Spring in Victoria
Spring is mild and arrives early in Victoria with temperatures from 8 – 14 ºC (46 – 57 ºF) but can drop down to freezing overnight. Flowers bloom early and cherry blossoms blanket parts of the city with pink snow.
Festivals & Events
Victoria Cocktail Week
April 13-20, 2025
From April 13 – 20, 2025, discover the vibrant cocktail culture of Victoria. It’s the perfect time to sip, savour, and socialize while supporting the local hospitality scene. Experience the full spectrum of Victoria Cocktail Week and deepen your appreciation for the craft.
Saanich Earth Day Festival
April 19, 2025 from 11:00am-3:00pm at the Saanich Municipal Hall
The Saanich Earth Day Festival is all about everyday sustainability. It is a chance to celebrate our planet, fight against climate change, and learn about everyday ways we can lessen our impact on the Earth as a community and as individuals. Featuring live music, vendor village, food trucks and interactive elements!
Easter Bunny Hunt at The Butchart Gardens
April 18-21, 2025 at The Butchart Gardens
Children 17 years and younger will be given a map at the Admission Gate or Information Centre to mark the location of 10 bunnies hiding throughout The Gardens. Completed maps may be turned in at the Information Centre for an Easter treat. Children may also enter a draw for an Easter basket.
Easter Weekend at Bilston Creek Farm
April 19-20. 2025
Join the team at Bilston Creek Farm for Easter Weekend! Our family-friendly activities include a kids bunny hunt, a kids spring seed planting station, and our popular “Hunt for the Golden Egg” for the chance to win a fantastic prize!
Urbanite 2025
April 25, 2025 from 8:00pm-11:00pm at the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria
Experience Pop Art through exhibition activations and hands-on activities. Enjoy custom cocktails by Sheringham Distillery, mocktails by Lumette!, wine by Storied Wines and Spirits, and beer by Hoyne Brewing. DJ Joshua James will electrify the party with expertly curated track selections that will leave you feeling uplifted and inspired! Think bold, vibrant and colourful looks for your OOTD and dress to impress.
TC10K
April 27, 2025
A 10-kilometer community race through downtown Victoria for runners and walkers of all abilities.
Theatre
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
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
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 AG.GV 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.
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:
- Wildlife Photographer of the Year, February 14 – April 27, 2025
- Old Town, New Approach – Always on
Upcoming Exhibitions:
- Global Threads: The Art and Fashion of Indian Chintz, March 28 – September 28, 2025
- Odysseys and Migration, April 18, 2025 – May 3, 2026
- Beyond the Beat: Music of Resistance and Change, May 30, 2025 – January 5, 2026
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
With 55 acres of gardens, 900 bedding plant varieties, there is always beauty at Butchart Gardens. Spring is an exciting time with thousands of flowering bulbs, shrubs and trees bursting forth. See the gardens awaken from winter’s slumber with uplifting colour and refreshing scents.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Local boutiques, one-of-a-kind merchandise, dining, coffee & craft beer eatery all in a beautiful heritage square!
Lower Johnson Street has many independent boutiques and specialty shops, many with a fashion focus, situated amongst the colourful heritage buildings.
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.
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!
Inspiration through fermentation. See what some beer nerds can accomplish with creativity and a welding torch.
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.
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 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.
188 hectares of forest and 21km of trails, take a leisurely stroll, explore the beach or hike to the summit.
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
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.
18 Championship Golf Course and 9 Hole Par 3 Ridge course with massive fairways, huge greens and a course for every level of player.