Victoria, BC

Fifty-five acres of breathtaking floral display gardens carved from a former limestone quarry — the Sunken Garden alone is worth the trip. Seasonal highlights year-round with spectacular Saturday night fireworks in summer.

Victoria's stunning centrepiece — a working legislative building with grand copper-domed architecture overlooking a harbour lined with floatplanes and whale-watching boats. Free to walk around and photograph.

One of Canada's finest museums — explore 13,000 years of BC natural and human history with immersive walk-through galleries, totem poles, and a spectacular First Nations collection.

A magnificent Victorian-era stone mansion built in the 1890s for coal baron Robert Dunsmuir. Four floors of original furnishings, stained glass, and remarkable period detail.

A stunning Edwardian castle set on a 565-acre estate with Italian, Japanese, and rose gardens — recognisable to X-Men fans as the filming location for Professor Xavier's mansion.

Victoria's most beloved waterfront food experience — fresh halibut and chips, fish tacos, and Dungeness crab served from brightly painted float shacks alongside colourful houseboats.

Victoria's most iconic experience — tiered sandwiches, freshly baked scones with Devonshire cream, and exquisite pastries served in a grand 1908 heritage hotel overlooking the harbour.

A Victoria institution since 1979 — lively New York-Italian trattoria known for generous pasta portions, excellent house wine, and regular live jazz at the back.

Victoria's best Asian noodle spot — bold wok-fried noodles, fragrant curries, and huge portions at student-friendly prices. A local favourite for 25 years.

Victoria's original craft brewery and pub, set inside a stunning 1913 heritage warehouse building. Award-winning ales, stouts, and seasonal lagers brewed on-site.

A trendy heritage bar with an outstanding whisky and cocktail list, exposed brick walls, and some of Victoria's best small plates — ideal for craft beer lovers too.

Victoria's most celebrated tea merchant since 1894 — a heritage café and shop selling over 100 loose-leaf teas and fine coffees. The perfect pre-Empress warm-up.

A magnificent 154-acre Victorian park bordering the ocean — wild Garry oaks, manicured rose gardens, a petting zoo, and spectacular views across the Strait of Juan de Fuca to the Olympic Mountains.

A scenic coastal path running along the rocky shore from Ogden Point to Beacon Hill Park — whales and harbour seals are occasionally spotted from the sea wall. Completely free.

Victoria is one of Canada's top whale-watching destinations — expert-guided 3-hour tours in search of resident and transient orca pods, humpbacks, and Dall's porpoises in the Salish Sea.

Rent a bike at the cruise terminal and pedal the stunning seafront seawall from Ogden Point through James Bay, Fisherman's Wharf, and all the way to the Inner Harbour — flat, scenic, and totally exhilarating.

Canada's oldest Chinatown — a UNESCO-recognised precinct of ornate heritage buildings, Chinese herbalists, and the famously narrow Fan Tan Alley, once lined with gambling dens.

Victoria's main shopping boulevard runs from the Inner Harbour north through the city — flanked by British import shops, Canadian souvenir stores, independent boutiques, and artisan food shops.

Housed in Victoria's former courthouse, this museum tells BC's rich maritime story through artefacts, ship models, and the story of the province's fishing, naval, and explorer heritage.

North America's largest collection of live tropical insects — get up close with tarantulas, giant stick insects, and glowing scorpions in this wonderfully quirky hands-on zoo.