Top Vancouver Island Historical Tours

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.

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.

Explore quaint Victoria on this guided walking tour with a local historian. Along the way, take in picturesque views of the city’s Inner Harbour and wander the streets, alleyways, and town squares of Old Town, Bastion Square, and Chinatown, while learning about Victoria's history. Plus, hear about its past scandals like opium smuggling.

Delve into the colorful past of Canada’s oldest Chinatown, in Victoria, British Columbia. This guided walking tour will lead you through the streets and storied allies of the historic neighborhood, as your historian/guide tells you the fascinating, sometimes tragic tales of the people who helped build the city and shape Canada as well as modern China.

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.

Go wine tasting in the Cowichan Valley without the worry of designating a driver. This private tour is for just you and your companions and takes you to several of the region's top wineries in a comfortable passenger van. Relax on the scenic drive and enjoy mountain and ocean views between tastings at three or four different wineries.

Get some exercise while seeing the sights of Victoria Harbour with a self-paced walking tour accessed via an audio-app. Listen to your tour guide through your smartphone, going at your own pace and stopping and starting whenever you want. You’ll benefit from the structure of a guided tour without having to chase around a live tour guide or strain to hear through the crowds.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

Experience the charm of Victoria's historic neighborhood, James Bay, and Beacon Hill Park. Our guides will both educate and entertain as they explain the history of the city as it evolved from a small fur trading outpost to a thriving Gold Rush town to the present day capital of British Columbia. Bring your camera along for the fantastic photo opportunities. Let us know if there is anything you are particularly interested in, or if you would like different start times.

What sets our tour apart is the unique combination of intimate group experiences, convenient services, and the opportunity to explore remarkable attractions such as the Malahat Skywalk and Butchart Gardens. One of our standout highlights is the Malahat Skywalk, where you can experience awe-inspiring views from elevated walkways and observation platforms. This breathtaking vantage point allows you to immerse yourself in the natural beauty of Victoria's surroundings in a unique way. Additionally, our tour includes a visit to the world-renowned Butchart Gardens. These stunning gardens offer a mesmerizing blend of floral displays, lush landscapes, and tranquil settings. You'll have the opportunity to explore the various themed gardens, witness the vibrant colors, and appreciate the meticulous design and care that goes into maintaining this horticultural masterpiece. Join us on this small group tour experience to get up close and personal with the best of what Victoria has to offer.

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 is the most unique experience in Victoria. On the Group Walking Tour of Victoria, you get to determine the value for yourself. Victoria’s fascinating history comes alive for you, taking you past iconic and picture-ready sites like the Empress Hotel, multiple heritage buildings from the Gold Rush Era, and the famous “Canada's skinniest alley” in Chinatown. You’ll learn about Victoria’s many eras & districts and discover how it has grown from a small trading post to a rollicking boomtown, to the laid-back and beautiful City of Gardens. Group Walking Tour (Tip based) means that every guest (after booking fee and taxes) has the freedom to set their own price, depending on their budget, the amount of value they feel they received on the 2.5-hour tour, and their desire to support this experience. This highly-rated walking tour will show you all the top attractions and your local guide will take you to all the must-see spots.

Explore the most picturesque roads of southern Vancouver Island with our experienced local tour guides, we will provide you with plenty of opportunities to walk and discover different destinations. We offer private tours that are customized to your interests, preferred pace, and starting time, making your experience truly unique.

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.

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.

This fascinating audio guided tour will show you the beautiful west coast city of Victoria. You'll learn about the region's history with the native aboriginals and about its fur trading roots. Perfectly suited for discovery on foot, our self-guided audio tour allows you to set the pace and explore at your leisure as you uncover the stories of this exciting city. You will see wonderful examples of architecture by Francis Rattenbury throughout the city and buildings which have been regenerated and stood the test of time, such as the famous Empress Hotel. To discover this vibrant city in your own time and at your own pace just download this self-guided audio tour, pop in your headphones, open the map that comes with your download and start walking. The tour will take approximately two hours, but you can pause the audio guide when needed. Grab a bite to eat or do some shopping along the way. Please note that this tour is only available in English.

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!