What to do in the cruise port of Victoria, BC Canada?
There are many things to see and and do in cruise port of Victoria.
This port is a beautiful part of the world in Canada and is usually on an Alaskan cruise itinerary.
Victoria is on Vancouver Island, located on the west coast of Canada.
It has a British influence and reminds me home in the UK a lot. Including the weather!
Victoria is very easy to get around and most places you can walk to from the Empress Hotel.
Here is what to see in the cruise port of Victoria, BC:
The Empress Hotel
The Empress Hotel is downtown in Victoria and is where most shuttles from the cruise terminal will drop you off.
The Empress Hotel has been open since 1908 and is one of the feature buildings in the harbour. It has beautifully manicured gardens surrounding it.
You can go inside and take a look in the lobby or hotel shops or make an afternoon of it and have afternoon tea there.
Parliament Building
The Parliament Building is next to the Empress Hotel in the harbour. This building is very grand and built in 1897.
If you are there in the evening you will see it all lit up, which is stunning at night time.
You can walk around the grounds and visit inside for free on a self guided tour.
This is a government building, so you will have put your belongings through an x-ray machine and walk through a metal detector, like when you arrive onboard the ship.
The parliament building is interesting to walk around and it does not take to long. This is a perfect place to visit if is raining.
Coastal Walks
There are some beautiful walks to go on from harbour, one is a coastal walk towards West Bay.
This walk can start from the Empress Hotel, cross the street towards the water and walk to the right.
Follow the path until you reach the Johnson Street Bridge, cross the bridge and follow the path all the way to West Bay Marine Village.
This walk is around an hour walk to West Bay and an hour back to downtown.
Fisherman’s Wharf
Another lovely walk is to go on is down to Fisherman’s Wharf. Instead of going to right you go to the left.
This is a quicker walk that takes around 15/20 minutes to get there.
Once you reach Fisherman’s Wharf it is a little village of floating house boats.
It a residential area and tourist spot as there are restaurants/snack bars, a gifts shop and tour booths.
It doesn’t take long to have walk around, but the bright colours of the house boats on water front is gorgeous.
The food is very good you have the choice of fish and chips, seafood, mexican seafood, pizza, meat, ice-cream, and donuts.
We went ‘The Fish Store‘ and the food was delicious and very fresh.
We tried the halibut, salmon, tuna and oyster tacos that were fantastic.
Also, the fried salmon and chips and fresh oysters. As I am writing this they do a buck a shuck (CA$1 for a oyster) everyday between 4 – 5 pm.
Fisherman’s Wharf closes does early around 6/7 pm.
Government Street Shopping
Government Street is straight across from the Empress hotel to the right.
This street is full of shops, pubs and restaurants and it is a pretty street to walk up lined with trees.
Beacon Hill Park
Beacon Hill Park is very close to downtown to walk around.
There are duck ponds, lots of birds to see and it is very peaceful.
There is a petting zoo for small children and peacocks wandering around the park.
Chinatown
Chinatown is just up from Government Street. It is Canada’s oldest Chinatown.
Fan Tan Alley is fun walk through, it is an alleyway with quirky shops.
Originally this alleyway could be closed up so the police could not stop illegal activity.
Chinatown is fun to walk around and there are Chinese supermarkets, restaurants and tea shops.
Butchart Gardens
Butchart Gardens is in Brentwood Bay, around a 40 drive from the cruise ship terminal.
The Butchart Gardens are stunning and have been in bloom for over 100 years.
There is 55 acres of gardens to walk around to see different themed gardens.
Victoria BC Weather
The weather here is very similar to the UK, so always bring a rain jacket or umbrella.
- Spring: Sun/Wind/Rain – 8*C – 17*C
- Summer: Sun/Wind/Rain – 13 *C – 20*C
YOU MAY ALSO ENJOY READING:
Cruise Essentials
Here are some cruising products from Amazon you may find useful on your next cruise. To see more, have look at my Amazon shop page click here.
I hope you have found this information helpful and now know what to do in the cruise port of Victoria, BC Canada.
Please share on Facebook and Twitter so your friends and family can read too or pin for later on Pinterest.
Happy Cruising!
