Victoria Harbour Self-Guided Smartphone Audio Walking Tour

What's Included

Meeting and pickup

Itinerary

• Victoria (Pass by)

  Begin at Centennial Square for a 4 km waterfront walk through Victoria's heritage, harbour views and vibrant streets.

  Admission ticket free
• 1
  Centennial Square

  Discover Centennial Square's civic plaza and its place in Victoria's evolving downtown.

  3 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 2
  Fan Tan Alley

  Slip into Fan Tan Alley, a narrow Chinatown passage lined with colourful shopfronts and history.

  3 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 3
  Market Square

  Explore Market Square's restored courtyard and independent shops, a lively link to Victoria's trading past.

  3 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 4

  Admire the blue Johnson Street Bridge, a striking modern span connecting downtown and the harbour's west side.

  3 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 5

  Wander Waddington Alley, where old brickwork and historic paving preserve a quieter corner of downtown.

  3 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 6
  Bastion Square

  Take in Bastion Square's heritage architecture and stories of Victoria's sometimes spooky past.

  3 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 7
  Victoria’s Chinatown National Historic Site

  Explore Canada's oldest Chinatown, where heritage gates, shops and cultural stories fill the streets.

  3 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 8

  Pass the Bard & Banker, an ornate former bank building now a pub on Government Street.

  3 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 9
  Rogers' Chocolates

  Pass Rogers' Chocolates and the former Windsor Hotel, two heritage façades with sweet and storied pasts.

  3 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 10
  Inner Harbour

  Enjoy Inner Harbour views of boats, landmarks and the waterfront bustle.

  3 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 11

  Pause at the former site of the Captain James Cook statue, removed in 2021, to reflect on Victoria's changing public history.

  3 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 12
  Fairmont Empress

  Admire the Fairmont Empress's grand harbour-facing façade, a landmark of Victoria's railway era.

  3 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 13
  Emily Carr Statue

  Meet the Emily Carr statue and discover the Victoria artist's enduring connection to BC's landscapes.

  3 minutes • Admission ticket free
• The Netherlands Centennial Carillon (Pass by)

  Hear the Netherlands Centennial Carillon above the Royal BC Museum, a gift from BC's Dutch community.

  Admission ticket free
• 14
  Royal BC Museum

  View the Royal BC Museum from outside; its changing exhibitions require a separate admission ticket.

  5 minutes • Admission ticket not included
• 15
  Thunderbird Park

  Admire Thunderbird Park's carved poles and Indigenous art beside the museum.

  5 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 16
  Helmcken House

  See Helmcken House from outside, one of BC's oldest surviving homes; occasional open houses are separate.

  5 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 17
  Legislative Assembly of British Columbia

  Admire the Parliament Buildings and their grounds from outside; indoor tours depend on opening hours and security.

  5 minutes • Admission ticket free
• (Pass by)

  See the Queen Victoria statue and nearby Cenotaph on the legislative grounds, two reminders of BC's public history.

  Admission ticket free
• 18

  Look for the tucked-away statue and gardens at Confederation Garden Court.

  5 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 19
  Steamship Terminal

  View the Steamship Terminal's grand stone columns, recalling the harbour's days as a Pacific gateway.

  5 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 20

  Watch ferries cross the harbour and consider the links they make between Victoria and neighbouring communities.

  5 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 21
  David Foster Harbour Pathway

  Follow the David Foster Harbour Pathway for shoreline views and a chance to spot marine life.

  5 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 22

  Pause at Songhees Point for harbour views and a connection to the Lekwungen peoples' enduring presence.

  5 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 23

  Pass the Coast Victoria Hotel's marina and watch the mix of pleasure craft along the waterfront.

  5 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 24
  Government Street

  Stroll Government Street's heritage storefronts, independent shops and old-world architecture.

  3 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 25
  Fisherman's Wharf

  Explore Fisherman's Wharf's colourful float homes and working-waterfront atmosphere from the public walkways.

  5 minutes • Admission ticket free
• Empress Hotel National Historic Site of Canada (Pass by)

  Take another look at the Empress Hotel's Château-style exterior, recognized as a National Historic Site.

  Admission ticket free

Additional info

• Service animals allowed
• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
• Wheelchair accessible
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels
• This 4 km outdoor walk uses city sidewalks, plazas and harbour paths; expect some uneven paving and street crossings. There is no tour transportation. Nearby buildings may be closed, but the exterior route remains enjoyable; dress for the weather.

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