Victoria, British Columbia

Charming & Super Natural

Victoria is a timeless capital where you will find grand, classic architecture standing alongside a harbour of houseboats and sailing ships. Stately homes feature manicured gardens, but they overlook the clear, untamed waters of the Salish Sea. Victorians savour their way of life, moment by moment. Encounter a city ready for your kind of adventure at a pace that you choose. It is a place to breathe the sea air and enjoy the feeling, nature and culture so different from everyday life. 

Did You Know...

  • Victoria is the capital city of British Columbia and is located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island off the west coast of Canada.
  • Vancouver Island has an area of 31,285 km² and is comparable in size to countries like Belgium, Moldova and Taiwan.
  • Victoria resides on the unceded traditional territory of the Lekwungen Peoples.
  • Victoria is surrounded by the Salish Sea, which comprises the Juan de Fuca Strait, Puget Sound, and the Strait of Georgia.
  • Victoria’s Chinatown is the oldest in Canada and second oldest in North America. Fan Tan Alley is Canada’s narrowest street.
  • Greater Victoria is home to 17 craft breweries, including Canada’s oldest licensed brewpub, Spinnakers Brewpub, which opened in 1984. 
  • The start of summer is signified by the hanging of 1,600 flower baskets around the city, a tradition that began in 1937.
  • The Butchart Gardens, a National Historic Site, has over 1 million bedded plants from over 900 varieties.
  • Victoria has been recognized as the Cycling Capital of Canada, with the highest proportion of the population (at 6.6%) cycling to work.
  • Goldstream Provincial Park, 16 km outside of downtown Victoria, contains old-growth trees known to be over 600-years old.
  • Beacon Hill Park is home to what was once the tallest story pole in the world, measuring 127 feet and 7 inches.
  • Hatley Castle, part of Royal Roads University in Colwood, has appeared in several movies and TV shows, including X-Men, Deadpool, Smallville and Arrow, to name a few.