Haunted Victoria
Spooky Spots to Explore This Halloween
The countdown to Halloween weekend is on! If you’re looking for a spine-tingling adventure, Victoria is the perfect destination. With its rich history, cobblestone alleys, and heritage buildings, our city is full of ghostly tales and eerie encounters - if you’re brave enough to seek them out.
Here are some of the most haunted spots in Victoria to explore this spooky season:
Craigdarroch Castle
A majestic mansion with a haunting reputation, Craigdarroch Castle is known for ghostly piano music, chilly drafts, and the occasional shadowy figure glimpsed on its grand staircases.
Bastion Square & Old Town
Once home to Victoria’s old jail and courthouse, this historic square is steeped in dark stories. Join a Ghostly Walk and you might just encounter a restless spirit lingering in the alleys.
St. Ann’s Academy
This former convent and school is a beautiful building with a chilling past. Visitors have reported phantom footsteps and voices echoing through its empty halls, and some claim to see the shadow of a nun.
Pioneer Square (Old Burial Ground)
Leaning gravestones and tangled pathways set the stage for unsettling encounters in Victoria’s first cemetery, where long-forgotten spirits are said to stir.
Ross Bay Cemetery
Home to elaborate tombstones and statues, Ross Bay Cemetery is also a hotspot for paranormal activity. Ghostly figures and mysterious lights have been reported among its historic graves.
Hatley Castle
Now part of Royal Roads University, Hatley Castle has a long history of ghostly residents said to roam its lavish rooms and sweeping gardens.
Parliament Buildings
Majestic by day, eerie by night. Staff and visitors have told of strange noises, shadowy figures, and unexplained happenings inside this iconic building.
Point Ellice House
Once home to the O’Reilly family, this riverside heritage house is rumoured to host ghostly gatherings of spirits reliving parties of the past.
Beacon Hill Park
Beneath the beauty of Beacon Hill lies a darker side, with stories of apparitions and unsettling energies dating back generations.
Garrick’s Head Pub
Raise a pint where spirits of another kind may join you. One of Victoria’s oldest pubs, it’s said to be frequented by more than just the living..
Royal McPherson Playhouse
When the lights go out, the show isn’t over. Staff and performers alike have reported footsteps and voices long after the curtain call.
Rogers’ Chocolates
No spooky stroll through Victoria is complete without a sweet stop. Established in 1885, Rogers’ Chocolates is said to have a few “ghostly” fans of its own—some claim the shop’s historic walls hold whispers of chocolatiers past. Treat yourself to handcrafted truffles and caramel delights while enjoying a taste of Victoria’s rich history.
Plan Your Haunted Escape
From historic castles and cemeteries to haunted pubs and hotels, Victoria is full of ghostly adventures waiting to be uncovered. This Halloween, embrace the city’s eerie side and see if you can spot one of its lingering spirits… If you dare.