Wow, gorgeous castle and grounds! When we visited, there were plenty of people taking photos and…read moreexploring the area. I wasn't able to enter as you need a guided tour, although there was enough to do by wandering the grounds. If you're lucky, you might see some peafowl foraging in the grass for delicious food. They're quite skittish. Don't feed them though! Be sure to explore the nearby gardens. There's an Italian garden, Japanese garden, and a rose garden. The Japanese garden in particular is a great place to sit and enjoy the stillness of the area - the pond reflects the sky and the surrounding vegetation and you can really take it all in. It really is an oasis. Of note, the carpark is a pay-to-park lot. There's not a lot of publicly accessible washrooms either.

Hatley Castle, tucked away on Victoria Island, was a serene and picturesque stop on a crisp…read moremorning. Even though the air was chilly and the castle didn't open until 10 a.m., wandering the grounds beforehand felt like a moment out of a storybook. The expansive, beautifully kept gardens and coastal views made the stroll well worth it, offering a quiet and peaceful way to take in the surroundings. Paid parking is available, making it an easy stop to add to a morning itinerary.

love visiting victoria, and one of my favourite things to do is simply wander along the waterfront…read morewith nowhere in particular to be. for me, the inner harbour and the david foster harbour pathway have always felt like the same experience. i honestly couldn't tell you where one ends and the other begins, and i don't think most people walking there care much either. you're not following a trail so much as soaking in everything that makes victoria feel like victoria. you start near the parliament buildings and the empress, surrounded by overflowing hanging baskets bursting with colour. horse drawn carriages roll past, double decker buses glide through downtown, and tourists stop every few steps to snap photos from every possible angle. everyone seems to be moving at their own pace, with nowhere urgent to go. out on the water, there's always something happening. seaplanes skim across the harbour and lift gracefully into the sky, while others drift back in and settle onto the water as naturally as birds returning home. little harbour ferries weave back and forth between fisherman's wharf, songhees, and the inner harbour, their captains waving to people along the shoreline. the path itself quietly ties everything together. one moment you're listening to a busker, the next you're leaning against the railing watching pleasure boats and kayakers pass by. maybe you grab an ice cream, maybe a coffee, or maybe you simply stop because the view across the harbour is too beautiful to rush past. and if you stay long enough, one of the best moments comes after sunset. the parliament buildings slowly light up, every dome, window, and architectural detail outlined with incredible precision. i've always found myself admiring not just how beautiful it looks, but the patience and craftsmanship it must have taken someone to get it exactly right. thousands of lights, perfectly placed. by then, people are lingering on benches, couples are strolling hand in hand, and visitors are still taking photos as the sky turns from gold to deep blue. it's one of those places where nobody seems to be in a hurry, and honestly, that's exactly the way victoria should be experienced.

Inner Harbour of Victoria BC is such a tranquil and beautiful place. We were fortunate to have…read morevisited on a bright, sunny, mild day. It was wonderful taking in the sights and enjoying the weather. I hope to visit again someday and experience the evening after the sun goes down.

A definite must activity in the island. This was our post lunch activity…read more What a beautiful property. We took the time to really check every nook and cranny of what once was a family home. Some of those rooms were super spacious. Our friend was nice enough to narrate the whole tour for our group by reading the leaflet provided at the entrance. Well done keeping the whole property looking pristine.

We actually saw the outside of this mansion/castle 2 summers ago on a city tour excursion from our…read morecruise ship. This summer, we were on a road trip and took the ferry across from Port Angeles to Victoria for a few hours. This was a perfect stop before lunch, and this time we did a self guided tour of the interior. Super friendly people work here. The ticket seller was very nice, the greeter inside the castle set us on our way, and even the souvenir shop lady was exceptionally nice. Maybe its just that they're Canadian? Or maybe they're just...nice. lol Be advised that there's a lot of stairs to tackle on this tour. This is a perfect place to see if you only have a few hours in Victoria. We took a cab from the ferry dock and back later. It was a short ride so not too expensive. Crowd wasn't tooo bad at the time we went in July.

Free guided or self guided tours in the first and second floor of the building. Pretty neat and…read moreshows the British Empire's pomp and circumstance mixed with the traditional culture of the First Nations

Really cool capital building right off the dock area. Lots of great artwork and other items that…read moredraw the attention to a very important looking building fair governmental looking, but also has been around for a long time. It shows the importance of this building and their connection to the government. There is a great totem pole in the front as well assome statues to recognize important leaders. Built for Queen Victoria, however, she never made it there.

Beautiful exhibits and such a fun way to spend an afternoon. We were lucky and got to see felting…read moreart being completed. All the various exhibits were different and the staff was warm and welcoming.

A very great art gallery and fantastic displays. Have visited many times…read more Hope they get their new location. Very strange people that work there !

Wonderful place! Learn and grow experience…read more Staff is very nice. Kids and adults liked it as did I. Steve

What an amazing experience! We have been to the Seattle, Bellevue and Olympia Children's museum and…read morethis definitely amongst the top 2. The museum is definitely little smaller in size which helped me understand the no stroller rule unless medically required. What my kid and I enjoyed the most were - water play area - train track with toy trains and actual working toy train set and the train whistle - marble room, wish there were more marbles for the kids to play - the model airplane and the cargo hauler And lastly, the open area in the roof which we didn't go due to the weather. - air ribbon flow or whatever that's called and seems to be common in all children's museum - writing with light! That was new for me as well! - clean restrooms with toilets and washbasin for the kids to use! We came in late so the paid parking was easy to get, will need to plan for future! And also probably about the membership!

Monkey C Artcade was easily one of the coolest and most unexpected things I found while visiting…read moreVictoria. The amount of creativity that has gone into this place is incredible. Everywhere you look, there's something strange, imaginative, interactive, or just plain fun to discover. The entire experience is the work of local artists, and their talent really shows. It's quirky, immersive, and completely different from your typical art gallery. Coming from Colorado and having experienced Meow Wolf in Denver, I can genuinely say I enjoyed Monkey C Artcade even more. It feels more personal, less commercial, and like you're stepping directly into the artists' imaginations. One of the things I appreciated most is how they handle admission. They want you to experience the Artcade first and contribute afterward, with a suggested sliding scale of $10-$30 CAD, or more if you want to help support them. Those contributions are what help keep the doors open and allow these local artists to continue creating. If you're in Victoria, don't overlook this place. Go explore, have fun, embrace the weirdness, and support some incredibly talented local artists. Absolutely worth it!

The staff member at the front desk was incredibly kind! The interactive art was so fun and…read morecreative. We had such a fun time

A beautiful day exploring the San Juan Islands Sculpture Park, wandering along the grassy trails…read moreand discovering unexpected treasures around every corner. Then I stumbled upon this handsome turquoise fellow sitting in the grass with a big grin on his face and a sign that read, "I've Been Kissed." I had to laugh. With those big golden eyes and that confident smile, he looked like he'd been quite the ladies' man. I wondered how many people had stopped to kiss him, hoping to turn an ordinary walk through the park into their own fairy tale!

Fun stop to breakup the drive Free activity Enjoy A little…read morestretch and enjoy the fresh air

Mark the owner of this fine art gallery is very competent and honest…read more I purchased some items and he ensured they were shipped perfectly packed and followed up regularly to make sure everything went well. And it did! I feel good about his opinions and passion and the quality of his available artwork. Just a great local business to support as he educates everyone on local history and allows you to purchase some of it! Now that's a win-win

What an amazing gallery. I always find the perfect gifts for family and myself here. The best place…read moreI've found for Indigenous Art in Victoria. The owner is so knowledgeable and helpful. I definitely recommend this place to friends.