3 days in Victoria

Day by day

1. Day 1: BC Parliament Buildings and Fairmont Empress and afternoon tea

   BC Parliament Buildings, Fairmont Empress and afternoon tea and Whale watching from the Inner Harbour, then Downtown and LoJo in the evening.

   1. Morning

      BC Parliament Buildings

      Designed by Francis Rattenbury and completed in 1897, the legislature's granite façade and copper dome topped with a gilded statue of Captain George Vancouver dominate the harbour.

   2. Late morning

      Fairmont Empress and afternoon tea

      Even without tea, walk through the lobby and the rose garden at the side of the hotel.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Afternoon tea

      The Fairmont Empress is the classic; tea rooms in Oak Bay and the Butchart Gardens Dining Room are alternatives.

   4. Afternoon

      Whale watching from the Inner Harbour

      Operators leave the harbour in covered boats or open Zodiacs to search the Salish Sea for orcas, humpbacks and grey whales, as well as sea lions, porpoises and bald eagles.

   5. Evening

      Downtown and LoJo

      Pubs, cocktail bars and live-music venues around Johnson, Yates and Wharf streets.

2. Day 2: Butchart Gardens and Victoria Harbour Ferry

   Butchart Gardens, Victoria Harbour Ferry and Royal BC Museum and Thunderbird Park, then Rock Bay and Vic West in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Butchart Gardens

      Arrive at opening or in the last two hours before closing to see the Sunken Garden without the tour-bus crowds.

   2. Late morning

      Victoria Harbour Ferry

      Small, round-bowed water taxis known locally as 'pickle boats' shuttle between docks around the Inner Harbour, Fisherman's Wharf and Vic West, and run longer harbour tours.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Fish and chips

      Stands at Fisherman's Wharf and waterfront shacks along the Inner Harbour.

   4. Afternoon

      Royal BC Museum and Thunderbird Park

      Check which galleries are open before you visit; Thunderbird Park's poles are free to see at any time.

   5. Evening

      Rock Bay and Vic West

      Craft-brewery taprooms and waterfront brewpubs.

3. Day 3: Craigdarroch Castle and Beacon Hill Park

   Craigdarroch Castle, Beacon Hill Park and Chinatown and Fan Tan Alley, then Fernwood in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Craigdarroch Castle

      Coal magnate Robert Dunsmuir built this Scottish baronial mansion in the late 1880s and died before it was finished.

   2. Late morning

      Beacon Hill Park

      Walk up Beacon Hill itself for a view across the strait, then down to the Mile 0 marker on Dallas Road.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: BC spot prawns

      Seafood restaurants and fish markets during the season, usually May to June.

   4. Afternoon

      Chinatown and Fan Tan Alley

      Founded during the 1858 gold rush, Victoria's Chinatown is the oldest in Canada.

   5. Evening

      Fernwood

      A neighbourhood pub and the Belfry Theatre for a quieter evening.

Before you go

• Fairmont Empress and afternoon tea: Afternoon tea is popular year-round; reserve days or weeks ahead, especially in summer and December.
• Butchart Gardens: Summer and December are busiest; buy tickets online ahead, and reserve dining or afternoon tea separately.
• Whale watching from the Inner Harbour: Book a day or two ahead in summer; many operators offer a free repeat trip if no whales are seen.

If it rains

• Swap in Shaw Centre for the Salish Sea (Sidney): Combine it with Butchart Gardens or a ferry arrival at Swartz Bay; it is a short, easy visit for young children.

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 3 nights, Inner Harbour and James Bay keeps most of this route within easy reach. For a calmer or cheaper base, Vic West and Songhees ($$$) suits couples, quiet stays and luxury. Compare every area.

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 13–18 hours of visiting over 3 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 8.3 hours in December to 16.1 hours in June, so in winter start early and keep museums for the afternoon.

More or fewer days

• One day in Victoria
• 2 days in Victoria

Questions travellers ask