Located approximately 100 km from Vancouver, the City of Victoria is the capital of the province of British Columbia and was named in honour of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom. The city preserves an extensive heritage from its colonial era, with visible British influences in its architecture, public spaces, and culture. Its population is about 360,000 inhabitants—18% of whom are over 65 years old.
Victoria is internationally known as the “Garden City” due to its beautiful parks, flower-lined streets, and mild climate. Quality of life also thrives in the city: Victoria was ranked as the third-best city in Canada for gender equality and one of the world’s top 10 friendliest cities by Condé Nast magazine. This small and romantic city is a paradise for residents and tourists from around the world.
Employment
Despite the large number of retirees, Victoria was once considered the best city in Canada for young professionals. The city had the lowest unemployment rate in the country in 2018—just 3.4%—and faces a shortage of skilled workers, which is why it encourages the hiring of foreign workers to meet demand.
The technology sector is the most significant, generating about $5 billion annually and creating over 16,000 jobs in the region. Victoria was named one of the top 10 Canadian cities for IT professionals according to the 2019 Canadian Tech Talent Report, showing one of the highest growth rates in recent years.
Victoria also appears on StartupBlink’s list of the world’s top 150 cities for startups, attracting entrepreneurs from around the globe. The region features VIATEC, an association that promotes innovation and the development of tech companies.
Education
Victoria is home to three post-secondary institutions: the University of Victoria (UVic), Royal Roads University (RRU), and Camosun College.
With over 20,000 students, UVic is one of BC’s oldest institutions and has been ranked as Canada’s second-most comprehensive university for three consecutive years. It also ranks among the world’s top 500 according to the Times Higher Education ranking.
Victoria is also an excellent destination for study abroad programs. Teenagers can experience attending a Canadian high school and living with a local family through a homestay program. Adults can study English at one of the outstanding language schools, such as GEOS, Global Village, Inlingua, Sprachcaffe, and Sprott Shaw College.
More English than England itself, Victoria offers the chance to experience both British and Canadian culture simultaneously.
Housing
According to a study of 309 cities in 8 countries, Victoria’s real estate market is considered the 16th least affordable in the world. However, housing is significantly cheaper than in other Canadian cities like Vancouver (ranked 2nd), Toronto (7th), and London (15th).
Another study shows that Victoria has the fourth-highest rent in the country. A one-bedroom apartment in the city costs, on average, CAD $1,590 per month. According to RE/MAX, prices are expected to remain high for some time due to strong demand. Among the most sought-after neighbourhoods are Fairfield, Rockland, Gonzales, James Bay, and Downtown.
Transportation
As Victoria is on an island, the best way to reach the city is by ferry. BC Ferries connects Victoria to the Tsawwassen terminal in Vancouver. The journey takes 1 hour and 35 minutes and costs CAD $17.20. There are also ferries to other parts of BC and to Seattle in the United States.
Within the city, 46% of the population walks or uses public transportation to commute to work. Bus lines are operated by BC Transit and connect the downtown area to all regions of the city. Fares cost CAD $2.50. Daily and monthly passes are available for CAD $5 and CAD $85, respectively. Discounts are offered for seniors, youth, and university students.
Another option is cycling. Considered Canada’s cycling capital, Victoria has an extensive and expanding network of bike paths. Additionally, twice a year, Bike to Work Week is held—a week dedicated to using bicycles for commuting to and from work.
Victoria has its own international airport, with direct flights to Toronto, Montreal, Seattle, San Francisco, and some vacation destinations. It is also common to see seaplanes landing and taking off from Victoria’s harbour in the city centre.
Climate
Thanks to its location along the Pacific, ocean currents keep the city’s climate mild, without extreme temperatures. In winter, temperatures range between 8 and 4°C. In summer, they range between 20 and 11°C.
Victoria is also one of BC’s driest and sunniest regions. It receives about 608 mm of rain annually—far less than Vancouver, which gets around 1,589 mm per year. About two-thirds of the annual precipitation occurs between November and February. Snow is possible but rare. Nearly one-third of all winters have had no significant snowfall.
Tourism and Leisure
Victoria is a highly popular destination, attracting about 3.5 million visitors each year. The city offers attractions for all seasons, including beautiful parks, outdoor activities, and historic buildings renowned for their stunning Victorian colonial architecture.
Gastronomy is also one of the city’s strengths. If you enjoy dining out, options abound! Victoria has the second-highest number of restaurants per capita in North America, trailing only San Francisco.
There are also many pubs in the city. Among the top ones are Irish Times, considered the best Irish pub in North America; Bartholomew’s Pub, a local favourite; and The Churchill, which features about 50 types of beer on tap.
Here are some of Victoria’s main attractions:
Butchart Gardens
Ranked among the world’s best gardens by CNN, National Geographic, and USA Today, this park welcomes over one million visitors annually. It includes themed gardens, such as… It can be visited in all seasons, but spring is a spectacle. At Christmas, the gardens are adorned with thousands of lights, making the scenery even more beautiful.
Chinatown
Victoria’s Chinatown is the oldest in Canada and the second-oldest in North America, after San Francisco. The neighbourhood is decorated with red lanterns and offers a good selection of bars, restaurants, and shops. It is home to Fan Tan Alley, considered the country’s narrowest street. The narrowest section is just 90 cm wide!
Inner Harbour
Victoria’s harbour and its surroundings are in the heart of the city, an area with many historic buildings, as well as shows and festivals during the summer months.
Key attractions include the Parliament Buildings, which are open to the public. At night, the buildings are illuminated with over 3,000 lights.
Another famous spot is the Fairmont Empress, a luxury hotel resembling a castle. A stay is expensive, but it is worth stopping in for tea. Over 500,000 cups of English tea are served here annually.
Fisherman’s Wharf
Near the Inner Harbour is Fisherman’s Wharf, a fishermen’s pier that also features kiosks, shops, and restaurants. The area is famous for its floating houses where fishermen live. Seals, seagulls, otters, and other animals can be spotted there.
Beacon Hill Park
A large park in the city centre, spanning over 75 hectares of woodlands, gardens, playgrounds, sports courts, and a small zoo. The park houses the world’s fourth-tallest totem pole, at 38 m high. It also marks Mile 0 of the Trans-Canada Highway, a route over 7,800 km long that crosses the country.
Art Gallery of Greater Victoria
This museum holds British Columbia’s largest art collection, with over 20,000 works, many of Asian origin. Due to limited space, only 5% of the collection is on display. The galleries are housed in the Spencer Mansion, a 19th-century Victorian mansion renovated to accommodate the museum.
Royal BC Museum
Also known as the Columbia Museum, this is a natural and human history museum with over 7 million items in its collection. In addition to exhibits, there is an IMAX cinema with the largest screen in all of British Columbia.
Maritime Museum of British Columbia
This museum dedicated to BC’s maritime history features over 800 ship models, along with photos, maps, and historical records. The building has one of the oldest elevators in the Americas and the world, built in 1899 and still in operation.
Hatley Castle
Located on the Royal Roads University campus, this castle has served as a residence, military college, and naval training centre. Today, it is a historic site that has been a filming location for movies and series such as Deadpool, X-Men, Arrow, and Smallville.
Diving
Victoria was voted one of the world’s best diving destinations due to its rich biodiversity and crystal-clear waters. There are at least three orca pods—also known as killer whales—with over 80 animals. Shipwrecks from World War II and even a Boeing 747 that sank off the coast in 2006 can also be seen. Dives are available for all experience levels, from beginners to professionals, but prepare for cold water ranging from 8 to 12°C.
Festivals
Victoria’s calendar is filled with festivals, especially in the summer months. Highlights include JazzFest, a 10-day festival featuring renowned jazz and blues artists; Symphony Splash, an annual performance by Victoria’s orchestra in the middle of the water; and Rifflandia, the music festival marking the end of summer. There are also festivals for beer, wine, cheese, and, of course, flowers.