Government Street
Government Street
4.5
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Busy street lined with some of Victoria's biggest tourist attractions.
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The area
Neighbourhood: Downtown
Best nearby
We rank these restaurants and attractions by balancing reviews from our members with how close they are to this location.
Restaurants
799 within 5 kms
Attractions
199 within 10 kms
See what travellers are saying
- Dimitris LSydney, Australia50,924 contributionsFantastic areaWe walked up and down this street for a couple of hours and absolutely loved the experience. It's a wonderful area with many things to see and the views are magnificent. There are many shops to visitt as well and do some window shopping, or actually buy things.Visited September 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 8 December 2023
- tdsuperstarToronto, Canada19,429 contributionsA must see in Victoria!Great street to check out while in Victoria. Lots of great little boutique shops, food options and close by attractions. How long you stick around is really up to you and your interests in particular shops and food options. It's great that it's essentially closed to cars during the day, which makes the back and forth across Government nice. Just be careful at crossroads, cars can still use those roads. Impossible not to visit Government street in Victoria if you want to really want to "see" and "experience" Victoria.Visited March 2024Travelled with familyWritten 19 March 2024
- RobertMJThompsonVictoria, Canada802 contributionsMore Pedestrian FriendlySince part of this street has been regulated to cater to walkers, it has become my favourite place to shop, linger or have a bite to eat. Being able to walk on the street itself makes me feel less crammed and gives me a safer perspective to view the trees, people and historical buildings. Tourists know it is a great part of their stop in this capital city. I feel proud to call it my downtown.Visited September 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 13 September 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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4.5
1,004 reviews
Excellent
511
Very good
383
Average
85
Poor
19
Terrible
6
OakBayEats
Victoria, Canada33 contributions
July 2020
Victoria is a beautiful city that has become unrecognizable with dirty streets that smell of urine . Government Street and the inner harbour used to be a fantastic place to wander and walk. Now the downtown and parks have been taken over by homeless addicts , drunks and panhandlers. The pandemic has made things worse. Many shops and restaurants have closed and some are bravely trying to stay open.
It is very sad.I would recommend reading letters to the editor in the local Times Colonist newspaper to keep up with the issues.
It is very sad.I would recommend reading letters to the editor in the local Times Colonist newspaper to keep up with the issues.
Written 19 August 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
RobertMJThompson
Victoria, Canada802 contributions
Sept 2024 • Couples
Since part of this street has been regulated to cater to walkers, it has become my favourite place to shop, linger or have a bite to eat. Being able to walk on the street itself makes me feel less crammed and gives me a safer perspective to view the trees, people and historical buildings. Tourists know it is a great part of their stop in this capital city. I feel proud to call it my downtown.
Written 13 September 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
tdsuperstar
Toronto, Canada19,429 contributions
Mar 2024 • Family
Great street to check out while in Victoria. Lots of great little boutique shops, food options and close by attractions. How long you stick around is really up to you and your interests in particular shops and food options. It's great that it's essentially closed to cars during the day, which makes the back and forth across Government nice. Just be careful at crossroads, cars can still use those roads. Impossible not to visit Government street in Victoria if you want to really want to "see" and "experience" Victoria.
Written 19 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
fred_cameron
Comox, Canada558 contributions
Mar 2020
We visit Victoria a few times every year. We always make a point of wandering along Government Street. Our favour stops are Munro's Books, Murchie's Coffee, and Roger's Chocolates. And there is lots more.
Written 6 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Missit
Phoenix, AZ14 contributions
Aug 2022
We stayed at the Empress so we simply walked out the door and chose to turn left or right that day. There was always something to do, see, eat and enjoy. The first thing we noticed was how clean the city is. No trash or liter and very well kept.
Written 25 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
kazuakim2015
Tokyo Prefecture, Japan259 contributions
Feb 2020 • Family
This is the light ascending road from Fairmont Empress Hotel in front of inner harbor. There are a lot of famous shops like Rogers' Chocolate, Murchies Tea, Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory and so on and forth at both side of this road. I got some souvenirs at Rogers', and walked around here with having Rocky Mtn's chocolate apple, and then and got enjoyed afternoon tea at Murchies tea lounge. Finally I returned back to inner harbor. This might be the golden route to enjoying Victoria here.
Written 28 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dimitris L
Sydney, Australia50,924 contributions
Sept 2023 • Couples
We walked up and down this street for a couple of hours and absolutely loved the experience. It's a wonderful area with many things to see and the views are magnificent. There are many shops to visitt as well and do some window shopping, or actually buy things.
Written 9 December 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rockiroads
Oshawa, Canada1,308 contributions
July 2023 • Couples
A great site seeing place with the sounds of bars at night, nightlife in the day, many restaurants and shops. Historical things to see, statues, old and new buildings. A place to wander, you need almost days for this section of the town alone. Some bars went to really late at night (which we could hear in our hotel). A great area to stay in, in the middle of the action.
Written 12 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
taggsbc
Sidney, Canada54 contributions
If you start your stroll up Government St. at the south end, be sure to check out the inner harbour. If it is summer, there are street performers (buskers) down the lower walkway across from the Empress Hotel.
Moving up Government St. there are some unique shops as well as the souvenier shops and coffee shops you would expect. A couple of landmarks to be sure to visit are Rogers Chocolates and Munro's Books as these shops are beautiful character buildings. Tea at Murchies is also good, and I can recommend the current scones with homemade jam and devon cream.
If you walk far enough up Government St. you will eventually come to the gates of Chinatown. This is at Fisgard St. so you will want to turn left and go through the gates to historic Chinatown and enjoy the sights and sounds of this small area of Victoria. . As you make your way to Store Street look for Fan Tan Alley, which is the smallest street with retail stores. You can almost touch the buildings on each side of the street. Once you get to Store St., turn left. Passing Market Square, follow Store Street. to Wharf Street. Continue on Wharf Street towards the Parliament Buildings, passing on the way the century old buildings of Bastion Square. If you like, you can go up the stairs in the open courtyard of Bastion Square, which will take you back to Government St. or you could continue along Warf St. and it will eventually lead you back to Government St. near the Empress Hotel.
This whole walk may take 50 - 80 minutes, depending on the pace and stops you decide on.
There are many shops that are unique which you won't find in the normal shopping malls. The historic buildings are great and because of the height restrictions, you don't get the winds found in most downtown cities.
I live 20 minutes outside of this downtown, and in the summer, this is one of the best things that I have found I never tire of doing.
Moving up Government St. there are some unique shops as well as the souvenier shops and coffee shops you would expect. A couple of landmarks to be sure to visit are Rogers Chocolates and Munro's Books as these shops are beautiful character buildings. Tea at Murchies is also good, and I can recommend the current scones with homemade jam and devon cream.
If you walk far enough up Government St. you will eventually come to the gates of Chinatown. This is at Fisgard St. so you will want to turn left and go through the gates to historic Chinatown and enjoy the sights and sounds of this small area of Victoria. . As you make your way to Store Street look for Fan Tan Alley, which is the smallest street with retail stores. You can almost touch the buildings on each side of the street. Once you get to Store St., turn left. Passing Market Square, follow Store Street. to Wharf Street. Continue on Wharf Street towards the Parliament Buildings, passing on the way the century old buildings of Bastion Square. If you like, you can go up the stairs in the open courtyard of Bastion Square, which will take you back to Government St. or you could continue along Warf St. and it will eventually lead you back to Government St. near the Empress Hotel.
This whole walk may take 50 - 80 minutes, depending on the pace and stops you decide on.
There are many shops that are unique which you won't find in the normal shopping malls. The historic buildings are great and because of the height restrictions, you don't get the winds found in most downtown cities.
I live 20 minutes outside of this downtown, and in the summer, this is one of the best things that I have found I never tire of doing.
Written 16 March 2008
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
YYZ T
Toronto, Canada104 contributions
July 2017 • Friends
I'm not the visitor that subscribe to trinket shopping. It's a trap of mostly gaudy trinkets not worth the exorbitant rip off prices for the cheap items that are made in China.
There are some "Native" look alike items. I recommend you be careful as some are imitations and not really made by Native folks.
This area is a typical tourist area that runs from Chinatown to the waterfront. It's a nice area for strolling, and relaxing on the benches or having an ice cream or other sweet treats.
Watch out for the seagulls flying over head as they don't discriminate when they fly by with the big plops of pooh coming down like bombs!
There are some "Native" look alike items. I recommend you be careful as some are imitations and not really made by Native folks.
This area is a typical tourist area that runs from Chinatown to the waterfront. It's a nice area for strolling, and relaxing on the benches or having an ice cream or other sweet treats.
Watch out for the seagulls flying over head as they don't discriminate when they fly by with the big plops of pooh coming down like bombs!
Written 28 July 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
hi i will be on a cruise ship in september on the 8th we are stopping in Victoria BC at 9 pm and ship leaves at 11:59 pm what do you recommend to do and are there any shops open to get a souvenir? thanks
Written 30 May 2023
Hi, most of the shops in Victoria used to close at 6pm with only a couple staying open till 9pm. When we were there last year we found many shops boarded up and closed down permanently after covid.
Your ship is getting in late so if you can get off right away (and not have to wait a while for port clearance), you could take a taxi to the harbour front. It’’s a nice walk around there with the Parliament Buildings all lit up with hundreds of lights (that’s magical) and you can walk into the Empress Hotel for a drink (other bars will likely be open there as well).
Just up the street from the Empress Hotel are the souvenir shops that you can walk to in a few minutes to check out if any are still open. Before the pandemic many were open very late in the summer tourist season. Things have changed.
We walked from the cruise ship to the harbour front in about 30 minutes but that was in the day time. A taxi ride is quick and easy especially in the night.
Written 1 June 2023
Hi there, just wondering what time most shops are open until. Someone was telling me that they are only open weekdays. is that true??
Written 16 October 2018
Depending on what time of year it is as to who is open on weekends and who is open late.Go and enjoy yourself it is Victoria.
Written 16 October 2018
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