Colourful Capital by Robert Forbes. Courtesy Tourism Victoria © All rights reserved

Victoria, BC

Victoria, perched on the southernmost tip of Vancouver Island, is the capital city of British Columbia.

Made up of the city of Victoria and the municipalities of Oak Bay, Saanich, View Royal and Esquimalt, Greater Victoria boasts a population of almost 290,000, making it Vancouver Island's largest metropolitan area.

Spring in Beacon Hill Park by Mike Clausen. Tourism Victoria © All rights reserved

Victoria, BC, is also known as Canada's 'Best Blooming City'! Springtime finds streets lined with blossoming trees, and during the summer, baskets brimming with flowers are hung on the city's 19th century style street lamps. Each March, while the rest of the country is still shivering through winter, local gardeners and flower enthusiasts join the 'flower count' to tally the blossoms all over town. Four million blooms is not an unusual total.

What Once Was by Rob Bukta. Tourism Victoria. © All rights reserved

First established as a Hudson's Bay Company fort, Victoria preserves its interesting past and rich native culture in a number of BC museums and historic buildings throughout the area. With the fur trade a thing of the past, the area is now a centre for shipping, commerce, tourism, culture, and sport. It is also boasts one of British Columbia's main universities, the University of Victoria.

East Sooke Park Beach Walk. Tourism Victoria Image Bank © All rights reserved

Victoria is also home to numerous parks, complete with hiking trails, picnic areas, ball parks, petting farms, tennis courts, flower gardens and more.

Cherry Blossoms & Carriage. Tourism Victoria Image Bank © All rights reserved

Whether you are a history buff, enjoy sightseeing, shopping or engaging in recreational activities, Victoria, British Columbia, has much to offer.

Inner Harbour at Dusk. Tourism Victoria Image Bank. © All rights reserved

Access:
Located at the southern tip of Vancouver Island, Victoria is Mile 0 of the Trans Canada Highway and can be reached only by ferry from the BC mainland. Commercial airline and bus service is available as is the urban bus line. Various cruise operations are based in Victoria to give people access to a variety of areas around Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands.

Tallships Festival by Gary Webster. Tourism Victoria © All rights reserved

Accommodations:
Victoria accommodations can range from scenic campgrounds and cozy bed and breakfast homes to econony motels and fine hotels and first class resorts. Many accommodations are within easy walking distance to the inner harbour, downtown, attractions, parks and beaches.

Victoria Golf Course - Tourism Victoria Image Bank © All rights reserved

Recreation Facilities & Activities:
golf courses, fitness centres, aquatic centres, racquet courts, whale watching, eco-tours, beachcombing, fishing, boating, swimming, hiking, shopping and horse drawn carriage rides.

Fisherman's Wharf by Sheila Matheson. Tourism Victoria © All rights reserved

Local Attractions:
Art Gallery, Beacon Hill Park, Costume Museum, Craigdarroch Castle, Hatley Castle, Government House, Maritime Museum, Miniature World, Pacific Undersea Gardens, Provincial Government Buildings, Wax Museum, BC Museum, Astrophysical Observatory, China Town, Olde Towne, Fisherman's Wharf, numerous theatres for plays, opera and the symphony, arts & craft fairs.

View the Points of Interest of Vancouver Island.

View the Tourism Victoria Events Calendar.

Population: 287,897.

Elevation: 23 metres (75 ft.)

Humpback Whale Watching by Jo-Anne Lacroix. Tourism Victoria © All rights reserved

For Information: