Victoria sightseeing tours explore popular attractions, cultural highlights and historic sites.
Flightseeing tours and boat cruises take advantage of Victoria’s coastal surroundings – admire ocean views from above, or feel the spray of water on a small harbour ferry. There are also many Victoria bus tours available, along with horse-drawn carriage tours and pedicab tours. A number of driving routes begin in or pass through Victoria for more sightseeing on Vancouver Island.
Victoria is an easy city to get around on foot and there are many choices for walking tours. Walking tours (guided or self-guided) cover topics ranging from the historical influence of the British to the life of artist Emily Carr.
Flightseeing Tours
Victoria floatplane tours offer spectacular views of the Strait of Juan de Fuca, the Olympic Mountains, and the white beaches of James and Sydney islands. Fly over the Gulf Islands and land in Vancouver for a narrated tour of Stanley Park, Granville Island, Vancouver Lookout and Queen Elizabeth Park.
Bus Tours
Board a bus to enjoy a narrated tour of Victoria and to see some top attractions, including The Butchart Gardens, Craigdarroch Castle and Beacon Hill Park. Some tour operators provide a hop-on, hop-off option, which allows visitors to spend as much time as required at their favourite stops. Choose between trolley buses, double-decker buses, coaches and open-air buses.
Boat Tours
Victoria offers numerous boat tour options. Hop aboard a small green Harbour Ferry (nicknamed “pickle boats”) for a narrated hop-on, hop-off excursion of the Inner Harbour and Gorge Waterway, or join a whale watching tour and spot Orcas and coastal scenery.
Walking Tours
Join one of many historical walking tours and listen to stories about turn-of-the-century buildings and landmarks. Wander through one of North America’s oldest Chinatowns and light a traditional Chinese lantern to on a nighttime tour. Gardens figure prominently in Victoria and walking tours explore both public and private gardens.
Learn about Victoria-born artist Emily Carr on a tour that showcases the landscapes that inspired her bold, post-impressionist paintings, followed by an interpretive viewing of her works at the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria.
Prefer walking tours without a guide? Pick-up self-guided tour brochures that highlight Victoria’s neighbourhoods, the history of crime (and those who helped keep the justice) and the city’s gold rush roots.
Unique Tours
Take in the fresh ocean air while seeing Victoria's sights in a pedicab (a bicycle-powered carriage). Listen to anecdotes while enjoying views of gardens, Beacon Hill Park and James Bay, along with seascapes and character homes. Customized tours are also available. Or relax in the passenger seat of an antique car, such as a 1926 Ford Model T or a 1954 Ford Sunliner convertible, while a guide cruises to various attractions.
Horse-drawn carriage tours are another way to see Victoria. Numerous tours are available ranging from 15 minutes to more than an hour, and offer views of the Olympic Mountains, Inner Harbour, downtown and the BC Legislative Buildings.
For a look at Victoria's thriving brewpub scene, take transit or walk between breweries and brewpubs along the self-guided Victoria Ale Trail. Enjoy hop-heavy IPAs (a Pacific Northwest favourite), seasonal selections, English-style beers and pub fare.
Driving Tours
Head out on the open road with one of many driving routes that begin in or pass through Victoria. Start in Victoria and go sightseeing on a self-guided “coast to coast” journey of Vancouver Island on the Pacific Marine Circle Route, or follow the Coastal Circle Route to Vancouver and experience Aboriginal culture, historic sites and Sunshine Coast artists' studios.
Practical Points
- The peak season for sightseeing is from April to September although some tours and most self-guided trips can be done year-round.
- Most guided sightseeing tours require reservations, but some can be booked on the spot.
- Sightseeing tours may require a minimum number of people. Check with the operator to ensure tours are running.
- Visit local Visitor Centres for information on tour operators, and help with trip planning and transportation.
Show Less