Best time to visit · Victoria · Canada
The best time to visit Victoria
Weather, crowds, prices and events for every month, so you can pick the trip that suits you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: SamGusway, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
The best time to visit Victoria is May to September, when the weather is dry, sunny and mild, gardens are in bloom and whale-watching trips run daily; July and August are the busiest and most expensive. April and October are good shoulder months, and winter is quiet, mild and wet, with the lowest prices.
Key facts
- Best months
- May–September
- Shoulder season
- April and October
- Warmest month
- July (avg high 22°C (72°F))
- Coldest month
- January (avg high 7°C (45°F))
- Rainiest month
- January (~18 rainy days)
- Lowest hotel prices
- January–February and November
Seasons
Victoria has a mild, Mediterranean-like climate for Canada: dry, sunny summers that rarely get hot, and wet, mild winters with little snow. It is drier than Vancouver because it sits in the rain shadow of the Olympic Mountains.
March–May
Spring
Canada's earliest blossoms, bulbs at Butchart and the start of whale-watching season, with mild temperatures and regular showers.
June–August
Summer
Dry, sunny and rarely above 25°C, with festivals, cruise ships and the busiest Inner Harbour; book hotels and tours ahead.
September–November
Autumn
Often a sunny, quiet September, then autumn colour, the Goldstream salmon run and heavier rain from late October.
December–February
Winter
Mild, wet and grey with little snow, low hotel prices and Christmas lights at Butchart Gardens.
Month by month
Long-term averages (rounded). Crowds and prices are relative, 1 (lowest) to 5 (highest). Daylight is sunrise to sunset on the 15th.
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Sea | Daylight | Crowds | Prices |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7°C | 1°C | 18 | 8°C | 8.7 h | 1/5 | 1/5 |
| February | 8°C | 1°C | 14 | 8°C | 10.1 h | 1/5 | 1/5 |
| March | 10°C | 2°C | 16 | 8°C | 11.7 h | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| April | 13°C | 4°C | 12 | 9°C | 13.6 h | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| May | 17°C | 7°C | 10 | 10°C | 15.2 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| June | 20°C | 10°C | 8 | 11°C | 16.1 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| July | 22°C | 11°C | 4 | 12°C | 15.7 h | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| August | 22°C | 11°C | 4 | 12°C | 14.3 h | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| September | 19°C | 9°C | 6 | 12°C | 12.5 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| October | 14°C | 6°C | 13 | 11°C | 10.7 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| November | 9°C | 3°C | 18 | 10°C | 9.1 h | 1/5 | 1/5 |
| December | 7°C | 1°C | 18 | 9°C | 8.3 h | 2/5 | 2/5 |
Yearly events
Recurring dates shift from year to year; confirm with the organiser before you book.
| Month | Events |
|---|---|
| January | Bald eagles gather at Goldstream Provincial Park after the salmon run (usually December–January) |
| March | Spring bulbs and blossom at Butchart Gardens (March–April) |
| April | Whale-watching season begins (around April) |
| May | Victoria Day Parade (Victoria Day weekend, late May); Swiftsure International Yacht Race (usually late May) |
| June | TD Victoria International JazzFest (usually late June) |
| July | Canada Day celebrations in the Inner Harbour (1 July); Butchart Gardens fireworks (Saturday evenings, usually July–August) |
| August | Symphony Splash — Victoria Symphony on a barge in the Inner Harbour (usually early August); Victoria Fringe Festival (late August to early September) |
| September | Victoria Classic Boat Festival (usually Labour Day weekend) |
| October | Victoria Marathon (usually Thanksgiving weekend in October) |
| November | Salmon run at Goldstream Provincial Park (usually late October to November) |
| December | The Magic of Christmas at Butchart Gardens (usually December); Parliament Buildings and harbour lit for the holidays (December) |
Cheapest and quietest times
Hotel prices are usually lowest in January–February and November, and the sights are quietest in January–February and November.
What to pack
| Season | Pack |
|---|---|
| Spring | Layers, a warm sweater and a jacket for cool evenings; Shoes with good grip for icy pavements; A compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent; Comfortable walking shoes |
| Summer | Light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening; A packable rain jacket for showers; Comfortable walking shoes |
| Autumn | Layers, a warm sweater and a jacket for cool evenings; A compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent; Comfortable walking shoes |
| Winter | A warm coat, hat, gloves and thermal layers; Shoes with good grip for icy pavements; A compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent; Comfortable walking shoes |
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best month to visit Victoria?
The best time to visit Victoria is May to September, when the weather is dry, sunny and mild, gardens are in bloom and whale-watching trips run daily; July and August are the busiest and most expensive. April and October are good shoulder months, and winter is quiet, mild and wet, with the lowest prices.
+When are hotel prices lowest in Victoria?
Usually in January–February and November. Mild but wet and grey; snow is rare. A quiet month for museums and the lowest hotel prices.
+What is the rainiest month in Victoria?
January, with about 18 days of rain on average.
+How hot does Victoria get?
The warmest month, July, averages highs of 22°C (72°F) and lows of 11°C (52°F).