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.

The Best Places to Stay in Victoria BC

For a city break

• The Magnolia Hotel & Spa is a traditional hotel in a very central location, just a few minutes from the Inner Harbour. There are 64 rooms and suites, with dark wood furniture and floor-to-ceiling windows, some with fantastic views too. There’s also a luxurious organic spa, a great cocktail bar, and the hotel will rent you a bike too.
• Overlooking the Inner Harbour, the Fairmont Empress has incredible water views, especially from the roof terrace bar and restaurant. Elegant and romantic, it has 464 rooms and suites, a luxurious spa and a very well regarded restaurant. It’s good for families too, wth lots of space, and treats for kids.

Victoria’s Best Waterfront Hotels

• The Inn at Laurel Point is a large, light, contemporary hotel with 200 rooms, the best with private balconies and views over Victoria Harbour. As well as the views, this is a great choice of hotel if you’re looking for somewhere romantic. There’s a great restaurant with a view too, and an indoor pool. And the location is super central.
• The Oak Bay Beach Hotel is on the coast, right next to the Oak Bay Islands Ecological Reserve, with unfettered views of the water. There are 100 spacious rooms and suites, decorated in neutral tones, plus a theatre, as well as the usual facilities.

For Romance

• Abigail's Hotel is a sophisticated, 23 room hotel, in a beautiful residential neighbourhood. Built in 1930, it has a lot of architectural charm, with antiques and original features throughout. Expect plenty of red velvet and a gourmet breakfast. Adults only.

For great value

• Fairholme Manor is an elegant, white, clapperboard mansion in Rockland, converted into a very smart, six room B&B. Several rooms have huge bay-windows and generous proportions, with wooden floors. Some have balconies.
• If you want to be more central, try the stylish Oswego Hotel in James Bay, just minutes from the waterfront. This hotel has a collection of 80 rooms and apartments, the latter with slick kitchens and dining areas, and all with chic contemporary decor. The best in both categories have private balconies with a view too. There’s a smart restaurant here, which hosts its own weekly jazz night.

Out of Town

• Sooke Harbour House is quite a long way outside Victoria BC, but it’s a great spot overlooking the Juan de Fuca Straits, so we thought it might be a useful addition as an add on for a couple of days. It has 28 rooms and suites, all elegantly decorated with fireplaces, fourposter beds, antiques, hot tubs and balconies. There’s a lovely garden surrounding the hotel, which is where some of the food served in the charming restaurant is grown.
• Also quite a long way out of town, the Brentwood Bay Resort & Spa is the place to book if you're looking for a luxurious seaside stay with great facilities and delicious food and wine. Large, contemporary rooms overlook the water from private balconies and sitting rooms, and the sunset views from the dining room are soul-warming. There’s a popular pub with a firepit onsite too.

Prefer an apartment?

• If you’d prefer to stay in an apartment or private villa we recommend you visit our online partner, booking.com.

Travel Information

• If you’re flying into Victoria you have a few choices: Victoria International Airport, which is about 25kms north of Victoria, Nanaimo Airport, which is billed as being the ‘gateway to Vancouver Island’, and is about an hour and a half away by road, and Vancouver International Airport, which is an airport in Richmond, on Sea Island, close to Vancouver, which is just a ferry hop from Victoria. The best one to fly into depends on where you’re coming from, but the transfers from all of them are relatively straightforward.
• If you’re thinking about hiring a car we recommend checking what our online partners, Rentalcars have to offer.
• Victoria has the most sunshine and warmth between June and September, so this is the most popular time to visit. It’s not hot, more pleasant, with maximum daily averages in the mid 20s°C. The winters here are milder than in other parts of Canada, but it regularly goes below zero, with the likelihood of snow. Spring and autumn are milder, and good choices if you’re looking for good value.

Still not sure?

• You could expand your search to include all the best places to stay on Vancouver Island,
• or even the best places to stay in British Columbia.
• Alternatively, you could contact one of our friendly Gurus for personalised advice.