Being one of the most walkable cities in Canada means that you can spend your days walking up and down the streets of Victoria exploring the quirky neighbourhoods, alleys, and hidden nooks and crannies. You’ll find amazing shopping with unique boutiques and shops full of local goods, art galleries, breweries, coffee shops and delicious cafes. If you’re exploring the downtown core, here are some fun things to see:

• Inner Harbour: the Inner Harbour is a bustling hub of activity. Watch the boats come in and out of the harbour, see the Harbour Air Seaplanes take off and land, admire the skilled captains of the Harbour Ferry taxis as they synchronize in their free performance of the Ferry Water Ballet. Be entertained by the buskers, wander through the Fairmont Empress Hotel gardens, or walk across the lawns of the Parliament Buildings. The Inner Harbour is quintessential Victoria, and it’s a super fun place to hang out!
• Beacon Hill Park: spend an afternoon wandering through Beacon Hill Park. With over 200 acres of park land, you can find playgrounds, picnic spots, beautiful flowerbeds, and even a putting green. Grab a soft serve cone from the famous Beacon Hill Drive In, wander in the gardens, and watch the ducks swim in the ponds.
• The Royal British Columbia Museum: We’ve been to a lot of museums, all over the world – some of which are famous or internationally renowned. But no matter how impressive they may be, the Royal BC Museum remains our favourite of all time. Showcasing both natural history and local BC human history, this museum is a feast for the eyes, and beloved by both young and old. Old town replicas complete with cobblestones, sound effects and tiny details, forests with wild animals and local artifacts – this is not your typical museum experience!
• Chinatown: take a walk through historic Chinatown, the oldest in Canada (and the second oldest in North America). See the beautiful Gate of Harmonious Interest, browse the shops and get some tasty baked goods to go!
• Fan Tan Alley: make sure to walk down this historic, brick lined alley, and the narrowest street in Canada. Originally a gambling district with restaurants, shops, and opium dens, Fan Tan Alley is now a tourist destination lined with local shops and cafes. Come here to snap some pics, pick up some local gifts, and grab an ice cream cone.
• The Victoria Bug Zoo: have kids who love creepy crawlies, or have an affinity for bugs yourself? Visit the Victoria Bug Zoo! Gawk at 50 different species of insects, arachnids and more – and you might even get to touch one or two…if you’re brave enough!
• Shopping on Johnson Street: Victoria never used to be known for its shopping, but that sure has changed! Johnson Street is one of our favourite places to browse, with its colourful shopfronts, unique boutiques and coffee shops. Make sure to pop in to Market Square, a bustling town square full of interesting shops and restaurants.