7 Reasons to Visit Victoria, B.C.

Named 2024’s #1 Small City in the World by Condé Nast Traveler, discover all the reasons to explore Greater Victoria on your next adventure.

Between mild temperatures, year-round blooms and abundant natural landscape, this unique coastal city begs to be explored. Read on to discover seven reasons to visit Victoria, BC, and why it should be at the top of your travel bucket list this spring.

A young couple enjoys a beach picnic in Victoria, BC

Mild temperature

Victoria, B.C. is ideally nestled in a micro-climate that sees far less precipitation than its West Coast neighbours and has the mildest median temperature in Canada. This means when you visit Victoria, don’t expect a Canadian tundra. You’ll be able to explore Victoria’s lush landscape, secret waterfalls, year-round blooms, mountains and unique natural treasures, 365 days of the year.

Tide pools along Botanical Beach Provincial Park in Victoria, BC

Natural landscape

In a day, visitors can discover complex micro-ecosystems within tide pools at Botanical Beach, stand amongst giants in Avatar Grove, sip wine on the Saanich Peninsula, surf at Sombrio Beach, soak up the sun at Willow’s beach, wander through 55-acres of famous gardens and climb to incredible views in Gowlland Tod Provincial Park. Greater Victoria and the surrounding area has no shortage of landscapes to discover.

Botanical Beach Provincial Park

Sombrio Beach

Willows Beach

The Butchart Gardens

The interior of the Jonathan Hunt House, a recreation of an Indigenous Long House, at the Royal BC Museum in Victoria, BC

History

Victoria’s rugged and pristine wilderness was first home to First Nations people and today retains deep ties to indigenous culture. Learn more by visiting the Royal BC Museum where you can discover the Our Living Languages exhibit, Jonathan Hunt House, and discover the indigenous collections.

Named after Queen Victoria, is it any wonder Victoria is rich in history? Between coal barons building West Coast castles, the oldest Chinatown in Canada, gardens built by royalty, afternoon tea and more, Victoria has stories best recounted in person.

Royal BC Museum

Craigdarroch Castle Historic House Museum

Abkhazi Garden

A couple is served a plate of oyster at Shuck Taylor's, a seafood restaurant, in Victoria, BC

Cuisine

Greater Victoria’s enviable climate allows Islanders to grow, harvest, forage and prepare local dishes far beyond the typical growing season experienced by the rest of Canada. Many restaurants around Victoria have embraced the farm-to-table and boat-to-bowl movements and are offering up some incredible dishes. In 2023, Victoria was named the #8 City for Food in the World by Condé Nast Traveller, a small city with big flavour.

With British roots, it’s safe to say we’ve carried on some traditions, like afternoon tea. Around the city, visitors can find delicious and unique variations on this tradition.

As the brunch capital of Canada, you’ll soon realize why the locals are highly committed to their weekend brunch plans. From Surf + Turf bennies at Vista 18 to Today's Best Brunch Things (a taste of a bunch of different stuff) at Friends of Dorothy to a Dandelion Delight at Nourish Kitchen & Cafe , Victoria offers an incredible brunch selection for every appetite.

Afternoon tea

Vista 18 Restaurant & Lounge

Friends of Dorothy Cocktail Lounge

Nourish Kitchen & Cafe

A couple enjoys a pondside picnic at Beacon Hill Park in Victoria, BC

City of Gardens

Victoria’s mild climate allows horticulture to flourish here, something that shows in the locals’ gardens, great and small. From January through May, streets in Victoria are transformed into tunnels of pink and white as cherry blossoms burst forth. In summer, flower baskets hang from lamp posts and visitors enjoy Beacon Hill Park, a 200-acre park in the centre of the city. Victoria is also home to the world-renowned Butchart Gardens, a 55-acre award-winning garden that is a must-see when visiting.

Beacon Hill Park

The Butchart Gardens

A Humpback Whale breaches out of the Salish Sea off the coast of Victoria, BC

Wildlife

The waters off Vancouver Island are rich in biodiversity. Perhaps most well known is the population of southern resident killer whales that call the Salish Sea home. However, transient orcas, humpback whales, seals, otters, coastal wolves, and more can also be spotted in these waters. Although venturing out on coastal trails always comes with a chance of seeing these magnificent locals, witnessing Vancouver Island’s wildlife first-hand is best done with local whale and wildlife watching companies. If you’re a seasoned scuba diver, delve beneath the surface and explore some of the most vibrant diving in the world.

Whale watching

The BC Parliament Buildings illuminated at sunset in Victoria, BC

Charm

From age-old traditions such as afternoon tea and horse-drawn carriages to classic architecture illuminated at dusk by thousands of lights, Victoria has an undeniable charm. Perhaps just as charming as the city itself, are the locals – named the #1 friendliest in the world (Condé Nast Traveler, 2024).

Afternoon tea

Tally-Ho Carriage Tours

Victoria Carriage Tours

Download Victoria's Vacation Guide

Download PDF The cover of Victoria's Official 2024 Vacation Guide. A crowd of people are on a pier at Victoria's Inner Harbour at sunset on a summer day.

The cover of Victoria's Official 2024 Vacation Guide. A crowd of people are on a pier at Victoria's Inner Harbour at sunset on a summer day.

Navigate our map of Greater Victoria

Download PDF A map of Greater Victoria.

Destination Greater Victoria is honoured to be based on the traditional territory of the Lekwungen-speaking peoples of the Songhees Nation and Xwsepsum Nation, whose historical relationships with the land continue to this day.