Month guide · Victoria · Canada
Victoria in January
What January is really like in Victoria: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Grnpolk, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
January is a quieter month with trade-offs. Expect average highs of 7°C (45°F), lows of 1°C (34°F), about 18 rainy days and roughly 8.7 hours of daylight. Mild but wet and grey; snow is rare. A quiet month for museums and the lowest hotel prices.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 7°C (45°F) / 1°C (34°F)
- Rainy days
- About 18
- Daylight
- About 8.7 hours
- Sea temperature
- 8°C (46°F)
- Crowds
- Very quiet
- Hotel prices
- Lowest
Weather in January
January is the 11th-warmest month in Victoria: days average 7°C (45°F) against a yearly average high of 14°C (57°F), and nights fall to about 1°C (34°F). Rain falls on roughly 18 of its 31 days. Compared with December (7°C (45°F)), January is about as warm; by February highs stay near 8°C (46°F).
- Sunrise (15 January)
- About 08:00
- Sunset (15 January)
- About 16:45
- Daylight
- About 8.7 hours
- Sea
- 8°C (46°F)
Winter (December–February). Mild, wet and grey with little snow, low hotel prices and Christmas lights at Butchart Gardens.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, January rates 1 for crowds (the peak is July at 5) and 1 for hotel prices (highest in July). That makes January one of the better-value months to book.
Events in January
- Bald eagles gather at Goldstream Provincial Park after the salmon run (usually December–January)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in January
With cold days, plan around indoor sights and keep outdoor time flexible.
Museum · Inner Harbour and James Bay
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.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Rainy day
- Kids
- Art
Castle · Rockland
Craigdarroch Castle
Coal magnate Robert Dunsmuir built this Scottish baronial mansion in the late 1880s and died before it was finished.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Architecture
- Rainy day
- Views
Aquarium · Sidney
Shaw Centre for the Salish Sea
Combine it with Butchart Gardens or a ferry arrival at Swartz Bay; it is a short, easy visit for young children.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Nature
Architecture · Inner Harbour and James Bay
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.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Architecture
- Free
- After dark
- History
What to pack
For highs near 7°C, lows near 1°C and 18 wet days: 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.
Is January a good time to visit Victoria?
A quieter month with trade-offs, with a notable event on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, May–September are better overall. Compare every month.
Victoria in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is January a good time to visit Victoria?
It is a quieter month with trade-offs. Mild but wet and grey; snow is rare. A quiet month for museums and the lowest hotel prices.
+How warm is Victoria in January?
Average highs are around 7°C (45°F) and lows around 1°C (34°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Victoria in January?
Expect rain on about 18 days of the month, so pack for wet weather.