What a cool experience! It's a ferry that takes you to your destination when traveling around Victoria Harbour. You can totally see why it's needed just by looking at a map of the city. The harbor is divided into 4 active sections. The cruise ships dock at Ogden Point in the Outer Harbour. The water taxi services the Inner, Upper, and Middle Harbour. It's a great transport option that is more affordable than a standard taxi. There can be a wait time. You may want to book a water taxi ahead of time if you're traveling in a group. The boat can only take up to 12 passengers. Our BC Bites & Sights guide booked it in advance so there was only a 10 minute wait at the Fisherman's Wharf pick up point. We saw a couple of sights along the way. There was a great view of the seaplane port, and the Empress Hotel in the Inner Harbor. We also passed under the Johnson Street Bridge with its beautiful aqua blue lights. We arrived to our destination (Mermaid Wharf) in a matter of minutes. Yes, I know we could have walked to Chinatown. It was already part of the tour, so why not? It would have taken longer to walk, and it was a cold & windy day. Some people in our group said it felt like being near the Great Lakes. The wind around Shoal Point was brutal that evening. I'm sure it's much worse in the Winter. It was fun! I think this is considered to be a Top 10 attraction here, and not just a ferry service. They do offer tours of the Inner Harbour as well as the Gorge Waterway. The latter one would be great for wildlife enthusiasts. That's definitely a tour I'd like to take one day. read more

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Our overall experience with Victoria Harbour Ferry was very positive! I was able to book my tickets directly off the website and show up 5 mins before the ferry departed. These are small ferry rides with at most 7-8 other folks, so you almost get a very personal experience on the waters since the captain/host has the time to connect, take questions, etc. You are sitting almost at the water level which is another plus as well of these small ferries. The ferry left on time and brought us back on time. Our captain/host was amazing, well informed, spunky and just balanced the fun and the chatter perfectly. We did get a good amount of waves on the second half of the ride and the kids really got a kick out of it. We even managed to see a seal and see the pedestrian bridge open to allow a ferry carrying rocks to pass on our ride, which was just pure luck. Other things that you can expect to see is lots of seaplanes landing/taking off, a variety of boats - patrol, sailing, rowing boats and then the larger commercial ferries, private yatchs, etc. Even though we did not have to pay for our toddler, we thought that the tickets are still expensive and wish there were some discounted windows where folks could try to shave off a few dollars. read more

Such a delightful way to get around Victoria's waterfront. These adorable little ferries are such a fun and scenic way to get around. Whether you're hopping between docks or joining a guided tour, the experience feels personal and relaxed. Boats seat just 11-12 passengers, making it a cozy ride with front-row views of the harbor. Even if you're just catching a lift, one-way fares are available and super easy to pay. QR codes at the docks make it seamless, and for those who are old-school, tickets can be purchased from a few local businesses or directly from the captains onboard. We didn't have time to jump on one of their narrated tours through historic waterways and neighborhoods, but it's definitely on our list for next time. read more

Victoria Harbour Ferry - My favorite kind of taxi is a water taxi. - Ferries Near Me - Victoria, British Columbia

Charming little tour within the Victoria Harbour. Just the same as the Vancouver Aquabus, just with different scenery. Starts and ends in the main harbour area, but we decided to make a stop at Fisherman's Wharf and ended up passing on the ride back to the main harbour - choosing instead to make the short walk back in order to walk off our fish and chip lunch. The driver was engaging and knowledgeable. Wish the weather would have cooperated better to enjoy the views. Glad the water was calm at least. Recommended. read more

Victoria Harbour Ferry - Ferries Near Me - Victoria, British Columbia

Web site gives error message and tells you to call. When you call nobody answers the phone. People in line said 'you just have to wait and see'.. So we walked instead, strange that they don't seem to actually want any business read more

Fun water Taxi Tour. Cute Little boats too. The tour guides/drivers are A hoot and a half. Christopher and Bruce and wonderful souls and very funny. I loved these little boats and the quick jaunt in the harbor. I got to see a part of Victoria entirely new to me and learned a little history along the way. If you have little time and this is your first time in Victoria, this tour is a good introduction to the city. read more

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Really enjoyed the water taxis. I bought the ten pack and we loved taking the ferries everywhere - so convenient. They do stop at 9pm so keep that in mind. The weather was mild for our visit and it was very pleasant to be on the water. The employees are super helpful - so a great experience. read more

This was an awesome tour. We did the gorge tour and it actually teaches a bit of Victoria's history. On a nice day it is a beauty ride and the guide was great. Overall idk I would use the taxi service, seems pricey for something you could walk but the tours are great. Best to book a day before though to make sure you get a spot! read more

Victoria Harbour Ferry - Tour pic - Ferries Near Me - Victoria, British Columbia

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Although I love the idea of this and it is a novelty, the recent price increases take a bit of the enjoyment out of it. We paid $46 for a family of 4 to ride for about 7 min across the water. The driver was friendly enough but was obviously more interested in the other family on board spoke mostly directly to them and even dropped them off last I assume so the could have a longer ride. I just think for the money it could at least be for both ways not just one! read more

We took an evening Harbour Tour on the ferry. Sheila was very friendly and helpful booking our tour. Our Captain was knowledgeable and very nice. The tour is a great way to see the entire Harbour. read more

Took the little water taxi around the inner harbor. $44 USD for two so pretty reasonable. Most of the narration wasn't especially remarkable but it was a nice ride and we did go into areas and alcoves that we would not have otherwise known about. We especially liked seeing the Mayor's house and launch. I guess they pay their politicians pretty well up North. You can get off and walk around at any of the stops and then catch another water taxi when you are ready to continue. It was a very pleasant way to kill a couple of hours, see a lot of stuff and take some good pictures. read more

It was a lovely, quiet, relaxing and informative experience! We did the gorge tour on a lovely sunny day. They take reservations, so you are guaranteed a seat on the boat, but you can order early in the day for a later time and seating is determined by who gets on the boat first. Unfortunately, this meant that my husband and I weren't seated together since we courteously allowed other couples/ passengers to board first. It wasn't a huge deal for us, but we would have liked to talk to each other on the trip. I found myself saying 'do you remember... I was going to mention... we are going to that spot that was pointed out...' after the trip was done. Something to keep in mind. The captain was informative, for which we felt fortunate, and we learned about some history and some colour around the waterways, as well as industry along the way. The location was convenient, being at the Empress marina and a short walk from our hotel and central. The ticket desk was separate from the tour captains and it was helpful to know that we didn't have to wait around, but could come back for our time. I would say it was good value for dollar and would recommend as a relaxing interlude, especially if you have been doing a lot of walking tours! read more

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Great ride across for dinner Our captain was Very nice entertaining & accommodating Take the ride while in Victoria You won't regret it Beautiful scenery and smooth ride read more

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Not a reliable taxi service There are a lot of reviews on here about the "Harbour Ferry" and there different services to understand. There is a tour boat, and there are the harbour "taxis" that supposedly shuttle you around. Problem is, they don't. We were staying at a campground on the West side, and there is a water taxi station there. We called the number posted and got a recording saying they were not open (at 11:00 am). I called again and got a live person. 10 minutes later, a water taxi arrives. The boats are small and uncomfortable. But the ride is short. We bought a return ticket - big mistake. The taxi service closes "at dusk" so if you want to go to dinner in Victoria - forgetaboutit! It ain't taking you back home. We had lunch near fisherman's wharf and decided to go back. None of the "taxi" drivers wanted to go "all the way across the harbor" to the west side to take us back, so we were STUCK in Victoria. The lady behind the counter offered to have us sent to the other shore, where we were supposed to pick up the tour boat and then ask the captain to drop us off on the west side. Having seen how narrow the docking is there, I am not sure the tour boat would have fit. And why should I have to ask for favors to get back home? If you are not going to provide service to the west side, then don't claim to do so. Just discontinue the service and be done with it. It is cruel to lead people on, telling them there is a taxi service, when you don't really have one. So anyway, our only choices were to walk back or take a taxi. I asked for a refund on our round-trip ticket and the person at the desk said she couldn't do that. Finally, one o the "captains" of these little dink boats told her to give us money back and she just handed us $10. We called a cab. Bluebird cabs are reliable and will TAKE YOU BACK HOME when you want to go back. Oddly enough, we went kayaking later that day and paddled across the harbor in not much more time than these silly taxi boats take to traverse it. And by then, they were regularly going back to the West side - I guess they weren't so "busy" by then or something. If you are going to offer a "taxi" service, you have to be a "taxi" and not just a "I'm going where there are full boats and lots of tips" service. Most passengers went from fisherman's wharf to "downtown" which is a 10-minute walk (I did it, four times!). Save your money and take the walk - it is mostly along the harbor and very beautiful. Better than being in a cramped boat with no windows that open, with the captain's crotch in your face (no kidding, he sits up on a stool and all you see is his pants). The boats tend to wallow in poor weather, too. Just a poor boat ride. And not a reliable one. If you want to go from the west side, to say, Spinnaker's, consider just walking. Victoria has an excellent system of walkways that go nearly around the harbor. The water taxi? Just a sad joke. Save your money. read more

This water taxi our very favorite attraction we did in Victoria. Victoria Harbour Ferry includes small wooden boats that offer tours of the bay around Victoria, and it also includes bright yellow water taxis that take you to and from specific locations around the bay. The tour cost over US$20 a person, but the taxi was US$15 for a round trip ride for two people. We booked the water taxi and were super fortunate to have two other parties on our boat going to totally different areas before us, so we got to go north of the bay to China Town and across the bay to the Delta Hotel before being dropped off at the Wharf. That was essentially the same route as the much more expensive tour. We scored!!! We had heard of Fishermans Wharf in a tourism magazine, so that's were we chose to go. The Fishermans Wharf is a MUST SEE for tourists. The water taxi was very affordable to get us there, and you can even walk back to The Empress. We chose to ride the water taxi back though. You save a bit of money buying the round trip instead of two one-ways anyway. The day we went was the day of the dragon boat races, and we got right up next to the boats in our water taxi as they raced. The water taxi is open air and it was nice to cool down on the hot day. We boarded the water taxi in the marina right in front of The Empress, so once we were back we were right in the center of town. It's not every day that the best excursion is located in the best spot. It was seriously the best money we spent all weekend in Victoria. read more

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I have to admit, riding the water taxi's around Victoria is pretty fun. The ones we rode on only holds about 12 people. We rode the trip from downtown Vancouver to Fisherman's wharf, which took about 10-15 minutes. The view was fun and we got to see a lot of hydro planes taking off and landing in the water. Since the boats only hold 12 people, they can fill up fast and we ended up waiting about 30-45 minutes for the return trip from Fisherman's wharf. Good thing they run frequently. The driver on both our trips was super nice. read more

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We loved the harbour/gorge combo tour! Pleasant and very informative 45min out on the water. Our Captain was entertaining and informative; my husband and I and our teenage nieces had a great time and definitely recommend! read more

I have taken ferries every where in my travels and these are top notch. The price, $33 Canadian, was reasonable and you can get off at the warf and have your ticket stamped to get back on. The ferrie drivers are very knowledgeable and very friendly. Their narration is calm, not rushed and they are engaging. You can talk to them and have a great time. I want to be a ferry driver when I retire. They just enjoy their job to much! read more

This was not good value. It cost $40 Canadian per person for a relatively short ride. We could get off and on again at Fishermans wharf only. read more

The captains on the boat were great, and very very friendly. The boat ride was also an awesome way to see the inner harbour, but the service leading up to the ride needs work. We were just two young tourists on vacation to visit the great city of Victoria, and for some reason the women at both information booths (one across the water and the other at the pay station) were very dismissive at us in favor of the other older (and presumably richer) tourists. The woman at the pay station seemed surprised that we ended up buying the boat ride (which was relatively cheap). It might be subconscious for these women to treat us like this, as I assume that other young tourists ask for information all the time, but I would expect the same kind of attention regardless of whether or not one decides to buy your product. read more

Lovely view, fun skippers, reasonable price. Confusing slightly though as far as what stops they make, how much it costs and when they'll be there. I did think it was super affordable way to see the city from the water, and again, the skippers were super fun and nice, but as a reliable way to get around, I'd stick to cabs. read more

We were really excited about this one... we chose the "Gorge tour" and it was absolutely beautiful, however, I think the "tour" portion was a miss. I was hoping for some history of the city, because it is sooo rich with history, but we missed out on all of that. We learned some personal things from the guide but got very little actual information. I suppose if we had asked more questions, maybe the guide would have answered. read more

Friendly, fast, and fun Tip worthy, and tips accepted via cash. Call for pick-up at some locations. Check out fisherman's wharf, Red Fish Blue Fish, The Empress, Chinatown and more. read more

Mitch took us out on the new electric boat and took us for a trip down the Gorge. Mitch is relaxed and knowledgeable, and a wealth of information. Anytime we've gone to Victoria, a Harbour tour is a must....all the skippers know their stuff! We felt unhurried and Mitch made us feel like we were hanging out with an uncle... read more

Perfect for sightseeing the harbor. You have the option to get off at different harbor stops and explore. We stopped at the Fishermans wharf! It was a perfect activity after High Tea at the Empress! read more

We took the Gorge tour and Loved our Electric boat and Captain. It was fun to get outside the city, on the water and see more of the surrounding area! Our captain was informative and funny! Really enjoyed and would Definitely recommend! read more

This is such a fun way to get around Victoria! Since everything is on the water you can easily take a water taxi up and get off at the destination closest to where you want to go. We road from downtown to china town and the walked over to Philips Brewing. The captains are all very friendly and super informative. read more

The Harbour Ferries do a ballet thing every Sunday on the Inner Harbour. I've never been during all my years living here, but tonight I attended their annual Xmas ballet. It's pretty awesome if you're a kid, but my interest quickly faded. It starts when five Santas come to get in their fantastically lit ferries and they part the dock to the harbour. Once the music starts it gets pretty monotonous. The five year old in me wants to give the effort five stars, but the adult in me sees too much potential wasted in loops around the ole Christmas tree. read more

We did the Harbour tour. The boat ride was peaceful. It's about a 45 minute tour around the harbour. The skipper pointed things out to us on the way. But, if you take just the H2Otaxi ride, some skippers will still talk about the sights. The boat may slosh around a bit, but I thought it was fine. The drivers/captains are funny, nice, and generous with answering questions. We saw white swans and a seal. If you are lucky, you may see them also. read more

We took this your anticipating it would give us a good feel for the city. While it was nice to be out on the water, and we saw a few pretty sights, the tour in not particularly interesting or informative. In retrospect, we wish we would have spent our time doing something else. read more

Our captain from the Empress dock to Fisherman's Wharf was amazing but on our return trip the captain, Adrian was rude and condescending. He's obviously forgotten what it's like to be 5 and how exciting boats and seaplanes are! read more

Great way to get around the inner harbour. The skippers are all friendly and knowledgeable. Never have to wait more than a few minutes for a taxi. A 'must do" in Victoria read more

What a great way to spend an evening in Victoria! We had a great captain (& tour guide) who was very friendly and knowledgeable about the area. Highly recommend! read more

LOVE this company. It's the absolute best, the boats are so cute and charming and offer a great tour of the harbor at a low cost. It was great to be able to hop on downtown and go straight to our hotel. The drivers are friendly and extremely helpful as well. read more

If you are looking to spend the better part of your day waiting in line then this is the ticket for you. You may additionally enjoy being shunted to the back of the Q to accommodate groups using this quaint service. Want to get around town? Walk! read more

What a nice little trip! My husband and I were recently visiting Victoria and took a liking to the tiny (adorable) water taxis. We took the Gorge tour with Buzz. He was excellent! We learned exciting history and stories about the area and he even dropped us off at a boat dock close to our hotel. I highly recommend adding this to your trip itinerary. read more

Good view of harbor and friendly captain but service seems overpriced compared to a regular taxi.

Great tour knowledgeable friendly guides . Would definitely do the tour again. There is so much to listen to and take photos of. Guides clearly take pride in their work. read more

We took the 60 minute Gorge tour. Loved the leisurely pace and history, missed with personal memories, of our captain' Buzz --a retiree who grew up right on the harbor banks. The brochure promotes this aspect of the tours. It was a perfect hour. We highly recommend! read more

The Victoria Water Taxi was pretty awesome. It took us all around the Harbour and out driver (I'm sorry but I don't know his name but he is from Germany originally) was so very knowledgeable about the area and landmarks. This is really a fun way to travel around Victoria. We only wish the hours were longer. read more