Victoria Travel Guide — Best Time, Things to Do & Where to Stay

Why Victoria

Victoria is the capital city of British Columbia, located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island off Canada's Pacific coast. Situated roughly 100 kilometres southwest of mainland Vancouver, it is the southernmost major city in Western Canada. Positioned across the Strait of Juan de Fuca from Washington State, Victoria lies approximately 40 kilometres from Port Angeles and 100 kilometres from Seattle, with transport connections including airplanes, seaplanes, and passenger or vehicular ferries.

The region's terrain was formed by volcanic activity and glaciation, resulting in fertile soils across the area. Thanks to Pacific currents, westerly winds, and the rain shadow generated by the Olympic Mountains, Victoria enjoys a mild climate featuring cool, rainy winters and fresh, dry summers. The city experiences lighter annual precipitation than surrounding coastal areas and has the driest summers in Canada outside the far north, while sharing the record for the sunniest city in British Columbia.

Coast Salish First Nations, including the Lekwungen and Saanich peoples, established communities in the region long prior to European exploration in the late 18th century. In 1843, a Hudson's Bay Company trading post named Fort Victoria was built on the site. Named after Queen Victoria, the settlement expanded rapidly during the 1858 Fraser Canyon gold rush and incorporated in 1862. It initially served as a colonial capital before becoming the official provincial capital when British Columbia joined Canadian Confederation in 1871.

Known as "the Garden City," Victoria retains a significant collection of historic Edwardian public, commercial, and residential structures. Major architectural landmarks include the British Columbia Parliament Buildings, completed in 1897, and the Empress Hotel, which opened in 1908. The city is also home to North America's second oldest Chinatown. Other regional points of interest include Craigdarroch Castle, the historic grounds at Hatley Park, and Butchart Gardens, which opened in 1904. Alongside its vibrant tourism industry, Victoria supports a technology sector that has grown into its largest private economic driver.