Vancouver to Victoria Island Journey

By Alejandra Mendoza - Posted on March 31, 2025 - Ale Around the World

Victoria Island is the second largest island in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago, while Victoria is the capital city of British Columbia, Canada, located on southern Vancouver Island. If you want to visit this island, you have two options: by ferry or airplane. Taking the ferry is much cheaper. When traveling by ferry, it's important to book in advance if you're bringing a car. You need to reserve a spot for your vehicle, but if you're not bringing a car, you can buy your ticket at the terminal booth.

To get to the island, head to Tsawwassen terminal, which is a 36 km drive from downtown Vancouver and located at the southwest end of Highway 17 in Delta. The ferries departing from Tsawwassen provide service to Swartz Bay (Victoria), Duke Point (Nanaimo), and the Southern Gulf Islands. You can purchase a round trip ticket or a one-way ticket. For more information on prices and reservations, check out their website. The ferry ride takes about 1.5 hours to reach the Victoria terminal. Onboard, you can shop at the souvenir store, dine at the restaurant, and enjoy the beautiful views from the deck, so get out and enjoy.

If you arrive at the Victoria Terminal without a car, don't worry. There are buses outside the terminal that will take you to the main city of Victoria. The bus ride usually takes about one to 1.5 hours, but if you're driving, it's much faster.

I have visited this beautiful island a few times, but the last time my husband and I went was in the month of April. The weather was still a bit chilly, but we had a great time. We stayed at the Strathcona Hotel, which had big and comfortable rooms. Just a heads up, there is a noisy night bar above the hotel, so bring some ear plugs. Other than that, the hotel is nice and in a perfect location near all the attractions and within walking distance to the parliament.

When in Victoria, there are a few things you must do. First, I recommend visiting the stunning parliament building where the Legislative Assembly elects officials and debates and passes laws for the province of British Columbia. Unfortunately, when we went on a Saturday, the parliament was closed, so we couldn't go inside. Make sure to visit during the week so you can see the inside too. Take a walk around the parliament and take a picture in front of the beautiful building and fountain. Also, don't miss seeing the parliament at night when it's all lit up.

Another must-do is walking around the Victoria Harbour, a seaport and seaplane airport. You'll love the view of the parliament and the water. Explore the city and you'll come across the Fairmont Empress, one of the 21 Most Iconic Hotels in the World. Its stunning architecture will definitely catch your eye, and you won't want to leave without taking a picture.

Come and explore the stunning and historic Victorian-era mansion the Craigdarroch Castle, originally built for coal baron Robert Dunsmuir between 1887-1890. Step inside to discover lavish rooms adorned with intricate woodwork, stained glass windows, and period furnishings. This beautiful castle is a sight you won't want to miss!

For those who enjoy unique museums, I highly recommend a visit to Miniature World Museum. This attraction in Victoria showcases historical events and famous fictional universes in miniature form, making it truly impressive.

If you're looking for a fun an unique experience, be sure to stop by Big Bad Johns bar. This cool theme bar offers free peanuts and allows you to throw the shells on the floor. With bras hanging from the rafters and customers adding their own signatures to the walls, the decoration is truly unique. Plus, the food is delicious, so don't pass up the chance to visit this cool bar.

There are plenty more attractions and activities to explore in Victoria that I personally haven't had the chance to try yet, but I would definitely recommend giving them a shot, here are some: