Planning a week-long vacation in Victoria, B.C? We’ve crafted an ultimate 7-day Itinerary for families. Including are awesome activities and some of our favorite places to eat.
Day 1: Explore downtown Victoria, B.C.
Morning:
Arrival: Settle into your accommodation. Downtown Victoria offers plenty of family-friendly hotels and vacation rentals.
Brunch at Jam Cafe: Located on Herald St, this local spot is known for excellent breakfasts! The Cinnamon Bun Pancakes are outstanding!
Afternoon:
Royal BC Museum: Explore the history and culture of British Columbia. The museum has cool interactive exhibits. Prices are $29.95 for adults and $16.95 for kids. Kids under 5 are free.
IMAX Theatre: Right next door, enjoy a family-friendly film on the giant screen.
You can buy a combo Royal BC Museum and Imax tickets which costs $110 for adults and $90 for kids.
Alternate: Spend the day at Thetis lake! Relaxing lake with beach. The water is warm and perfect for swimming and paddle boarding. There is a paid parking lot a short stroll from the beach.
Evening:
Inner Harbour Stroll: Take a leisurely walk around the picturesque Inner Harbour. Watch the street performers and enjoy the lively atmosphere.
Dinner at Fisherman’s Wharf: Grab a casual bite at one of the food kiosks and enjoy the waterfront views. Kids will love the colorful houseboats and the chance to spot seals. Across the street from Fisherman’s Wharf is “Finest at Sea” which has excellent fish tacos!
Day 2: Gardens and Animals
Morning:
Butchart Gardens: Spend the morning exploring this world-famous garden. The Children’s Pavilion and Rose Carousel are must-visits for families. The cost is $41.50 for adults, $20.75 for ages 13-17 and $5 for kids ages 5-12.
Afternoon:
Victoria Butterfly Gardens: A short drive from Butchart Gardens, this tropical paradise is home to thousands of butterflies, exotic birds including a flamingo, and reptiles. The cost is $19.50 for adults, $15.50 for ages 13-17 and $9 for kids ages 5-12.
Evening:
Beacon Hill Park: Head back to the city and visit this expansive park. The playground, petting zoo, and beautiful landscapes provide endless entertainment.
Picnic Dinner: Grab burgers from local favorite Beacon Hill Drive In restaurant. Enjoy dinner in the park while the kids run around.
Day 3: Maritime Adventures
Morning:
Victoria Bug Zoo: Start the day with an intriguing visit to this small zoo, located downtown, where kids can learn about and even hold various bugs. It takes about 30-60 minutes to see everything. The cost is $18 for adults, $8 for ages 5-17 and free for kids under 5.
Afternoon:
Whale Watching Tour: Book a family-friendly whale watching tour. These tours guarantee sightings of orcas, humpback whales, and other marine life and offer a rain check if whales are not spotted. Prince of Whales offers several tours including a sunset tour if you prefer to go in the evening. You can go in a Zodiac boat or a larger boat with outside and inside seating. Prices start around $180 per person.
Evening:
Dinner at Red Fish Blue Fish: End the day with some of the best fish and chips in town, served from a repurposed shipping container on the harbor. This is a carry out with outside seating on the docks. Lines are long but it’s fantastic!
Day 4: History and Culture
Morning:
Craigdarroch Castle: Explore this historic, opulent mansion and its beautiful grounds. The self-guided tour is a fascinating look into Victoria’s history.
Afternoon:
Take a stroll through Canada’s oldest Chinatown. Make sure you go through Fan Tan alley, the narrowest alley in Canada. It is located between Fisgard and Johnson street and there’s a sign outside showing the way. There are lots of shops throughout the alley and cool lanterns hanging above. Be sure to stop at The Bubble Tea Place known for all it’s unique flavors. My daughter loves the Cotton Candy milk tea.
Evening:
Dinner in Chinatown: Don Mee’s is a great spot for a family-friendly dim sum experience. Another great spot to eat is Maiiz, an authentic Mexican restaurant where they make their corn tortillas in house. It may not be Chinese food but it’s so good there!
Day 5: Adventure and Fun
Morning:
WildPlay Victoria: For the adventurous family, spend the morning at this outdoor adventure high ropes park. It has ziplines, obstacle courses, and bungee jumping. There are 3 obstacle courses including a kids’ course, classic course and extreme. They also have axe throwing there. Costs start at about $45 and you can bundle different activities together.
Afternoon:
Miniature World: Head back downtown to 649 Humbboldt St to explore this quirky attraction. The intricate miniatures will fascinate children and adults alike. It has two of the world’s largest doll houses all furnished perfectly. The circus and fair grounds as well as a working train are pretty cool to see!
Evening:
Pizza Dinner at Pizzeria Prima Strada: Enjoy a delicious, wood-fired pizza at this family-friendly restaurant. There are two locations and our favorite is on Cook Street (230 Cook Street) right in the heart of Cook Street Village.
Day 6: Outdoor Exploration
Morning:
Galloping Goose Trail: Rent bikes (check out Cycle BC Rentals and Tours) and explore a section of this scenic trail. The trail was an old railway line, 55km in length. It starts downtown and goes all the way to Sooke BC. The trail is wide and mostly flat.
Afternoon:
Esquimalt Lagoon: Located in Colwood, this long stretch of beach is perfect for walks, building sand castles and forts and swimming. There is often food trucks parked there and cool animal wood carvings along the beach. Keep an eye out for harbour seals and birds like Heron and eagles.
Evening:
Head to Oak Bay and relax at Willow’s Beach. Grab some fish & chips or soft serve ice cream nearby at Willows Galley located at 2559 Estevan Ave. The calm waters, kids’ playground and large grassy area make it perfect for families. If you want to spend more time in Oak Bay, click here to read about Oak Bay’s best spots.
Day 7: Relax and Reflect
Morning:
Shopping Downtown: Government Street and Johnson Street have lots of cool local shops. Don’t miss Rogers’ Chocolates on Government Street for a sweet treat. If you love coffee, Milano’s is excellent!
Afternoon:
Ogden Point: Head down to Ogden Point located on Dallas Road for a relaxing afternoon. It has a long walkable Pier where you can watch the cruise ships come in. Treat the family to some delicious small batch homemade ice cream at Overboard, located below The Breakwater Café.
Evening:
Farewell Dinner at Bin 4 Burger Lounge: There are 3 locations in Victoria including one on Yates Street in downtown Victoria. The burgers are fantastic! The kids will love the gourmet burgers and the casual atmosphere. My favorite is “The Heritage” with bacon and onion rings instead of fries.
Tips for Victoria, B.C.: An Ultimate 7-Day Itinerary
Transportation: Victoria is very walkable but consider renting a car for trips to Butchart Gardens, Butterfly Gardens, Thetis Lake and other outlying areas.
Weather: Pack layers, as Victoria’s weather can be unpredictable. Don’t forget rain gear just in case.
Reservations: Some activities, like whale watching tours and certain restaurants, require advance booking, so plan accordingly.
With this itinerary, your family is sure to have a week filled with adventure and awesome memories in Victoria, B.C.
Check out our Shop link at https://adventurecampitelli.com/shop or click the link below to find our Victoria family travel guide which is chocked full of activities.
You can also find us on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/adventurecampitelli to explore all that Victoria has to offer!
