Victoria, Canada

While visiting a friend in Seattle during the July 4th holiday, we decided to take the ferry to Victoria for a few days. A friend I had met years ago while traveling had been living in Victoria for some time, giving me an additional great reason to explore this beautiful city. Enjoy our Victoria travel guide below!

How we traveled there

To get to Victoria, we took the FRS Clipper ferry from Seattle. Make sure to book weeks in advance because there is only one company and one time per day that the ferry runs. All seating is inside the 500-person ferry, but there is a small area on the top of the boat for guests to be outside. I would recommend heading outside 30 minutes before docking in Victoria to see a view of the mountains in Olympic National Park.

The top of the ferry is more expensive with nicer seats, however, you can feel the movement of the boat more. Many people were nauseous on our ferry to Victoria. I would recommend the bottom of the boat and towards the back to feel less of the bouncing. On the way home from Victoria, there were multiple orca whale sightings. This delayed us for an hour since the boat couldn’t use the motor if the whales were too close. Keep this in mind if you have specific plans that day. 

Once you depart the ferry in Victoria, you go through customs, which takes over an hour. If you check a bag on the ferry, you are in the last group off the ferry, which puts you at the end of the customs line. When you leave Victoria, you will go through customs before you board the ferry back to Seattle.

Where we stayed

We stayed at this Marriott in the city of Victoria. It was a nice hotel and walkable to the main downtown area and harbor. 

What activities we did

• Belleville Street had a street fest in front of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia for Canada Day (July 1st). This is a beautiful building to see from the outside and offers tours of the inside. 
• We walked around Beacon Hill Park, which has a rose garden and the world’s tallest freestanding totem pole. It is a large park with beautiful scenery for walks or runs. Right by the park is the beachfront front where we walked down to Point Zero. The views of the Olympic National Park across the water were breathtaking. 
• There was a market off the main street (Douglas Street) where we bought some art and jewelry. 
• We walked around Chinatown, which is the 2nd oldest Chinatown in North America.

Where we ate

We enjoyed everywhere we ate in Victoria, consuming a lot of seafood and many plates of oysters.

• Red Fish Blue Fish was my favorite lunch spot. It was a dockside restaurant known for its Fish & Chips and Tacones. It was fresh and delicious. Prepare to wait 45-60 minutes to order. Every time we walked by there was a long line. 
• Wind Cries Mary was my favorite dinner spot. This is a steak, seafood, and vegetarian restaurant with a cozy brick patio between buildings. It is a great spot for a romantic date night or a girl’s wine night. 
• Vista 18 has a panoramic view of Mount Baker and Olympic National Park. It is at the top of the Chateau Hotel and serves a tasty smokey old-fashioned. Reservations recommended. 
• Finn’s Seafood restaurant has a second-floor patio overlooking the harbor. This was our first oyster stop of the trip!
• 10 Acres Bistro was a casual lunch spot with outdoor seating where we indulged in more oysters. 

Where we drank

• Irish Times Pub – we grabbed a quick pint here. They had live music. 
• Bard & Banker  – two-story bar with live music and a lively crowd.

What we recommend knowing/preparing

• Victoria is known for their beautiful flowers. Peak season is from March to May. 
• Victoria is also known for their high tea. The two places recommended to us were Pendray Inn and Tea House and Tea at The Empress. Reservations recommended. 
• I would consider renting a car to explore more outside of downtown Victoria. 
• Canada’s caramel crisp KitKats are my favorite. I always stock up when I visit!

What we didn’t do but looked into

• HAVN is a floating park-like environment on the edge of Victoria’s inner harbor. It includes green spaces, cold pools, hot tubs, and hand-built saunas. Make a reservation ahead of time; it was sold out the weekend we visited. 
• Bard & Baker board game cafe
• A Taste Of Victoria food tour
• Craigdarroch Castle is a 10-minute drive from downtown
• Butchart Gardens is a recommendation from multiple people. There are tour companies that will bus you there. 
• Whale watching tour – there are many companies offering tours. We ended up seeing whales on the ferry. 
• Miniature World has miniature-themed displays representing historical times & fictional worlds
• Royal BC Museum showcases natural wonders like dinosaurs & includes an IMAX movie theatre
• Malahat Skywalk is a viewpoint of Victoria and its beautiful surroundings 
• Ferris’ Grill & Garden Patio 

What we packed

I wore summer clothes and kept them casual at night. Check out our recommendations for travel clothing and essentials.

We hope you enjoyed our Victoria travel guide. Contact us for any questions. If you are looking to explore more places in Canada, then you should also check out our post on Banff.

~Elyse