's oldest Chinatown and Old Town, led by a professionally trained guide, with multiple chef-driven tastings from local culinary partners and storytelling about the districts' cultural history and architecture. The tour runs 2.5 hours, includes a guide and all tastings, and operates in all weather; vegetarian options and non-alcoholic samples are available with advance notice.Is it for me?Book this tour if you're new to Victoria and want to understand the neighbourhoods through food and stories rather than just walking past them — the guide's 14 years in the industry means you'll learn why these streets and restaurants matter, not just visit them.
Downtown Victoria Food & City Tour: Local Hidden GemsA 2-hour walking tour of downtown Victoria led by a local guide, stopping at small independent restaurants and bakeries off the main streets to taste BC wine, Middle Eastern street food, authentic Korean corndog, local seafood chowder, chocolate and French macarons. The guide shares the history of Victoria's neighborhoods, landmarks and buildings as you walk. Vegetarian options available with 24 hours notice; not suitable for gluten-free diets. Children from age 3 are welcome.Is it for me?Book this tour if you want to taste what locals actually eat instead of restaurant-row menus, and you're comfortable with a moderate amount of walking and standing while you eat. The small independent stops and the guide's neighborhood knowledge are what make it different from the standard downtown circuit.
Victoria walking tour with food tastings and harbour ferryThis 2.5-hour walking tour moves through Victoria's Old Town—Chinatown, Market Square, Bastion Square and the Inner Harbour—with an expert guide leading stops at independent establishments for 3–4 food tastings, one local cocktail, and two craft beer samples, plus a harbour ferry ride included. The pace is built around tasting, not rushing; non-alcoholic pairings are available for guests under 19 or who prefer them.Is it for me?The guide speaks English and leads the whole group together, so you follow along at a conversational pace without needing to read plaques or use an app. This works well if you want someone to explain the stories behind the streets and the food scene as you walk, rather than discovering them on your own.
Victoria: City Bike Tour with Chinatown, Castle & HarbourYou’ll pedal through Victoria’s vibrant neighborhoods—from historic Chinatown’s hidden alleys to Fernwood’s murals and Beacon Hill Park’s calm green spaces—with a local guide sharing stories along every turn. Expect laughter, real conversation, and glimpses into both grand landmarks and everyday life you might otherwise miss.
Victoria: Whale Watching Zodiac Tour & Salish Sea WildlifeYou’ll zip across the Salish Sea in a Zodiac with an expert local skipper, bundled into a full-body suit as you search for orcas, humpbacks, and sea lions near Victoria. Feel the cold spray on your face and catch glimpses of wild Vancouver Island coastline—plus stories from your guide that make it all stick long after you’re back on land.
Victoria: Zodiac Wildlife Tour with Whale & Sea Lion SightingsYou board a 12-passenger zodiac from Victoria's inner harbour in full cruiser gear and spend three hours with a marine naturalist guide searching for sea lions, seals, whales, otters and eagles across the winter waters. The boat operates daily at 1pm, rain or shine, and you return with dry storage for your belongings and a real sense of what the west coast actually looks like when you're on it.Is it for me?Right for travelers wanting a real encounter with west coast wildlife without the size and distance of a larger boat tour. The three-hour duration and daily 1pm departure fit a Victoria afternoon, though the zodiac's open design and winter conditions mean you need to be comfortable with cold water and motion.
Victoria Seaplane Tour: 30-Minute Scenic Flight Over HarbourA 30-minute seaplane flight from Victoria Harbour that takes off and lands on the water, circling the Strait of Juan de Fuca, Elk Lake, Finlayson Arm and the Saanich Peninsula before returning over the city. Arrive 40 minutes before your departure time; children aged 2–11 pay a reduced fare, and infants sit on an adult's lap. The Digital Tour Guide App narration is free to download; bring your own headphones or listen without them.Is it for me?You take off and land in the city centre, so your seaplane adventure starts and ends where you're already staying—no transfers needed.
Victoria Walking Tour: City Highlights, Parliament & ChinatownYou’ll feel like you’re peeling back layers of Victoria: standing under Parliament’s watchful lions, breathing in cedar at an artist’s studio, squeezing through Fan Tan Alley in Chinatown. With a local guide sharing stories and tips along the way, this walking tour gives you real moments — not just sights — and leaves you seeing Victoria differently.
Victoria Zipline: 8 Lines & Suspension Bridge on Rainforest CanopyYou ride an ATV up through rainforest, then zip across seven lines ranging from 150 to 1,000 feet, cross a 100-foot suspension bridge, and descend through the Pacific Coast canopy with two trained guides. All equipment is provided. The tour runs two hours and operates in any weather. Arrive 20 minutes early for check-in and waiver signing.Is it for me?Book this if you want the adrenaline of ziplining without the logistics—guides manage all the technical details, and the small-group format means you're not waiting in a line of fifty people. The fixed two-hour window and included ATV ride make it easy to fit into a Vancouver Island day.
Victoria to Vancouver: Bus & Ferry Transfer with Flexible Drop-OffYou’ll ride a comfortable coach from Victoria to Vancouver with your luggage handled for you, then cross by BC Ferries through island scenery before being dropped off where you need—downtown, airport or cruise terminal. It’s an easy way to let someone else take care of logistics while you watch coastal British Columbia drift by.
