Victoria is a stunning city surrounded by pristine forests and beautiful ocean views. Located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island, you are never far from the ocean, parks and wilderness. Parks and recreational trails cover an astounding amount of the island and Victoria's rich history is well preserved. Victoria is both sophisticated and laid back.
Seeing everything worth seeing in Victoria in one trip is difficult to do. Many of the best attractions surround the Inner Harbour, which is the heart of Victoria and the best place to start exploring. The list below begins at the Inner Harbour and radiates outward. Downtown Victoria is well contained and exploring on foot or by bike is usually the best way to get around.
There are dozens of great things to see and do in downtown Victoria. These are some that are often missed or overlooked. The Bug Zoo and Miniature World are great if you have kids along. The Bateman Centre and Emily Carr are great for art lovers. Market Square and Chinatown are a look into Victoria's past.
These are the best of the best hiking trails in and around Victoria and the reasons why they are great. In order starting from the most beautiful, most scenic, most enjoyable and most interesting. Some are steps from downtown Victoria and others a short to long drive away. The Juan de Fuca Trail is further away at over an hours drive and the world famous West Coast Trail is two hours away.
There are dozens of easy hiking trails in and around Victoria and they all seem to take you to a beautiful lake or ocean view. Thetis Lake is hard to beat. Deep forest trails take you to one beautiful viewpoint after another. Witty's Lagoon has wilderness trails as well as a massive beach. Sooke Potholes is a stunning park to visit.
Victoria has a huge selection of moderately challenging hiking trails. Goldstream Park has several trails that start easy and end challenging. They all take you to beautiful sights. East Sooke Park has over 50 kilometres of coastal and wilderness trails. Gowlland Tod has sharply contrasting ocean views to East Sooke Park.
Victoria has no shortage of challenging hiking trails. From the steep, yet relatively short hikes in Goldstream Park and East Sooke Park. To the tough and often brutal hiking along the West Coast Trail. Juan de Fuca Trail is a wonderful taste of the West Coast Trail. Less remote, less brutal, yet still takes you along Vancouver Island's spectacular coast.
