Planning Your Time

Many visitors to Victoria [1] spend a few nights in the city as part of a longer vacation that includes the rest of Vancouver Island. At an absolute minimum, plan on spending two full days in the capital, preferably overnighting at a character-filled bed-and-breakfast. Regardless of how long you’ll be in the city, much of your time will be spent in and around the Inner Harbour [2], a busy waterway surrounded by the city’s top sights and best restaurants.

At the top of the must-see list is the Royal British Columbia Museum [3], which will impress even the biggest museophobes, and the ivy-draped Fairmont Empress [4] hotel. Victoria’s most visited attraction is Butchart Gardens [5], an absolutely stunning collection of plants that deserves at least half a day of your time. Goldstream Provincial Park [6] and the scenic waterfront drive between downtown and Oak Bay are two outdoor destinations you should figure into your schedule.

Exploring Vancouver Island [7] beyond Victoria requires some advance planning, as well as an idea of where you want to end up. If you have just a day to spare, you can take the oceanside drive west from Victoria or travel north as far as Nanaimo [8], but to explore the island further you should schedule at least two days and preferably more.

The Southern Gulf Islands [9], linked to Victoria by ferry and floatplane, make a good overnight trip from the capital (for its deserted beaches and unspoiled forests, Galiano Island [10] is my favorite).

You should plan on at least two nights out from Victoria to do justice to the west coast town of Tofino [11] and the adjacent Pacific Rim National Park [12].

The island’s northern reaches provide a jumping off point for ferry travelers heading to Prince Rupert [13], but are also worth visiting to take a whale-watching trip from Telegraph Cove [14] and to immerse yourself in native culture at Alert Bay [15].