8 Epic Activities for a Victoria Day Trip, British Columbia

Located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada, Victoria is the perfect town for a family vacation, romantic getaway, or girls weekend. Not many travel destinations can accommodate all three types of vacations, but Victoria can. The capital city of British Columbia offers activities for the outdoor enthusiast, the shopper, the beauty seeker, and the history buff. These 8 epic activities are so enjoyable, you will want to stretch your Victoria day trip to a several-day getaway!

How to Get Here

Unless you live on Vancouver Island, you will need to take a ferry for your Victoria Day Trip. Most of the activities are walkable or taxi-friendly in Victoria, so you could just take a passenger ferry. However, if you plan to visit Butchart Gardens or other nearby sights, you will either need a vehicle or pay for an excursion that includes transportation. If you are really adventurous, you could take a sea plane to Victoria. I am not that adventurous, and I prefer a ferry!

From Vancouver – BC Ferries

From Port Angeles – Coho Ferries

Best Time of Year for a Victoria Day Trip

The spring and fall seasons are the best time of year for a Victoria Day Trip. The weather is relatively mild and dry year-round, so weather isn’t really an issue no matter when you plan to visit. However, the spring and fall months are far less crowded than the summer months. The best time for whale watching is between April and October.

Fun Facts About Victoria, British Columbia

The earliest settlers of Victoria date back 10,000 years ago when the Salish Coast First Nations people inhabited the area.
Victoria is the southernmost Canadian city and is named after Queen Victoria.
Victoria is known internationally as the “Garden City”. Due to its great weather, flowers can bloom year round, and the region has over 100,000 gardens.
The world’s second tallest freestanding totem pole is located in Victoria’s Beacon Hill Park and sits at a little over 127 feet tall.
Beacon Hill Park is also home to the Mile “0” marker for the 8,000 km (5,000 mile) Trans-Canada Trail.
The first Orca born in captivity was at Marineland of Canada on Vancouver Island.
Victoria is home to Canada’s oldest licensed brewpub, Spinnakers, located on the West Shore of Victoria.
Victoria has the second oldest Chinatown in North America, only behind San Francisco. It is in Chinatown that you can find the narrowest alleyway in all of Canada.

Things to Do on a Victoria Day Trip

1. Shopping Downtown

Shopping downtown on a Victoria Day Trip

If you wanted, you could spend your entire Victoria day trip just shopping along the brightly colored, Victorian-style shops in downtown Victoria. Whether you are shopping for clothes, jewelry, toys, local art, or souvenirs, the stores in Victoria have you covered. The main shopping street is Government Street which is where most people begin their shopping spree. Lower Johnson Street (LoJo) and Market Square is home to many trendy designer boutiques. Antique Row is located on Upper Fort Street between Blanchard and Cook streets. I haven’t even mentioned the many farmer’s markets where you can purchase local products and produce such as The Bastion Square Public Market and the James Bay Market.

2. Afternoon Tea at Fairmont Empress

Completed in 1908, the Fairmont Empress is a luxury, waterfront hotel that resembles a grand chateau and has decadent interior décor. The Empress was built by the Canadian Pacific Railway along with other hotels, such as Banff’s Chateau Lake Louise, as a way to attract wealthy travelers that used the railway as well as the cruises docked at Inner Harbour.

The most popular activity at The Empress is afternoon tea which consists of tea (obviously!), sandwiches, and pastries made from local ingredients. Some of the ingredients even come from the hotel’s rooftop garden and honeybee apiary. The Empress serves over 500,000 cups of tea every year. The pattern on the china used is from 1914 and has been used by royalty such as King George VI and Queen Elizabeth.

3. Butchart Gardens

I used to love visiting botanical gardens when I vacation, but Butchart Gardens has ruined all other gardens for me! No other garden can even come close to the beauty and grandeur of Butchart Gardens. A Victoria day trip could be spent just visiting this National Historic Site of Canada. The five flower gardens, sculptures, and fountains cover 55-acres of what used to be an old limestone quarry. Jennie Butchart began her sunken garden passion project in 1904 when her and her husband moved here from Ontario. Bit by bit, the garden grew over the years into what it is now. As you walk the gardens, you can see over 900 varieties of plants.

Take a ride on the Rose Carousel which carries 30 handcrafted animals. Also, while you are here, shop at the Seed and Gift shop. You can dine at The Dining Room, Blue Poppy Restaurant, Coffee Shop, and Gelateria. Other events at Butchart Gardens include their summer concert series, night illuminations, Saturday fireworks in the summer, the Magic of Christmas, high tea, and more.

4. Fisherman’s Wharf

Fisherman's Wharf on a Victoria Day Trip

Fisherman’s Wharf, located a short walk from Inner Harbour, is a cute assembly of colorful house boats. This area also has small, quick-service restaurants and a few shops. If you are planning on doing a boat or wildlife tour, there is a good chance you will leave from Fisherman’s Wharf. You will also likely see harbor seals, the dogs of the sea, swimming around the docks begging for food.

5. Whale and Wildlife Watching

One of the best things to do on your Victoria day trip is whale and wildlife watching. There are many half day tour options. You can choose to be on a larger boat or a smaller zodiac boat, depending on what you are comfortable with. There is also a sunset whale watching option. After you leave the harbor, you will first stop at Breakwater Lighthouse where seals and se lions like to sunbathe on the rocks before you head out to sea looking for whales.

Prince of Whales is one of the several whale touring companies you can choose. Most companies guarantee whale sightings because there are resident pods that do not migrate and reside in these waters year-round.

6. Craigdarroch Castle

On your Victoria day trip, make sure to take a tour of the Victorian-style Craigdarroch Castle. This castle was completed in 1890 and was built by Robert Dunsmuir, a wealthy Scottish immigrant who made his money from Vancouver Island coal. The 4-story mansion displays the Dunsmuirs’ wealth with its elegant stained glass windows, intricate woodwork, and lavish furnishings. In its lifetime, the castle has also served as a military hospital, a college, and a music conservatory.

Tickets to Craigdarroch Castle must be purchased online. Tours take around 60 minutes and are self-guided. Proceeds from the tickets go towards the ongoing maintenance and restoration of the mansion.

Adults – $20.60
Seniors (65+) – $19.60
Students (13+ with Valid ID) – $14.80
Children (6-12) – $10.00
Children under 6 – Free

7. Parliament Buildings

Facing the Inner Harbour and located diagonally from The Empress, the Parliament Buildings are home to the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. The legislation has been meeting in these buildings since 1898. The architecture style of the buildings is a combination of Baroque and Romanesque Revival details. Free guided tours are offered most weekdays throughout the year and include weekends during the summer.

8. Attend a Seasonal Festival or Event

The nearly perfect year-round weather makes this town a great place for outdoor festivals and events to attend on a Victoria day trip. In addition to minor events like weekly farmer’s markets, here are a list of some of the major events and festivals in Victoria throughout the year.