Victoria Harbour Self-Guided Smartphone Audio Walking Tour

Victoria

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

Centennial Square

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

Duration: 3 minutes

Fan Tan Alley

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

Duration: 3 minutes

Market Square

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

Duration: 3 minutes

EjNKb2huc29uIFN0ICYgV2hhcmYgU3QsIFZpY3RvcmlhLCBCQyBWOFcgM0o2LCBDYW5hZGEiZiJkChQKEgnvpLxam3SPVBHrbR9QsUUPwhIUChIJ76S8Wpt0j1QR620fULFFD8IaFAoSCektWKqIdI9UEcVWcPGvXGtTGhQKEgkVKRjjmnSPVBFgX-Fokr607yIKDUGF3RwV1jt3tg

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

Duration: 3 minutes

EipXYWRkaW5ndG9uIEFsbGV5LCBWaWN0b3JpYSwgQkMgVjhXLCBDYW5hZGEiLiosChQKEgkDithHm3SPVBGDY0PoYE4FyBIUChIJcWGw3Ytzj1QR7Ui7HnTz6Dg

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

Duration: 3 minutes

Bastion Square

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

Duration: 3 minutes

Victoria’s Chinatown National Historic Site

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

Duration: 3 minutes

ChIJ98yrlJp0j1QR4qDz0uZiBx0

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

Duration: 3 minutes

Rogers' Chocolates

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

Duration: 3 minutes

Inner Harbour

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

Duration: 3 minutes

ChIJkaipwJB0j1QRfRg107OESbI

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

Duration: 3 minutes

ChIJifpQ75B0j1QRTJ17niGHLuI

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

Duration: 3 minutes

Emily Carr Statue

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

Duration: 3 minutes

The Netherlands Centennial Carillon

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

Royal BC Museum

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

Duration: 5 minutes

Thunderbird Park

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

Duration: 5 minutes

Helmcken House

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

Duration: 5 minutes

ChIJgcJti4R0j1QRHW6-NyyjuKg

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

Duration: 5 minutes

ChIJBYkqDnx1j1QR_kUOOH6kbkA

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

ChIJjZmQ_oN1j1QRH0WtpfCPeRo

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

Duration: 5 minutes

Steamship Terminal

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

Duration: 5 minutes

GhIJoUW28_01SEARWTm0yPbXXsA

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

Duration: 5 minutes

David Foster Harbour Pathway

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

Duration: 5 minutes

GhIJWmQ73082SEARmZmZmRnYXsA

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

Duration: 5 minutes

ChIJP0CXY5h0j1QRuaIdhBkRat0

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

Duration: 5 minutes

Government Street

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

Duration: 3 minutes

Fisherman's Wharf

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

Duration: 5 minutes

Empress Hotel National Historic Site of Canada

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