Victoria Excursions

Victoria is a great place to get out and explore. Whether you're enjoying the beautiful Butchart Gardens, taking in High Tea at the Empress Hotel or exploring the many attractions of the city's Inner Harbour area, you'll find lots of things to do in Victoria, "the most British city in Canada."

Your ship will dock at the Ogden Point Cruise Terminal in the Outer Harbour area of Victoria, which is located just over 1 mile from the Inner Harbour and downtown areas. All of the tours below will begin at the Cruise Terminal. If your ship offers a shuttle to the Inner Harbour area, take it. Otherwise, you can grab a cab or take a very pleasant walk to get there.

If you have taken any of the tours listed below, we'd like your feedback on your experience. Please click on the link of the tour you took, and then click the "Write a review of this tour" button and tell us what your experience was all about.

Last Updated: January 24, 2012

Butchart Gardens Tours

Enchanting Butchart Gardens
3 to 3½ hours

Visit the Butchart Gardens, a lush paradise of flowers, trees, statuary and winding paths that were created by the Butchart family over the past century. It's the number one tourist attraction in Victoria.

Activity Level:

Historic Downtown & Butchart Gardens
3 hours

If you want to see Butchart Gardens and Victoria, but really want to shop or take in a meal, this is the tour for you. You'll spend only two hours at the Gardens, then take a short bus tour of Victoria before arriving in the Inner Harbour area. Here you can set off on your own adventure in the city.

Activity Level:

Butchart Gardens & Short City Drive (Daytime Calls)
3½ hours

Take a short tour around the Garden City of Victoria to see the sights in the Inner Harbour area, then head north for a 2 hour visit to the beautiful Butchart Gardens.

Activity Level:

Butchart Gardens & Victoria Highlights
4 hours

Enjoy a short tour around the Garden City of Victoria to see the sights in the Inner Harbour area, then head north for a 2½ hour visit to the beautiful Butchart Gardens.

Activity Level:

Butchart & Butterfly Gardens
4 hours

Stop at the Butterfly Gardens, a 12,000 square foot indoor tropical garden where the butterflies are the star attraction. Then visit the Butchart Gardens, a lush paradise of flowers, trees, statuary and winding paths.

Activity Level:

Craigdarroch Castle & The Butchart Gardens
4¼ hours

Begin your tour with a visit to the 39 room Victorian mansion known as Craigdarroch Castle, then head north for a 2-hour visit to beautiful Butchart Gardens.

Activity Level:

Canopy Tour

Zipline Adventure Tour
3½ hours

The Adrena Line zipline tour takes you to the town of Sooke for a fun-filled 2-hour adventure. This course features 8 ziplines, which range in length from 150 to 1,000 feet, plus two suspension bridges.

Activity Level:

City Tours

Victoria Shuttle
¼ hour

Whether you plan on taking one of the shore excursions while visiting Victoria or choose to browse the area on your own, this shuttle service is ideal for getting to and from the downtown area.

Activity Level:

Victoria Highlights
2 to 2½ hours

Learn about the history, lore and heritage of Canada's City of Gardens as you drive through the City Center, Chinatown, Bastion Square, along "Antique Alley," Craigdarroch Castle, and the exclusive residential areas of Uplands and Oak Bay.

Activity Level:

Sights & Sounds of Victoria & the Sidney Evening Market
3¼ hours

Take a drive through the exclusive residential areas of Uplands and Oak Bay, then pass through scenic farmland before arriving at Sidney by the Sea. Here you'll experience a fun Thursday night market, replete with 200 vendors selling local arts and crafts and food.

Activity Level:

Scenic Victoria City Tour
2 hours

Learn about the history, lore and heritage of Victoria as you drive through the City Center, Chinatown, Bastion Square, along "Antique Alley," Craigdarroch Castle, and the exclusive residential areas of Uplands and Oak Bay.

Activity Level:

Scenic Victoria with Craigdarroch Castle/ Craigdarroch Castle, Mt. Tolmie & City Highlights/ Craigdarroch Castle & Victoria Highlights/ Victoria Highlights & Craigdarroch Castle
2½ to 3 hours

Drive through the Inner Harbour and the Old Town, Chinatown, Bastion Square, along "Antique Alley," and the Mt. Tolmie lookout. The highlight of the tour is a visit to Craigdarroch Castle, a 39-room Victorian mansion built by the coal baron Robert Dunsmuir.

Activity Level:

Twilight Highlights & Craigdarroch Castle
2¼ hours

Visit Craigdarroch Castle, a 39-room Victorian mansion built by the coal baron Robert Dunsmuir, then enjoy a drive through the Inner Harbour, historic Old Town and Chinatown neighborhoods before returning to your ship.

Activity Level:

Victoria by Horse-Drawn Trolley
1 hour

Victoria has often been called "the most British of Canadian cities," and taking a ride in a horse-drawn trolley will surely evoke that sentiment. You'll pass by the Legislative buildings, trimmed with thousands of lights, the Empress Hotel and through Beacon Hill Park.

Activity Level:

Victoria Hop-On/Hop-Off/ Double-Decker City Highlights Tour/ Hop On Hop Off
1 hour

Experience Victoria at your own pace as you travel around the city on a vintage double-decker bus. On this narrated tour, you have the option of hopping off at locations you want to explore in more detail, and passing over the locations that don't interest you.

Activity Level:

A Stroll Through Victoria
2 hours

Enjoy a 3½ mile-long walk that will take you from the Ogden Point Cruise Terminal through beautiful Beacon Hill Park and on into the Inner Harbour, where you'll find the Royal BC Museum, the British Columbia Parliament buildings and the Fairmont Empress Hotel.

Activity Level:

Victoria Pirate Adventure
2 hours

Begin with a short narrated motor coach journey through the city of Victoria, then don a pirate costume and board a 50 foot pirate ship. You'll set sail on a treasure hunt filled with action and adventure.

Activity Level:

Eco Tours

Whale Watching Tour/ Whale Watching Cruise/ Orca Whale Watching & Wildlife Tour/ Orca Whale Watching by Day
3 to 3½ hours

Join an adventure that takes in both Victoria's Inner Harbour and the open waters of the Strait of Juan de Fuca in search of the pods of 80 to 90 killer whales that make these waters their home.

Activity Level:

Orca Whale Watching by Evening
3 hours

Evening is often feeding time for the pods of 80 to 90 resident killer whales living in these waters. Head for open water to observe the whales and the abundant local wildlife.

Activity Level:

Food & Drink

Empress High Tea by Horse-drawn Carriage
2¼ hours

Depart the Ogden Point Cruise Terminal in a horse-drawn carriage, traveling through Beacon Hill Park and on into the Inner Harbour area. Upon arrival at the historic Fairmont Empress Hotel, you'll enjoy a traditional English High Tea.

Activity Level:

Grand Victoria & Tea at the Empress/ High Tea at the Empress Hotel & City Highlights/ Grand City Drive & Empress High Tea
2½ hours

Take a 1½ hour guided tour of Victoria and its environs, then head to the century-old Empress Hotel for High Tea, complete with raisin scones, fresh fruit, Chantilly cream, finger sandwiches, decadent desserts and the hotel's specially blended tea.

Activity Level:

English Tea at Butchart Gardens
4 hours

There's nothing like the Tea served at Butchart Gardens, a lush paradise of flowers, trees, statuary and winding paths. Take a stroll through the gardens, then enjoy a delectable selection of traditional warm delicacies, savory tea sandwiches and homemade sweets.

Activity Level:

Gourmet Picnic & Fireworks at Butchart Gardens
4 hours

Enjoy a brief visit of Victoria, then head north to the Butchart Gardens, a lush paradise of flowers, trees, statuary and winding paths. Here you'll enjoy a gourmet picnic on the lawns, then take a leisurely tour of the grounds.

Activity Level:

Sealife Discovery & Crab Extravaganza
2 hours

Board a 60-foot catamaran and enjoy a sail through beautiful Victoria Harbour. While en route, get up close and personal with the sea creatures in the onboard touch tank aquarium, then sit down for a crab feast.

Activity Level:

Victoria Ale & Brewery/ Victoria Pub Tour
3¾ hours

This excursion was designed for the Homer Simpson in all of us. You'll visit two pubs and a microbrewery (or three pubs) to sample the fine beers and ales crafted in Victoria, and to enjoy the ambience and Canadian hospitality unique to the Great White North.

Activity Level:

Great Fermentations! Wine & Distillery Tour
4¼ hours

Enjoy a tour that will take a small group to visit two local wineries and a spirits distiller for a taste testing of their best wines and a sampling of the distillery's gins, vodka and other distilled products. They even throw in a taste testing of locally-produced cheeses.

Activity Level:

Butchart Gardens, Wine & Chocolate
4 hours

Visit the Butchart Gardens, the number one tourist attraction in Victoria, then visit the Church & State Winery for a winery tour and a wine tasting session, with the wines paired with chocolate truffles.

Activity Level:

City Lights, Wine & Chocolate
2½ hours

See the sights in Victoria's Inner Harbour, Chinatown and the Old Town section of the city, then drive up the coast to take a tour of one of Vancouver Island's best wineries for a wine tasting paired with chocolate truffles.

Activity Level:

Dining in the Dark
2½ hours

After a short walk to Fisherman's Wharf, you'll head to a home-turned-restaurant for a Blind Dining sensorial adventure. Experience what it's like for a blind person to eat a meal; there'll be spills and inevitable stains, but you'll have a fun and memorable meal.

Activity Level:

Important Information

Notes on the above cruise excursions:

• The information on the cruise excursions listed above was developed from publicly available sources.
• The cruise lines may elect to add to, change, delete or otherwise alter the itineraries of the excursions above;
• The cruise lines may restrict the number of passengers allowed to go on any particular excursion.
• The cruise lines may impose other restrictions on any particular excursion, including height, weight, minimum age, etc.; make sure to check with them to determine if there are such restrictions.
• There may be seasonal limitations on certain excursions or tours, such as whale watching. Be sure to check with your cruise line to determine if the tour in which you're interested is available when you're on your cruise.

Why buy a tour through the cruise lines?

• They have selected tour operator partners who are safe, reliable, licensed and insured.
• They offer a wide selection of tours, purchasing convenience and can provide expert advice on the most appropriate tour for you.
• They offer a one price, no surprises policy, with no hidden fees.
• They will be happy to credit your onboard account if you've already booked an excursion and there is a change in itinerary of the ship.
• They will wait for you if your tour is late.

Footnotes