4-Day Itinerary for Victoria, Canada, How to Best Spend Your Time

Welcome to Wild Meadow Studio and our travel and photography blog, we are excited to talk travel with you and share our detailed itineraries in hopes that they can make your adventures more care-free and enjoyable! In this four-day detailed Itinerary, we’ll be exploring, the oldest Chinatown in Canada, the impressive Fairmont Empress Hotel, taking a walk on a beautiful waterfront trail, having high tea in a Victorian inn, taking a food tour through downtown, having fish and chips at Fisherman’s wharf, enjoying the view from 32 meters high at the Malahat Skywalk and more! Check out our Top 12 Things to do in Victoria, Canada, Explore and Experience.

Keep in mind that you can switch up the days or activities to fit with your plans or combine some together/stretch it out, whatever works depending on how much time you have. Day 4 is the only day you would require a car, but we do have a second, no car needed option for that day.

FYI, if you’d like a city map of Victoria or Vancouver Island, the Visitor Centre is located at 812 Wharf St, next to the Inner Harbour and across from the Empress Hotel, open Sunday to Thursday 9:00am to 5:00pm and Friday/Saturday 9:00am to 8:30pm.

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning that we would get a small commission if you decided to make a purchase through one of them, at no extra cost to you and you would be supporting our small Canadian business. This would allow us to continue creating informative travel content. All the businesses we are recommending are ones we use in our travels and feel comfortable doing so!

Table of contents:

1. Itinerary Day 1 Songhees/Inner Harbour Trail, Fisherman’s Wharf, Empress Hotel & Chinatown
2. Itinerary Day 2 Beacon Hill Park, James Bay area, Ogden Point & High Tea at the Pendray Inn
3. Itinerary Day 3 Exploring Downtown, Bastion Square, Food & City Tour & Craigdarroch Castle
4. Itinerary Day 4 Malahat Skywalk, Goldstream Park & Fort Rodd Hill/Fisgard Lighthouse, plus a second no car needed Option.
5. References
6. The Wrap up

1. Itinerary Day 1 – Songhees/Inner Harbour Trail, Fisherman’s Wharf, Empress Hotel & Chinatown

Let’s get started on Day 1. Depending on where you’re staying, head to the water and walk toward the Johnson Street Bridge, (we drove into town and parked at Lot 708) cross over the bridge and turn left towards the Delta Hotel. This is a really nice area with comfy chairs to relax in, while looking towards the Inner Harbour.

Keep on the waterfront trail you’ll pass parks, and the Victoria Marina, then Spinnakers Brewpub will be up to your right after the Marina, (where they have homemade chocolate and fresh baked bread for take away). Next follow the pretty path along the water to the West Bay Marina.

Once at the Marina, this is the end of the trail, take a few minutes to look around at the pretty float homes and boats, then make your way over to the Victoria Harbour Ferry Stop (water taxis). Look for the ferry sign, (pictured below from another stop) you can either scan the QR code or call the number on the sign (250)-514-9794 and tell them that you’re going to the Fisherman’s Wharf stop, they run from 10:00am to between 5:00pm to 9:00pm depending on the time of year, so check their website for more information.

While you’re on the ferry take in the beautiful views and keep an eye out for harbour seals. You should reach the Fisherman’s Wharf in approx. 15mins, (depending on other passingers/stops) once there explore the rows of float homes, little shops and enjoy a fish and chips lunch at Barb’s Fish and Chips!

From the Wharf, walk up towards the road and turn left onto St. Lawrence St, then a few steps away you’ll see some trees with a path on your lefthand side, called David Foster Harbour Pathway, take this path and you’ll see great views of the float homes from Fisherman’s Wharf, a perfect spot for pictures. Keep following this path and for more great views, over the water, with float planes landing and taking off, then you’ll come out onto Belleville St, which you can take to get to the Inner Harbour and the Fairmont Empress Hotel. Take some time to explore this beautiful, iconic hotel, inside and out. In the summer the gardens around the hotel are spectacular!

Once you’re ready, walk back down towards the inner harbour and continue along the waterfront trail. Once you’ve reached the parking lot you can either continue towards the Johnson St. bridge and turn right onto Pandora Ave, or at the parking lot turn right onto Fort St. left on Government St and left onto Pandora Ave. Once on Pandora Ave. look for the sign for Fan Tan Alley.

Here you can take a stroll down the Narrowest Street in Canada, Fan Tan Alley. It opens up to some cute shops, and the Chinese Canadian Museum,( open 11:00am to 5:00pm Thursday to Sunday) great place for exploring, it then gets narrow again and takes you out to Fisgard St. Here you’ll see the Gate of Harmonious Interest, more shops and Chinese restaurants, as well as Dragon Alley another narrow alley that opens up into a housing/office area, which was interesting to look around. Just wandering around this area was entertaining.

After you’re finished here, your Day 1 Itinerary is complete. At this point you could walk back to the parking lot, your accommodations or continue looking around town. If you’re hungry and looking for a snack or dinner, two blocks east on Pandora Ave. is Tacofino, which has amazing tacos, guacamole and more. It started as a taco truck in Tofino and grew from there, we’ve been to several of their locations in Vancouver, Victoria as well as the original truck in Tofino and have always enjoyed our meals!

2. Itinerary Day 2 – Beacon Hill Park, James Bay area, Ogden Point & High Tea

Day 2 – Start early and make your way to the corner of Superior St. and Douglas St (check out our map above) to the pretty & popular Beacon Hill Park, the crowning Jewel of Victoria’s Park system and a must-see site. It covers 200 acres of pure outdoor beauty, from ponds filled with ducks, turtles and blue herons, to stone bridges, fountains, wandering deer, colourful peacocks, quiet paths, and landscaped gardens. This tranquil place is perfect for a morning stroll. As well as the natural beauty of the park they also offer, 2 kid’s playgrounds, a waterpark, petting zoo, playing fields, tennis and pickleball courts. There is also a look out at the parks south end of the Juan de Fuca Strait, quite a pretty sight, and the Mile Zero (technically Kilometer zero) monument where Douglas St. and Dallas Rd meet. This monument marks the beginning of Canada’s 8,000 km long Trans-Canada Highway. This is a great place to visit for families.

Once you’re finished exploring, head to the west side of the park (Douglas St. side) and look for Simcoe St. Head down Simcoe St. turn right onto Government St. and the first house on your right will be the Emily Carr House. This is where the famous Canadian painter and member of the Group of 7, grew up. If you’re interested, you could either look around outside and read some of the signage or if they are open, you could check out the little museum they have on the inside. This whole neighbourhood is filled with history, if you’re interested there is a free James Bay Heritage Walking Tour, that has a 3-page printable pdf, filled with a lot of history and a map of the area, showing you where to go, (click here for walking tour).

Whether you did the walking tour or simply wandered around the area, when you’re done here, head down towards the Juan de Fuca Strait and walk towards Ogden Point, you may see huge cruise ships, as Ogden Point this is where they docked. On the south side of where the large ships dock, you’ll see a very long pier with a small lighthouse at the end, this is a fun walk, looking out into the water, you could see jellyfish, possibly Harbour seals and if you’re lucky whales, but if not, it’s still a pretty walk.

The last thing on our itinerary for Day 2 is High Tea at the Pendray Inn and Tea House. To get here form Ogden Point, (refer to our map above) take Montreal St north, then right on Quebec St, then follow along to Belleville St. You can’t miss this beautiful white Victorian Inn. You will need reservations for this activity, I’d make them for maybe 1:00pm, but it will depend on how early you start, (we are suggesting 9:00am) and how long you take to explore the options we are suggesting. So, if you think you’ll get through things quickly, make it earlier or if you want to take your time, make it a bit later. The Pendray Inn doesn’t seem to have a dress code for the high tea like the Empress does, so it would be up to you if you’d like to get a little dressed up or not. We really enjoyed this Victorian Inn, a beautiful setting, great service and delicious food and drink.

When you’ve finished with today’s activities it should be midafternoon, you could either spend some more time wandering around this area taking photos or maybe head back to your accommodations for a rest, then get ready for a night out. You could start off with a famous Gin & Tonic at the Fairmont Empress Hotel, (they have been making their own Empress 1908 Indigo Gin since 2017). Then head over to the Victoria Harbour House Restaurant for dinner, it’s at 607 Oswego St. (near the Pendray Inn) a great steak and seafood place, we all enjoyed our meals here and the service was wonderful. After dinner walk back towards the Inner harbour and enjoy the sights of this area at night all lite up, including the Parliament buildings. Walking around this area at night is magical.

3. Itinerary Day 3 – Exploring Downtown, Food Tour & Craigdarroch Castle

Day 3 – So, today we are suggesting that you book the 11:30am Food Tour through Viator and choose the option, Downtown Victoria Food & City Tour by Off the Eaten Track. We really enjoyed it, and they have great reviews. If you book the 11:30am tour, this will cover your lunch.  So, in the morning before your tour, we are proposing that you take some time and explore a little more of what downtown has to offer. If you are driving into the city, park in lot 708 again, it’s easy and in a great location. From the north end of the parking lot, cross Wharf St and look for Bastion Square. Check out map below.

This is pretty public square and pedestrian street is the site of the old Fort Victoria, established by the Hudson’s Bay Company in 1843, and is surrounded by old well preserved historical building in the Victorian style. So makes an interesting place to walk through. They have markets here Thursday to Sunday from 11:00am to 5:00pm, so if you’re interested in that you could come back here on your way to the car. This pedestrian street takes you up to Government St, turn right here, then take your first left onto Fort St. and about a block up on your left, stop off at the Crust Bakery for some amazing baked goods and coffee/tea. If you’re staying somewhere in the downtown area, simply walk over to the Crust Bakery, see maps above. Walk down Douglas St. and do some shopping along the way, this street takes you right by the Empress Hotel and Inner Harbour, if you continue you’ll come to the Parliament buildings, now you’ve likely already seem them, but walk up the path to the big fountain and walk around the buildings to the back, there is another fountain and it’s quite pretty from both sides, this is a great time to take some photos. Closer to 11:30am start heading over to 407 Belleville St. the meeting place for your food tour is inside the Off the Eaten Track Food Tours Gift Shop, next to the Steamship Grill and Bar. Enjoy the next 2 hours!

After your Food Tour, it should be around 1:30pm and you should end up at 1012 Broad St, from here head north on Broad St and turn right onto Fort St, you’ll pass by the Crust Bakery again, continue on Fort St., it will be about a 25 mins walk, less than 2kms. Turn right onto Joan Cres and Craigdarroch Castle will be on your right, turn before you reach the castle, and the ticket office will be on your right. Enjoy this beautiful heritage home and all of its history!

After you’ve finished at the Castle, head back into town, at this point you could either check out the Bastion Square Market, (if it’s Thursday to Sunday and before 5:00pm), you could do some more exploring of the downtown area, or head back to your accommodations for some relaxation and to get ready for the evening. Tonight, we are suggesting you have dinner at Milestones, located at 812 Wharf St (in the same building as the Visitor Centre mentioned above) with amazing views of the Inner Harbour. This area at night is so pretty and can’t be missed. We recommend making reservations here and when you do, ask for a window seat, you’ll be thankful you did. After dinner, take a nighttime stroll along the water.

4. Itinerary Day 4 – Malahat Skywalk, Gold Stream Park & Fort Rodd Hill/Fisgard Lighthouse, with an Option #2

Day 4 – So for today we’ve grouped a few “things to do”, together that you’ll need a car to explore, we thought this would limit the amount of days you’d need a car for, if you already have one, that’s great or if you’re planning on picking one up to explore more of the Island, then you’d just need to pick it up one day early. If you don’t have a car and don’t plan to rent one, check out option #2 at the bottom.

We are also suggesting packing a lunch for today, as any of these places would be perfect for an enjoyable picnic. We try and shop at a local grocery store while we are travelling, partially because we enjoy it and partially to save some money. You can get easy breakfast items and/or things to make sandwiches with and healthy snacks. We also pack reusable food bags, for just such an occasion, as they are environmentally friendly, easy to clean and pack. We got ours from a small Canadian business, 2 Canadian Sisters Creations, check them out on Facebook! They offer other travel items as well, such as toiletry and make up bags.

Ok, let’s go, today we’re starting off at the Malahat Skywalk, (901 Trans-Canada highway) they open at 9:00am, which is a great time to arrive, as it won’t be as busy, so you’ll beat the crowds. It takes approx. 35 to 40mins from downtown to the Skywalk, so plan on leaving around 8:15am. If you purchase your tickets online you save a few dollars and don’t have to wait in the ticket line. The tickets are $43.95 for adults (online), there are discounts for youth and seniors. Check out their website for details, here. They do have a little café, if you want to get a coffee or snack, there is a giftshop and washrooms too. Once you’re ready to make your way to the skywalk, you get to experience a 600-metre boardwalk, 20-metres above the forest floor that makes you feel like you’re walking in the treetops. Then you’ll stroll up the 10-storey, spiral tower to the top, where you can enjoy the ever-changing views of the forest, ocean, and mountains. We got there at 9:00am and it was very foggy at first, which was a unique perspective, then as it warmed up and the fog lifted you could see as far as Mont Baker in the U.S.A., quite spectacular. After you’re done enjoying the views, you have a decision to make, walk back down the way you came or try out their 20-metre spiral slide, we decided on the slide, and it was pretty fun! If time and interest permits, they also have an 800-metre tail (Luke’s Lane) that takes you through the coastal rainforest.

Once you’ve finished here, it’s time to head to the Goldstream Provincial Park. It’s about a 20mins drive as you must head north and turn around to get onto the southbound lanes of Highway 1. To get to the parking lot you’ll turn left onto Finlayson Arm Rd. Make sure you check out their website, here, for any trail closures, as this can happen quite frequently. Anywhere in this area that you see a picnic table would be great place for lunch, while admiring the amazing grandeur of the trees surrounding you. We did the Niagara Falls tail, which ends at the beautiful, 47.5 m high falls, it was a pretty easy hike, about 45 mins return, (1.3kms return), but there are other hikes to choose from so check them out on their website. If you haven’t walked through a west coast forest before, this will be a treat.

Next up for our Day 4 Itinerary is Fort Rodd Hill and the Fisgard Lighthouse, located at 603 Fort Rodd Hill Rd. Victoria, about a 15mins drive from the park. Opened from 10:00am to 5:00pm so make sure you leave and hour or so to walk around this area. The admission fee is $9.00 per adult with discounts for other ages. Right now, and until Sept. 2^nd, 2025, they are offering free admission. Here you can tour through Fort Rodd Hill, a 19^th– century west coast artillery fortress on active duty from 1895 to 1956, as well, you can walk along the shore and explore the Fisgard Lighthouse, the oldest lighthouse on Canada’s west coast, with amazing views.

After this, it will be getting close to supper, our suggestion for tonight is the 4 Mile Brew Pub, it’s about a 12mins drive and on the way back to Victoria, at 199 Island Highway. This interesting restaurant is housed in a 150-year-old Tudor style building with a unique history. They serve English style pub fare, soups, salads, seafood, burgers and more, plus a good selection of drinks. We really enjoyed the food and atmosphere.

Option #2– If you won’t have a car during your stay, the good news is that you can still visit the Malahat Skywalk! They have a free shuttle that will pick you up at either 470 Belleville St at the Steam Ship Terminal (the same building that you started your food tour) or at the Capital City Station, 721 Douglas St. So, you could spend a half day exploring the skywalk with a picnic lunch, then head back to town and either do a couple of hours of kayaking from the Victoria Harbour to the Gorge Waters, which takes approx. 1 hour each way and it’s $68/kayak for the 2 hours. The kayak rental company is called Victoria Kayak and is located along the wharf, just south of Parking Lot 708, look at the map below. If you don’t want to kayak you could take a 75 mins boat tour from the inner harbour to the gorge waters. It’s $50/adult and less for other ages. It’s located at the Empress water taxi stop, (on map below) they have a kiosk there were you can purchase tickets, or you can get them online, we did this as our kayaking got cancelled due to rain, the boat is covered, so worked out perfectly for us. After we are suggesting the Flying Otter for dinner, it has a great menu, and views of the harbour.

**All pricing, opening/closing hours and days listed here are as of Aug. 2025 and are subject to change, so be sure to check before you go. I like these websites: Tourism Victoria and Destination Greater Victoria for all your current information.

5. References:

All this information, research and suggestions came from our own experiences we had while enjoying this interesting city and the itinerary we followed while we were there. In addition, we spent countless hours reading travel books, like DK Eyewitness Top 10 Vancouver and Vancouver Island, and Moon’s Victoria and Vancouver Island. We read multiple Travel blogs and Victoria tourism websites too, like, Tourism Victoria and Destination Greater Victoria. We also used Google maps to check out directions and distances between sites.

6. The Wrap up:

I hope you enjoy our suggested itinerary for this beautiful city, as much as we did and find this information helpful. I have added a website link to most of the major sites so you can check them out and see what piques your interest! If you have any questions, ask away. Feel free to comment, give advice, join our mailing list, follow, like, pin, share with friends, anything goes. Let’s talk Travel!

Thank you,

 From Wild Meadow Studio

A Travel and Photography Blog

Where we help you Focus on the Journey

By: Beth de Verteuil

www.wildmeadowstudio.com