Touring Victoria

The classic way to see Victoria [1] is from the comfort of a horse-drawn carriage. Throughout the day and into the evening, Tally-Ho (250/514-9257) has carriages lined up along Menzies Street at Belleville Street awaiting passengers. A 15-minute tour costs $50, a 30-minute tour is $90, a 45-minute tour costs $115, or take a 60-minute Deluxe Tour for $1705. These prices are per carriage (up to four passengers). Tours run 9 a.m.–midnight and bookings aren’t necessary, although there’s often a line.

Big red double-decker buses are as much a part of the Victoria tour scene as horse-drawn carriages. These are operated by Gray Line (250/388-6539, www.graylinewest.com [2]) from beside the Inner Harbour [3]. There are many tours to choose from, but to get oriented while also learning some city history, take the 90-minute Grand City Drive Tour. It departs from the harbor front every half hour 9:30 a.m.–4 p.m. (adult $25, child $12.50). The most popular of Gray Line’s other tours is the one to Butchart Gardens [4] (adult $49, child $16, including admission price).