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We always try to stay at least one night in Victoria, BC if we’re visiting Vancouver Island! Here are some of the highlights from our short stay in Victoria!
Note: After our stay in Sooke, BC we stayed at the Hotel Rialto, a boutique hotel in downtown Victoria. For our most recent stay in June 2023, we stayed at an Air BnB which I would not recommend 😇
RELAX AT HAVN SAUNAS
The boyfriend is a huge fan of saunas alternating with cold plunges, so we’ve had our fair share of spa and sauna experiences around the world. HAVN Saunas definitely ranks within one of our top five sauna experiences of all time! The saunas and a variety of plunges/pools are located on a repurposed 1943 marine barge. The entrance fee guarantees you up to 3 hours of access to their facilities, which includes three saunas, two cold pools, two hot tubs, outdoor showers and relaxation areas, all overlooking Victoria’s beautiful harbour. Reservations can be made online.
Location: 920 Wharf St, Victoria, BC, V8W 3Z3. Click here for the map.
DISCOVER VICTORIA’S CHINESE CANADIAN HISTORY
Did you know that the Chinatown in Victoria, BC is the oldest Chinatown in Canada and the second oldest in North America? (The oldest is San Francisco’s Chinatown.) We enjoyed exploring the neighbourhood and admiring the old buildings and historical sites. I would highly recommend visiting the Chinatown Museum to learn more about the contributions and history of Chinese Canadians. There is no entrance fee so it’s definitely worth checking out.
WALK THROUGH ONE OF THE NARROWEST STREETS IN NORTH AMERICA
Did you know that the Chinatown in Victoria, BC is the oldest Chinatown in Canada and the second oldest in North America (first is San Francisco)? We enjoyed exploring the neighbourhood and admiring the old buildings and historical sites. Of course we visited Fan Tan Alley, one of the narrowest streets in Canada. While we were there, we decided to get a Thai massage at Rung’s Thai Massage. The Thai spa is hidden away on the second floor of an old building through a large wooden door (they buzz you in). My boyfriend and I love Thai massages and thoroughly enjoyed our couples massage here.
EXPLORE FISHERMAN’S WHARF
We went for a walk around the harbour and stopped to admire the views at Fisherman’s Wharf. The colourful float homes are delightful and many tourists flock there for photos. The float homes are on private property and areas are fenced off, so it’s important for visitors to be respectful. There are also fun food stalls there and outdoor dining areas. There is a great variety of food to choose from, like ice cream, fish & chips, pizza and Mexican food.
Location: 12 Erie St, Victoria, BC V8V 4X5. Click here for the map.
RIDE A WATER TAXI
Water taxis aren’t just a form of transportation, they’re also a great way to get an amazing view of Victoria’s scenic harbour. One of the popular docking locations is Fisherman’s Wharf, so we opted to take the water taxi there when we last visited, but we really enjoyed being leisurely boated around the harbour. Note that the water taxis do close during the winter months.
TOUR THE PARLIAMENT BUILDING
Even if you aren’t interested in politics, the architecture of Victoria’s parliament building is still a sight to behold! The exterior of the building is very impressive and there are lots of grassy areas and benches for lounging outside. Free tours are offered daily for those who want to learn about the history of British Columbia.
