1.Butchart Gardens
Fifty-five acres in Brentwood Bay, about 25 minutes north. Go early or go for the evening lights; the Sunken Garden reveal never gets old.
At a glance Gardens · Half day
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Vancouver Island, British Columbia
Things to do in Victoria
A harbour capital with gardens in its bones. Float planes land between the sailboats, the legislature glows at night, and tea is still a serious business.
Photo: British Columbia Parliament Buildings panorama, Wikimedia Commons
['Victoria does small and polished better than anywhere in the west. The Inner Harbour is the stage: the Parliament Buildings on one side, the Empress on the other, buskers and harbour ferries in between.', "It is also a garden city in the literal sense. Beacon Hill Park rolls down to the ocean, and Butchart's sunken garden, up the peninsula, is the one famous attraction that fully earns its fame."]
['Victoria does small and polished better than anywhere in the west. The Inner Harbour is the stage: the Parliament Buildings on one side, the Empress on the other, buskers and harbour ferries in between.', "It is also a garden city in the literal sense. Beacon Hill Park rolls down to the ocean, and Butchart's sunken garden, up the peninsula, is the one famous attraction that fully earns its fame."]
2.Fisherman's Wharf float homes
A working wharf of colourful float homes, fish and chips stands and resident harbour seals. Walk out along the Westsong Walkway.
At a glance Walk · Lunch
3.Craigdarroch Castle
A coal baron's mansion in Rockland with the best staircase in the city and views to the Olympics from the tower.
At a glance Historic house
4.Dallas Road waterfront
The city's ocean edge: kite flyers, off-leash dogs and the breakwater lighthouse at Ogden Point.
At a glance Walk · Ocean
5.Royal BC Museum, properly
Book the feature exhibition, then do the natural history floor top-down. The Old Town street inside is a time machine.
At a glance Museum
6.Parliament Buildings at dusk
The free evening tours end as the 3,300 bulbs outline the dome. Book ahead in summer.
At a glance Evenings · Free
Prefer it booked for you? Tours, tickets and day trips around Victoria in one place, with reviews from people who actually went.
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