Victoria

Quick Area Guide

Victoria, British Columbia, rests on the southern tip of Vancouver Island surrounded by rugged Pacific coast views or manicured gardens. Named the Best City in the Americas twice since the year 2000. According to the 2001 census, about 325,000 people make their home in the Greater Victoria area. Victoria is the Capital City of British Columbia. Located in sub-Mediterranean zone, Victorians enjoy some of the most moderate weather in all of Canada. Victoria boasts an average of 2,183 hours of sunshine yearly, and an eight month frost free season. Average annual rainfall is 26.2 inches (compared to over 50 inches in New York). Referred to as the 'Garden City', Victoria is always in bloom. The Garden City is a year-round tourism destination that offers a friendly, safe haven for all visitors. Getting here is very easy, and, once here, you will feel a million miles away. The beauty and adventures are endless. Explore Vancouver Island, the Gulf Islands or the City of Vancouver without difficulty from Victoria. Old world charm meets today's lifestyle. The inner harbour is always full of activity and perfectly situated for enjoying some of Victoria's finest attractions, shopping, restaurants and views. Vancouver Island possesses a tremendous array of entertainment, sports and recreation, many parks and countless ways to relax. Hike, kayak, sail, surf or ski on your island paradise. It is no surprise that Victoria is one of the world's favourite places with its mild climate, clean and safe environment, as well as its amazing beauty. Victoria is the place to find adventure or to simply enjoy a premium living experience.

Attractions

Butchart Gardens

More than a million people visit Butchart Gardens each year to enjoy floral displays and themed gardens on a scale seen in only a handful of places in the world. Seven hundred varieties of bedding plants provide continuous bloom over 22 ha (55 ac) from March through October. In summer, multi-hued 'Night Illuminations' make strolling through the gardens a magical experience. Butchart Gardens has grown in size gradually over 100 years. It is still operated by descendents of Jennie Butchart, who started it all when she attempted to beautify a worked-out cement quarry near her home with a few blooms. Butchart Gardens is a 30-minute drive north of downtown Victoria via Highway 17.

Government House

The official residence of the Lieutenant Governor of BC and the ceremonial home of all British Columbians, Government House has extensive grounds that contain an array of gardens with themes such as English Country, Winter, British Columbia Native Plant, Herb, Sunken, Rose and Rhododendron. The gardens are in full bloom from May through September. The grounds are also home to a rare Garry oak ecosystem on 8.9 ha (22 ac) called Woodlands.

BC Legislative Buildings

The BC Legislative Buildings dominate the architectural landscape of Victoria's Inner Harbour. Designed by renowned architect Francis Rattenbury in the 1890s, they are a visual feast inside and out. Gold and silver leaf, murals, ornate plaster details and wood mouldings ornament the richly-hued walls and ceilings. Visitors also encounter solid marble columns, statuary, stained glass as well as unique architectural flourishes. Be sure to take some time to appreciate the beauty of the grounds, which feature flower gardens, fountains, statues and exhilarating views of the harbour and mountains. Tours are available Monday through Friday.

Fairmont Empress Hotel

Francis Rattenbury had the grand chateaux of Europe in mind when he designed the Empress Hotel in 1908. He tended to blend architectural styles in his buildings; the Empress was no exception. Domed polygon turrets draw on classical influences, while Tudor arches in the lobby give that part of the hotel an Elizabethan feel. The picturesque broken roofline is dotted with Gothic dormers, while the 475 guest rooms are decorated in Edwardian-Victorian vintage style. Traditional high tea is served daily.

Golf and Tennis

Victoria Golf and Country Club

Victoria Golf Club is truly a jewel among Canada's premium heritage golf clubs. For more than a century, it has offered challenging oceanside golf and unsurpassed sights, on more days of play each year than any other course in the country. Established in 1893, Victoria Golf Club is the oldest golf club in Canada still on its original site - a rocky point on the southern end of Vancouver Island overlooking the Strait of Juan de Fuca in the Municipality of Oak Bay. The club is home to some 1,400 golfing and social members. Our 35,000 sq. ft. clubhouse was completely renovated and updated in 1993. It is open all year round and offers a wide range of casual and fine dining facilities for receptions, large dinner dances and other special events.

Uplands Golf Club

Uplands Golf Club is a distillation of the best of Vancouver Island life: mild climate, unique woodlands, society that acknowledges the importance of eclectic contributions, and a focused quest for the future. Uplands members are among the Island's leading citizens, and in keeping with the club's tradition of progress the staff work at the forefront of their own fields, keeping us at the leading edge of greenskeeping methods and equipment technology as well as skill development.

Bear Mountain Golf and Country Club

Co-designed by Jack Nicklaus and his son Steve, the golf course at Bear Mountain is set in the foothills of Mount Finlayson and strikes the perfect balance between playability and a truly challenging year round golf experience for golfers of all skill levels. With panoramic mountain, city and ocean views set within rolling fairways and lush forest, rest assured - you will be back for more.

Cordova Bay Golf Course

Cordova Bay Golf Course is an 18-hole daily fee public facility, featuring stunning views of Haro Strait and Mount Baker. Named one of the 'Five Great Golf Destinations' by Golf Canada Magazine, ranked in the top 100 Women Friendly Courses in North America by Golf for Women Magazine and given a 4-Star rating on Golf Digest's Places to Play List, Cordova Bay truly is a local gem. Golfers ranging from the novice level player to the touring professional consider the course a fine test of golf. Four sets of tees allow you to choose the challenge that best suits your game.

Museums

Royal British Columbia Museum

The Royal British Columbia Museum offers two floors of fascinating exhibits chronicling the human and natural history of BC from pre-Ice Age to the present day. You can really experience history here: silent movies play in the turn-of-the-century town's cinema and real salal undergrowth carpets the walkways in the coastal rain forest exhibit. There are extensive, permanent exhibits of First Nations history and artifacts, including ancient totems.

Maritime Museum of British Columbia

The Maritime Museum of British Columbia occupies the first Provincial courthouse building (built in 1889) and houses the restored Vice-Admiralty courtroom. The museum displays more than 5,000 nautical artifacts on three floors, including the 150-year-old Tilikum, a three-masted, converted dugout canoe that sailed from Victoria to England around the turn of the last century. Galleries include exhibits of early Pacific exploration, shipwrecks, piracy, traditions of the Royal Canadian Navy, the bygone era of coastal passenger ships and whaling. There are literally hundreds of models on display.

Craigdarroch Castle

For a glimpse into the decadent life of an Edwardian-era coal baron, visit Craigdarroch Castle. Built by mega-rich Robert Dunsmuir in the 1890s, the mansion has 39 rooms lavishly decorated in the Belle epoque style. From the top-floor tower there's a panoramic view of Victoria, Juan de Fuca Strait and the Olympic Mountains.

Art Gallery of Greater Victoria

When it first opened in 1951, the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria exhibited art in the historic 1889 mansion that is now adjacent to its seven modern galleries. With almost 16,000 works of art, the Art Gallery has the largest public collection in BC and is a vibrant and active part of Victoria's artist community. The Art Gallery of Greater Victoria prides itself on presenting a diverse assortment of exhibitions including showcases of own Canadian, historical and world-class Asian collection, as well as creating, commissioning and hosting important contemporary exhibitions. Both the Canada Council for the Arts and the BC Arts Council recognized the Art Gallery for its outstanding presentations in recent years.

Neighborhoods

Oak Bay

An upscale vibrant seaside community just 10 minutes from downtown Victoria. Oak Bay's Palm Tree Count is annual testament to the mild climate and gardening potential in the area. Many natural and full facility parks offer beach access with stairs and pathways that lead to pockets of quiet coastline. Oak Bay is accessible to downtown Victoria by car, bicycle, bus or even by foot. The scenic oceanside route following Beach Drive rewards the driver with a relaxed drive or cycle and ocean vistas at every turn.

Uplands

The Uplands is the exclusive residential neighbourhood located in the municipality of Oak Bay. Just a 15-minute drive east of downtown Victoria, this century-old neighbourhood plays host to many stately waterfront mansions and estates.

Rockland/Fairfield

A neighbourhood of graceful mansions showcasing striking architectural details and lush grounds, Rockland will surely inspire you. Beginning in the 1880s, its Arts-and-Crafts-style homes were designed by well-known architects. The Fairfield neighbourhood enjoys some of the best ocean and mountain views in the city. It's home to the historic and beautifully landscaped Ross Bay Cemetery, which is full of impressive marble, sandstone and granite monuments to many famous local citizens.

James Bay

James Bay is the neighbourhood to explore. Just a five-minute walk south of downtown, its homes were built by Victoria's founding families. Most have been lovingly preserved. The magnificent Fairmont Empress Hotel, the symbolic centre of Victoria, sits at the edge of the Inner Harbour. It's a local must-see, along with Beacon Hill Park's inspiring gardens. There are different ways to experience history in James Bay: Emily Carr House and Helmcken House showcase the 19th-century home lives of two of the area's most famous residents, while the Provincial Legislative Buildings and the Royal British Columbia Museum provide broader historical perspectives.

Preserves and Parks

Beacon Hill Park

At 75 ha (200 ac), Victoria's oldest municipal park, Beacon Hill, handily accommodates both nature lovers and sports enthusiasts. The park's paved and cedar-chip walking trails wind past manicured lawns, picturesque bridges, quiet lakes and ponds as well as themed gardens that are in full bloom from mid-May through October. The recreational venues at Beacon Hill Park are many: soccer fields, baseball diamonds, tennis courts, putting green, 100-year-old cricket pitch, petting zoo, spray pools and playgrounds. Beacon Hill Park is within easy walking distance of downtown Victoria.

Goldstream Provincial Park

Just 17 kilometers from downtown Victoria, Goldstream Provincial Park lies amid the splendour of an old-growth temperate rain forest. There you can see a world class salmon-spawning stream with thousands of Chum Salmon returning between October and December. It doesn't stop there. During this amazing time of year you can visit the park and it's always-changing Visitor Centre. The centre is named after Freeman King, an early naturalist who probably reached more children than any other naturalist on Vancouver Island. The centre is at the mouth of the river, overlooking the Goldstream estuary, nestled among giant black cottonwoods and red alder trees.

East Sooke Park

West Coast wilderness awaits you at East Sooke Regional Park. Experience it as you hike along the windswept rocky coast, over dry hilltops, through dark rain forest to sheltered coves. East Sooke is the largest CRD Park, encompassing 1422 hectares ( 3512 acres) of natural and protected coastal landscape. In this Wilderness Recreation Park, you'll experience solitude and harmony with nature in a par untouched by urban progress. Over 50 kilometers ( 31 miles) of trails draw you into the timeless beauty of East Sooke. Begin your exploration at one of the three entry points.

Fisgard Lighthouse Historical Site

a National Historic Site - The first lighthouse on Canada's west coast is still in operation! There hasn't been a keeper here since the light was automated in 1929, but every year many thousands of visitors step inside a real l9th century light, and capture some of the feeling of ships wrecked and lives saved. Built by the British in 1860, when Vancouver Island was not yet part of Canada, Fisgard's red brick house and white tower has stood faithfully at the entrance to Esquimalt harbour. Once a beacon for the British Royal Navy's Pacific Squadron, today Fisgard still marks home base for the Royal Canadian Navy. Inside the building are two floors of exhibits, dealing with shipwrecks, storms, far- flung lights, and the everyday working equipment of the light keeper a century ago. Right next to the tower stirs on the second floor, a specially-made video evokes the loneliness and isolation that was the lot of the l9th century keeper.

Shopping

The Bay Centre

Victoria B.C. Canada is the City of Gardens and at its heart lies The Bay Centre. Covering 2 city blocks filled with 4 floors with over 80 shops and services including The Bay.

Government Street

From the Inner Harbour, wander up Government Street to find the perfect gift or souvenir. Victoria's British heritage is apparent in the store windows along Government Street, which display woolens and bone china from England, tartans from Scotland and Irish lace. Stop to sample handmade chocolates or the perfect cup of tea or coffee. Native art, jewellery, fashion, Christmas and souvenir shops also abound along the bustling sidewalks and interesting byways.

Chinatown

Enter Canada's oldest Chinatown through the Gate of Harmonious Interest, at the corner of Fisgard and Government Streets. Shop for art, curios, home furnishings and Asian wares. Walk down Fan Tan Alley, North America's narrowest street, between Fisgard and Pandora Streets. Once notorious for its many opium dens and gambling houses, Fan Tan Alley is now lined with shops and restaurants.

Antique Row

Only in Victoria will you find a street devoted to antiques and collectibles. Fort Street, a one-way street leading out of downtown Victoria, is known as Antique Row. Shop after shop lure the antique collector away from the downtown core and into a world of rare china, silver, toys, furniture and other treasures.

Theaters

The Royal Theatre

The Royal Theatre opened in 1913 as a privately built and operated roadhouse. It has seen many of this century's great performers on its stage, including Sarah Bernhardt, Carlos Montoya, Mikhail Baryshnikov and Luciano Pavarotti, in spite of having been used in part as a cinema from 1917 until 1981. The Royal Theatre was designated a site of national historic significance in 1987, and received a commemorative plaque from the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada in 1990. The original foyer has been augmented by lobby extensions completed in 1991, while the auditorium retains its original Rococo/Renaissance Revival style decor. Extensive technical upgrades, restoration work to the auditorium, and refurbishment of the dressing rooms took place in 2002. The award winning exterior renovations were completed in 2006. The Royal is home to the Victoria Symphony and Pacific Opera Victoria, as well as being Vancouver Island's premiere venue for touring attractions.

The McPherson Playhouse

The McPherson Playhouse first opened in 1914 as the Pantages Theatre. It was re-named after Thomas Shanks McPherson, who bequeathed the theatre and funding for its reconstruction to the people of Victoria. The award-winning project was completed in 1965 and included a modern lobby addition, technical improvements, and the refurbishing of the ornate Neo-Baroque style auditorium. A variety of professional, community and amateur events are presented at 'The Mac' year-round. The McPherson Playhouse operates as a licensee/rental venue, under the administration of the Royal and McPherson Theatres Society.

Capital 6

805 Yates Street
Victoria, B.C.
V8W 6J1

Odeon Victoria

780 Yates Street
Victoria, B.C.

View Listings in
Victoria

View Brokers in
Victoria