Winter in Victoria
Victoria boasts the mildest climate in Canada, located as it is on the southern tip of Vancouver Island in a temperate sub-Mediterranean climate zone. With moderate temperatures and an average of 308 days with sunshine, it is among the sunniest cities in Canada.
Average temperatures during the winter are a high of 8 degrees with an average low of 4. The city will have more rainfall, and occasionally sees a dusting of snow.
Festivals & Events
Bastion Square Holiday Market
November 9 & 10, 16 & 17, 23 & 24, 30 & December 1, December 6-8, December 13-15, December 19-24
11:00am – 5:00pm
Bastion Square Market returns for their Holiday Market Series on November 9! Shop handcrafted goods from local artisans, enjoy live music and get into the holiday spirit!
Festival of Trees
November 15, 2024 – January 5, 2025
Get into the holiday spirit with a forest of beautifully decorated trees at the Bay Centre. You can vote for your favourite, proceeds support BC Children’s Hospital.
Habitat for Humanity Gingerbread Showcase
November 22,2024 – January 5, 2025
This year’s Habitat for Humanity Victoria fundraiser theme is Through a Child’s Eyes. View these enchanted creations at Hotel Grand Pacific at 463 Belleville St from November 25, 2023 through January 4, 2024.
Lights of Wonder – Downtown Victoria
November 30, 2024 – January, 2025
Downtown Victoria is transforming Centennial Square into a holiday wonderland. This outdoor event features themed light exhibits, four interactive light tunnels, and a 40-foot festive tree. This year, visitors can enjoy the return of the Ferris Wheel to the square! With free admission and for all ages, Lights of Wonder offers live entertainment, warm nibbles, and magical light displays.
Victoria Harbour Ferry Sleigh Boat Rides
December 13 – December 22, 2024
4:00 pm, 5:00 pm, 6:00 pm, 7:00 pm
Join Victoria Harbour Ferry for a one-of-a-kind “Sleigh Boat Ride”. Your adventure will start at the Empress dock. From here you will take a ride over to Fisherman’s Wharf where you will disembark the ferry at Puerto Vallarta Amigos for hot chocolate & churros! You will then board your return ferry back to the Empress Dock while holiday music plays on your journey.
The Magic of Christmas at Butchart Gardens
December 1, 2024 – January 6, 2025
The Magic of Christmas returns to The Butchart Gardens this holiday season! Take in The Gardens’ spectacular display of lights and traditional carolers while indulging in copious amounts of hot cocoa.
Theatre
Royal & McPherson Theatres
Located in the heart of downtown Victoria, the historic Royal Theatre and McPherson Playhouse have been connecting world class performing arts and entertainment with our community for over a century. Discover What’s On-stage
The Belfry Theater
We are dedicated to producing contemporary plays, with an emphasis on Canadian work, and to promoting artistic, cultural, and educational events in the Greater Victoria Region. What’s On
Langham Court Theatre
The Langham Court Theatre Society (has been producing engaging and high quality theatre with dedicated actors and creative teams for more than 90 years! The theatre itself is a charming surprise tucked away in the residential Rockland neighbourhood, seats 175 people and offers a licensed lounge for intermission. What’s On
Art & Culture
Art Gallery of Greater Victoria
With over 20,000 objects, the AGGV collection represents significant works produced in this region and art that represents our histories. Since its founding, we have been assembling work from around the Pacific Rim and have established one of the finest collections of Asian art in the world.
Royal BC Museum
The Royal BC Museum, founded in 1886, is one of Canada’s greatest cultural treasures, collecting artifacts, documents and specimens of BC’s natural and human history.
Current Exhibitions:
Craigdarroch Castle
Built by coal baron Robert Dunsmuir, this legendary Victorian mansion was built 1887-1890. The architecture showcases the Romanesque revival taking place at the time, and has been meticulously restored, giving visitors a glimpse of privileged life in the 1890s.
Gardens & Vistas
Butchart Gardens
Christmas is a magical time at Butchart Gardens, with thousands of lights! Bundle up and stroll through the Twelve Days of Christmas display, sing along to the sounds of the season with Traditional Carollers or listen to the Festive Brass, then stop in at the Coffee Shop to warm up with a hot chocolate and gingerbread by the fire.
Abkhazi Garden
Tucked behind a hornbeam hedge, discover Prince & Princess Abkhazi’s garden that love built. Gardens flow around dramatic glaciated rocky slopes, magnificent native Garry oaks and gorgeous vistas. Drive, or borrow our Norco Cruiser bicycles.
Malahat Skywalk Experience
Located about 40 minutes north of Victoria, the Malahat SkyWalk is an accessible 600 m TreeWalk through a beautiful arbutus forest leading to a spectacular gentle spiral ramp that takes you up 32m to a sightseeing lookout offering views of Finlayson Arm, Saanich Peninsula, Mount Baker and the distant Coast Mountains.
Victoria’s Inner Harbour
Take a stroll along Victoria’s beautiful inner harbour, just steps away, to watch ships, boats and seaplanes and harbour seals coming and going. This working harbour is part of the traditional lands of the Songhees and Esquimalt Nations.
Beacon Hill Park
Just 5 blocks from the inner harbour, Beacon Hill Park is 740,000 square meters of parkland. This park boasts manicured gardens, meandering footpaths, ponds, a Garry Oak ecosystem, and open vistas across the Strait of Juan De Fuca.
Gardens at Government House
Government House is the official residence of the Lieutenant Governor and the ceremonial home of all British Columbians. The grounds embrace 36 acres, including formal gardens and a rare Garry oak ecosystem.
Hatley Castle National Historic Park
Just 13km from downtown, you will find this fascinating Edwardian estate, with Japanese, Rose and Italian Gardens on 565 oceanfront acres with an amazing view of the majestic Olympic Mountains.
Shopping
Check at the front desk for a copy of our Beautiful Boutiques curated map.
Government Street
Take a walk down Government Street to view beautiful heritage buildings and quaint shops with handmade gifts. Peruse Munro’s Books, Rogers Chocolates, handcrafted jewellery, gift shops and designer boutiques. Stop for delicious snacks along the way.
Market Square
Local boutiques, one-of-a-kind merchandise, dining, coffee & craft beer eatery all in a beautiful heritage square!
Lo Jo
Lower Johnson Street has many independent boutiques and specialty shops, many with a fashion focus, situated amongst the colourful heritage buildings.
Chinatown
Canada’s oldest Chinatown is characterized by heritage buildings, beautiful Gate of Harmonious Interest, small shops and restaurants. Check out the little shops in Fan Tan Alley.
Victoria Public Market
Peruse local artisans, farmers, butchers, bakers, cheese-makers and more! Dive into pasta or tacos, sip tea, or delight in a meat or fruit pie.
Bounty of the Harvest
For a true sense of place, taste! Engage all of your senses when you visit and taste at local farms, wineries, breweries, distilleries and more! See the front desk for our Saanich Flavour Trail or Cowichan Flavour Trail to explore the region at your own pace.
Breweries
Ask the front desk for our Craft Brewery Trail!
Phillips Brewery, Victoria
Inspiration through fermentation. See what some beer nerds can accomplish with creativity and a welding torch.
Whistle Buoy Brewing Co.
A tiny brewery with big ideas, we make small-batch, experimental beers with high quality ingredients in the heart of Downtown Victoria. Pick-up window, taproom, and patio are located on the courtyard level of historic Market Square.
Ile Sauvage Brewing
French for “Wild Island” the name is a reference to the wilderness of Vancouver Island and our focus on Belgian-style wild ales and sour beers. We make use of Kveik, Lactobacillus, and Brettanomyces fermentation, as well as secondary fermentation with fruit.
Cidery
Sea Cider Farm & Ciderhouse, Saanichton
An award-wining farm-based cidery focused on producing traditional artisan ciders from organically grown apples.
Merridale Cidery & Distillery, Cowichan Valley
Merridale makes farm-crafted Cider, Spirits, and Fortified Ciders. Visit their Tasting Bar, Eatery and retail shop.
Wineries
Averill Creek Vineyard, Cowichan Valley
Averill Creek is built into the side of Mt. Prevost, and our state-of-the-art facility incorporates three buildings structured together, allowing wine to flow down from one stage to the next without the need for pumps. This gravity flow method allows for gentle handling of delicate varietals – helping to retain their subtle characteristics.
Blue Grouse Winery, Cowichan Valley
Family-owned, sustainably-farmed Blue Grouse Estate Winery produces award winning wines. Reserve ahead for a tasting, they often have several experiences available!
Unsworth Vineyards, Cowichan Valley
Tradition meets artisanal wine-making in this family owned winery. Stop for a tasting or reserve for lunch or dinner in the restaurant.
Tours
Discover the Past Walking Tours
Best known for Ghostly Walks, Discover the Past also offers a range of fun and insightful History and Chinatown tours. John Adams, Victoria’s pre-eminent historian, leases a team of exceptional storytelling guides.
Magnolia’s Mobile Walking Tours
If you prefer to discover the city on your own, download one of our digital walking maps: Welcome to Victoria, Historical Victoria or Foodie Adventure.
Magnolia’s Curated Trails
Ask the Front Desk for one of our printed curated trails: Tapa Trail, Craft Brewery, Beautiful Boutiques for shopping, see the sights with Everything Victoria, discover Adventures, or check out Notable Dining. Explore a little further with our bikes and take one of our thee bike maps: Rockland & Cook St Village, Beacon Hill Park & James Bay or Bikes, Blooms & Brews. Runners can choose from a scenic 5.8km, 7.5km or 10.2km route.
Whale & Wildlife Tours
Kayak & SUP Tours & Rentals
The Pedaler
The Pedaler offers a range of guided bike tours that showcase Victoria; its scenic views, its history, and its artisan food and drink.
Bike
Victoria is a cyclist’s dream, with many great places to ride. Bring your bike or borrow one of our bicycles and use one of our three curated bike maps to tour the city.
Hike
Hiking in Gowlland Tod Provincial Park
More than 25 kilometres of trails, varying in degree of difficulty, offer spectacular views, as well as the chance to view animals in their natural environment. In spring and early summer, the moss-covered rocky knolls come alive with a carpet of colourful, vibrant wildflowers.
Mount Douglas Park
188 hectares of forest and 21km of trails, take a leisurely stroll, explore the beach or hike to the summit.
Goldstream Park
Just 17 kilometers from downtown Victoria, Goldstream Provincial Park lies amid the splendour of an old-growth temperate rain forest. See massive trees, majestic waterfalls, a meandering river that meets the sea, and a world class salmon-spawning stream with thousands of Chum Salmon returning between October and December. Hike to the top of one of the highest points in Greater Victoria, Mt Finlayson. Another trail leads you to Niagara Falls, higher than its namesake – a truly exquisite discovery buried deep in Goldstream’s forests.
Golf
Olympic View Golf Club
Boasting beautiful views of Washington State’s Olympic Mountains, Olympic View Golf Club is located just 20 minutes outside of downtown and is rated ‘Top 10 Best Public Golf Facility’ in British Columbia by ScoreGolf Magazine.
Cordova Bay Golf Course
18 Championship Golf Course and 9 Hole Par 3 Ridge course with massive fairways, huge greens and a course for every level of player.
