A day in Sidney, BC
Nestled on the edge of the Salish Sea with spectacular views of the Gulf Islands, San Juan Islands and Mount Baker, Sidney, B.C. offers a fascinating array of fun and memorable things to do. You could easily spend several days exploring the region, but if you’ve only got 24 hours to enjoy Sidney, here are some of our recommendations for getting the most out of your day.
Take in some public art
Maybe it’s the beautiful environment and laid-back lifestyle that make the area such a haven for creative people. Whatever it is, Sidney offers an abundance of arts and cultural attractions. Start your day on Sidney’s main street, Beacon Avenue, home to stunning three dimensional murals and life-like bronzed statues. Along the way, you’ll see evidence of the high quality of visual pieces in many of Sidney’s cafés, which give local artists a chance to show their work to locals and visitors.
Local Tip: Take a leisurely stroll along the Sidney waterfront sculpture walk, where you’ll see art pieces from artists across North America.
Enjoy the outdoors
Sidney is the launchpad to explore the Gulf Islands National Park Reserve, home to a myriad of sensitive plant species and diverse wildlife. The national park reserve offers a variety of opportunities for visitors to learn about and experience an exceptional coastal island landscape and the cultures of the people who live there.
Local Tip: Keep your eyes peeled! The nearby islands are home to seal colonies, porpoise feeding grounds, and sea lions can often be seen basking on sun-warmed rocks.
Eat
With all this activity, you’ll want/need to stop for a bite along the way. With its relaxed West Coast ambiance, Sidney and the Saanich Peninsula are home to [lots of] restaurants and cafés with a focus on all things local and a taste of the international too. For farm-fresh fare, look no further than 10 Acres at the Pier, who source many of their ingredients from their own, you guessed it, 10-acre farm on the Saanich Peninsula. Or, check out Jacks on the Water for a wide range of seafood and classic pub-style favourites. If you’d like to enjoy a great atmosphere and a sit-down meal, choose the slightly more formal The Sidney Pier Hotel + Spa for their Oceanwise seafood, local meats, and house made desserts. It’s the perfect spot to kick back with a cocktail after a day out on the water or seeing the sights.
Browse through Booktown
Not the ourdoorsy type? Enjoy a little retail therapy in Canada’s only booktown. Sidney Booktown has a great selection of new and second-hand titles in six unique bookshops, all within easy walking distance of one another.
Local tip: With only one day in Sidney, you might not have much time to linger, but you can always pick up some great titles to accompany you on your travels!
Choose family fun
Sidney is buzzing with things to do for kids and families. Pick one or more of these family-friendly activities as a fun way to spend the afternoon.
Visit the BC Aviation Museum, with over 20 aircraft on display - including the famed Hawaii Mars, interactive exhibits - where you can even sit in the cockpit of a warplane, the museum provides a wealth of history that can fill an afternoon, or two, or three with fun and learning.
Sidney is also home to an award-winning aquarium that invites you to dive deep, deep below the waves of the Salish Sea, where you can get up close and personal with wolf eels, jellyfish, rockfish, and even a giant Pacific octopus, without having to get wet. Don't miss doing the scavenger hunt, looking through microscopes, or tickling sea urchins in the touch pool.
A few other fun family activities are getting your toes wet at the Iroquois Splash Park, hunting for sea glass at Glass Beach, or watching for seals and minks along Sidney's waterfront.
Extend your stay
If you Sidney is also located a short drive from world-renowned The Butchart Gardens and the Butterfly Gardens. With so much to see and do, extend your day to explore further and overnight in one of Sidney’s nearby accommodation options: The Sidney Pier Hotel & Spa; Beacon Inn at Sidney; Airport Travelodge Victoria or the Best Western PLUS Emerald Isle.
Download Victoria's Vacation Guide
Navigate our map of Greater Victoria
Victoria Visitor Centre
812 Wharf Street
Victoria, B.C.
More Greater Victoria
Corporate Hub
