Victoria Cruise Port
Arriving in Victoria by ship is a fantastic introduction to the British Columbian capital city and the Victoria Cruise Port is now the busiest cruise ship stop in all of Canada. Conveniently situated at Ogden Point, not far from downtown and Inner Harbour attractions, Victoria Cruise Port is the ideal jumping-off point for exploring British Columbia.
The Basics
Victoria’s mild climate and concentration of top attractions along the Inner Harbour and downtown make it easy to explore on foot or by bike. To maximize your time in port, join a tour that visits places such as the provincial Parliament Buildings, the Fairmont Empress hotel, Victoria’s lavish gardens, or the city’s top foodie haunts. Alternatively, temporarily swap your cruise ship for a smaller vessel and head out on a whale-watching expedition.
Things to Know Before You Go
Tours generally depart from downtown Victoria, not the cruise port.
Dockside you will find gift shops, a currency exchange, and pay phones.
The climate in Victoria is mild but tends to be rainy; bring an umbrella or rain jacket.
Butchart Gardens, a Victoria highlight, requires a tour or taxi to get there, as it is about a 20-minute drive.
How to Get to Victoria From the Victoria Cruise Port
It's easy to get to downtown Victoria from the terminal, as taxis, buses, shuttles, and even pedicabs and horse-drawn carriages are readily available dockside. To stretch your legs and enjoy more of the seaside city, walk about 20 minutes on wide paved sidewalks to the center of town. Most shore excursions depart from downtown Victoria.
Port Information
The official currency in Victoria is the Canadian dollar, although some stores accept US dollars; however, change will be given in Canadian dollars. Major credit cards and debit cards are generally accepted and sales tax is added at the register. Canada’s official languages are French and English, but in Victoria signage and communication are typically English-only.
Trip ideas
- Fisherman's Wharf
- Bateman Foundation Gallery of Nature
- British Columbia Parliament Buildings
- Emily Carr House
- Victoria Inner Harbour
- Fairmont Empress Hotel
- Royal British Columbia Museum
- Government Street
- Miniature World
- Victoria Bug Zoo
- Beacon Hill Park
- Old Town Victoria
- Race Rocks Ecological Reserve
- Victoria Chinatown
- Art Gallery of Greater Victoria