Victoria FAQs

Find out all you need to know about visiting Victoria.

When is the best time to visit Victoria?

Spring (April-May) and summer (June-August) are the most popular times to visit Victoria. The Spring blossoms make the city even more attractive while summer is comfortably mild and mainly dry. Summer is also the best time for whale watching trips, which run May-September. Autumn (September-October) and winter (November-March) are generally wet with a lot of rain, but it’s milder than elsewhere in Canada with little snowfall. Temperatures usually range 21-27°C in summer and rarely far below zero in mid-winter.

What is the time difference between the UK and Victoria?

Vancouver Island is in the Pacific Time Zone (GMT -8:00) and switches to Pacific Daylight Time (GMT -7) on the second Sunday in March until the first Sunday in November.

What places combine well with Victoria?

Victoria is a great base to explore the rest of Vancouver Island, particularly the southern areas such as Cowichan, and to do whale-watching. It can easily be combined with the city of Vancouver, reachable by ferry (1.5 hours), and other regions of the island – the Pacific Rim and Campbell River.

What are the main cultural events in Victoria?

May – Victoria Day
June – The Indigenous Cultural Festival
June – Victoria International Jazzfest
July to August – Symphony in the Summer
September – Victoria Classic Boat Festival