Activities to Experience in Victoria

Butchart Gardens Excursions

The crown jewel of Victoria is the renowned Butchart Gardens. Established in 1904 by the wife of a cement magnate, this transformed limestone quarry became a breathtaking sunken garden. Today, this National Historic Site showcases over 1 million plants from 900 different species, ensuring continuous blooms from March to October. Witness 300,000 vibrant tulips in spring and stunning roses in summer, along with diverse garden styles including Japanese, Italian, and Mediterranean.

Royal British Columbia Museum

Dive into the natural world's history at the Royal British Columbia Museum. Established in 1886, its collection spans over a century. In 1987, Queen Elizabeth II granted the museum royal designation for its commitment to education and research. The three main galleries showcase natural history, contemporary history, and Indigenous history. Notable features include a life-sized replica of 19th-century Victoria, Indigenous artifacts such as totem poles and ceremonial masks, an aquarium, a native plant garden, and over half a million animal specimens.

Craigdarroch Castle Tours

Craigdarroch Castle, a grand 25,000-square-foot residence built in 1890 by affluent coal baron Robert Dunsmuir, is a stunning example of Romanesque Revival architecture. This four-story stone edifice boasts Roman columns and arches, with an interior adorned in exotic wood paneling, opulent Victorian furnishings, and 32 original stained glass windows.

Miniature World Victoria

Touted as "The Greatest Little Show on Earth," Victoria’s Miniature Museum offers over 85 stunning miniature dioramas, including a miniature circus, small-scale replicas of famous European castles (like the iconic Buckingham Palace), intricate battle scenes, and depictions of 1670s London and the Wild West. Don't miss the world’s smallest operational sawmill, an extensive model railway, and two of the largest dollhouses in the world, dating back to 1880 and featuring 50 beautifully furnished rooms.

Hatley Park National Historic Site

Nineteenth-century millionaire James Dunsmuir famously declared, "Money doesn’t matter, just build what I desire," and in 1908, his desire was for a grand 40-room medieval castle set on 565 acres on the outskirts of Victoria. At that time, Hatley Park Castle stood as the largest private residence on the West Coast. Historical accounts suggest that if the British Royal Family had to flee London during World War II, Hatley Park Castle would have served as their refuge.

Victoria Bug Zoo

Explore a vibrant array of tropical insects at the Victoria Bug Zoo, boasting the largest collection of tropical bugs in North America. Over 50 live species are showcased, and the bold can interact with tarantulas, giant cockroaches, scorpions, walking sticks, praying mantises, and other fascinating creatures.

Victoria Butterfly Gardens

You might be surprised to find a tropical rainforest in the heart of Victoria, Canada, but that’s exactly what you’ll encounter at Victoria Butterfly Gardens. This expansive 12,000-square-foot indoor jungle is home to 75 species of butterflies and moths, alongside more than 200 varieties of tropical plants and exotic animals, including ducks, flamingos, parrots, and poison dart frogs.

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