Saturday activities in Victoria, bliss! Victoria is one of those places that can quickly feel like home. It’s a beautiful, walkable city that has perfect little neighbourhoods with cafes, markets, and everything else you could want. You’ll quickly find a rhythm in our peaceful coastal city and while there is so much to see and do, you may find yourself wondering, what should I do today? Don’t worry, we have some great suggestions of how to make the most of your stay! We’ve put together a list of our top ten best things to do around Victoria when you’re ready to get out there and do some sightseeing!
Butterfly Gardens
Did you know that there is a lush tropical jungle right here on Vancouver Island? Welcome to Butterfly Gardens, an incredible, indoor, tropical rainforest adventure nestled in Brentwood Bay. You can walk through the enormous facility and see thousands of tropical butterflies, poison dart frogs, tortoises, iguanas, flamingos, ducks, tropical birds and even more! Stroll through the warmth of this incredible indoor jungle and have a truly unique experience. If you’re interested in seeing some exotic creepy crawlies, check out their newest exhibit, the Insectarium!
Day Trip to Vancouver
If you’re looking for an adventurous day trip during your stay in Victoria, consider doing a Vancouver day trip and seaplane flight! This exciting excursion begins with a thirty-minute flight in one of Harbour Air’s signature float plane. This flight leaves Victoria’s Inner Harbour and lands in Coal Harbour, one of Vancouver’s bustling, downtown neighbourhoods. Upon arrival, guests will be taken to see the gravity defying suspension bridge at Capilano Park. This amazing bridge is one of Canada’s most popular attractions. This excursion couldn’t be easier with ground transportation and admission to the park included in the package price. When you arrive back at the city center, you can enjoy some free time to explore Vancouver’s enormous downtown core. You can then easily access the airport to board your flight back to Victoria.
Hop-On Hop-Off Tour
You may have experienced Victoria many ways, by foot, by car or bus but booking tickets with the Hop On Hop Off Tour is a completely different way to see this gorgeous city. The best thing about these tours? They provide you with unlimited access to any Hop-On Hop-Off double decker bus and that means, you can spend more time at the attractions that interest you! Hop off at any of their conveniently located stops around the city and when you’re done exploring, hop back on and get whisked away to the next! Ticked all the attractions you wanted to see off your list? Jump on and head to the open top deck and just enjoy your new perspective on the stunning capital city.
Butchart Gardens
A trip to Victoria isn’t complete without visiting the world-renowned Butchart Gardens. This National Historic Site is home to over fifty acres of garden. This includes 900 varietals all arranged into five distinct, beautifully manicured thematic gardens. Here, you can meander through the winding paths of the serene Sunken Garden, fall in love again amongst the vivacious blooms in the romantic Rose Garden, marvel at the grandeur and grace of the Japanese Garden, escape to Europe in the beautiful Italian Garden and marvel at the lushness of the tropical Mediterranean Garden. When you’re all done touring the gardens, stop for afternoon tea in the historic dining room or grab a bite at the restaurant and for dessert, treat yourself to some delicious gelato!
There is always something new to see here, no matter how many times you visit.
Walking Tour
Walking Saturday activities in Victoria? Definitely! Victoria is, undoubtedly, a walking city. Of course, you can drive or cycle through this stunning coastal city too, but walking is definitely the way to go if you want to soak up as much culture and atmosphere as possible. To make the most of your strolls, download a walking tour straight to your phone or device. It’s easy to use and has preloaded maps with accompanying audio to make your next walk around the city fun and educational! Choose from four pre-loaded sightseeing tours or create your own!
Whale Watching
Wildlife viewing Saturday activities in Victoria> You bet! There may not be a better time than early summer to book a whale and wildlife tour. The spring chill is gone from the air, but the heat of mid-summer hasn’t hit yet and it’s mild enough to be able to spend a day on the ocean comfortably. Since 2005, Eagle Wing Tours has been taking guests out on the ocean to catch once-in-a-lifetime glimpses of our beautiful marine wildlife. From the whales that call these waters home for some or most of the year, and monstrous sea lions lounging on rocky outcrops to marine birds and huge ghostly jellyfish, our waters are bursting with amazing creatures big and small.
Abkhazi Garden
Once upon a time there was a Georgian Prince and Princess who moved to Victoria BC. Giving up a life of privilege and grandeur they created not only a home, but a magnificent garden from the wild land on the far west coast of Canada. It sounds like a fairy tale, but it’s true! The Abkhazi Garden is an exquisite one-acre property and adjoining heritage home. With gorgeous vistas, this lovingly managed garden cascades around the rocky slopes and gnarled Garry oaks creating a truly unique garden experience. Have your royalty dreams come true at the house and enjoy high tea, ‘elevenses or lunch. This incredible, historic site stands as a testament to the love, privilege and tragedy of this local, modern-day fairy tale.
Food Tour
If there’s one thing we love most about travelling, it’s eating! With so many different culinary influences, truly passionate gastronomes and a city small enough to get around on foot, Victoria is a surprising heavyweight when it comes to cuisine. The best way to experience everything culinary that Victoria has to offer is to book an award winning food tour! Rated the best food tour in the country by TripAdvisor, these passionate and professional guides will take you on a 2-hour tour. The tour includes the quirks and history of our beloved city as well as tastings of everything from pierogis, meatballs and craft beer to buttery French pastries and decadent chocolate.
Wine Tour
Just a short drive north of Victoria and you reach Vancouver Island’s wine country. While it may not have the clout of Napa or the capaciousness of the Okanagan, Vancouver Island has some stunning wineries and delectable vintages that can compete with the best of them. If you want to try our local varietals, visit some wineries and enjoy the beauty of a lush vineyard in the summer, then you’d better book one of the many amazing local wine tours! With these tours you’ll get top-shelf transportation and inside knowledge of the area. You will also have access to a wide variety of vineyards and cideries. All you have to do is be ready for a great day out!
Royal BC Museum
Indoor Saturday activities in Victoria? Ideal! There’s a lot to love about the RBCM. On cold days, it provides an educational refuge from the chill. In the summer, an edifying escape from the heat and on a lazy weekend day. It’s a great place to meander through at your leisure. Learn about the First Nations cultures in the First Peoples gallery. This gallery includes a living languages exhibit that showcases the complexity and diversity of the First Nations languages. Wander through stunning replicas of Old Victoria. Learn about the natural history of the area and dive under the ocean in the submarine room. When you’re ready to take five, head to the cafe for a snack. While you are at it, treat yourself to one of the beautiful, handcrafted products in the gift shop.
Victoria has so many incredible sites and attractions. The companies here are dedicated to making sure visitors get the most out of their stay. You’ll never be at loose ends on a weekend in Victoria!