11 Unusual things to Do in Victoria, BC (Hidden Gems)
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So you’re visiting Victoria (again?) and want to skip the obvious.
You’ve already ticked off popular attractions like Butchart Gardens. And you know Victoria is famous for whale watching.
But what about experiences that fly under the radar?
After 10 years of living here, we like keeping an eye out for local favorites and less touristy activities that don’t shout for attention.
If you’re after unusual things to do in Victoria, BC, these picks will show you a side of the city many visitors miss.
1) Get spooked on a ghost walk
Okay, this guided night-time ghost walk isn’t exactly non-touristy, as it’s a hit with a lot of people. But it’s definitely offbeat. And we had a ton of fun!
It’s offered by Discover the Past, a family-run company headed up by history enthusiast John Adams. They’ve been bringing Victoria’s darker past to life for thousands of visitors since 1999.
After meeting at the Visitor Info Center, we first stopped by the Fairmont Empress Hotel – which, we learned, is one of the most haunted hotels in the world. From there, it was on to shadowy corners like Bastion Square, once the site of grisly public hangings.
Did we spy the ghost of murder victim Charles Kincaid rumored to haunt Market Square? No. Did we feel shivers run up and down our spines when told his jealous lover Belle Adams had partially sawed off his head with a razor? Yes!
Great value for money
The one-hour experience is theatrical, a little spine-tingly and surprisingly informative – and it costs less than $25 CAD (about $18.50 USD) p.p.
2) See salmon spawn in Goldstream Provincial Park
The park in autumn
Just 10 miles (16 km) from downtown Victoria, Goldstream Provincial Park is where thousands of Pacific salmon fight their way up Goldstream River to spawn from mid-October to late December.
The females dig nests (called “redds”) to lay their eggs (“roe”), while the males, sporting hooked jaws and reddish bodies, battle rivals for spawning rights. (Chum salmon are the most common species, but you may also see Coho and Chinooks.)
We found a perch along the riverbank and watched as the salmon muscled their way upstream against the current – it was quite an amazing sight!
After spawning, the salmon die. So toward the end of the spawning season (around December), you can see lots of bald eagles flying in to feed on the salmon carcasses.
Spring and summer in the park
While the salmon run is the unique event in fall, the park is also home to peaceful forest trails for hiking in spring and summer.
We’ve enjoyed the short hike to Niagara Falls. (No, not that Niagara Falls!)
This lovely waterfall in the park cascades down 156 feet (47½ meters) to a large rock pool, where people like to splash and swim about in summer. If we’d worn our swimsuits under our clothes, we would’ve joined them!
3) Go SUP
Make like a local and hit the water on a stand-up paddleboard!
It’s a fun non-touristy way to explore Victoria’s scenic coastline. Willows Beach, Thetis Lake and Gonzales Bay are all great places to SUP.
Before we bought our own boards, we rented from Brian at South Island SUP.
From his mobile SUP shop (aka, his van), he’ll deliver high-quality RED paddleboards right to you at the beach or lake. He can also give you a lesson – and head out with you.
Guided SUP adventure
Prefer a guided experience? Join Brian on this fun SUP tour from Willows Beach, a 10- to 15-minute drive from downtown. (Willows is our favorite beach in the city.)
Chances are you’ll see marine wildlife.
We almost always see seals, their curious heads popping up to say hello. And if conditions are right, Brian will likely take you to an area of rocky islets where a large gang of sea lions hang out.
4) Reflect at Ross Bay Cemetery
A cemetery probably won’t pop up when searching for best places to visit in Victoria. But Ross Bay Cemetery is a surprisingly beautiful spot for a quiet wander.
We always feel like we’re strolling through an open-air sculpture garden here. Angel statues, ornate Victorian headstones and leafy pathways give it an almost storybook feel.
Over 150 years old, it’s the final resting place for many famous Canadians and Americans too.
They include Sir James Douglas (BC’s first governor), world-renowned Canadian artist Emily Carr and Nellie Cashman (a nurse and gold prospector who saved 77 trapped gold miners and was later featured on a U.S. postage stamp).
Bonus: We always see deer grazing among the graves.
Guided cemetery tours
Weekly tours run by the Old Cemeteries Society take place at 2:00 pm from February to October.
The cost is $5 CAD (about $3.65 USD) p.p.
5) Ride in a horse-drawn carriage
For a romantic slow-paced way to soak up Victoria’s history and beauty, it doesn’t get more classic than exploring by horse-drawn carriage.
You’ll clip-clop through quiet streets and parks with a uniformed driver guide leading the way. Even on cooler days, you’ll stay snug under cozy blankets.
Booking your carriage ride
We know of two companies that offer private horse-and-carriage rides.
- Tally-Ho Carriage Tours – Dating back to the 1850s, this company offers several routes, including a 60-minute ride that winds through Beacon Hill Park, along the waterfront Dallas Road and around the city’s oldest neighborhood of James Bay.
- Victoria Carriage Tours – Their 45-minute Beacon Hill Park tour takes you along leafy park roads and past historical sites like St. Anne’s Academy (a former girls’ boarding school).
6) Stroll around Swan Lake and up Christmas Hill
Calling all nature lovers! This one’s for you.
Swan Lake Nature Sanctuary is a peaceful pocket of Victoria off the beaten path, about a 15-minute drive from downtown.
The 116-acre sanctuary has two walkable sections – the whole walk is just over 2½ miles (4 km).
Swan Lake loop
Swan Lake is a marshy haven for finches, wrens, great blue herons, nesting ducks and other birds.
We like to walk the flat gravel-and-dirt loop trail around the lake first. From the parking lot, we make our way to the Nature House, then walk clockwise, crossing wooden and floating metal bridges along the way.
Christmas Hill walk
Back at the Nature House, we follow the path to Nelthorpe Street, cross McKenzie Ave and pick up the trail up rocky Christmas Hill.
It’s a short climb – 358 feet (109 meters) high – winding past wildflowers and stately Garry Oak trees. At the top, we’re always rewarded with sweeping views over Victoria.
7) Check out the “wee” libraries
One of the cutest things to spot in Victoria when wondering residential streets? The little free libraries tucked into front yards and along sidewalks.
Each one is hand-built – some look like fairy-tale cottages, others like miniature schoolhouses – and stocked with anywhere from five to 20 books to borrow or swap.
We love seeing how creative people get with their designs, and George (our resident book lover) never passes one by without peeking inside.
Follow the “wee” library trail
There are more than 650 little free libraries scattered around the city.
You can even track them down on an online map if you feel like turning it into a mini literary treasure hunt.
8) Kayak Tod Inlet
Rent a kayak (or SUP board) at Brentwood Bay and go for a calm safe paddle up Tod Inlet.
As you paddle out, you’ll pass Butchart Gardens on your left.
Peer into the shallows, and you’ll spot orange and purple sea stars (starfish) clinging to the rocks, while great blue herons patrol the shoreline.
Who knows, a curious seal might also pop up beside your kayak (or even try to hitch a ride!).
Come late summer and September, Tod Inlet can fill with moon jellies – fascinating to see and generally harmless to people.
We’ve rented from Pacifica Paddle Sports, which offers both single and double kayaks (plus SUP boards).
It’s an easy outing, even for first-timers. That said, a little balance helps. George tipped his kayak getting in once… much to everyone’s amusement. The staff promptly swapped him into a more “stable” ride.
Alternative: Kayak Victoria’s Harbour
Want to go with a guide?
This top-rated 3-hour kayak tour takes you paddling around Victoria’s scenic harbor and inner waterways, with postcard views of the Parliament Buildings, Empress hotel and seaplanes from the water.
Keep your eyes peeled for seals and otters!
9) Count the deer in the city
Here’s a quirky local pastime – counting deer!
We have deer in the city. Lots of them. They really shouldn’t be roaming the urban jungle, but here they are.
When driving around residential neighborhoods, you’ll notice signs to slow down for the deer.
We see them almost daily in our garden – often a doe with her fawns – nibbling shrubs or lounging on the lawn like they own the place (which they kind of do).
Deer spotting
You likely won’t spot deer downtown, but we see them all the time at Ross Bay Cemetery (#4 above) – a reliable place for deer sighting, especially in the early morning or at dusk.
10) Cruise around Victoria in a unique pedicab
Fancy exploring Victoria in an electric-assist pedicab?
We haven’t (yet!) done this 3-hour pedicab tour ourselves. But after reading hundreds of reviews – a perfect 5/5 rating, 100% recommendation rate and spotless safety record – we felt it was worth sharing. It’s a pretty unique way to see the city, right?
Tailormade for cruise passengers, the tour picks you up at the terminal (a few minutes walk from downtown).
The pedal-powered route
The route rolls through historic James Bay, winds through Beacon Hill Park (peacock spotting included!) and passes the Inner Harbour and stately Fairmont Empress Hotel.
There’s even time to duck into Chinatown’s skinny Fan Tan Alley – once lined with opium dens and gambling rooms and still the narrowest alley in North America.
Riders rave about the knowledgeable guides who share lots of tidbits about the city along the way.
11) Wander about Abkhazi Garden
Much smaller than Butchart Gardens – and right in the city – Abkhazi Garden is perfect for a quick taste of one of Victoria’s beautiful gardens without the full outing.
It’s just a 10-minute drive from downtown (or a 30-minute walk). We live nearby and pop in often, especially in spring when all the pink and burgundy rhodos bloom (the prettiest time to visit in our view).
Known as the “garden that love built,” it was created by Peggy and Prince Nicholas Abkhazi, who reunited after wartime separation and settled in Victoria in 1946.
Tucked into a residential neighborhood, the garden feels natural and intimate – with winding paths, rocky slopes, Garry oaks, Japanese maples, alpine plants and serene ponds. It’s easy to wander in 30 to 40 minutes.
Visiting Abkhazi Garden and Teahouse
- Admission – The gardens are free to visit, but a donation of $10 CAD (about $7.50 USD) is suggested.
- Tea and lunch – Feeling peckish? The garden teahouse serves a delightful afternoon tea and light lunches, with house-made scones, sandwiches and seasonal ingredients from the garden. Ask to sit outside on the patio if the weather is nice.
Enjoy more of Victoria
- Bucket List Victoria: Most Popular Activities
- An Insider’s Guide to the City’s Top 10 Hotels
- How to Get to Victoria (7 Different Ways)
- Victoria’s 11 Best Beaches and Lakes (By Locals)
- 15 Favorite Victoria Restaurants
- The Whale Watching Tour We Couldn’t Resist Twice
- 10 Easy Scenic Walks in Victoria
- 7 Beautiful Gardens to Enjoy In Victoria
- Taking the Ferry From Vancouver to Victoria
- 7 Enchanting Butchart Gardens Tours
Pin this guide on unusual activities and hidden gems in Victoria, BC
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→ General trip planning: TripAdvisor is a helpful starting point, with loads of user reviews on hotels, restaurants and things to do.
→ Hotels: Booking.com is our go-to for scoring a “wow” hotel – or at least a decent one – often at lower rates than the hotel’s own website. (We especially like Booking.com’s flexible cancellation policy!) You can also find excellent discounted rates on Expedia, especially for hotels in the U.S. and Mexico.
→ Vacation homes, condos and rentals: We prefer and use Vrbo (Vacation Rentals by Owner).
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→ Airport lounge access: We love (and have) Priority Pass for comfy lounge seats, free snacks and drinks, complimentary WiFi and sometimes even showers and spa services!
→ Tours: For the best local food, walking and other guided tours, plus skip-the-line tickets to attractions, check out Viator (a TripAdvisor company) and GetYourGuide.
→ Car rental: Renting a car can be a great way to explore off the beaten path. Discover Cars searches car rental companies for the lowest rates.
→ Travel insurance: SafetyWing is designed for frequent travelers, long-term adventurers and digital nomads. It covers medical expenses, lost checked luggage, trip interruption and more. We also have and recommend Medjet for global air medical transportation.
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