A must try for all young families. Kids of any age will be able to enjoy this little zoo very much. Even I as an adult also enjoyed it - like I have never had such an interactive zoo experience and a lot of kudos goes to the host inside the museum who does an amazing job of engaging the audience, especially the kids. This zoo is right up Government Street which is perfect since it rolls right into your plans of exploring downtown. This is a tiny zoo. You can be done in 10mins or you can choose to listen to the guide and be amazed! The guide did a fantastic job of explaining things very simply and creating lots of opportunities for folks to touch some of the passive bugs. The most amazing thing was how they had setup the ants showing exactly how ant colonies work. Lots of beautiful tarantulas to see and learn about creatures that I had no idea about before I went here. Loved it! Totally worth the $20 entry fees as an adult. read more

Delighted by the insects and caring enthusiastic staff at the Victoria Bug Zoo. Got to handle and pet some amazing critters. Learned about their lives and habitat. Felt lucky to be there when their were (hourly?) hour long guided tours of the small space. My total visit was 2 hours long and I would have enjoyed easily another hour. Laughing kiddies, watchful but smiling parents, and enough interesting facts presented with double entendres that was not dumb down for the adults in tow. All in all an unexpectedly fantastic experience that has me yelping! :-) read more

This micro zoo was SO fun for me as a solo adult traveling in Victoria!! It came highly recommended by the tattoo artist I traveled here for from Michigan, US for the second time. She loves bugs and so I thought she was a little biased on the place but NOPE! The place is GREAT!!! I spent about an hour and a half in there watching the bugs, googling them, they have a cool audio tour but there were two guides speaking to the interested kids and so there was no need I could overhear plenty of crazy cool facts about the bugs! I have a new appreciation for these little creatures read more

Victoria Bug Zoo - Super happy tourist!!! - Zoos Near Me - Victoria, British Columbia

What a fun surprise! This little gem was right next to our hotel and we had to see what it was about. The "zoo" was very small (really only one room), but housed a lot of interesting critters, including several stickbugs, tarantulas, leafbugs, and more. We joined up with the guided tour and held a few of the insects. The guide was super friendly and knowledgeable and extremely good with the young children who were part of the tour, giving each child a chance to hold or pet a bug. Our kids are grown, but would have loved this (they would honestly still love it). I also appreciated how queer-friendly the whole place was, which is such a pleasant experience coming from the States, where that is definitely not always the case. Bringing my adult kiddo (a biology major who loves bugs) a tee-shirt that says "Nature is Queer!" and I know they will love it:) read more

My daughter and I had the most incredible time here. The staff is so friendly and knowledgeable. We learned so much and we got to hold so many animals. It was arguably the most fun experience we had in Victoria. We cannot recommend the Victoria Bug Zoo enough. You will have so much fun!!! read more

What an amazing little place! We went during the first hour, which is a sensory friendly time requiring masks. The staff are amazing! There was an elementary school class there, and the staff were masterful at keeping everything feeling easy. The bugs are very interesting! You can even hold them, and there's a washing station if you do. It was such a good time. There is a gift shop that's pretty great as well. Highly recommended! read more

What a cool little spot! The bugs were very interesting and the employees were very friendly, enthusiastic, and knowledgeable.

Fun place to visit. Small but lots of bugs, spiders, ants...& our guide, Kye was super knowledgeable and so excited to share! All the staff were very nice, cheerful and helpful. The gift shop had lots of cute, interesting and cool stuff. read more

Wasn't expecting too much from our visit but boy was I pleasantly surprised! The setting was not that big but they pack a lot of interesting critters there. The tour was super interesting and she was sooo informative! The fun part was actually getting to handle one of the spiders. A must see if you're there. read more

My twin boys had mixed reviews for the Bug Zoo. One absolutely loved it and was excited to hold all the bugs, while the other was ready to go in about 15 minutes. It isn't a large space, so it doesn't take long to see all the bugs, and I found it to be pricey. I think it's a one and done for us, but if you have a little one that adores bugs, this is the place to be. read more

WOW! Caylin was our bug specialist sharing non-stop knowledge of the ants, spiders and creatures they house. I like the more curious and secretive facts of knowledge that was shared. I remembered a lot of info. In fact, I left feeling like I always misunderstood tarantulas. Of course, I won't pick one up in the wild! This is more of a display of glass enclosures for the multiple creatures they take care of. Fun to try to find the creatures. I laugh when they are right in front of my face! The highlight was having a tarantula touch my hand. So sweet! read more

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With many museums and zoos, the "do not ____" (touch, talk, take photo, etc.) admonitions are prevalent and somewhat stifling. That's why the Victoria Bug Zoo is such a breath of fresh air. Here interaction is highly encouraged, which is remarkable since we're dealing with what are considered "creepy-crawlies!" While this place is fairly small, so are the animals (though they are humongous compared to their brethren like ants and flies that we encounter in our daily lives). On our visit, we saw a tarantula that was as big as your hand (bird-eating spider) and insects that perfectly mimic twigs and leaves. There are basically two rooms that house many glass enclosures of hundreds of animals.......with insects, not much space is realistically needed. Also like everywhere else, prices are rising, though discounts are available for children, seniors and students. Our group of 4 paid about $55 CDN (about $40 US) for almost 2 hours of "entertainment." What gets you your money's worth is both the stellar educational, enthusiastic, yet personable talks given by the tour guides, and the chance to really commune (YES, TOUCH!) with many of the insects. We've visited the Bug Zoo on every trip we've made to Victoria (3 times over 20 years), and every guide we've had genuinely loved their job and the creatures they care for. Also, on every visit, the guide took out at least 5 bugs for us to touch (or should I say, for them to touch us!). You haven't lived until you have an 8 inch stick insect crawling up your palm. This place is basically a petting zoo for the squeamish or phobic. Great place to make super interesting memories......a must- visit for folks of all ages! read more

i mean, its a bug zoo, i love bugs, i love this place! the tour staff is incredibly knowledgeable and friendly, good for kids and whatnot, and just nice and cool people all around ^^ read more

This is a small but cute zoo located in the city center of Victoria. There is plenty of street and garage parking nearby. The collection at this zoo is rather limited, but they do have some rather strange and cool bugs. Plan for about 30-60 minutes at this place. read more

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I'm an adult, visited without kids, and had an AMAZING time. The guides provided really interesting information, and it was exciting to see them bring out bugs to hold and pass around. Would happily return in the future given the opportunity! read more

Bug zoo! So much fun to visit in Victoria, especially if you enjoy bugs :) it is on the smaller side but they have a variety of bugs and interactive education! They also have an accessibility hour for the first hour of operation requiring masks but we didn't mind. 5 stars! read more

Kids had a great time. Jaymie showed everyone around, teaching them about the live bugs on display and letting people hold some of them. However, when I bought some things in their gift shop, Jaymie said something weird to me. As she rang up the bug encased lollipops I was buying, she said to me, "a sucker for a sucker." She's a total stranger to me, was weird, I didn't know what to say. Ruined the experience for me. Luckily the kids weren't there for that. In conclusion, place is great for kids, but some of the staff is weird. read more

I have to give this spot a 5-star review on behalf of my child, who adores the bug zoo so much we went every. single. day. of spring break. The staff are outrageously knowledgeable about the critters and so patient with the kiddos. Definitely get the educator tour and hold the insects -- it's a much richer experience than wandering through on your own. My kid will be working here in about 10 years, mark my words! read more

The Victoria Bug Zoo is a MUST do if you have curious littles. We first took our daughter here when she was 15 months old and back again at 26 months. She loved it both times. Miss Emma is absolutely wonderful with kids of all ages and made our girl feel so special, safe and encouraged her curiosity. I couldn't recommend enough. Holding/touching the bugs kept our girl engaged for a whole hour. Worth every penny! read more

We had a wonderful time at this venue. We were there on a Friday afternoon and it was not crowded, so we almost had a personal tour. Jaymie - our biologist - was amazing. She was knowledgeable, friendly, and accommodating. They will actually let you hold many of the bugs, which is super cool. This was right in downtown Victoria, a close walk from the wharf. There are basically two rooms with aquariums filled with all kinds of interesting insects and a super large ant farm covering three walls. I honestly don't know if it would have been as enjoyable if there were more than eight or so people there. We had about a dozen when we first got there, but they trickled out until only four (adults) were left and we could ask questions and see everything and had Jaymie's undivided attention. read more

Victoria Bug Zoo - Zoos Near Me - Victoria, British Columbia

It may look small inside, but filled with all sorts of bugs and insects that we normally don't see. Also the ant colony actually is very fascinating, we learned a lot by talking to the passionate and friendly staff there. read more

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This place is awesome. Where else are you going to get to see all these creepy crawlies in one place? The staff is super friendly, the gift selection is great.. the only drawback is they have to keep it a bit warm for the creatures' comfort. Buy a cricket lollipop or some chocolate-covered insects! And did I mention the staff? My daughter loved this place so much from when we came her pre-COVID that she remembered and wanted to come back, this time with little brother in tow. However, they only wanted to stay for about 2 minutes -- the gift shop was far more their speed today. We didn't even think of asking for our money back but the woman at the front desk offered and we gratefully accepted. That's how you get repeat customers (next time we'll make sure the kids really do want to go in the zoo section)! We will be back, I hope! read more

Super cool! You get to learn about and touch bugs! Not just for kids.... lol ok lots of kids are there but we two adults went and had a ball. Got to hold bugs that looked like they would eat me but alas they were vegetarian. They did like a tour thing but you could also just walk around and see stuff. The ant-quariam was amaze!! They are so smart!!! The ants... read more

This place exceeded expectations- although seemingly small at first, the real value was in our guide, Grey, not only explaining almost each bug in greath depth and detail, but allowing anyone hold certain bugs! The staff are experts in the bugs, answering several questions along the way. Some people just browsed and left after a short time, but if you stay with a guide and learn about (or hold) each bug, you will find it a worthwhile experience. I actually almost skipped this stop when it came up, but I am glad I didn't. read more

Very disappointing. Sad little spot with very few interesting insects hiding in dirty cases. Save your money!

(This review is only in regards to the person servicing the front counter). My family and I came in an hour before closing and debated on paying the full admission price. We asked if there was any discount for coming in at such a late time. He raved about how many different species of bugs they had at their location and how an hour was plenty of time to explore. We decided to go in and found the location to be very small. We were expecting something bigger as the place was called "bug zoo." We were in and out of there in 30 minutes. As we were exploring the shop afterwards, we heard the same man offer half off admissions to people coming in. We understand this is a business and they're trying to make money, but the guy completely took advantage of us. He overlooked our concern and knew well enough that he could have given us the same option; all because he was looking to make a profit. Shame on him. We didn't bother to make a complaint and instead want to spread the word to those families who are trying to be budget friendly with the activities they plan for their kids. Note: Half off admissions if you come 30mins before closing, not at hour. read more

This is a great stop for anyone visiting downtown Victoria! You can get a lot out of it at any age (we're college students visiting Victoria for spring break). It's right in the middle of downtown and is convenient to so many restaurants and cafes. They have a big variety of interesting insects, and you get to hold lots of them. This is the closest I have been able to get to many types of insects, like many types of stick and leaf bugs. Our tour guide was extremely knowledgeable about all of the insects and we learned a ton. read more

Victoria Bug Zoo - Holding a leaf bug! - Zoos Near Me - Victoria, British Columbia

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Located across the street from the Empress Hotel. If this zoo had been more than just two rooms, it would have been five stars. But this was a fun experience that is not just for kids. When we were here (it was not crowded), there were two very knowledgeable docents who briefed us on the insect exhibits and pulled the bugs out of their terrariums to let us hold them. The biggest kick was getting to hold a tarantula. While they are fearsome looking creatures, most are quite harmless. I was most fascinated with the "walking stick" insects. They are just like green twigs or big blades of grass. I imagine in their natural habitat that they blend in to the point that they are near invisible. read more

BUGS...YUCK! But oh SO much fun! Being the female of the group I didn't expect to enjoy it as much as my hubby and two boys. I was sure mistaken. It's a small space for a bug zoo, but everything was super interactive we hung around over an hour. What in the world would one do for an hour? Let's just list a few of the things we held... * Praying mantis * Walking stick * Katydid * Beetle * Malaysian Jungle Nymph * Millipede (my five-year-old and hubby even did the millipede mustache) * Scorpion (for 19 yrs and older) * Tarantula (for 19 yrs and older)..and yes, I'm terrified of spiders but I even held the tarantula...kind of like a caterpillar...crazy! * And about 6 other bugs... but I can't remember their exotic names! We learned so many interesting facts about each and every bug. I didn't realize the life of a Leaf Cutter Ant could be so fascinating! My two-year-old was entertained the entire time and got to hold everything too. The guides were super knowledgable and accommodating to the kids. We visited during January which made it nice for small crowds in a small room. We didn't feel rushed as we moved from bug to bug. I couldn't imagine the place during peak season, I would assume it getting claustrophobic at times. Regardless of the space, this is by far one of the best "zoos" we've ever been to. If you want a unique and unforgettable experience, make this place part of your Victoria trip. read more

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Okay, so I left this place with my skin crawling and itchy all over. *Whoah, what was that!?!* I did leave with a better understanding of bugs in general and plenty of snap shots of the kiddos holding all kinds of bugs. Our youngest, Snake-girl, she's 5yo, we had to drag her out of this place, with the promise we'd be back...soon-ish... G-ma ended up buying her a rather large stuffed bug to take home so the tears would stop flowing. Pops, stayed outside, as just the gift shop creeped him out! Plenty of great stuff to see here, they give "mini" tours as you come in or let you check things out at your own pace, it's all good. Stick around and wait till the bug-keepers bring something out for show and tell. Your kids will luv it, really!! And try to find the Queen ant in their ant colony, I guess she's been missing for years now! read more

Victoria Bug Zoo - Zoos Near Me - Victoria, British Columbia

Let's be honest, nobody likes bugs. And giant bugs out of cages for you to hold isn't my idea of fun. The Bug Zoo in Victoria changed that for me and helped me have a new appreciation for these creatures. I found it interested that nearly every female bug ends up decapitating the male specimen. This quaint zoo has 2 main bug rooms, gift shop and special reserved party room. The admission was reasonable and offers senior discounts. Make sure you have a guide tell you about all the bugs. Otherwise, you might be disappointed. It's one thing to look at the giant spider but to hear how it got its name, all the special things it can do etc really puts a new perspective on these creatures. read more

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Terrible my son who is 7 years old was yelled at 3 times for letting his mask fall off his nose , not by the tour guide who was wonderful but buy the cashier at the front. My Son left crying I do not recommend this place to anyone the tour people are amazing but the staff on the till incredibly rude read more

7/10/10 - At first I came with my gf here and when we looked through the front door it looked like a day care center. A little reluctant we decided to go in since we already paid for street parking. I think we shelled out ~$9 a person for adults and entered into another room where the bugs were at. The place was small (I'd say 25ft x 30ft) but bugs are relatively small in comparison to animals so there was actually quite a number of exotic bugs. You are welcome to join any group since the guides goes around the whole room multiple times. You are allowed to hold some the bugs and our guide was excellent at catering to both kids and curious adults. We stayed a little over an hour but I'd have to say I could stay there all day just watching the leaf cutter ants do their thing. read more

Victoria Bug Zoo - That ain't no mustache! - Zoos Near Me - Victoria, British Columbia

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Way overpriced, for a very small display. The front gift shop is as big as the display area for viewing.

The Bug Zoo Went WAY above our expectations! From the Awesome tour Guide to the amazing little... And not so little creatures! The kids had a blast and the adults learned a lot too. Thanks for completing our trip to beautiful Victoria! read more

Victoria Bug Zoo - My Daughter Absolutely LOVED the bugs zoo! The tour guide was amazing too! Thanks for a great time. - Zoos Near Me - Victoria, British Columbia

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Perhaps all the great reviews came from folks with small children. This is NOT a place to go for just adults. Compared to the bugs on exhibit as you walk into the atrium at the Butterfly Garden, this place was hokey and lame. Other reviews say they got tours... that was definitely not an option when we were there. It took the three of us approximately 6 minutes to walk through the room of bugs - not worth the cost because it took us twice as long as that to find a parking spot 6 blocks away. read more

We had the BEST experience at the bug museum a few months back. The museum itself is pretty small, but Liz was our guide and she was AMAZING. So knowledgeable and great with our 3 year old. They were limiting people (due to covid), so it was only our family for the first 20 minutes, so we did get some 1-on-1 time, which was so lucky for our little girl. The place is cool - but the staff is wonderful, highly reccoemnd. read more

This place is a hidden gem. From a small unassuming exterior what you don't see is the guides that are super knowledgeable about bugs and great with kids. My daughter went from not wanting to hold any bugs to following the guide around for 2 hours and holding every bug. Some twice. If you have kiddos or are an arthropod need this is a must do in Victoria. read more

This was a very pleasant surprise. I'm not a fan of bugs in any fashion. Even ants come across as pests. After a friend suggested I give this place a try, I have a new found respect for the little beings that we share this world with. Our guide was fantastic and we go to hold some of these little buggers (hehehehe). It is just so amazing how fragile they can be and how much they fit into our ecosystem. Sierra (our guide) dispelled some of the myths about some of these beautiful creatures. I definitely recommend this attraction to anyone and everyone. I left there feeling much more connected to the world. read more

If you are absolutely fascinated by insects or need something to occupy kids for an hour or so, then this is for you. If not, then give it a miss. Pretty small and not worth the $12/adult admission (tweens/teens, kids, preschoolers and seniors are less). To be fair, the "tour guide" who was on duty when we visited was extremely animated and enthusiastic about his job, so props to him. read more