Downtown Victoria: A Historic Walking Tour

(86 reviews)

Victoria, BC audio tour: Downtown Victoria: A Historic Walking Tour

This is a 2.1mi walking tour

It takes an average of 150 mins to complete.

Victoria, BC

Canada

$11.99

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About the Tour

Welcome to Victoria, a charming seaside city known for its English-style customs, abundant gardens, and friendly people. On this walking tour, I’ll show you around our most famous landmarks and share the history of the people who were instrumental in the making of Victoria.

You’ll hear about the Lekwungen First Nations, and Fort Victoria’s ties to colonization. I’ll tell you the scandalous tale of a famous architect who built British Columbia’s striking Legislative Assembly of British Columbia and Grand Empress Hotel, and other quirky tidbits involving pirates, public hangings, and Canada’s narrowest street.

Along the way, you’ll become familiar with:

The Inner Harbour, where you’ll find the legislative building and the Grand Empress Hotel
Old Town Victoria, now a hip and trendy shopping district
Chinatown and the plight of the first Chinese immigrants to land in Canada
Victoria’s oldest shops, banks, and pubs

This 90-minute tour begins and ends at the Inner Harbour. There are plenty of restaurants, pubs and shopping opportunities along the way if you have the time to stretch your day.

Tour Producer

Michele Davis

2 tours

Hi there,

My hometown is Charming Victoria, British Columbia on the West Coast of Canada. I love my city so much that I became a private tour guide. I'm known as That Girl in Victoria. Promoting the city and local shops.

Discovering Voice Map is so exciting, allowing me to share what I love about my city with even more people. I love to travel and am looking forward to taking other Voice Map tours around the world.

Preview Location

Location 2

Inner Victoria Harbour

You should be in the middle of the causeway, stop and take a look towards the harbor.

This small Harbour is not only beautiful but plays a significant economic role not just today but for thousands of years.

Because of the location along the West Coast and its calm wat... You should be in the middle of the causeway, stop and take a look towards the harbor.

This small Harbour is not only beautiful but plays a significant economic role not just today but for thousands of years.

Because of the location along the West Coast and its calm waters within the harbor, the Lekwungen Community would host Trading events here. Visitors from other Nations would canoe to this harbor from as far south as Oregon and north as Haida Gwai.

Today it is the busiest working harbor in Canada. Ship mooring and vessel repairs - commercial fishing - tourist boats - an airport - US/Canada border control - water taxi service, and -- a residential neighborhood are just a few things you'll find here.

During the summer months, this area is a beehive of buskers, artists' wares, and food vendors. If you are around in the evening, do not miss the Ships Point - Night Market just out on the pier to the right.

Have you noticed the Sea Planes diving in and out of the harbor? These small plans transport passengers between the smaller gulf islands and mainland Vancouver and Seattle. It's a quick and spectacular way to visit places close to us and get a birds-eye view of all the beautiful gulf islands.

Many government officials and business people use the seaplanes as their way of commuting - to and from - the mainland.

Now, let's continue, Facing the harbor, take the stairs on your left to the lower causeway. If a Busker is performing, take the stairs on your right. Turn left at the bottom and we will be making out way towards the legislative building.

But first, take a look at the photo display and interpretations of the history of the Lekwungen Peoples, known today as the Songhees and Esquimalt first nations.

Today, during certain special events, impressive decorated “War Canoes” will row into the harbor and dock at the south-eastern corner known as Protocol Corner. You may even get to see one of these canoes moored on your way along the causeway here.

When you are ready, walk along the lower causeway towards the Legislative buildings and make your way, all around it to the end. Read More

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Major Landmarks

Victoria’s Inner Harbour
Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
Fairmont Empress
Bastion Square
Government Street
China Town
Old Town Victoria

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Getting There

Route Overview

VoiceMap tours follow a route from a set starting point. It’s how we give turn-by-turn directions and tell a story greater than the sum of its parts.

Start location
812 Wharf St, Victoria, BC V8W 1T3, Canada
Total distance

3km
Final location
721 Government St, Victoria, BC V8W 1W5, Canada
Distance back to start location

120.92m

Directions to Starting Point

This Tour begins at the Victoria Visitor Center located at the north end of the Inner Harbour on the corner of Government Street and Humbolt street. You will recognize it with a tall tower-like structure with a clock on its roof and a large Canadian flag on the corner. The best place to park would be any one of the parkades nearby. Street parking is limited and time restrictive.

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Tips

Places to stop along the way

You may want to allow time to explore the interior of the Legislative Building, the Empress Hotel and take time somewhere in between for a lunch or coffee break.
There are plenty of places to eat and shop along the way.

Best time of day

The best time to do this tour is during the day, anytime from about 9:00 am to 6:00. China Town and many shops downtown close at 6:00 most of the year. With Victoria's mild Climate this tour is suitable year-round. But in winter be sure to dress warm and carry an umbrella.

Precautions

There are bike lanes throughout the cities downtown core. Take caution when crossing streets and always' check for cyclists. Victoria's weather can sometimes be unpredictable from one moment to the next and you will be traveling along the Ocean for parts of this tour. Dress in layers, suitable for the season.

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App Store Review

“Great app. walk around at your own pace, stop where you want, move on or speed up when you want. Read the script before you go or during the commentary, speed it up or replay it. Repeat the tour whenever you like.”