Victoria is the capital city of British Columbia, known for its rich colonial history, incredible…read morewildlife, and vibrant cultural scene. Nicknamed the City of Gardens, it plays host to a plethora of open green spaces, where visitors and locals can relax. The waters around Victoria abound with life and three of the world-famous orca pods call them home. Millions visit this city every year and enjoy its natural beauty, temperate climate, and heritage charm that Victoria offers its citizens every day. Victoria is a city of neighborhoods, each with distinctive character and charm.

Victoria is a cool city to visit, or to live in. There's a lot of interesting history and…read morehistorical buildings. The downtown area offers plenty of shopping options for all budgets. The demographics here tend toward older European/white people so there's a lot of tea/coffee shops, bakeries, jigsaw puzzles, wool shops, and souvenirs. People are friendly and polite in general. Being a harbour town, you'll see ferries and boats, and seaplanes right in town. Lots of tourists and touristy things to do. Many diverse restaurants. Flowers and sculptures abound. Be sure to take in the magnificent Empress Hotel that dominates the waterfront. Explore the region from this central location. It's a beautiful island and Victoria is a real highlight.

Helpful and friendly staff but it's not okay to tell people to expect a 30 minute wait and have it…read moretake more than an hour. We have lives and families and parking meters to attend to!

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.

East to find. Friendly attentive staff! Found prepaid postcards for posting to anywhere in the…read moreworld!

Recommend avoiding this branch in favor of the one in Oak Bay. Two important birthday cards (with…read morenothing but cardboard, paper, and a sticker in them) were mailed from here and took weeks to arrive, getting there after the occasion. We came early, gave no special instructions, and offered to answer any questions or use any service needed. Told both were fine and would arrive early. One card was even returned to us for unclear reasons and we then had to pay a $30 express fee to try and get it there within the time remaining. Leaving two stars out of consideration that it was a unique mistake, but won't be using them again.

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

Not sure why this is an attraction really; we just walked by casually and didn't really notice it…read morewith all of the more interesting spots going on in or near downtown. Everything is fairly walking accessible and is set up for foot traffic

Trounce Alley is another in the long list of Victoria's quaint, charming little alleyways packed…read morewith local businesses full of flair and flavor. It's short, it's narrow, it's charmingly lit and decorated with festoon lights, neon signs, and the warm glow from the interiors of shops and restaurants spilling out into the street. Whether you're here for some delicious Korean food at Park's Kitchen, a cocktail at The Tapa Bar or Bar Poco, shopping for a purse, clothing, jewelry or accessories at one of the boutiques, wandering around an art gallery, meandering down through the narrow lane doing some people watching, or just taking in the sights, this backstreet is back (alright!), and definitely worth your time. And don't worry, it's very unlikely that Trounce Alley, or anyone you encounter here, will live up to its name and kick your ass. Probably.

The Victoria City Hall was designed by an architect named John Teague. It's a great example of a…read morebuilding style called "Second Empire." The building has a tall clock tower, which is 105 feet high. The building features intricate stonework, elegant towers, and beautiful stained glass windows. Construction started in 1878 and finished in 1890. It houses the offices of the municipal government. Surrounded by landscaped gardens, City Hall stands as a testament to the city's rich history and serves as a central hub for civic engagement in Victoria.

Beautiful city hall with class and history. There's deer prowling the grounds and it just oozes old…read moreworld care and architecture.

The Pacific Rim College is a gift to Victorians! You can make an appointment with the students for…read moremany of the alternative health sciences. All are overseen by their instructors with amazing recommendations and treatments. Give them a call today to help yourself and these wonderful students.

Great practitioners! Powerful herbs!…read moreConsultations are Free!!! They have Nutrition, Acupuncture and Plant Medicine