Victoria, BC was my favorite stop on our cruise – and it wasn’t even on our Alaska itinerary! Even though we boarded our our Alaska cruise from Vancouver with Princess Cruises, we actually started our vacation in Victoria for multiple reasons, and it was the my favorite stop of the entire Alaska trip even though it’s in Canada!
Choose a few things to do in Victoria BC, and allow time to wander. Even without a rental car in Victoria, we visited Butchart Gardens, the Victoria Parliament Building, the Royal BC Museum, and Victoria’s Chinatown. These three days in Victoria were a perfect mix of wandering through Canadian history, culture, and gardens.
If you’re researching a quicker Vancouver to Victoria day trip, this travel guide is for you as well. Enjoy the beauty of Victoria, and let the Vancouver to Victoria ferry get you where you need to be. This is the perfect slow pace way to start your Alaska cruise and land trip. Keep reading to help you plan a perfect day in Victoria.
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Why Go from Victoria to Vancouver?
Our Alaska vacation started in Victoria due to the cost of Vancouver hotels. Arriving during the Vancouver World Cup, hotel prices in Vancouver were $600-700 per night! Or… we could stay in Victoria three nights for the cost of one night in Vancouver.
Having visited Victoria as during childhood vacations, I only remembered baskets of hanging flowers. But what a perfect thing for a vacation memory! I wondered, “What if we spent two days in Victoria instead and just took a ferry to Vancouver?” My BEST idea!
The more I researched what to do in Victoria, the more I liked the idea. Honestly, city travel overwhelms me with big destination guides, tall buildings, and too many people. Vancouver is Canada’s third largest city with towering skyscrapers up against the water. Instead of big city travel, we wandered the Victoria waterfront and the beauty of this favorite British Colombia town.
Once I saw that flights from Atlanta to Victoria cost about the same as Vancouver, I had decided. Even without a rental car, we could go all over Victoria by bus, ferry, and train. Our Europe travels had trained us well; Victoria ended up being exactly what we needed.
Getting between the two cities requires a little extra planning, especially if you’re relying on public transportation. From getting to the Tsawwassen ferry terminal to crossing the Strait of Georgia and making your way into downtown Victoria, there are several steps to the journey. I’ve put together a separate guide explaining exactly how to get from Vancouver to Victoria, including ferry options, bus connections, and everything we learned along the way.
Best Hotel in Downtown Victoria, BC: Strathcona Hotel
The Strathcona Hotel in Victoria was the perfect hotel for my family of Mom, Dad, and four teens. We wanted to be able to walk around downtown Victoria using only public transportation for our visit. Its downtown location, good price, and room for six, made me book it before figuring anything else out. big enough for six people. The hotel is only minutes from the Inner Harbour and many of Victoria’s major attractions.
The beautiful Strathcona was the perfect home base for our three nights in Victoria. Dating back to 1911, the outside and the lobby of the Strathcona Hotel feel elegant and history, but the room we booked was spacious and modern. With two full beds and a fold out couch, my family of six had plenty of room for three nights. Although this is not a chain with a fast continental breakfast, there are lots of amazing options in downtown. I wouldn’t have “wasted” a breakfast at the hotel anyway.
Two Days in Victoria, British Colombia
With only two days to explore Victoria before starting our Alaska cruise, I had to pick from the list of best things to do in Victoria BC. With a relaxed plan to wander, I didn’t create a packed Victoria itinerary. We walked from one part of downtown to another, found good meals, and enjoyed the harbor.
When my youngest was up early after our late flight, the two of us found breakfast and watched the seaplanes take off. Later, in the afternoon while the boys napped off their jet lag, the girls and I shopped at Munro’s Bookstore. We also managed to find ice cream and enjoyed a fancy breakfast at Wonderffle Cafe. There’s lots to do in Victoria, but don’t try to do it all!
Red Fish Blue Fish for Lunch
The most important research I did before the trip was where to get the best meal. We all agreed that that fish and chips from Red Fish Blue Fish was the best meal of our whole Alaska-Canada trip. We tried tempura battered cod and halibut – both amazing! – and the husband had unique chipotle chowder. It was all delicious.
Despite the 30 minute wait, the view over the harbor and the overhead shade umbrellas made it no big deal. Either way, the food was so good! Only about a ten minutes along the water from the iconic Fairmont Express Hotel, it’s an easy walk over to get in line for an early lunch. It’s worth it. Writing about it makes me want some!
Butchart Gardens in Victoria
Although Victoria is known for its many gardens and I had planned to see several, Butchart Gardens was the only one we visited. Many people choose a Butchart guided tour, and we passed many people wearing their cruise ship excursion stickers. We were very glad we could wander at our own pace!
This Victoria botanical garden was a favorite. We especially loved the colorful view over the sunken garden built into the original quarry. We moved from shaded woodlands to sculpted flower gardens to roses to the Japanese garden, and every area was equally impressive. It reminded me a lot of our trip to Bodnant Gardens in Wales and even our Atlanta Botanical Garden at home. Make sure you look up the history of Butchart Gardens; it makes the whole place even more impressive!
This garden is about a thirty minute trip outside the rest of downtown Victoria. We took the bus from downtown, but if you’d rather simplify this garden trip, there is an express shuttle to Butchart.
Check out this direct ride from downtown victoria to the gardens
A warning: if you’re looking to avoid crowds, this may not be the place for you. Many people take a Vancouver to Victoria day trip just for the gardens or pick it as their excursion during their Victoria cruise port on their Alaska cruise. Check the cruise schedule here.
Seeing the Canadian Parliament Buildings
The Parliament Buildings were another highlight of our time in Victoria. Located along the Inner Harbour, this impressive building is hard to miss and make an especially beautiful backdrop for walking around the waterfront. It’s a great introduction to the relationship between the UK and Canada, so take the time to better understand the country.
Learning at the Royal BC Museum Victoria
The Royal BC Museum was one of the places I was most interested in visiting because it fit so well with the educational side of our trip. I had also been told it’s a great museum on so many sites. This homeschool family is definitely used to hitting museums! A museum was also a nice change of pace after spending time outdoors and walking around the city.
This Victoria museum is a good introduction to Canada especially for kids. The natural history exhibit will introduce them to the flora and fauna of the area. There are also some interesting exhibits about the different indigenous groups of Canada including the Jonathan Hunt house. During the time of our visit, there was a temporary Egypt exhibit that we really liked. Check the online schedule for the Royal BC current exhibit.
Although the Royal Museum was very highly rated and very well done, I felt that it was quite small for the price. Don’t plan on spending more than two hours here max. If you have don’t have enough time (or money) for inside the museum, you should still walk over and see one of the free things to do in Victoria – Thunderbird park with the Mungo Martin house.
–> Read Next Alaska Native Heritage Center: All You Need to Know: Keep up your Alaskan heritage learning when you dock in Anchorage. The Alaska Native Heritage Center is amazing with replica Indigenous homes for real-life learning.
Sightseeing in Victoria Chinatown
After the garden, we briefly explored Victoria’s Chinatown National Historic Site. The area gave us another side of the history of Victoria and was an easy addition as it was not far from the downtown area. We walked down (the overhyped) Fan Tan Alley, but as it was after 5 PM, the shops were all closed. There was one section of signs, but most of the history had to come off your phone. I will admit that I was expecting a larger area, but it really is just two short blocks.
The ultimate Chinese architecture is seen for free at the Victoria Chinese Public School. We had learned some of the history of the Chinese immigrants at the BC Museum. However, this second oldest Chinatown in in North America was one of the areas where I wished we had gotten a history guide.
For supper, we had a “bit too authentic” Chinese meal. There were lots of Victoria Chinese restaurants to pick from, but this Mom advises you to check out the posted menu. Your kids may be happier with some of the “Americanized” menu items instead of our supper adventure. It was good but different!
Tips for Staying in Victoria Before an Alaska Cruise
Compare the Total Cost
Don’t compare only the hotel price. Look at the cost of getting your family from Victoria to Vancouver, including transportation to the ferry, the ferry itself and the trip from Tsawwassen to the cruise terminal.
For us, the overall cost still made sense, and we got two days in Victoria out of the deal. Depending on how many people you have in your group, it may be the same price for you to arrange a smaller Uber or Taxi to get to the airport.
Stay in Downtown Victoria
If you’re not renting a car, location within Victoria matters. Staying downtown at the Strathcona Hotel made it much easier for us to walk to restaurants and attractions and use public transportation when necessary. The location made it perfect for getting out early morning and for a beautiful sunset over the harbor. Not to mention, it’s easy to run back for an afternoon rest if you’re still adjust to the time change.
Check the Bus Schedule
Public transportation worked well for us, but don’t assume buses run late into the night. Our first night coming in from the airport was the one time we needed an Uber because the bus we needed had already stopped running airport to downtown.
Leave Plenty of Time on Cruise Day
This is not the day to plan everything down to the minute. You’re dealing with a ferry crossing, a connection into Vancouver and a cruise ship that isn’t going to wait for you. You have to get up early and allow yourself a comfortable buffer time. On the day of our departure, the Vancouver Cruise Terminal with Princess Cruises was super-efficient, and we were on the ship in no time. It was the best we’ve had; Athens was a hot, sweaty beast in comparison.
Think of Victoria as Part of the Vacation
This was probably the biggest lesson for me. Don’t think of Victoria as somewhere you’re staying because Vancouver is too expensive. Think of it as an additional destination.
Victoria to Vancouver FAQ
Can you stay in Victoria before an Alaska cruise from Vancouver?
Yes. Victoria can be a great option if you want to spend a few days exploring Vancouver Island before continuing to Vancouver for your cruise.
Can you get from Victoria to Vancouver without a car?
Yes. We did the trip without renting a car. We used public transportation around Victoria, an Uber to Swartz Bay, the ferry and then transportation from Tsawwassen into Vancouver.
How long does it take to get from Victoria to Vancouver?
Vancouver to Victoria is not a quick day trip. If coordinating a ferry ride and train trip to the cruise terminal makes you nervous, this might not be the trip addition for you.
book a transfer that takes care of the transportation for you
How do you get from Victoria to the Vancouver cruise terminal?
Victoria to Vancouver requires a ferry and then you continue into downtown Vancouver through their transit system. BC Ferries also offers a dedicated connector service that combines the ferry and coach transportation and serves the Vancouver cruise terminal.
READ NEXT ~~~> Head over to my detailed post about how to get from Victoria to Vancouver for your cruise departure.
How many days should you spend in Victoria before an Alaska cruise?
We spent two days in Victoria, and that gave us enough time to see several of the major attractions without feeling rushed. If you have additional time, I would happily spend longer there, but you might want to consider renting a car so you can get a little further outside of the city. There were more gardens and sights we could have walked to in the city for sure, but we would have wanted another “big destination” instead of just another day wandering around probably.
Is Victoria worth visiting before an Alaska cruise?
Absolutely. It wasn’t just worth it. Victoria became my favorite stop of the entire trip. It love wandering beautiful towns, and with gardens and history and unique stores, Victoria BC checked all these boxes. If big city life is more interest to you, stay in Vancouver.
My Victoria Review
Victoria wasn’t supposed to be the highlight of our Alaska trip. What started as a practical decision due to Vancouver hotel prices became my favorite stop of the entire trip.
Alaska gave us incredible scenery and some of the biggest experiences of the trip, but Victoria gave us something different. I loved the slower pace and being able to walk around the city of Victoria. With the gardens, the harbor, and the mix of old and new, it was like my favorites of wandering towns in Europe but on the beautiful Pacific Northwest coast.
It was the perfect, relaxed beginning to the adventure.
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My Favorite Travel Resources
- Booking.com – This is my go-to website for hotels, apartments, and even vacation home rentals to easily find places for my group of 6.
- Trip Advisor – This travel planning and booking website has been my go-to for decades. I especially use it to find nearby restaurants and activities.
- Viator – My go-to to find for city tours and experiences.
- Omio app and website – European train travel is easy for booking and keeping all tickets organized
- Radical Storage – Busy travel days sometimes means needing to leave your suitcase somewhere trustworthy. This worldwide option makes it easy.
- Welcome Pickups – I just found this company, but I plan to use them next time we need an airport or port transfer!
Thanks for stopping by my little corner! Here’s to your next adventure.
I’m Bobbie. After years of planning detailed family trips, I’m diving into travel advising. I’d love to take away the stress and plan a trip for you. Let’s get started today – click here to start.
You can count on me to share honest reviews and answer the questions you need to plan your own trip. My family of six is on a mission to discover all of Georgia’s amazing places, experience amazing road trips across the United States, and create a homeschool life along the way. We even world travel when we can!
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