Sight guide · Victoria · Canada
Visiting 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.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
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Quick answer
Victoria Harbour Ferry is an experience in Inner Harbour and James Bay, Victoria. Allow 15–45 minutes; it is low cost. Booking ahead is not usually needed.
Key facts
- Type
- Experience
- Area
- Inner Harbour and James Bay
- Time needed
- 15–45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Book ahead
- Not usually needed
- Good for
- kids and views
- Best months
- April–May and October
About 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. On some summer mornings the boats perform a 'water ballet' in front of the Empress.
Tip: Buy a harbour tour rather than a single hop for the full loop, including the Gorge waterway.
Plan your visit
- Time needed: 15–45 minutes.
- Cost: Low cost.
- Book ahead: not usually needed; buy on arrival.
- Where: Inner Harbour and James Bay, parliament, the Empress and seaplanes on the harbour, with heritage houses behind.
Best time to visit Victoria Harbour Ferry
To avoid the biggest crowds, aim for the quietest of the good months:
- April: 13°C (55°F) highs, about 12 rainy days, quiet crowds.
- May: 17°C (63°F) highs, about 10 rainy days, moderate crowds.
- October: 14°C (57°F) highs, about 13 rainy days, moderate crowds.
For the view at golden hour: in mid-April the sun sets at about 20:04 local time (calculated for Victoria).
When to visit Victoria has the full month-by-month picture.
Fit it into your trip
Our 3-day Victoria itinerary visits Victoria Harbour Ferry on day 2, together with Butchart Gardens and Royal BC Museum and Thunderbird Park.
- No. 5 of the 18 sights in our Victoria things-to-do list.
- Day 1 of the 1-day plan.
- Day 1 of the 2-day plan.
- A family favourite in Victoria with kids.
Near Victoria Harbour Ferry
Also in Inner Harbour and James Bay, so you can walk between them:
- Emily Carr House — 45 minutes, low cost
- Dallas Road waterfront and Ogden Point Breakwater — 1–2 hours, free
- Whale watching from the Inner Harbour — 3 hours, expensive
If you like Victoria Harbour Ferry
- Fort Rodd Hill and Fisgard Lighthouse — Colwood, 2 hours
Staying near Victoria Harbour Ferry
Stay in Inner Harbour and James Bay ($$$$) to walk here: parliament, the Empress and seaplanes on the harbour, with heritage houses behind. All areas to stay in Victoria.
Questions travellers ask
+How long do you need at Victoria Harbour Ferry?
Plan 15–45 minutes. With Emily Carr House nearby, it fits a half-day in Inner Harbour and James Bay.
+Is Victoria Harbour Ferry free?
No, it is low cost. Tickets are usually available on the day.
+When is the best time to visit Victoria Harbour Ferry?
April–May and October, the quietest of the good months. Buy a harbour tour rather than a single hop for the full loop, including the Gorge waterway.
+Do I need to book Victoria Harbour Ferry in advance?
Usually not: you can decide on the day.
+Is Victoria Harbour Ferry good for kids?
Yes, it is one of our family picks in Victoria. Victoria is a gentle, easy city for families: short walking distances, a children's farm with a goat stampede, whale watching, a harbour full of boats and seaplanes, and beaches and tide pools nearby.