Cruise Port Essentials: Exploring Victoria, British Columbia

• Best time to visit: The peak tourist season in Victoria is from May to September. This is when the weather is milder, daylight lasts longer, and the gardens are in bloom. April and June are the best for gardens and temperatures are nice, ranging in the 50’s-60’s. Butchart Gardens and Beacon Hill Park are also in full bloom. July–September is the most popular and sunniest time to visit. It’s warm and dry, with temperatures in the high 70’s, so it’s great for whale watching, outdoor activities, and visiting the Inner Harbour. October-early November is usually less crowded but still tends to have mild weather. December–March is quiet and cooler, with temperatures in the 40’s-50’s. Some attractions have reduced hours, and it tends to be rainier. The gardens are not as vibrant, but there are holiday events to enjoy.

• Weather: Be prepared for occasional rainy conditions. Bring a light waterproof jacket and wear sturdy, comfortable shoes. Layers are always a good idea; it tends to be mild during the day and cooler in the evenings. From spring to early fall, the temperatures can range anywhere from 50–75 degrees.If you need a rough estimate to convert Celsius to Fahrenheit, double the Celsius number and add 30.

• Transportation: If you take a cruise-sponsored excursion, transportation will be provided. From the port, downtown/Inner Harbour is a walkable distance (1.5 miles, 20–30 min walk) but there are shuttle bus services available during cruise season. At the time of writing this, the tickets range for $10-$15 round trip per person. Taxis, ride shares, and buses are also available at the port. The drive to town takes 5–10 minutes. The town is bike friendly and there are bike rentals, and e-scooters available near the terminal and in town. The route to town is mostly flat and very scenic. Horse-drawn carriages can be found in Inner Harbour and double-decker buses run throughout the city.

• Local cuisine: Victoria offers a variety of farm-to-table dining, local seafood, seasonal produce, and afternoon high tea.

• Finn’s Seafood, Chops and Cocktails: Located in a beautiful 1882 heritage building that overlooks the Inner Harbour and Parliament buildings in the heart of downtown Victoria. Finn's offers a locally sourced menu including seafood, steaks, chops, and elevated burgers, all with spectacular harbour views.

• Red Fish Blue Fish: Located on the waterfront on Victoria’s harbour, this small fish and chips spot has a few outdoor seats, which allow you to enjoy your meal while taking in the beautiful harbour views. They offer crispy cod, hot sandwiches, chowder, and many seafood choices. The ice cream is a crowd favorite too. Lines can be long, so plan accordingly.

• Ugly Duckling Restaurant: Located in the heart of Victoria, in Chinatown, you’ll find this creative French-Asian restaurant with a five-course tasting menu. It’s touted as an innovative and exciting restaurant, which is evident as the website states that the menu changes with the seasons, the farmers, and the whims of the culinary team.

• Don Mee Seafood Restaurant: Don Mee has been considered the heartbeat of Chinatown for 80 years in Victoria. It’s a dining tradition that’s been passed on for generations. Don Mee serves Dim Sum cuisine with no menus; you choose your meal from various trolleys (carts). It’s an experience and a meal.

• Fishhook: Enjoy a delicious array of local seafood infused with Indonesian and French flavors at this cozy spot. Diners can enjoy delicious items like breaded and fried cod, baked halibut with chana (curry with chickpeas), papadam (a variety of Indian flat bread), and quinoa, as well as veggie pakora (crispy fritter) appetizers. It is a great choice for those with dietary restrictions, as they have a dedicated gluten-free fryer and many dairy-free options.

Don Mee restaurant in Chinatown

• Top afternoon/high tea spots: Most tea services happen in the afternoon around 11–11:30 am, and cruises tend to dock later, but there are some that run between 3:30–5:30 pm. Make sure to plan ahead and check times and if reservations are needed. Two favorites are the Fairmont Empress and Pendray Tea House.

• Fairmont Empress, Lobby Lounge: This is the most iconic tea experience in Victoria. It is in a classic, elegant setting with scones with jam, pastries, finger sandwiches, and house blend teas. It’s open daily, and it tends to be pricey, but you’ll have a beautiful view of the Inner Harbour while receiving the royal treatment in an elegant turn-of-the century atmosphere.

• Pendray Inn & Tea House: An historic Victorian manor five minutes from the Inner Harbour. The tea house offers impeccable service for Afternoon Tea or Scottish High Tea. The restaurant offers a window into the Victorian era, with its peaceful atmosphere, period furnishings, and scrumptious sweet and savory offerings.

• Victoria has some great craft beer and pubs full of character and laid-back charm, including historic buildings, waterfront patios, and inventive brews:

• CRAFT Beer Market Victoria: If you are looking for unbeatable waterfront views with 110 taps, this is the place for you. Enjoy stunning views of Victoria Harbour from the indoor spaces and the expansive patio while enjoying wine, cocktails, or a beer from one of the largest draft selections in British Columbia.

• Spinnakers Gastro Brewpub & GuestHouses: Canada’s first brewpub, set in an 1884 heritage house. Enjoy house-brewed ales, classic ales, specialty beers, ciders, barrel-aged, and sours brewed with time-honored techniques, all paired with locally sourced farm-to-table fare. You’ll also find Spinnaker’s own soda, specialty mixers, and sparkling waters here.

• Driftwood Brewing Company: One of Victoria’s most respected breweries, known for hop-forward beers and a unique tasting room. Driftwood Bar and Patio features 16+ beer taps, local wine and ciders, Driftwood spirits, cocktails, and a full menu from the Dumpling Drop.

• Humboldt Bar: An intimate cocktail bar in the heart of downtown Victoria inspired by the life and work of Alexander von Humboldt. It’s a hidden gem with a sleek vibe and top-tier cocktails. Small plates are available for limited time periods. This is the perfect place for those who appreciate a well-crafted nature inspired drink in a cozy atmosphere.

• Citrus & Cane: This is a retro-chic bar that transports you into a tropical paradise. Located in downtown Victoria, this fun cocktail bar serves up tropical-style drinks (as well as classics) in a stylish, artsy space. It’s been voted one of Victoria’s best bars.

• Shopping: Victoria has a wide variety of shops, including local boutiques, souvenirs, jewelry, and local artisan finds.

• Oceanside Gifts: Located on Wharf Street in the heart of Inner Harbour, this shop offers souvenirs, gifts, local crafts, and Victoria branded apparel. You can get everything from Christmas ornaments, to jewelry, to nautical gifts and made in Canada products.

• Market Square: One of the oldest landmarks in Victoria, set in historic brick buildings around an open-air courtyard. It has local boutiques, pop-up art booths, local vendors, jewelry, home accessories, clothing, and gifts. There are also numerous restaurants, coffee shops, and ice cream shops.

• Fan Tan Alley: Located in Chinatown and known for the narrowest streets in Canada, this is a vibrant area filled with quirky boutiques, unique souvenir shops, artisan jewelry, and tiny cafes. The hanging lanterns and historic architecture make this a truly unforgettable experience.

Fan Tan Alley

• Government Street Gift Shop: All along this street are shops filled with every Canada themed item you can imagine—magnets, hats, postcards, toys, clothing, and more. You’ll also find native art, jewelry, little eateries, and coffee shops.

Things to do in Victoria, BC

The British Columbia Parliament building at night

Victoria offers a variety of exciting excursions that allow you to explore the beautiful city, nearby gardens, visit castles, get up close with butterflies or whales, or experience a city pub crawl. Many cruises dock here in the late afternoon or evening, so make sure you check your specific docking times before you make your Victoria plans. (Not all cruises will have all of these activities available. If you take an independent excursion, know that your ship may not wait for you to return if you are delayed for some reason. Make sure to check your specific cruise for details).

• Butchart Gardens: This garden is the jewel of Victoria. It’s one of the most popular attractions, and with good reason. It’s 55-acres of breathtaking themed botanical gardens that are beautiful during the day as well as into the evening. As soon as you walk in, you feel like you’ve entered a magical world. The scenery is like something out of a fairy tale. The grounds include a multi-level Sunken Garden, a serene Japanese Garden, a stunning Italian Garden, an exotic Mediterranean Garden, and a fragrant Rose Garden. At night, the gardens are just as magnificent as they are lighted with colorful lights with magical effects. There are endless flowers, stunning fountains, and something special for every season. You’ll find tulips and cherry blossoms in the spring; beautiful flowers, concerts and fireworks in the summer; beautiful foliage with vibrant colors in the fall; and holiday lights, ice skating, and a festive atmosphere in the winter. There are numerous dining opportunities and a wonderful gift shop on the grounds. The gardens are wheelchair accessible, but note that the gardens are hilly and it can be very crowded at times, making navigation sometimes challenging.

Butchart Gardens

• Victoria Butterfly Gardens: Five minutes away from Butchart Gardens is a tropical indoor paradise filled with beautiful free—flying butterflies and other tropical wildlife. The habitat is home to parrots, flamingos, macaws, iguanas, chameleons, giant beetles, tarantulas, as well as other jungle inhabitants and exotic plants. It’s a lush setting with the sound of waterfalls and chirping birds, koi ponds, and tropical foliage. It’s perfect for families, kids, and anyone who loves nature.

• Craigdarroch Castle: One of Victoria’s most iconic landmarks, it's a Victorian-era castle built in the late 1800’s by Robert Dunsmuir. It’s a National Historic Site that has been restored to its original condition with period furnishing and decor. It’s a self-guided tour that includes the 25,000 square foot, 39 room mansion, a majestic tower that offers panoramic views of Victoria and the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and the surrounding grounds. Please note that the castle is not wheelchair-accessible. There is a 100-yard incline walk to the castle and there are five stories in the home with no elevator, cobblestone, many uneven surfaces, numerous steps, and inclines.

Craigdarroch Castle

The Fairmont hotel in the evening

• Victoria highlights: There are many ways to see the city of Victoria and surrounding areas. There are tour buses, double decker buses, horse-drawn carriages, bicycle adventures, and self-guided walking tours. You may see the legislative/Parliament buildings, which are the home to the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia, and don’t worry if you arrive in the evening, it’s stunning when illuminated. The Fairmont Empress Hotel, located over the Inner Harbour, is an iconic National Historic Site that is one of the oldest hotels that is famous for its afternoon tea tradition. Inner Harbour, a picturesque port filled with boats, ferries, seaplanes, surrounded by shops, restaurants, live music, and markets. The Royal BC Museum, a beautiful museum dedicated to Indigenous history and natural exhibits. Chinatown, the oldest Chinatown in Canada. You can’t miss the Gate of Harmonious Interest, it’s the gateway to experiencing vibrant Chinese culture, history, and customs. You’ll find restaurants, shops, and the famous Fan Tan Alley with narrow streets, which is a photographer’s dream. Beacon Hill Park, a beautiful 200 acre park, home to the tallest free-standing totem pole in the world. The park has numerous ponds, landscaped gardens, woodland areas, and ocean views.

Flight plane

• Whale watching: Victoria is one of the best places to see humpback whales, orcas, and sea lions. There are various vessels that offer whale-watching tours that include catamarans, high-speed boats, or luxury ships. Although whale sightings are not guaranteed, there is a very good chance of a sighting in these waters. You’ll travel from the Inner Harbour to Juan de Fuca and Haro Straits: some of the best whale-watching regions around. Other sightings may include marine birds, port seals, sea lions, and porpoises. Most of the tours have a marine biologist or naturalist on board to teach you about the wildlife you are viewing, and all the tours offer amazing photography opportunities.

Whale watching

As you can see, Victoria has something to offer for everyone. This is just a sampling of the many activities and adventures that it has to offer. You can have a wonderful day just strolling through the city and eating at local restaurants, enjoying afternoon high tea, enjoying magnificent scenery at Butchart Gardens, whale watching, visiting a castle, or visiting the oldest Chinatown in Canada. Victoria is a charming city full of history and ocean adventures, and you will understand why it is called the city of gardens after your time here.

For more inspiration and insider recommendations, visit our Canada page.