In a postcard-perfect spot on Vancouver Island, Victoria BC has long been known as the most British city in British Columbia, with its afternoon teas, double-decker buses and English pubs. But these days, Victoria’s handsome, largely 19th century buildings are shaking off their twee image in favour of a hipper one, with cool boutiques, galleries and independent coffee bars. There are some modern designer picks on our list of the best hotels in Victoria BC too, to add to charming English-style mansions. Many have incredible views.
Victoria BC is best explored on foot, and below we have a breakdown of the best areas to stay in Victoria with that in mind: most of the hotels we recommend are within walking or cycling distance of the main sights. Victoria has more cycle routes than any other Canadian city, despite its hills.
To get a feel for Victoria, take a stroll around the harbour, the small Chinatown district and then explore further afield: to trendy Fernwood, with its colourful boutiques, galleries and eateries, or Cook Street Village, with its pavement cafes and attractive wooden houses. For traditional architecture head for the James Bay neighbourhood, Victoria’s oldest, with its wonderful examples of Italianate, Queen Anne, and Arts and Crafts buildings. While from the Inner Harbour it's a short ferry-hop to Fisherman’s Wharf, a series of floating boardwalks lined with houseboats, shops and eateries.
Victoria is known for its whale sighting, with orcas, humpback, minke and grey whales viewable at various times of the year. If you don’t fancy going out onto the water you can sometimes see them from Beacon Hill Park, which is also home to an array of birdlife.
Where to Stay - Which neighbourhood?
Downtown
- The part of Victoria referred to as Downtown Victoria is relatively compact and lively. It’s still got a heritage look to it, and it’s definitely the best place to stay in Victoria if you’re only here for a few days and you want to be close to all the major sights. If you have a bit more time, or you’re travelling with kids you might want to check out Miniature Worlds, a traditional, but fun, collection of miniature dioramas, and the Victoria Bug Zoo, home to Atlas Beetles and Dragon-Headed Crickets, among others.
Chinatown
- Chinatown is right next door, so another great choice if you’re not here for long. This is the oldest Chinese district in Canada and has all the usual appeals of a Chinatown, including plenty of choice when it comes to entertainment.
James Bay
- James Bay is on the water, on the other side of the downtown area to Chinatown, so it’s another very central pick. This is the oldest, and probably the most English, part of town, and some of the historic Victorian houses here have been converted into guesthouses, B&Bs and elegant boutique hotels. It’s also where you’ll find the Parliament building, the Royal British Columbia Museum, and Beacon Hill Park. The pier is a great place to enjoy sundowners, and Fisherman’s Wharf is an excellent place to grab fish and chips...you might even spot seals in the water!
Inner Harbour
- Inner Harbour is further along the water, and refers to the part of town around the ferry terminals, full of colourful fishing boats and houseboats along the waterfront. It's got some fantastic restaurants with great waterfront views.
Oak Bay
- If you like the idea of being on the water, but you want somewhere a bit quieter, then you should consider Oak Bay. It’s a residential neighbourhood of numerous bays and many parks, and Oak Bay Avenue is one of the most picturesque tree lined streets in the city, with its galleries, delis, boutiques, bars and restaurants.
Burnside Gorge
- Burnside Gorge is to the north of the downtown area, and still quite central, with some good parks and hip residential high streets. It’s the place to be if you’re looking for an affordable, independent guesthouse, or small hotel.
West Shore
- West Shore is quite a long way off centre, on a different headland entirely, but if you’re travelling with a family, or planing some outdoor expeditions, or you’re just looking for great value accommodation then this is a good choice.
Rockland
- The other part of Victoria we recommend for families is hilly Rockland, which sits between the downtown area and Oak Bay, close to Craigdarroch Castle. This is a residential part of town, with some really beautiful Arts and Crafts mansions, but also some of the city’s most popular tourist attractions. There are numerous gardens and parks, a great farmer’s market and the city’s observatory.
This city is at its busiest during the peak summer months of July and August, so if you're planning to visit at this time, book well ahead to guarantee your room in one of the best places to stay in Victoria.
