Top Vancouver Island Art & Culture

You might not guess from the pretty gardens and charming streets, but the city of Victoria is full of ghosts, or at least ghost stories. Walk with your guide through some of the most haunted spots in town, hearing the spooky and tragic tales from Victoria’s past. You never know, you may go home with a story of your own….

Discover a new perspective on Victoria’s striking coastal scenery—and have the rare chance to spot giants of the deep, as well as other marine animals—with this sunset whale-watching tour. Make your own way to the dock in Downtown Victoria, and hop aboard your catamaran, equipped with three separate viewing decks. You can look out for whales, sea lions, and more—and see the sunset from the water’s edge.

Spin through downtown Victoria on two wheels and discover top city attractions with ease on this Victoria castles and neighborhoods bike tour. Hop onto your bike and follow your guide through the city streets. Learn of Victoria’s colorful past through its historic buildings, and explore districts including the Inner Harbour, Cook Street Village, and Chinatown. Enjoy fine views over the Dallas Road waterfront and admire the eery Craigdarroch Castle. Cycle through Moss Rock Park and Beacon Hill Park, and soak up the artistic atmosphere in leafy Fernwood.

The 3-hour Victoria City Bike Tour will allow you to experience the greatest parts of Beautiful Victoria with the expertise of a local guide. Feel like a local and discover the outskirts of the biking capital of Canada. This tour is unique because Victoria has some of the best bike lanes in all of Canada. We will feel safe and comfortable as we bike along designated bike lanes, protected bike lanes, and quiet streets. We will have several stops to relax while our Toonie Tour guides share the history, culture, and hidden gems of Victoria with a local perspective.

FOOD, WINE and SPECTACULAR SCENERY. We LOVE this revised tour to REFLECT COVID-19.Join Island Time Tours for a lovely relaxing adventure exploring the Cowichan Valley. We visit 3 (4 if time permitting) of the prettiest vineyards and do our own thing to avoid any line-ups. We offer you a wonderful experience at each vineyard.. First stop includes bubbly with orange juice (optional) w/ fresh warm bake goods. Relax, inhale and take in this beautiful countryside. LUNCH is filled with afternoon tea delights with WINE served weather permitting in the great outdoors. Dessert w/wine complete this tour at another picturesque vineyard. Great food, award winning wines and spectacular beauty. Let's go!

Take a sweet-smelling stroll through Victoria’s famous Butchart Gardens, spanning 55 acres (22.2 hectares) of beautifully designed flower beds, lily ponds, footbridges, and thematic landscapes. With a convenient pickup location and a flexible return shuttle schedule, it’s an easy way to experience one of Victoria’s most popular attractions. Visit during summer or holiday season evenings to witness special luminous displays that add an extra touch of enchantment to the gardens.

Art & beer are two of the best windows into the local soul of a place. The art reflects the local moods, the culture, the history, the current events, the struggles, the triumphs, and even the weather. Each mural has it’s story and each story has it’s author, and we’ll do our best to connect you to both. You’ll leave with a sense of connection to the art, their artists and the area. Local breweries use local products to get a flavor that is district and unique to what's available in the region. The beer culture in Victoria goes back a long time, and there are some special traditions to be enjoyed on this tour.

This is your opportunity to get as close to wild grizzly bears as it’s possible to safely get. Explore the wilderness of Bute from the water, discover its hidden natural gems, and keep a look out for its furry local inhabitants, also known as the Great Bears of Bute. Watch for whales on the inlet, and visit the Campbell River and meet the indigenous people who own this river.

Discover the best of Victoria as you explore with an expert guide on this half-day sightseeing tour. With a private guide, explore the Inner Harbor and Fisherman’s Wharf to see historic sights, floating homes, beautiful landscapes, and more. Then, enjoy a guided tour of the Butchart Gardens which are filled with floral displays ranging from Italian- to Japanese-style, ponds, and fountains.

Cruise the Salish Sea in comfort while you search for whales, seals, bald eagles, and otters on this half-day guided tour. This whale-watching experience is led by a certified naturalist, eager to share their knowledge on the area’s wildlife and natural history. If no whales are sighted—no worries! You can return for free.

Get a history lesson mixed with food as you wander around downtown Victoria on this walking tour. Explore historic areas of the city, which started out as a fur trading outpost, as you taste the local cuisine. Plus, Victoria boasts one of the oldest Chinatown sections in North America. The tour covers some of the oldest parts of the city, including the Victoria Public Market, Chinatown, Fan Tan Alley, and Emporium Dragon Alley.

Experience the capital of British Columbia as you embark on this express tour of Victoria. With a private guide, travel in a deluxe van and cover the highlights of the city including the Inner Harbour, Chinatown, Craigdorrach Castle, and Fisherman’s Wharf. Your guide explains the history of the city and provides tips on other places that you can explore.

Travelers interested in history will enjoy touring Victoria in style on a 75-minute horse and carriage tour. Your guide will tell you all about Victoria’s history and how the “garden city” became the capital of British Columbia. Enjoy the views as you are pulled through the Old Town, Chinatown, the Inner Harbour, and elsewhere. Kids especially will love the horses.

Discover hidden alleys and local curios in Vancouver’s Old Town and Chinatown districts on this 75-minute pedicab tour. Head through Victoria's Old Town and Chinatown districts with your guide, where old shops and boutiques line the winding alleyways. Hear hair-raising ghost stories from centuries past and learn of the settlers, immigrants and colonists who have shaped the city we see today. Along the way, watch skilled street performers plying their trade the way they have for centuries. Admire Victoria’s traditional architecture and gain insight into the city’s colorful past.

Discover the heart of British Colombia’s capital of Victoria as you embark on a self-guided walking tour through the city. Download the app on your phone and walk around town to hear about the story of the city, from its indigenous routes to the Victorian era to the present day. Sights you see include the Inner Harbor, the Empress Hotel, Bastion Square, and Chinatown.

When you make port in Victoria, discover top city attractions in style on this 2-hour Victoria castles and neighborhoods bike tour. Follow your guide by bicycle through Victoria and gain insight into the city’s colorful past. Explore diverse districts such as the Inner Harbour, Cook Street Village and Chinatown. Take in panoramic views over Dallas Road’s waterfront and marvel at the creepy Craigdarroch Castle. Spin through pretty Moss Rock Park and Beacon Hill Park, and enjoy the creative buzz of leafy Fernwood.

See Victoria by horse-drawn carriage on a private tour that explores the Inner Harbour, Downtown, Chinatown, and more. The traditional, open-air carriages offer unobstructed views perfect for photography and sightseeing. Since the carriage is booked for just your group, you’ll enjoy personal service from beginning to end.

Tour one of Victoria’s most stately and popular attractions in a unique way with a pedicab tour to Craigdarroch Castle. Enjoy the fresh air and leisurely pace from aboard a comfortable cab while a friendly guide pedals you from your hotel to the majestic, 19th-century baronial estate. Along the way, pass through the neighboring Lt Governor’s gardens and see some of Victoria’s most opulent churches and homes. Admission to the inside of the magnificent castle is included. 

Capture lasting memories of your vacation in Victoria by hiring a private photographer for a one-hour shoot. You'll have your choice of a variety of scenic routes, with stops for professional photos along the way. Around 30 high-res photographs will be available to you within five days of your photo shoot.

Listen to a tour guide through your smartphone as you discover this historical area of Victoria & the Inner Harbour. On this easy to walk tour you'll see a variety of historical sites, music venues, artisan shops & marine living that make up the harbour section of the city. Highlights include Chinatown, Market Square, Waddington Alley, Inner Harbour, the Parliament Buildings, Fisherman's Wharf & more! GPS map shows where you are and where to go next. As you get close, tour guide commentary will automatically play. The tour also comes with a fun location based trivia game. After the commentary plays, look at your device and tap your answer. Keep the professional tour guide experience, ditch crowded tour groups, tight schedules and high prices. Enjoy anytime, not just on your booking date. Stop & start anywhere along route. The number of travelers you select is the number of devices you can download the tour to. Trust the platform with over 75 tours & 10,000+ happy customers.

This tour is self guided by way of the On This Spot app. Take your own then/now photos with our camera feature and learn about the history of Ucluelet.

Surrounded by rich coastal waters and fertile soils, Victoria is a foodie’s dream destination—with traditional Canadian dishes and speciality treats the locals love. On this tour, delve into Victoria’s culinary scene and visit top food stops including the Fairmont Empress hotel, Fisherman's Wharf, Government Street, and the Inner Harbour. With your guide shining a light on the city’s history and culture, sample diverse treats such as cocktails, pastries, seafood, and more.

This 2-hour Private City Tour of Victoria will connect you and your group to the City of Gardens, exclusively, through the eyes of a local guide. Together we will walk through the city and visit many of the must-see landmarks, attractions, and establishments along the way. Victoria is filled with stories that will connect you to its history, architecture, triumphs, and shortcomings. We will meet local legends and guide you to what interests you most. The tour is filled with recommendations & tips to ensure you get the most out of your trip to Victoria!

On This Spot takes people on guided walking tours through the history that surrounds them. Our unique then-and-now photos ignite people’s curiosity, while comprehensive walking tours examine a limitless range of historical themes. On This Spot makes history engaging, educational, and accessible to anyone with a mobile device. Join us for a guided tour of Victoria's most historic sights. In this tour, you will discover Victoria's rich history of multiculturalism, and learn about some of the different peoples that called Victoria home and what their lives were like. You will also learn about some of the challenges many of these groups faced--and continue to face--in achieving equality and acceptance in Victoria's society.