To See & Do

With approximately 350,000 residents, Greater Victoria is a small city by world standards but offers all the culture, attractions, and facilities of a much larger city. The beauty and diversity of Greater Victoria's gardens, heritage architecture, and world-class attractions draw people from around the world. The Inner Harbour, the jewel of the city, is surrounded by historic classics such as the Fairmont Empress and the B.C. Legislative Building. Greater Victoria boasts the oldest Chinatown in North America, as well as a bustling downtown shopping and dining district featuring many fine restaurants, shops, museums, theatres, and other urban attractions. Neighbourhood shopping plazas and centres offer more shops, restaurants, and entertainment venues in areas outside of downtown.

Greater Victoria's professional theatre, symphony, dance, and opera companies provide year-round entertainment, complemented by a plethora of performances by local and touring performers and musicians. Add to all that the region's 29 annual festivals and Greater Victoria has a very exciting and busy social calendar.

And then there is the spectacular natural environment, the setting for so many of Greater Victoria's most popular outdoor activities: kayaking, cycling, hiking, diving, fishing, sailing, and more. Coastlines and beaches, forest and parkland, lakes and rivers - it is all within very easy reach, no matter where you are in the region. In fact, with over 10,000 acres of parkland (one acre for every 20 residents), Greater Victoria has one of the highest "park to people" ratios in Canada.

See more information in our latest newsletter.