Fan Tan Alley, one of the narrowest streets in Canada and is only three to six feet wide and 240…read morefeet long, that runs between Fisgard Street and Pandora Avenue (formerly Cormorant Street). It came into being between 1885 and 1920 as Chinese and Western landowners initially constructed buildings fronting on Fisgard and Cormorant, then over time filled in the spaces behind with new building. "Fan Tan" is named after a game played in gambling dens above the alley. The lower storefronts housed opium dens, restaurants, and shops. Opium was legal in Canada until 1908, but gambling was not. Trap doors to second floors and locked gates at each end of the alley helped slow down police during raids on the illegal gambling dens. Today, Fan Tan Alley is a neat shopping street with several locally owned stores. The shops are small in size, but each offers something different. Products available in Fan Tan Alley range from ice cream and other treats to vintage records and trendy clothing. Another key feature of Fan Tan Alley is its architecture. A significant amount of the exterior has a brick finish. The old buildings appear extra tall thanks to the street's narrow width.

fan tan alley feels like a secret the city almost doesn't want you to find…read more you can wander through victoria's chinatown without noticing it, then suddenly there it is: an impossibly narrow passage wedged between old brick buildings. stepping in feels less like entering an alley and more like slipping behind the curtain of the city. its name comes from fan tan, a gambling game once played in hidden rooms nearby. a century ago, this alley was alive with apartments, businesses, clan halls, gambling dens, and opium rooms, all connected by stairways, courtyards, and passageways mostly invisible from the street. while some activity was secretive, the bigger story is the community that thrived here despite discrimination and exclusion. for generations of chinese immigrants, fan tan alley offered work, friendship, support, and a sense of belonging. the buildings and hidden courtyards weren't just functional, they were the backbone of a community carving out its own space in a world that often shut them out. the narrow alley, tiny doorways, upper windows, and unusual fractional addresses like "1/2" all hint at the dense, layered way life was lived here. today, fan tan alley hums with a quieter energy. independent shops, galleries, studios, and cafés occupy spaces that once hid games, meetings, and everyday life. the history isn't confined to plaques or museum displays, it lingers in the narrow passage, the hidden courtyards, and the oddly numbered doorways. for all the stories of gambling dens and opium rooms, what remains most striking is the sense that this was, above all, a place where people built lives. walking through it feels less like seeing a landmark and more like stumbling across a piece of history that never quite disappeared.

Cute area where you can walk around and enjoy yourself without the pressure of spending any money,…read morebut if you do have some cash to burn you can get a bite to eat or browse some gift shops. If you really have some money, you can consider buying one of the float homes! They're around half a million CAD, and no, there weren't any open house tours when I visited. I'm a lookie-loo and I'm sure other tourists are too, so maybe it's only by private appointment for serious home buyers...Anyway, you can still admire the houses, as well as peer down into the depths to see the sea creatures - quite a few sea anemones and fish down there. The washroom situation is interesting as it is attached to the dock, but bobs up and down with the waves. If you have a shy body, might not be the best for you!

just a leisurely (maybe 36 minute) walk from downtown, or a quick, breezy ride across the harbour…read moreon one of the cute little water taxis, this spot feels like stepping straight into a postcard. the moment you arrive, the air shifts, sea salt mixes with the faint scent of fried fish, seagulls hover lazily above, and sunlight scatters across the rippling water like handfuls of coins tossed for luck. floating homes line the docks in a cheerful row of colour, each one reflecting softly in the water, like brushstrokes that never quite stand still. water taxis glide past, picking up and dropping off passengers, their propellers leaving slow, curling ripples behind. a whale watching group gathers near the pier, their chatter carried by the breeze, while the smell of seafood and freshly fried mini donuts drift from the stall nearby. barb's fish and chips, a local favourite, has its usual line, with diners perched at picnic tables, seagulls keeping hopeful watch. there's a small mexican food stand, a souvenir shop filled with nautical trinkets, and locals walking their dogs, exchanging smiles as they pass. everything here moves at its own rhythm, calm, relaxed, and quietly cinematic. it's the kind of place that doesn't just ask you to visit, it makes you slow down, breathe deeper, and really take in the view, the raw beauty, the smell of the ocean, and the lull of the water. this is victoria at its most picture perfect.

I've visited Victoria more times than I can count and somehow the Parliament Buildings still manage…read moreto stop me in my tracks every single time. The exterior alone is one of the most beautiful pieces of architecture in British Columbia. During the day, the grand dome, and maintained grounds make it feel like something you'd expect to find in a Europe than in BC. I highly recommend taking one of the free guided tours. Stepping inside reveals craftsmanship with soaring ceilings, beautiful woodwork and historic artwork. The tours are informative without feeling overwhelming and offer a fascinating look into both British Columbia's political history and the building itself. One of my favourite aspects of the tour was seeing the various royal connections and items related to the monarchy. As someone who enjoys learning about the Royal Family, I loved seeing portraits and hearing stories about visits from members of the royal family over the years. I honestly think it becomes magical at night. When all of the lights illuminate the exterior, the entire building seems to glow against the harbour. It feels almost storybook-like.

Definitely a must see. Totally worth going around any demonstrations to come in as my mother was…read morehesitant. Very historic and nice design with great artwork, ceilings, and stained glass windows. Did the self guided rather than guided tour but got to see a committee in session.

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.

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.

This was our final stop when we did our Alaska cruise. We knew it would be a Sunday night and that…read moremost businesses would be closed, so we just enjoyed walking around. Sunset at the marina was lovely and so were the lights around the Parliament buildings. We were able to stop in a couple of stores for some last-minute souvenirs that were Canada-made. It's definitely a city that we need to return to when we have time to see what else it has to offer.

Historical and modern, and also catered to the cruise ship tourists. There is a huge homeless…read morepopulation and it's paired with old money opulence; the class warfare is in full swing like many other larger cities in the world. Beautiful city and a lot of money has been invested into making the city friendly for tourists

We had a very unique experience when visiting Bastion Square at the start of Summer Solstice. We…read morejust happened to stumble upon a fire dance being performed that evening by The Wandering Artist. I didn't know who they were at the time, but they are very popular in Victoria. It was such a mesmerizing performance. I wanted to keep watching it, but we were in the middle of a tour. I just remember our guide wasn't very happy because she wanted to show us something at the top of the steps. Most likely the beautiful view of the Inner Harbour from that elevated square. Ah, but we did get a very cool local experience in the form of an artistic performance. Everyone was cheering them on. The area is quite historic. There is a line of bricks with names of pioneers and business owners that mark what was once the northeast bastion of Fort Victoria. It would later become a courthouse and a jail complete with gallows. Yes, the prisoners were executed by hanging. That may be why people say that it's haunted. I don't know. The square was full of locals and tourists on a very busy Friday night. There are 2 very well known pubs at the entrance of the alley. Let's just say that everyone was having a great time. We learned a lot that night while walking through the alley & square. It was a very interesting experience. Maybe one day I'll actually see that view of the Harbour that everyone talks about.

Bastion Square is not really a square; it's more like an open-air alley that descends (or ascends,…read moredepending on which way you enter it) for several city blocks and through multiple intersections of lightly-trafficked side roads. On a late Sunday morning, we passed by a handful of pop-up tents from local artists and craftsmen that weren't there the day (and night) before, so depending on when you visit, what you encounter here might be different than another. The "square" itself is clean, well-maintained and attractive, passing by several storied, stately structures built well over a century ago, repurposed and repopulated with nascent businesses, many of them pubs, clubs and restaurants, but also a smattering of others, such as a rare book store, and some satellite offices for regional colleges. At sunset, visitors are afforded a gorgeous view of Victoria Harbor painted in a pageant of dusky and fiery hues that encompass the entire color spectrum: a radiant sky with shades of red, orange, yellow, indigo, violet, framed by green foliage and blue water. Worth a visit for the ambiance and atmosphere alone, particularly when it is buzzing with visitors, tourists and patrons, but Bastion Square is made complete by the quantity and variety of quality dining establishments along its concourse. One of my favorite places to idle away the time in Victoria, and after your visit, I am sure you will agree.

Folks would probably get more of an appreciation for this starting point for the Trans-Canadian…read moreHighway if they were Canadian or heavy duty road enthusiasts. To the casual sight seeing person they will find it fairly cool or will not be impressed because it's a sign and it doesn't have the attention getting technique to rip them off their phones and appreciate it for what it is. This road goes through many of the major cities of Canada so looking at it on the map is fun to follow it's route. A few people I have talked to about it feels like it is kind of the Route 66 of Canada and ends in Newfoundland and Labrador. Knowing how big Canada is kind of makes this road awe inspiring and it is complete still unlike Route 66 where the exact road is not and has to be pieced together in order to relive that road experience. So all in all this was a fun stop and it is located on the south end of Beacon Hill Park.

Mile Zero of the Trans-Canada Highway [Victoria BC]…read more Quick stop to see the marker for the official starting point of the Trans-Canada Highway. The last time I saw a mile marker zero was in Key West FL which people have stolen!! Can't steal this one. It has a concrete foundation on a large grassy field. This Mile 0 marker is the beginning of more than 8000 km Trans Canada Highway that stretches the entire length of Canada. whoa! wow! so if you are planning a road trip across Canada this would be the place to start (or end) your journey. The marker is adjacent to a park. The sign is located next to the Terry Fox memorial statue. There is an inscription about him just below. He lost his right leg to cancer when he was only 18 years old. Terry started a cross-country marathon to raise money for cancer research beginning on the East Coast of Canada and was supposed to finish at the Mile 0 Marker here in Victoria. His Marathon of Hope was recognized for his selfless efforts. Parking is available on nearby streets. Review #3175

Helmcken House is the oldest house in BC still standing at its original site. It's located within…read moreThunderbird Park and is part of the overall Royal BC Museum complex. I'm big on historical structures, so naturally I dragged Gayle over here during one of our Victoria walks. The House was built by Dr. John Sebastian Helmcken, the first doctor in Victoria, and a surgeon with the Hudson's Bay Company. He set up house here in 1852 when he married the daughter of Governor Sir James Douglas. Originally a 3-room log cabin, the House was expanded as both the prosperity and size of the family grew. Helmcken went on to become a statesman and helped negotiate the entry of BC as a Province into Canada. It still contains its original furnishings (imported from England of course) and some displays including his medical kit. It's open daily and your Royal BC Museum ticket gets you in.