Victoria is the capital of British Columbia, and the second-largest city in that province, with 350,000 inhabitants. This metropolis of Canada is located near the southern end of Vancouver Island.
Among the main tourist attractions of this Canadian island, the British Columbia Aviation Museum, Beacon Hill Park, or the leisure area in the Inner Harbour stand out.
If you plan to travel to Victoria for tourism, it is important to take into account the basic aspects that we explain below: required documentation, how to get to the city and how to get around it, what its climate is, or the most characteristic places of this Canadian island.
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Documentation necessary to travel to Victoria
If you are traveling to Victoria to go sightseeing and discover the city as a foreigner, you will need a visa or a travel permit valid for Canada.
The Canadian eTA is an electronic travel authorization that can be requested easily through a short online form. Normally, the application process takes a few minutes.
To complete the eTA form online, a valid International passport from any of the eligible countries, an email account (to receive the approved Canadian eTA), and a credit or debit card are required to make the payment of the corresponding fee.
Once you have your travel permit you can visit not only the island of Victoria but any other Canadian territory such as Vancouver, Quebec, Toronto, Montreal, etc.
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How to get to Victoria
Here are the different ways to get to the city of Victoria:
- By boat. The main way to get to Victoria Island is through BC Ferries, which operates from Tsawwassen (south of Vancouver) to Swartz Bay, a half hour’s drive north of Victoria.
- By plane. Victoria International Airport is located 30 minutes north of Victoria (off the Pat Bay Highway, on the way to the ferry terminal). There are multiple flights every hour to and from Vancouver. Many tourists also come from Calgary, Seattle, San Francisco, Edmonton and Toronto.
- By helicopter or seaplane. You can also quickly and easily enter Victoria from Vancouver by helicopter or seaplane. Helicopters to the city operate from the port of Vancouver or from Vancouver International Airport.
- By recreational boat. Victoria is a popular destination for both U.S. and Vancouver area boaters. Many of them access Victoria through their own recreational boats or for rent.
- By car. Although the city of Victoria is located on an island, it is accessible from the rest of the island by roads and from the peninsula taking one of the ferries available to transport vehicles.
- By bus. Bus companies travel to Victoria from Vancouver (including Vancouver International Airport), Seattle and from other points on Vancouver Island. Buses traveling to Victoria Island also use BC Ferries.
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Getting around Victoria
Walking is an easy, free and fun way to explore the entire downtown area. If you have no problem walking, do not hesitate and discover the city of Victoria on foot.
If you prefer another type of transport, buses operated by BC Transit form the pillar of Victoria’s public transport network. Regular fares cost 2.50 Canadian dollars and children 5 years and younger can travel for free. In addition, daily passes are also available. Victoria, along with Kelowna, Toronto, and Ottawa, is one of the few cities in North America that use double-decker buses in their city traffic systems.
Getting around Victoria by bicycle is also a good alternative since the island is very well prepared for it. In addition, temperatures usually accompany throughout the year.
Finally, rental cars are another option. Within the city, you will find different locations where you can rent a car for one or several days.
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What’s the weather like in Victoria?
As far as the climate is concerned, the city of Victoria has a fairly stable temperature, since it does not stand out especially for cold or warm.
During the winter months (December, January, and February), Victoria usually has an average temperature of 6 degrees, with minimums that border on 3oC.
On the other hand, in the summer months (June, July, and August), the average is around 15 degrees, with maximums of 20oC and days that can be even hotter.
Most touristic places in Victoria
The Canadian island of Victoria has a good number of emblematic sites that are worth knowing. Below we show you some of them.
Beacon Hill Park
With more than 80 hectares (200 acres) of land, Beacon Hill Park is the main and most characteristic park of the city of Victoria.
In it, you will find natural areas, well-kept flower beds, trails, and many spaces where you can practice sports and perform outdoor activities for all audiences.
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Inner Harbor
During the summer, the Inner Harbor is full of artists, street musicians, and other people with urban talent.
Music performers cannot stay in the same place for a long time, so concerts and performances change space constantly.
Many local citizens and visitors find it fascinating to see seaplanes taking off from the Inner Harbour. During the spring, the inner port is full of beautiful flowers.
Butchart Gardens
It is a large garden planted in what was once a limestone quarry. Without a doubt a highly recommended place to spend a pleasant time, in addition to being suitable for the whole family.
During the summer, Butchart Gardens offer fireworks festivals with music and during the winter, at night, the gardens are illuminated and include exhibitions that illustrate the twelve days of Christmas.
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British Columbia Aviation Museum
The British Columbia Aviation Museum is located inside Victoria International Airport.
Ticket prices are quite economical: 8 Canadian dollars for adults, 6 dollars for those over 65, and 4 dollars for young people aged 12 to 18 adults.
Without a doubt, a sensational place that unleashes the passions of all lovers of Canadian and international aviation.
Chinatown
It is Victoria Chinatown and is located between Fisgard Street, Store Street, and Government Street. This Canadian Chinatown is decorated with all kinds of Chinese-themed ornaments. In addition, this district has a lot of Asian restaurants and shops.
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