Tourism Victoria

Victoria, British Columbia

Nestled on the southern tip of Vancouver Island, Victoria is a city shaped by the people, cultures and stories that have gathered here over generations. It’s a place where historic streets lead to contemporary galleries, working artists open their studio doors, and creativity feels woven into everyday life.

There’s plenty to explore, but Victoria also gives you the time and space to take it in. Wander neighbourhoods filled with independent shops and restaurants. Follow the waterfront. Spend an afternoon with art, history or live performance, then see where the evening takes you.

Travellers have taken notice. In 2026, Victoria was named the #1 Small City in the World for the fourth consecutive year in Condé Nast Traveler’s Readers’ Choice Awards.

Arts, Culture & History

Greater Victoria’s story stretches back thousands of years. The region is located on the traditional territories of the lək̓ʷəŋən-speaking peoples of the Songhees Nation and Xʷsepsəm Nation, whose living cultures continue to shape this place today.

Across the region, that story keeps unfolding. Explore the Royal BC Museum or spend time among the vast collection of works at the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, home to British Columbia’s largest public art collection. Step inside galleries showcasing established and emerging artists, seek out Indigenous art and cultural experiences, or catch a performance on one of the city’s stages, such as the historic Royal Theatre.

History takes on a different scale in Victoria’s Chinatown, the oldest and best-preserved Chinatown in Canada. Duck into narrow Fan Tan Alley and visit the Victoria Chinatown Museum, where exhibits share the stories, contributions and living heritage of Chinese Canadians in Victoria. Beyond downtown, communities throughout Greater Victoria offer their own creative perspectives, from local studios and public art to historic places and cultural spaces.

A City with Stories in Its Streets

Victoria wears its history openly. Walk through the city and you’ll find heritage architecture, colourful historic buildings and streets that reward slowing down and looking a little closer. From the Inner Harbour and Old Town to Canada’s oldest Chinatown, the past is part of the backdrop to everyday life.

Some of Victoria’s most recognizable landmarks tell stories of their own. Architect Francis Rattenbury left an unmistakable mark on the city, designing several of the city’s most prominent landmarks, including the BC Parliament Buildings and the Fairmont Empress, two buildings that continue to define Victoria’s historic waterfront.

That character extends beyond downtown, too. Across Greater Victoria, historic neighbourhoods, gardens, estates and landmarks offer glimpses into the people and periods that have shaped the region. Victoria is a city where exploring history doesn’t always mean stepping inside a museum. Sometimes, it’s simply a matter of stepping outside.