Walking Tours in Victoria
Victoria’s past has great colour with fascinating characters, wonderful architecture and intriguing tales of adventure and shady misdeeds. A number of walking tours are available for the downtown core, Chinatown, Victoria’s historic graveyards and a handful of our unique, character neighbourhoods. Check individual websites and with Tourism Victoria for the most up to date information about availability and the specific nature of the tours.
John Adams ‘Discover the Past’ series of tours cover the downtown core, Fairfield, Rockland and James Bay neighbourhoods, Ross Bay Cemetery, Chinatown. John is one of Victoria’s most prolific writers and most popular speaker on heritage and historical issues.
- John’s popular ‘Ghostly Walks’ take you past Victoria's most haunted places in the downtown area. These 90-minute walking tours include lots of fascinating history and stories about the ghosts and supernatural events that have made Victoria famous as the most haunted city on the West Coast. Tours are held throughout the year: every evening at 7:30 and 9:30 pm from mid-June to mid-September and on weekends during the rest of the year.
- Chinatown Walks explore Victoria's Chinatown, the oldest in Canada. Find out why the Chinese came and where they came from. See the tongs, temples, shops, alleys and courtyards that make up what is sometimes called "the Forbidden City." Find out where the opium dens and gambling halls were and enjoy the colourful shops and restaurants that now line Chinatown's streets. Tours take place every morning at 10:30 am from July 1 to September 5 and every Saturday at 10:30 am the rest of the year.
- Check John’s website at http://www.discoverthepast.com/ Email John at discoverthepast@telus.net or call him at 1 250 384-6698 for more details.
Secrets of the City, a sightseeing City Tour of Downtown Victoria. The Outdoor Walking Tour with an Audio Player Tour Guide for a private walking tour. Easy-to-use audio player available for rental at Tourism Victoria's Visitor Centre, 812 Wharf Street or download the tour in advance for $12.00 at Audiosnacks.com. Start the tour anytime you like and pause the tour wherever you want. Filled with fascinating stories and legends, bizarre facts and myths, and the tale of 4 empires that threatened to wage war over Vancouver Island.
Victoria Architectural Tours (July 3 to August 31) Explore Victoria’s unique built environment through various architectural perspectives: the Inner Harbour; the Site of Old Victoria; Old Town; Chinatown; Ecclesiastical Architecture; Victoria's Art Deco and Moderne.
Tours run once a day Tuesdays through Saturdays inclusive. First tour Tuesday, July 3; last tour Friday, August 31). Tours cost $5 CDN per person Register on-site before each tour. All Victoria tours start in front of the Community Arts Council office in the Sussex Building Courtyard at 1001 Douglas Street. Tuesday to Saturday tours start at 1:00 pm.
Tours will last approximately 1.5 to 2 hours, rain or shine. For information, contact AIBC by phone at 1-800-667-0753, ext. 333 toll-free in BC), or by email at tours@aibc.ca.
Victoria Bobby Walking Tours A leisurely tour of old town Victoria. Approximately 1 and 1/4 hours of information & fun. Hosted by a Victoria Bobby, former English Bobby, writer and story teller - a history lover with an attitude and sense of humour. Envision the Old Town when Victoria was Queen and gambling was King. Call 250 995 0233. Email tours@walkvictoria.com or ask at Tourism Victoria’s Visitor Centre.
Old Victoria Walking Tours
A 1.25 hour walking tour of Victoria's historic past that is educational, intriguing and very entertaining. Hear about the people places and events that took Victoria from sleepy Hudson Bay trading past to a gold-rush Boomtown. Tours depart from the front of Tourism Victoria's Visitor Centre at 812 Wharf Street. Call 250 893-9255 for more details.
Hidden Dragon Entertainment & Tours
Experience Victoria's Chinese culture and history through dinner tours and 1 1/2 hour walking programs. Hidden Dragon Tours take you through Victoria’s historic Chinatown. This is Canada’s oldest and once largest Chinese community, and it still retains many ancient traditions, allowing one to experience a living museum. Head out for an evening lantern walk or explore Chinatown with Hidden Dragon’s day program. On tour you will have the opportunity to taste fine tea, learn about Chinese medicine, folklore, spirituality, symbolism, Kung Fu, arts and music. Phone for more information 250 920 0881 or Toll Free 866 920 0881.
Dashwood Manor Bed and Breakfast
One Cook Street, Victoria, B.C. V8V 3W6
Tel: 1 (250) 385-5517 * Toll Free: 1-800-667-5517 * frontdesk@dashwoodmanor.com
One Cook Street, Victoria, B.C. V8V 3W6
Tel: 1 (250) 385-5517 * Toll Free: 1-800-667-5517 * frontdesk@dashwoodmanor.com