Comparison · Vancouver vs Victoria · Canada
Vancouver vs Victoria
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Quintin Soloviev, CC BY 4.0
Quick answer
Choose Vancouver for Stanley Park and Mountains and ocean; choose Victoria for Inner Harbour and Butchart Gardens. Day-to-day costs are similar, and the two are about 97 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 97 km
- Less expensive
- About the same
- Best time for Vancouver
- June–September
- Best time for Victoria
- May–September
Side by side
| Vancouver | Victoria | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Canada | Canada |
| Known for | Stanley Park, Mountains and ocean and Seafood and sushi | Inner Harbour, Butchart Gardens and Fairmont Empress afternoon tea |
| Best time to visit | June–September | May–September |
| Ideal stay | 4 days | 3 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $200–$350 | $190–$320 |
| Cost level | Expensive | Expensive |
| Warmest month | July, 22°C (72°F) | July, 22°C (72°F) |
| Coldest month | January, 7°C (45°F) | January, 7°C (45°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 9 | 7 |
| Day trips in our guide | 5 | 6 |
| Beaches | English Bay Beach | Willows Beach |
| Airports | YVR | YYJ, YWH |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Vancouver for…
Stanley Park and Mountains and ocean. Vancouver sits on a peninsula between Burrard Inlet and False Creek, with the North Shore mountains rising across the water and Stanley Park's forest at the end of downtown. Visitors come for the seawall, beaches and mountain trails within minutes of the…
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Choose Victoria for…
Inner Harbour and Butchart Gardens. British Columbia's capital sits at the southern tip of Vancouver Island, on the traditional territory of the Lekwungen-speaking Songhees and Esquimalt peoples, looking across the Strait of Juan de Fuca to the Olympic Mountains. Its compact Inner Harbour is…
Top sights compared
| # | Vancouver | Victoria |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stanley Park and the seawall | BC Parliament Buildings |
| 2 | Vancouver Aquarium | Fairmont Empress and afternoon tea |
| 3 | Granville Island | Royal BC Museum and Thunderbird Park |
| 4 | Capilano Suspension Bridge Park | Butchart Gardens |
| 5 | Lynn Canyon Park | Craigdarroch Castle |
Food compared
| Vancouver | Victoria |
|---|---|
| Sushi and the BC roll | Afternoon tea |
| Wild Pacific salmon | Fish and chips |
| Spot prawns | BC spot prawns |
| Japadog | Dungeness crab |
Which is cheaper?
Vancouver and Victoria cost about the same: a mid-range day is roughly $200–$350 in Vancouver and $190–$320 in Victoria (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Victoria on a budget.
Can you visit both?
Yes. Vancouver and Victoria are about 97 km apart, so they combine well in one trip: allow 4 days in Vancouver and 3 in Victoria.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Vancouver or Victoria cheaper?
Neither is clearly cheaper: a mid-range day costs about $200–$350 in Vancouver and $190–$320 in Victoria (estimates).
+Is Vancouver or Victoria better for a first trip?
Pick Vancouver for Stanley Park and Mountains and ocean, or Victoria for Inner Harbour and Butchart Gardens.
+How far is Vancouver from Victoria?
About 97 km in a straight line.