Victoria, BC, is a city bursting with charm and adventure. From exhilarating whale-watching excursions to leisurely strolls through historic neighbourhoods, Victoria offers a diverse range of tours that promise unforgettable experiences for every traveller.
Tours are a wonderful way to explore the city and learn insights from a local perspective. However, selecting the top experiences can feel daunting, given the many tour options available. To alleviate this dilemma, I've curated a selection of my favourite and, ultimately, the best tours in Victoria to ensure your visit is nothing short of extraordinary.
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Best Walking City Tours in Victoria
Victoria is a walker's paradise. Because it is a compact city, it can be covered in a short time. And when utilizing the expertise of your guide, you get incredible insights into the history of Victoria.
Historical Walking Tour
Experience the city's allure through a guided walking tour. This tour meanders through historic neighbourhoods and iconic landmarks, such as the Inner Harbour and Parliament Buildings. As you stroll along its picturesque streets, you will marvel at architectural wonders and learn about Victoria's rich history.
This inexpensive and top-notch walking tour is led by a local expert who has been leading amazing tours for many years. The added benefit of earpieces ensures you don't miss anything the guide says, no matter how far you fall behind the group. It's also fully wheelchair and stroller accessible!
Food & History Tour
This food and history tour is one of my all-time favourite tours I've taken in Victoria. If you love sampling amazing bites AND learning about the city's history, this tour is for you! Andy and the other tour guides know their stuff. You will learn so much about Victoria on this tour, even for those (like me) who frequent the city often.
During the two-hour tour, you will follow your guide to highlights such as the Parliament Buildings, the Inner Harbor, Trounce Alley, Bastion and Market squares, Chinatown, and the Victoria Public Market. Along the way, you stop for food tastings of craft beer, chocolate, tea, tapas, cheese, bread, olive oil, and other local products. This tour is also fully wheelchair and stroller accessible.
Food & City Tour
Another great food tour is the Fort Street Food Walking Tour. On this two-hour tour, you stroll along Fort Street and Blanshard Street, which are full of trendy restaurants and modern boutique shops and home to the arts district. Along the way, you follow a local gourmet guide to some of the best eateries in the area as you taste more than 15 samples of local food and beverages. Go hungry on this tour!
This tour allows time to chat with chefs and shop owners and gain insight into Victoria's thriving culinary scene. This is a wonderful tour if you are looking for recommendations on where to eat and shop on your own. I like that it is limited to a small group (no more than 12), as you get a more personalized tasting experience.
Hip & Hidden Chinatown Food Tour
This Chinatown Food Tour is ideal for first-time visitors to Victoria and foodies! It combines history lessons with delicious food samples from various locations in and around Chinatown. This tour offers the most eclectic mix of cuisine, for you are tasting everything from Mexican tacos to Thai dumplings, but I can assure you all are amazing!
Even those who think they know Victoria well might be surprised at what they learn on this tour. You will stop at eateries that you may not have ever heard of, giving you new locations to add to your restaurant repertoire.
Best Whale Watching Tours in Victoria
Victoria is renowned for its spectacular whale-watching opportunities, and joining a guided tour is one of the best ways to witness these majestic creatures in their natural habitat. Expert guides lead you to prime whale spotting locations, sharing fascinating insights about the marine life and ecosystems along the way. From orcas to humpbacks, the chance to witness these magnificent animals up close is an experience unlike any other.
Half-Day Whale Watching
If you only have a short time allotted to view our majestic ocean animals, join this 3-hour whale-watching tour. You are on a semi-covered vessel built specifically for whale-watching trips and cruise through the Haro Strait with your guide. Stay warm in the heated indoor cabin if the weather is less than ideal. Throughout your journey, marine naturalists provide fascinating commentary on what you are seeing along your adventure.
The great thing about a shorter tour is that you typically have multiple times to choose from that suit your schedule (no need to wake up at the crack of dawn, like the longer tours make you do). Less time on the water is usually better for people (like me) who tend to get sea sick.
Adventure Whale-Watching
Hop aboard your open-top zodiac for a three-hour whale-watching adventure. Zodiacs are built for speed and stability and remain buoyant even in rough seas. They provide a much closer experience to ocean wildlife than any of the larger tour boats. Your tour includes all-weather exposure flotation suits, but you should still dress for cool weather. Please note that this tour is not suitable for participants with back or neck problems, pregnant women, or participants with recent surgeries.
Luxurious Half-Day Whale Watching
For those who prefer luxury over adventure and want to stay warm and dry, choose this 3-hour whale-watching tour. The perks of this tour are the complimentary beverages, the ability to purchase snacks on board, pick-up and drop-off options at your hotel and the covered boat. Their 360-degree panoramic viewing deck offers prime photo opportunities if you want to be outside. For those looking for a serene whale-watching experience, this tour is for you!
Small Group Whale-Watching
For those who want a more intimate experience, check out this 3-hour whale-watching tour. This boat only holds 12 people, which allows everyone to have a prime viewing experience. Being a smaller vessel allows for more maneuverability and a flexible route designed for maximum wildlife sightings. Despite its smaller size, this boat still has a heated cabin, onboard bathrooms, and outdoor viewing decks. This company also has a wide range of departure times, making it easy to fit in a whale-watching tour within your busy day exploring Victoria.
Top-Rated Whale-Watching Tour
Cruise the Salish Sea in comfort and style while you search for ocean wildlife on this half-day guided tour. This tour has consistently been Victoria’s #1-rated, award-winning West Coast whale and wildlife watching tour. While on one of their custom-built, high-performance, large and comfortable boats, you are guaranteed to see whales, or you can return for free! This is also one of the rare tours that are wheelchair accessible.
Sunset Whale-Watching
A beautiful sunset AND whales…does it get any better? On this sunset whale-watching tour, you get to see a perspective of Victoria that most people miss. As you watch the sun dip below the city, your expert guides also search for whales and other ocean animals to make your sunset cruise extraordinary. The catamaran-style boat has three separate viewing decks, restrooms, and downloadable English, Spanish, French, German and Dutch tour guides. They also give you a free photo package of your trip and the wildlife you see, with personal photos of you and your loved ones.
Best Wine Tours in Victoria
Although the city of Victoria doesn't have any wineries, the beautiful Cowichan Valley is a short drive away. There are several great wine tours to choose from.
Half-Day Wine Tour with Tastings
On this half-day wine tour, you will visit three wineries for tastings and enjoy a delicious lunch at a scenic vineyard. Your expert guide offers insights into everything you see along your tour. Your first stop is at Blue Grouse Estate Winery and Vineyard, one of Vancouver Island's most established wineries. Then, you will head to Enrico Winery for a light lunch that pairs perfectly with the vineyard’s award-winning wines. The third stop brings you to Unsworth Vineyards, a family-owned winery specializing in hand-crafted wines. Your guide may bring you to a fourth winery, Cherry Point Estates, if time allows. Please note that these stops may be switched up depending on the wineries' availability.
Behind the Scenes Wine Tour
On this 5.5-hour Wine Tour, you get private wine tastings at each location, a behind-the-scenes tour of a local winery, and a guide with extensive knowledge about the industry. This tour brings you to two well-regarded Vancouver Island wineries and includes generous wine tastings, plus a delicious Charcuterie board. With only two wineries on this tour, this more relaxed atmosphere immerses you in the experience. Make sure to take advantage of the discount on select bottles you receive as a guest on this guided tour.
Wine, Food & Farms Tour
Join this guided Wine, Food & Farms Tour for an adventurous exploration of the Cowichan Valley. This half-day tour takes you to several family-owned wineries and through scenic landscapes along the way. While wine is the focus, the day also features a farm-to-table lunch of your choice paired with a flight of local, organic hard ciders. One of the perks of this tour is the time allowed for pictures of the scenic drive along the Malahat and the stop in Cowichan Bay to explore the many shops and eateries. It's a perfect, fast-paced, 6-hour tour.
Unique Tour Experiences in Victoria
Check out these tour offerings if you crave something incredibly unique while in Victoria.
Bike Tour
On this 2-hour guided tour, bike through downtown Victoria and discover its top attractions. You will cycle through some of the city's most beautiful neighbourhoods and parks and learn about the city's history along the way. There are three stops along the way to rest your legs, take in the scenery and listen to your expert guide as he gives you fascinating insights.
Hot Tub Boat
Explore the historic waterfront from this private hot tub boat (for up to 6 people). This unique experience offers dry bags, waterproof speakers, and a boat ladder, giving you easy ocean access to cool off if needed. Bring your own drinks and enjoy this self-guided adventure along the harbour. You'll be the envy of onlookers!
Horse-Drawn Carriage Tour
Explore the city in style by traditional horse-drawn carriage on this half-hour tour. Sit back and relax as you are guided through the waterfront and James Bay via a beautiful horse-drawn carriage. This is one of Victoria's oldest traditions, and it remains popular. We've done this tour twice with my family and have thoroughly enjoyed our experience.
Kayak Tour
On this 2.5-hour kayak tour, paddle through the waves of Oak Bay with your guide and enjoy sweeping views of Mt. Baker and the Gulf Islands. Watch for eagles and seals in their natural habitat on nearby islets as your guide provides enlightening insights along the way. The tour includes all the necessary safety and paddling equipment to enjoy your tour. Please note that travellers should have a moderate physical fitness level for this tour.
Even More Ideas
While I've showcased my favourites above, many more great tours are available for Victoria visitors. In fact, I've curated over 60 options for you to choose from. Read the reviews to find the best Victoria tour for you!
Best Tours in Victoria Conclusion
Whether you're interested in history, nature, food, or the supernatural, there's a guided tour in Victoria to suit every interest and preference. So why not embark on an unforgettable adventure and let knowledgeable guides lead the way?
Do you have a favourite tour you've taken in Victoria? Let us know in the comments below, and share your experience with others.
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Looking for more ideas?
If you'd rather explore the city on your own, we have several articles that will help you do just that.
- Best Outdoor Attractions in Victoria
- Best Indoor Attractions in Victoria
- Historic Sites in Victoria Not to Miss
