Shopping
1212 Douglas St
A lovely 3 story bookshop with a Starbucks and fireplace inside.
This temple of books is in a gorgeous Neoclassical building downtown. It is not-so-secretly owned by Alice Munro, Canadian Nobel Prize-winning author!
31 locals recommend
Munro's Books
1108 Government StThis temple of books is in a gorgeous Neoclassical building downtown. It is not-so-secretly owned by Alice Munro, Canadian Nobel Prize-winning author!
Incredible selection of hats - so many colours and fabrics (including rain hats). They're well-made and not too expensive. Good for men and women both!
Roberta's Hats
1318 Government StIncredible selection of hats - so many colours and fabrics (including rain hats). They're well-made and not too expensive. Good for men and women both!
A nice local chocolatier for a little treat to take home or to eat here if you can't wait. You can pick individual chocolates, like maple creams and hedgehogs.
10 locals recommend
Rogers' Chocolates
913 Government StA nice local chocolatier for a little treat to take home or to eat here if you can't wait. You can pick individual chocolates, like maple creams and hedgehogs.
Sightseeing
Canada's most visited museum! They have woolly mammoths, a seaside town recreation and a first peoples gallery. There's also an IMAX theatre.
675 Belleville St
Canada's most visited museum! They have woolly mammoths, a seaside town recreation and a first peoples gallery. There's also an IMAX theatre.
The Parliament Building is beautiful both during the day and when it's lit up at night.
218 locals recommend
Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
501 Belleville StThe Parliament Building is beautiful both during the day and when it's lit up at night.
A large and beautiful garden made from an abandoned quarry. So many flowers!!
388 locals recommend
The Butchart Gardens
800 Benvenuto AveA large and beautiful garden made from an abandoned quarry. So many flowers!!
A Canadian landmark - the end of the Trans-Canada Highway lies in Beacon Hill Park. Nearby is a monument to Terry Fox, Canadian hero and cancer-cure crusader.
14 locals recommend
Mile Zero Monument
18 Douglas StA Canadian landmark - the end of the Trans-Canada Highway lies in Beacon Hill Park. Nearby is a monument to Terry Fox, Canadian hero and cancer-cure crusader.
There's a gorgeous scenic marine drive along Dallas Road. There's a walking path as well. I believe bicycles are NOT allowed. Whether it's fine weather or stormy - it's beautiful.
115 locals recommend
Dallas Road
Dallas RoadThere's a gorgeous scenic marine drive along Dallas Road. There's a walking path as well. I believe bicycles are NOT allowed. Whether it's fine weather or stormy - it's beautiful.
Here's a place along the scenic marine drive where you can see tide pools teeming with sea life. Check the local tide tables to see when low tide is!
21 locals recommend
Clover Point
Clover PointHere's a place along the scenic marine drive where you can see tide pools teeming with sea life. Check the local tide tables to see when low tide is!
This is a nice place to relax and watch boats and the occasional seal.
55 locals recommend
Oak Bay Marina
1327 Beach DrThis is a nice place to relax and watch boats and the occasional seal.
Chemainus is a former lumber town that fell on hard times when the industry collapsed. The town decided to revitalize with over 35 outdoor murals. A fun place to walk around when the weather is good.
67 locals recommend
Chemainus
Chemainus is a former lumber town that fell on hard times when the industry collapsed. The town decided to revitalize with over 35 outdoor murals. A fun place to walk around when the weather is good.
Food Scene
Sen Zushi
940 Fort StThe best Udon Noodles outside of Japan! It has great atmosphere, too.
This is a small restaurant with a very friendly owner and lots of local regulars. Good Chinese dumplings.
I Kyu Noodles
564 Fisgard StThis is a small restaurant with a very friendly owner and lots of local regulars. Good Chinese dumplings.
A good place for people who are serious about their coffee and tea.
39 locals recommend
Murchie's Tea & Coffee
1110 Government StA good place for people who are serious about their coffee and tea.
This is a fish & chips shop that is really off the beaten track. Family run and popular with locals. I like that if you order tea, you get a teapot. Fresh, fresh fish. A little on the pricey side.
10 locals recommend
Haultain Fish & Chips
1127 Haultain StThis is a fish & chips shop that is really off the beaten track. Family run and popular with locals. I like that if you order tea, you get a teapot. Fresh, fresh fish. A little on the pricey side.
Tiny little fish and chips shop, just a couple blocks from Willows Park and Willows Beach.
16 locals recommend
Willows Galley
2559 Estevan AveTiny little fish and chips shop, just a couple blocks from Willows Park and Willows Beach.
Nice festive Greek restaurant, with generous portions of hearty traditional Greek food. There are a lot of plants used for decorations so it feels a bit like a garden inside.
7 locals recommend
San Remo Restaurant
2709 Quadra StNice festive Greek restaurant, with generous portions of hearty traditional Greek food. There are a lot of plants used for decorations so it feels a bit like a garden inside.
You can get a nice soft-serve ice cream with sliced strawberries on it here, and then walk across the street to Beacon Hill Park and wander about.
29 locals recommend
Beacon Drive In Ltd
126 Douglas StYou can get a nice soft-serve ice cream with sliced strawberries on it here, and then walk across the street to Beacon Hill Park and wander about.
This is a nice seafood place if you want to eat right on the marina in Oak Bay. Caution: it is quite spendy. There is an AYCE brunch on the weekends.
35 locals recommend
Marina Restaurant
1327 Beach DrThis is a nice seafood place if you want to eat right on the marina in Oak Bay. Caution: it is quite spendy. There is an AYCE brunch on the weekends.
This is a good seafood restaurant with views of the Inner Harbor. It can be quite busy with people from the Delta Oceanpointe hotel. Prices are higher than they should be, but the view is worth it.
23 locals recommend
LURE Restaurant & Bar
100 Harbour RdThis is a good seafood restaurant with views of the Inner Harbor. It can be quite busy with people from the Delta Oceanpointe hotel. Prices are higher than they should be, but the view is worth it.
Everything Else
Students at the Aveda Institute offer haircuts and other spa services at incredibly affordable prices. The Aveda products that they use smell so good!
Aveda Institute Victoria
660 Johnson StStudents at the Aveda Institute offer haircuts and other spa services at incredibly affordable prices. The Aveda products that they use smell so good!
This is a huge park with lots of walking paths. There are water features, lots of flowers, and if you're lucky you may see peacocks and deer.
503 locals recommend
Beacon Hill Park
100 Cook StThis is a huge park with lots of walking paths. There are water features, lots of flowers, and if you're lucky you may see peacocks and deer.
This u-pick berry farm also has adorable animals to visit and a great little general store with pastries (try their cinnamon rolls). Bring your own container for the berries!
Oldfield Orchard and Bakery
6286 Oldfield RdThis u-pick berry farm also has adorable animals to visit and a great little general store with pastries (try their cinnamon rolls). Bring your own container for the berries!
BC Ferries: This is the ferry terminal we use when we go back and forth between Victoria and Vancouver (Tsawwassen). It's a good idea to call and make a reservation if you are on a schedule.
32 locals recommend
Swartz Bay Terminal station
11300 Patricia Bay HwyBC Ferries: This is the ferry terminal we use when we go back and forth between Victoria and Vancouver (Tsawwassen). It's a good idea to call and make a reservation if you are on a schedule.
Essentials
Mostly just a regular market, but they offer an impressive selection of smoked salmons (great for picnics). Ask to try some samples - you'll have a hard time picking just one!
138 locals recommend
Thrifty Foods
1580 Hillside AveMostly just a regular market, but they offer an impressive selection of smoked salmons (great for picnics). Ask to try some samples - you'll have a hard time picking just one!
This is the best butcher I've found in town. Quite pricey, so I save them for special occasions! They close early (5 or 6).
Slater's First Class Meats
2577 Cadboro Bay RdThis is the best butcher I've found in town. Quite pricey, so I save them for special occasions! They close early (5 or 6).