Season guide · Victoria · Canada
Victoria in spring
March–May: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Hugh Lee, CC BY-SA 2.0
Quick answer
Canada's earliest blossoms, bulbs at Butchart and the start of whale-watching season, with mild temperatures and regular showers. Expect highs up to 17°C (63°F) and lows around 2°C (36°F), with about 38 rainy days across March–May. May is among the best months of the year to visit.
Key facts
- Months
- March–May
- Temperatures
- 2°C (36°F) to 17°C (63°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 38
- Sea
- 8°C (46°F) to 10°C (50°F)
- Crowds
- Quiet
- Hotel prices
- Low
Weather in spring
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March | 10°C (50°F) | 2°C (36°F) | 16 | 11.7 h | 2/5 |
| April | 13°C (55°F) | 4°C (39°F) | 12 | 13.6 h | 2/5 |
| May | 17°C (63°F) | 7°C (45°F) | 10 | 15.2 h | 3/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 13°C (55°F) against a yearly 14°C (57°F), and 38 of the year's roughly 141 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 2/5 and hotel prices 2/5 on average.
What's on in spring
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- 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)
- May: Swiftsure International Yacht Race (usually late May)
Good choices for spring
Museum · Inner Harbour and James Bay
Royal BC Museum and Thunderbird Park
The provincial museum covers British Columbia's natural history, from coastal forests to the ocean, with changing exhibitions.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Rainy day
- Kids
- Art
Castle · Rockland
Craigdarroch Castle
Climb the narrow stairs to the tower top; the view south across the strait to the Olympic Mountains is the reward.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Architecture
- Rainy day
- Views
Aquarium · Sidney
Shaw Centre for the Salish Sea
A small, local aquarium on the Sidney waterfront that shows only animals from the surrounding Salish Sea — octopus, wolf eels, rockfish and anemones — with touch tanks run by enthusiastic staff.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Nature
Day trips in spring
- Cowichan Valley and Duncan (About 50 minutes by car) — North over the Malahat, the Cowichan Valley's mild climate supports wineries, cideries and farm stands.
- Chemainus (About 1 hour by car) — When its sawmill shrank in the 1980s, this small seaside town reinvented itself with large outdoor murals of its logging and pioneer history.
What to pack
- 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
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is spring a good time to visit Victoria?
Yes: May is among the best months. Canada's earliest blossoms, bulbs at Butchart and the start of whale-watching season, with mild temperatures and regular showers.
+What is the weather like in Victoria in spring?
Highs of up to 17°C (63°F) and lows around 2°C (36°F), with about 38 rainy days over the season.