Our 3 Day Victoria, BC itinerary is meant for long weekend getaways and combines relaxing activities with fun experiences that are unique to the city.
Living just a ferry ride away from Victoria on Salt Spring Island, it has become our go-to spot for a quick city getaway.
We cover how to spend 3 days in Victoria, BC, with tips on unique places to stay, tucked away restaurants with delicious eats, rejuvenating water activities and cool neighbourhoods to explore.
If you're looking to visit Victoria for a shorter weekend stay, check out our 2 day itinerary.
Overview: 3 Days in Victoria, BC
Day 1: Relax and recharge with hydrotherapy aboard a floating spa, refuel at a tasty neighbourhood restaurant and enjoy a tiki-style cocktail at a retro bar. Day 2: Eat creative breakfast dishes at a local favourite, walk through Canada's oldest Chinatown, explore the hip Fernwood neighbourhood and dine at one of Victoria's top restaurants. Day 3: Unwind on the ocean with a fun water activity, treat yourself to a fabulous afternoon tea, stroll along the harbourfront and eat unique seasonal dishes at a hidden gem. |
Where to stay for your 3 days in Victoria
Oak Bay Beach Hotel | Fairmont Empress
From historic hotels to oceanfront stays, Victoria has a unique variety of places to choose from.
Our top hotel picks in Victoria
- 👑 Best for history: Fairmont Empress. The waterfront icon since 1908 has hosted the royal family over the years. It also carries local rumours of a haunted past, adding a mysterious allure to its elegant atmosphere.
- ✨ Best boutique hotel: Magnolia Hotel & Spa. Located in the heart of the city, this luxury hotel offers rooms with Parliament Building views and its room service comes straight from The Courtney Room, one of Victoria's top restaurants.
- 🗝 Best for a romantic stay: Abigail's Hotel. The adults-only 1930s Tudor mansion offers a romantic retreat with its beautifully restored old-world charm.
- 🌊 Best for ocean views and amenities: Oak Bay Beachfront Hotel. This oceanfront resort has the ultimate chill zone, with three outdoor mineral pools and poolside service overlooking the Pacific. Note that it's a 15-minute drive from the hotel to downtown Victoria.
3 Day Victoria BC Itinerary
Day 1
Clockwise from top left: HAVN floating spa, Part + Parcel, Cocktails and retro decor at Citrus & Cane
Relax and recharge with hydrotherapy aboard a floating spa
After checking into your hotel, start your afternoon with a rejuvenating experience at HAVN, a floating spa that is one of the buzziest spots in the city. It opened just last summer in 2023.
The WWII-era barge has been converted into the ultimate oasis with three hand-built saunas, two cold plunge pools and two hot tubs. Plus, there's an exfoliation shower and cozy indoor lounge.
The saunas and hot tubs are located on the top deck with pretty views of Victoria Harbour and the float plane terminal.
HAVN books up, so reserve your spot early. Each pass includes a 3-hour entry.
Refuel at neighbourhood restaurant, Part + Parcel
Part + Parcel is a quirky restaurant serving seasonally-inspired small plates and mouthwatering sandwiches. The casual spot was named one of the best restaurants for West Coast contemporary cuisine in 2023 by YAM Magazine.
😋 We love their kamut fried chicken sandwich.
Note: for dinner they are open Tuesday-Saturday until 9 PM.
Have a tiki-style cocktail at Citrus & Cane
Explore Victoria's vibrant mixology scene with a nightcap at Citrus & Cane. This tropical-themed bar whisks you away with its tiki-style drinks in a funky mid-century modern setting. The drinks here are delicious.
😋 Our favourite is the Banana Hammock with a fusion of rums and banana liqueur.
The bar has also earned itself a coveted spot on Canada's 50 Best Bar list (2023).
Day 2
Eat creative breakfast dishes at House of Boateng
You may be hesitant to make the journey out to the small neighbouring city of Langford to eat breakfast at this local gem, but it's worth it. Every time we make a trip out to Victoria we can't help ourselves from eating breakfast there.
We were tipped off by this spot when we learned its head chef, Castro Boateng, was named Victoria's Best Chef of the Year in 2022 by YAM Magazine. His dishes are inspired by seasonal ingredients and his African heritage.
House of Boateng's breakfast dishes are unique to anything we've ever had. It's hard to try anything new on the menu because I keep going back to my favourite - the crab benny served on roasted sweet yam with a mango-habanero hollandaise.
✔️ Top Tip: take home a jar of their marinades and dressings - we can't get enough of their jerk marinade, harissa marinade and curry vanilla dressing (which we also use as a marinade).
Walk through Canada's oldest Chinatown
Explore the historic charm of Victoria's Chinatown, dating back to the 19th century. As Canada's oldest Chinatown and the second oldest in North America, it's steeped in rich cultural heritage.
Walk beneath the ornate paifang (a traditional Chinese archway) and wander along Fisgard Street, where historic buildings and vibrant red lanterns line the way. Venture into the alleyways to uncover hidden gems and unique boutiques.
Don't miss Turntable Records, a hole-in-the-wall shop for vinyl enthusiasts. We couldn't resist picking up a couple of psychedelic rock records ourselves.
Explore the hip Fernwood neighbourhood
Exploring the Fernwood neighbourhood
After exploring Chinatown, head over to Fernwood, a hip neighbourhood where you'll find mostly locals.
Take a leisurely stroll around the Gladstone/Fernwood intersection and don't miss CREAM Life + Style. The boutique shop has an awesome curation of vintage and artisan products. I bought a vintage martini set there.
Treat yourself to one of the city's top dining spots for Pacific Northwest flavours
Get dressed up for an evening out at one of Victoria's top dining spots. We have two delicious spots to pick from known for their Pacific-Northwest cuisine. Both restaurants have been recognized on enRoute Magazine's "Canada's Best New Restaurants" lists.
Marilena Cafe & Raw Bar
For a lively fine-dining experience, dine at Marilena, a new hot spot launched by the same team behind Vancouver's Blue Water and Elisa, and Whistler's Araxi. Expect seafood-forward dishes and a stylish atmosphere where dressing up is part of the fun.
The Courtney Room
If you're seeking a more intimate and romantic ambience, The Courtney Room is a great choice. The elegant restaurant offers both a-la-carte options and a chef's tasting menu with seasonal cuisine inspired by Vancouver Island.
Make your reservation for Marilena or The Courtney Room.
Enjoy a nightcap at Clives Classic Lounge
Finish your evening with a nightcap at Clives Classic Lounge, a hotel lobby bar with a vintage feel that offers some of the best handcrafted cocktails in BC.
Clive's has been recognized on both 50 Best Discovery and Canada's 50 Best Bars lists.
Day 3
Unwind on the Pacific Ocean with a fun water activity
Renting a private hot tub boat | Relaxing in the mineral pools at Oak Bay Beach Hotel
Begin your day with breakfast-in-bed before heading off to one of these fun and relaxing activities of your choice:
Option 1: Cruise along the harbour in a private hot tub boat
Glide along Victoria Harbour by renting your very own hot tub boat. This activity is a total blast - even in the rain.
The small boat fits up to 6 people and you don't need a boating license to drive it. We soaked in the satisfyingly hot water and played our own tunes from the waterproof Bluetooth speaker that came with the rental.
Reserve your boat through Hot Tub Boat Victoria, Canada's first hot tub boat rental company.
Option 2: Unwind with a massage and soak in mineral pools overlooking the ocean
Even if you're not staying at the Oak Bay Beach Hotel, you can still access their Boathouse Spa and mineral pools. You just need to book a spa treatment and add on the 2-hour pass to the mineral pools.After your massage, dip in the three heated mineral pools overlooking the ocean and enjoy poolside drinks and bites from the restaurant.
Treat yourself to a fabulous afternoon tea
Dress up for a delightful afternoon tea at the Fairmont Empress Hotel. This iconic chateau-style hotel is famous for its afternoon tea, which isn't too much of a surprise since it's welcomed the royal family over the years.
Live piano fills the Lobby Lounge as you're served a spread of decadent desserts, gourmet finger sandwiches and scones with clotted cream on a tiered tray.
With a wide selection of premium teas to choose from, you can find the perfect match for your palate. And if you're feeling extra celebratory, why not add a glass of champagne to the mix?
Make your reservation in advance.
Take a stroll along the harbourfront
After your afternoon tea, walk across the street and take a scenic stroll north along the harbourfront. It's beautiful on a sunny day.
Rained out? Instead, catch a short film on the largest IMAX screen in BC. We recently saw Deep Sky, a 40-min documentary showing the mindblowing images captured by NASA’s Webb Telescope. We recommend it! See what's playing.
Try inventive dishes at hidden gem, Nowhere A* Restaurant
Having a fun dinner at Nowhere A* Restaurant
Tucked away in the courtyard of a mini-mall, you'll find Nowhere A* Restaurant, a hidden gem serving up inventive dishes crafted with locally sourced ingredients.
This casual spot is one of Victoria's top restaurants and in 2020 it landed on enRoute Magazine's list of Canada's Best New Restaurants.
Nowhere A* offers both a-la-carte and tasting menus, but trust us on this, go for the tasting menu. It's an incredible value for the quality of dishes you get.
Enjoy your 3 days in Victoria!
Get started on planning your trip to Victoria
- 🌃 Accommodation: Booking.com is our go-to for finding places to stay. Sort by top reviewed.
- 🚗 Car rental: see Rentalcars.com to compare car rental prices across different companies.
- ⛩️ Browse tours with local guides: through GetYourGuide and Viator.
- ✈️ Compare flights: with Skyscanner
Combine Victoria with a trip to Vancouver
Combine Victoria with a trip to Tofino
Or, extend your trip by exploring the Southern Gulf Islands between Vancouver and Vancouver Island:
- 33 Unique things to do on Salt Spring Island
- 23 Best things to do on Pender Island
- 12 Awesome things to do on Galiano Island
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