The Perfect 1 Day Victoria Itinerary: Must-Sees for First Timers
Do you have 1 day in Victoria and want to fit in as much as possible? I’m here to help!
Being the capital of BC, Victoria is a popular weekend getaway from Vancouver and a must visit destination on Vancouver Island.
But…
Victoria is more than just a city and once you start diving into your planning, you’ll quickly learn that there is more to see in and around Victoria than you can fit into 1 day.
I’ve been to Victoria multiple times and know exactly what I would do if I were visiting for the very first time. This itinerary will help you make the most of your time and see the important parts of Victoria so that you’ll leave feeling like you spent more than 1 day there.
It includes must-sees in the city and also gets you out of the city to enjoy the surrounding nature.
Read on to start planning your trip!
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links that may earn us a small commission should you decide to click through and make a valid purchase (at no extra cost to you). Thanks so much for your support!
The Ultimate 1-Day Victoria Itinerary for First-Timers
Quick Tips for visiting Victoria, BC
Best time to visit: Victoria is especially beautiful in Spring with the Cherry Blossoms and the Fall with the leaves changing.
Where to stay: Best central hotels –
Fairmont Empress Hotel
The Inn at the Union Club of British Columbia
Where to eat: Tacofino, Victoria Public Market, Red Fish Blue Fish, Aura
Top Tour: Whale watching tour
Here’s a quick summary of everything I would as a first timer in Victoria if I only had 1 day.
Note: this itinerary works best if you spend 1-2 nights in Victoria to get the most out of your day.
Morning (9am – 1pm):
- Butchart Gardens (alternative: Whale Watching Cruise)
Afternoon (1pm – 5pm):
- Lunch at Fisherman’s Wharf
- Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
- Chinatown: Fan Tan Alley
- Icecream break
Evening (5pm onwards):
- Red Fish Blue Fish
- Patio drinks
Butchart Gardens
- 📍Getting there: If you have a car, this is the easiest way to get there! It’s about a 30 minute drive. If not, you can take bus #75 from Douglas & Pandora with a short 3 minute walk to the gardens on the other end. The bus takes around 1 hour altogether.
- ⌚Time Needed: 4-5 hours, including getting there.
- 🎟️Tickets Required: You can purchase tickets online here or at the gate. Admission prices vary throughout the year depending on what the season is.
Whenever I mention Victoria, I’m always met with the response of “oh my gosh have you been to Butchart Gardens?! They are incredible!”
I can finally say that I’ve been and everyone was right. The gardens are so impressive! I guess this is why they are world famous!
They are also massive which is why this activity takes up so much time in your day. There are lots of different sections such as the Rose Garden, the Japanese Gardens, Italian Garden, Sunken Garden and Mediterranean Garden.
🌸 If you don’t like gardens or flowers then I recommend skipping the gardens and perhaps opting for a whale watching tour instead.
Whale Watching Cruise (Alternative to Butchart Gardens)
- 📍Getting there: The meeting point for the tour is at 812 Wharf St (however please check this when booking in case it chances and I don’t catch it). It’s a pretty central spot so shouldn’t take too long from your hotel depending on where you are staying.
- ⌚Time Needed: 3.5 hours
The chance to see whales (including Orcas, humpbacks and sea lions) is one of the best things about Victoria. This particular tour has a Whale Sightings Guarantee, which means you can retake the tour or one of the sister tours from any location until you see something.
We met a couple at our hotel who had gotten so incredibly lucky on their whale watching tour and had seen loads of orcas really close to their boat!
After your whale watching tour or Butchart Gardens frollick, head over to Fisherman’s Wharf for a much needed lunch.
Lunch at Fisherman’s Wharf
- 📍Getting there: Either a 20 minute walk from the waterfront near the Fairmont, or you could catch a water taxi from one of the stops to Fisherman’s Wharf.
- ⌚Time Needed: 45 minutes – 1 hour
Fisherman’s Wharf is quite small but it’s very cute and colourful, with colourful floating residential houses.
Watch the local fisherman unload their catch of the day, or explore the small collection of eateries. You’ll find Mexican food, pizza, fish and chips and seafood. There is also a parking lot there if you would prefer to drive.
🛥️ Tip: I do recommend getting a water taxi because it is a great way to see the city from the water and also rest your feet. We walked there and I kind of regretted not trying the cute water taxis. My feet were also completely done by this point of the day because this was our last stop.
Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
- 📍Getting there: From Fisherman’s Wharf it’s around a 15-20 minute walk back to the Legislative Building or you could catch another water taxi back.
- ⌚Time Needed: ~45 minutes – 1 hour
It’s hard to miss the Legislative Building because it’s huge and very important looking. This is where the future of the province is discussed by debating and passing the laws that govern British Columbia.
You can just pass by and see the building from the outside, or you could join a free guided tour which takes around 45 minutes or explore the inside yourself, without a tour.
While you are there, you could also enjoy a meal in the Parliamentary Dining Room, watch the proceedings of the Legislative Assembly or visit the Parliamentary Gift Shop.
Ice-cream break at Better Acres Ice Cream
- 📍Getting there: 9 minute walk from Legislative Building
- ⌚Time Needed: 10 minutes
This is quite possibly the creamiest ice-cream you will ever taste. Better Acres Ice Cream keep things very simple, with simple flavours and by using only farm fresh whole fat cream and the most natural ingredients.
I love the milk chocolate flavour 😋
Chinatown: Fan Tan Alley
- 📍Getting there: 8 minute walk from the Better Acres Ice Cream
- ⌚Time Needed: 20 minutes – 45 minutes (depending on whether you want to go into the shops of not)
Being the oldest Chinatown in Canada (mid-nineteenth century) and the second oldest in North America after San Francisco, it’s definitely worth a visit, even if you just go to see Fan Tan Alley.
Calling all Harry Potter fans!
This alley reminds me of Diagon Alley! It has the narrowest street in Victoria and is full of lots of cool shops and photo opportunities. I also checked out Dragon Alley which is about a 5 minute walk away, but I’d say it’s not really worth the visit like Fan Tan Alley is.
Dinner at Red Fish Blue Fish
- 📍Getting there: 10 minute walk from Fan Tan Alley
- ⌚Time Needed: 30 minutes
After an afternoon of walking around Downtown Victoria, it’s time to indulge in some fish and chips for dinner. Red Fish Blue Fish is a casual eatery set right on the water on the dock and is a great place to watch the sunset from.
We were recommended this place by a couple we met from Ontario, who said that this is the one place they go back to (specifically for the Seafood Chowder) every time they are in Victoria.
I’ve got to say, the Seafood Chowder lived up to my expectations. Every single day, Red Fish Blue Fish has a different type of Seafood Chowder on the menu so don’t show up expecting the classic tasting chowder.
When I was there, the Chowder tasted like an Indian curry.
I have to admit, after the Chowder, my fish and chips were a little too much to eat so next time I think I would opt for the tacos or something a bit smaller.
After dinner, it’s time to finish your day with a patio session. Victoria has no shortage of cool patios!
Patio drinks
- 📍Getting there: 4-10 minutes walk (depending on where you go)
- ⌚Time Needed: However long you feel like staying out for.
The Local has great food (if you decide not to eat at Red Fish Blue Fish) and a really nice patio area surrounded by gorgeous flowers!
Another great option is Whistle Buoy Brewing or Superflux if you like beer. Superflux has a rooftop patio rather than a ground level patio. We stopped by Darcy’s Pub for a quick beer which is a great more affordable option. I really loved their Beach Shack Blackberry Blonde.
🍺 Tip: If you want to go to The Local, make sure you get there at least 30 minutes before you actually want to be there because they are super popular and will most likely put you on a waiting list.
If you have any extra time in Victoria, the Oak Bay Beach Hotel is my absolute favourite hotel in the area, but you do need to have enough time to enjoy the hotel itself. It has the most beautiful mineral hot pools right on the ocean front so it’s a great place to stay if you just want to relax.
You might also enjoy:
- An Epic 2 Day Vancouver Travel Itinerary: Breweries, Waterfalls, Sunsets
- My Oak Bay Beach Hotel Experience: Is it Worth it? (A Victoria Hotel)
- Things to do in Tofino (plus what I would skip)
- Best Views in Vancouver
- Tofino Weekend Itinerary
- The Best Sunset Spot in Tofino: Cox Bay Lookout
- Where to Stay in Vancouver
- Is a Scenic Flight in Vancouver Worth it? A Local’s Perspective
- The Ultimate Jordan River, Vancouver Island Weekend Itinerary
📌 Like it? Pin it!
