Top Things to do in Downtown
Countries
What to do and see in Downtown, Vancouver Island: The Best Things to do
Victoria is a thriving city of heritage architecture and time-honored traditions like afternoon tea. With the ocean at its doorstep and wilderness in its backyard, it’s also a perfect place for outdoor enthusiasts. You can find everything from a world-class science and natural history museum to a blooming public park where peacocks roam freely, plus a range of unique shops, cafes and restaurants. And more cycling routes than any other Canadian city, providing a great way to explore the scenery.
Restaurants in Victoria
1. SpringTide Whale Watching & Charters
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1,117 reviews
WHALE WATCH with SpringTide on the 84 passenger, 61-foot Marauder. Experience the joy, excitement and wonderful memories of our mammals, whales, porpoise, seals and marine birds! Enjoy complimentary beverages while listening to professional biologists provide informative narrations. Or, join an exhilarating excursion onboard one of our high-speed, open Zodiacs. SPORTFISH year round for Salmon & Halibut on SpringTide’s 42’ Sportfisher.
2. Ocean River Sports
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 567 reviews
Come enjoy the ultimate Victoria Kayaking Experience with Ocean River Adventures. Located in Victoria’s Inner Harbour, kayaking is a great way to explore our historic city. Join us on one of our Harbour Kayak tours or Sunset Tours. We also offer an Oak Bay Shoreline Kayaking Tour as well as our unique Discovery Island Kayak Tour, recognised as one of the top tours in Victoria. Offering expeditions, tours and courses throughout the Vancouver Island region, our guests will experience all the wild West Coast has to offer. Hands-on education about water and marine conservation is a key theme and we only employ certified guides that respect sensitive ecosystems and species while teaching about the importance of ocean sustainability, preservation and conservation. Victoria’s premier paddling and outdoor adventure company. Want to try something different? We are also a premium stand up paddle tour operator in the southern Vancouver Island and Victoria region.
3. Kelp Reef Adventures
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1,072 reviews
Kayaking is the best way to see Victoria. We specialize in safe, fun and educational kayak tours of Victoria's Harbour and waterfront. Our floating location at Fisherman's Wharf is a 10 minute walk from the cruise ship terminal and 20 minutes from downtown on the scenic boardwalk. We are the closest kayak shop to the Juan de Fuca straight, so when conditions allow, we will paddle along the coast to the kelp forests and an island the harbour seals frequent. Along the way we may see different shore birds like eagles, osprey, oystercatchers, cormorants, and the great blue heron. Starfish, jelly fish and kelp crabs are usually hiding just below the surface. Kayaking is easy and we make it easier by offering paddling jackets, gloves and a bottle of water. Plus on our kayak launch you won't even get your feet wet!
4. 3-Hour Sail
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 215 reviews
Join us for a magical sail aboard the historic Tall Ship Duen. Smell the gentle ocean breeze as it lures you away from the dock through Victoria’s bustling Inner Harbour and out into the beautiful Strait of Juan de Fuca. All guests young and old are encouraged to participate in sailing, so come prepared to tug on the sheets that haul the sails! As we cruise towards the magnificent snow-capped Olympic Mountains, take a turn on the bowsprit or see the majesty of the ship under full sail from our inflatable vessel. Relax and savor your picnic or a sip of wine as we keep our eyes peeled for some of BC’s world famous killer whales, or sea lions and bald eagles. We offer three hour sailing trips and 1.5 hour evening cruises, as well as private charters. Contact us today to get on board! Face masks required as of Transport Canada mandate.
5. Victoria Waterfront Tours
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 132 reviews
We are located in the best location to kayak Victoria's Outer Harbour! Avoid busy downtown harbour traffic and quickly paddle with amazing Olympic Mountain vistas, harbour seal colonies, blue herons, eagles, jellies, star fish and kelp forests just around the headland from our shop. We offer several guided sea kayaking tours that range from an Inner Harbour paddle to a true West Coast paddling experience on a full day kayaking tour to a historic lighthouse. Enjoy the flavor of a local marina and paddle with us in Victoria's amazing ocean environment. Our tours include a lesson at the beginning of each tour as well as all of the kayakiing equipment needed. We look forward to exploring with you!
6. BC Whale Tours
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 923 reviews
Leave the crowds behind on our custom made vessels specifically designed for comfort, speed and safety that carry only 12 guests at a time. The rugged beauty of the West Coast is something that should be experienced with Victoria’s boutique whale watching company. The wildlife and limitless adventure that the Salish Sea has to offer is easily enjoyed when experienced in the comfort of our state-of-the-art vessels! Our knowledgeable crew ensure that each and every trip is an inspiring and educational experience.
7. Miniature World
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,095 reviews
Unique Tourist Attraction in Victoria, British Columbia. Located in the famous Empress Hotel. Awarded the Certificate of Excellence by TripAdvisor! Over 85 miniaturized dioramas. Further adventures, tiny treasures and little pleasures await all who continue into Frontier Land, Fantasy Land, The Great Canadian Railway,The Fields of Glory, Space 2201, Circus World,The Enchanted Valley of Castles, Old London Town of 1670 & The World of Dollhouses. Special effects in lighting, sound and animation are added to create this miniaturized extravaganza that continues to thrill and delight the young and young at heart! Our latest and greatest creation, "King Arthur's Camelot" is now open, adding 11 new exhibits to our existing collection.
Reviewed By greenlabel67 - Vancouver, Canada
Miniature World has been a mainstay attraction for many years. Located in the Fairmont Empress Hotel, Miniature World will delight young and old alike. There are several themed areas. My favorites were the Fields of Glory, and The Circus. I also liked the recreations of Canada's cities back in the turn of the century, complete with light effects turning day into night. The friendly staff have taken all necessary precautions for COVID 19. Plan on a good hour or more to take it all in. Make Miniature World a stop on your next visit to Victoria.
8. Ghostly Walks Walking Tours
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 534 reviews
Behind Victoria's old-world charm lie tales of eccentric characters, heroic deeds, intrigue, love, hangings, murder and GHOSTS!Ghostly Walks tours are scheduled year-round, they last 90 minutes and take place rain or shine.
9. Government Street
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 979 reviews
Busy street lined with some of Victoria's biggest tourist attractions.
Reviewed By PookyCake - Victoria, Canada
There can be little doubt that Government Street is an important hub in Victoria. With clear access to the harbour and home to the seat of the Province’s government, it is a major political, economic and transport center; however, reading through the myriad of TripAdvisor reviews, it would be difficult to garner such a picture. Instead, most tend to simplify the Government Street experience to that of a bastion for tourists: “A nice downtown street with lots of stores, restaurants and pubs” is an apt summary of what most say about this significant area of BC’s capital. To a certain extent, such sentiment isn’t entirely wrong – Government Street does carry many a tourist shop and is bustling with visitors from Spring through Fall – but it’s not entirely right, either. Government Street is packed with a lot history. We just need to put down our selfie sticks and open our eyes to see it. Indeed, to talk about Government Street as if it were nothing more than “T-shirt-beach towel & maple syrup shops” is to do it a gross disservice and, I think, just plain ignorant. Such views downplay or outright ignore the history that’s staring them right in the face. For one, Government Street is littered with heritage buildings erected anywhere between 1869 and 1931. Some are listed on TripAdvisor, but a lot aren’t. The fact that a number of these edifices – many built during the Victorian period – are still in use and beautifully maintained speaks to the character of the city. Second, Government Street has held the key to Victoria’s political history since at least the late 1800s, when it became the formal gathering place for our Provincial politicians. Many a consequential decision has been rendered in these handsome Parliament buildings since 1893. Third, Government Street is also home to what I’ll call BC’s earliest example of the cultural mosaic. A large section of Government Street actually cuts through Victoria’s Chinatown (the oldest in Canada), which is a destination in itself. Granted, the Chinese faced segregation in the early years, but the tides of history have worked hard to eliminate this. The end result has been a touring experience – through Government Street – that is socially rich, culturally complex, and thus so much more than mere shops and restaurants. What I really appreciate about Government Street – and Victoria – is the fact that it seems to have struck the proper and right balance between its past and the contemporary present. As you wander this “golden route,” you can explore and see many of this city’s great landmarks and sites: The Inner Harbour, Parliament Buildings, Royal BC Museum, Empress Hotel, Emily Carr House, Historic Chinatown, Munro’s Books, Murchie’s Tea, Cowichan Trading, the ever popular Roberta’s Hats and, to a lesser extent, The Bay Centre. Between all of these sites, there’s a good mix of social, economic, political and even religious history. There’s also a good dose of our current ethos. In short, unlike other major areas I’ve visited elsewhere (Robson Street in Vancouver, for example), Government Street hasn’t jettisoned its vibrant Victorian-era architecture in favour of post-modern gentrification. After ambling about Government Street, one is likely to get hungry. Given that this area of Victoria is such a hub of social activity, it should come as no surprise that there’s a healthy plethora of dining options to be had. If you want something high end, you can certainly have it, but there’s plenty of wallet-friendly options, too. Off the top of my head, I’d recommend attending any one of: Irish Times Pub (building erected in 1894), Q at the Empress, Bard & Banker (opened in 1885 as the Bank of BC; Robert Service worked here a short while), and Brasserie L’Ecole. Or, if you don’t mind deviating off Government, great eateries like Little Jumbo, The Keg, Nautical Nellies and IL Terrazzo are just a few minutes’ walk away. I love how many of these establishments maintain their Victorian-era charm and openly acknowledge their history. Government Street has certainly evolved over the years but, thankfully, it hasn’t willfully chosen to ignore its rich history unlike so many other places. We can come here and admire the Victorian-era heritage, or we can shop and play tourist – it’s our call. At day’s end, we’ll all recognize that Government Street epitomizes Victoria, regardless of why we’re here. Try it – I challenge you. Google “Victoria BC.” The first image you’ll see is of the Inner Harbour with the Parliament Buildings in the background. We all come to Government Street, whether we’re actively looking for it or not; thus, to say “This is not a destination” is foolhardy in the extreme.
10. IMAX Victoria In the Royal BC Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,015 reviews
With crystal clear images, 12-channel immersive surround sound, and advanced IMAX® with Laser projection technology, IMAX® Victoria lets you feel like you're really there. Six stories high and 85' feet wide (18.59m x 25.9m), the screen pulls you in! Over 8 million people at this location have been spellbound by the force and beauty of The IMAX® Experience. Technically advanced and visually, it is the most powerful and immersive movie experience in the world.
Reviewed By award50 - Victoria, Canada
Excellent movie - just previewed tonight... THE BIGGEST Imax screen in BC, the best sound system of any movie theatre. This new movie is amazing. The museum is one of the best I have visited around the world. Well laid out & fun for all the family. Ann
TAGS
