6 best day trips from Victoria

Day trips compared

The day trips

60 km · About 50 minutes by car

1.Cowichan Valley and Duncan

North over the Malahat, the Cowichan Valley's mild climate supports wineries, cideries and farm stands. Duncan, the 'City of Totems', has dozens of carved poles around its small downtown, and the Kinsol Trestle, one of the tallest wooden railway trestles in the world, carries a trail over the Koksilah River.

Getting there

Car via the Malahat (Highway 1)

Best for

Food lovers, Couples, Culture

80 km · About 1 hour by car

2.Chemainus

When its sawmill shrank in the 1980s, this small seaside town reinvented itself with large outdoor murals of its logging and pioneer history. It also has a busy summer theatre and a ferry to Thetis Island.

Getting there

Car via Highway 1

Best for

Culture, Families, Quiet stays

40 km · About 45 minutes by car

3.Sooke and East Sooke Park

East Sooke Regional Park has rugged coastal trails over rocky headlands, with petroglyphs at Alldridge Point and views of the Olympic Mountains. The Sooke Potholes, a series of river pools, are popular for summer swimming.

Getting there

Car via Highway 14

Best for

Quiet stays, Couples, Families

110 km · About 2 hours by car

4.Juan de Fuca coast and Botanical Beach

Highway 14 follows the wild Pacific coast past China Beach and Mystic Beach to Port Renfrew, where Botanical Beach's sandstone shelf is full of tide pools with anemones, urchins and sea stars at low tide. The area is also known for giant old-growth trees.

Getting there

Car via Highway 14 to Port Renfrew

Best for

Quiet stays, Families, Couples

45 km · About 1.5 hours including the ferry

5.Salt Spring Island

The largest of the Southern Gulf Islands is known for its artists' studios, cheese makers and farms. On summer Saturdays, the market in Ganges sells local crafts, bread and produce.

Getting there

BC Ferries from Swartz Bay to Fulford Harbour

Best for

Food lovers, Couples, Quiet stays

110 km · About 3.5 hours by bus and ferry; 35 minutes by floatplane

6.Vancouver

A day in Vancouver can cover Stanley Park, Granville Island and Gastown. By ferry it is a long day; a floatplane between the two harbours is quicker and scenic but much more expensive.

Getting there

BC Ferries via Swartz Bay–Tsawwassen, or floatplane from the Inner Harbour

Best for

First-timers, Food lovers

Day-trip tips

• Leave early: most trips are more relaxed with a morning departure and a return before dinner.
• Check the BC Transit website or app for routes and fare options before you ride.
• For trips over about 150 km, an overnight stay or an organised tour saves a lot of travelling.

Questions travellers ask