Inner Harbour
Inner Harbour
4.5
About
This scenic patch of waterfront is the location of Victoria's many tourist attractions, recreational activities, restaurants and shopping. For a special treat, have afternoon tea at the grand Empress Hotel or board a ferry for a harbor tour.
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We rank these restaurants and attractions by balancing reviews from our members with how close they are to this location.
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769 within 5 kms
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171 within 10 kms
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- Lizsza20 contributionsSo much to see in the capital of Vancouver Island - VictoriaAbsolutely gorgeous town, so much to see within walking distance of the seaplane harbour. The local park is a beautiful place to wander through and then continue with a coastal walk. The historic buildings eg Parliament Building very Grand.Visited September 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 7 October 2023
- Dimitris LSydney, Australia50,924 contributionsWonderful placeThe Inner Harbour is a lovey area. We took a walk all around for a couple of hours and really enjoyed the place. Full of shops, restaurants, gift and tourist type of shops and the views are absolutely wonderful.Visited September 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 8 December 2023
- Bohemian_me84Calgary, Canada2,001 contributionsNever disappointsIt just never disappoints . My trip to Alaska got canceled , 3 days into being stucked in a boat , so I came to Victoria . Always good choice . City is very pedestrian friendly , view is always incredible , food is good and blooming flowers smell amazing.Visited May 2024Travelled with friendsWritten 30 April 2024
- RobertMJThompsonVictoria, Canada786 contributionsTourism CentralEverything you would want for a day of pleasure is here. Indigenous vendors are here. Museums & restaurants are here. Excursions can be booked from here. This is Victoria's tourist hub. Take a walk and breathe in the colour of the city.Visited May 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 24 May 2024
- Celeste26 contributionsBeautiful city, even at nightThe city is so clean and the people were extremely friendly. Our cruise only stopped in port for 3 hours at night, so we didn’t get to experience much of the inner harbor or any of it in the daylight. Additionally, it was about a 30 minute walk to the inner harbor from the cruise ships, so not the closets thing. However, we would come back in a heartbeat.Visited May 2024Travelled with familyWritten 26 May 2024
- Louise Masin SattlerLos Angeles, California1,570 contributionsEnjoy the energy of the Victoria waterfront!Victoria BC is stunning! The waterfront is alive with activity all day and early evening during the summer months. We walked all around and enjoyed the bagpipers, artisans, variety of restaurants, and people-watching. The walk is easy and mostly flat. The main streets are filled with cute shops and a variety of eateries. The Empress Hotel - a Fairmont property- hosts high tea and also the Miniature museum! Be sure to check out the very helpful visitors center. This area is fun for all ages and very accessible! A “must do” if visiting Victoria!Visited July 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 1 July 2024
- Jane C3 contributionsPlan to visit VictoriaVictoria is a lovely, walkable city with restaurants and shopping near the Inner Harbor. We stayed at the Embassy Inn which was a one block walk from the harbor and offered a delicious breakfast. Highly recommended.Visited August 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 12 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
5,367 reviews
Excellent
3,847
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1,346
Average
144
Poor
21
Terrible
9
DagmarSchroeder
Victoria, Canada16 contributions
Jan 2020
Victoria means "Inner Harbour" and the other way around - Yes, it is a very busy area and there are locals avoiding it during high season. But as a beautiful, interesting and divers starting point for everything this is a must for your visit. Everybody is in a good mood, so it does not matter, that it is somewhat crowded in our long summer season. Listen to the back pipers, enjoy on Saturday mornings the "dancing" water taxis, buy a momentum from First Nation wood carvers, sit where ever you like and let the world go by or applaud some of the amazing street performers.My husband and I go there often and apriciat the tourists.
Written 9 January 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.
Roving550528
31 contributions
Feb 2020 • Family
We walked around the inner harbour in the morning of February 14, 2020. The weather was beautiful. It was very quiet. Most of the restaurants won’t open until 11:00am. The Parliament House was not open since it is winter and long weekend.
Written 23 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.
cmlomas
Victoria, Canada14 contributions
Aug 2019
Inner Harbour is a place where you can saunter at your own pace and take pleasure in the sight of all the boats, surrounded by majestic buildings. Buskers, and crafts people selling their wares make it a fun experience as you stroll along with coffee in hand or just sit on the tiered steps and people watch. People from many lands enjoy this free activity in the heart of Victoria.
Written 7 May 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.
Bridie G
9 contributions
Aug 2019
Lower Inner harbour area itself has lots of street venders selling their hand made items and buskers to keep everyone entertained. It is centrally located near the legislature, The Empress Hotel, the Royal Museum and the downtown core. It’s just a short walk from there to Fisherman’s wharf or Beacon Hill Park. You can spend an hour or a day wandering the harbour and surrounding areas. So much fun!
Written 26 June 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.
Anders B
Olstykke, Denmark38 contributions
Sept 2019 • Couples
Inner harbor offers all the sightseeing facilities from hop on hop off, seaplane tourist trips and whale watching tours. Easy to find and a very cozy environment despite the noise from the planes coming in or leaving every few minutes.
Just off restaurant area by the harbor too.
Just off restaurant area by the harbor too.
Written 3 January 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.
Tony R
Jedburgh, UK141 contributions
Sept 2019 • Solo
A visit to the Inner Harbour at downtown Victoria is an incredible experience. It is colourful, busy, beautiful and fascinating. There is so much to see and do. From the Fisherman's Wharf with its quaint floating homes and businesses to the float plane terminal, from the marina with its million dollar yachts to the floral displays, from the immensely popular fish and chip shops to the Empress hotel, there is something for everyone to enjoy. The promenades and walkways are kept immaculately clean and there is colour everywhere. It is easy to spend many hours there and still want to come back and see more. Take in the great variety of attractions, enjoy the hustle and bustle of the harbour with its water taxis and sea planes, the yachts and the ferries. Marvel at the floral displays and art works and experience the mixture of nationalities enjoying the unique atmosphere of this place!
Written 10 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.
Guy on a Bike
Coquitlam, Canada16 contributions
Sept 2020
The inner harbour is a pedestrian walkway protected removed, and below the roadway, you could almost call it an ocean side promenade. For a portion of the year it is home to buskers and vendors that are given a stage or booth area authorized by the city of Victoria which keep it from becomes an open marketplace.
It is an excellent place to stroll off dinner. It also shows off the BC Parliament building that are eliminated every evening.
It is an excellent place to stroll off dinner. It also shows off the BC Parliament building that are eliminated every evening.
Written 15 October 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.
kim buay p
Singapore, Singapore12,934 contributions
Dec 2021
I did a guided live-stream tour by Elizabeth from Heygo. She started her walk near the Fisherman's Wharf Park taking us along David Foster Way. She gave us many lovely postcard shots of the inner harbour area with the twinkling lights. Victoria is the capital city of the Canadian province of British Columbia, on the southern tip of Vancouver Island. As we walked past the statue of a young Queen Victoria, we learned that this city is named for Queen Victoria.
We saw two famous landmarks namely the Parliament Buildings completed in 1897 and the Empress hotel which was opened in 1908. Both buildings are lighted up in an outstanding way, making it hard to miss. Elizabeth also mentioned the iconic high tea at Empress Hotel. It was a great walk with Elizabeth and I wished that I was actually walking there.
We saw two famous landmarks namely the Parliament Buildings completed in 1897 and the Empress hotel which was opened in 1908. Both buildings are lighted up in an outstanding way, making it hard to miss. Elizabeth also mentioned the iconic high tea at Empress Hotel. It was a great walk with Elizabeth and I wished that I was actually walking there.
Written 4 December 2021
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.
Kathleen S
6 contributions
June 2022 • Friends
Bucharest Gardens is my favorite part of part of Victoria Island. But there were so many additional attractions, it really is hard to pick:
The castles, the butterfly gardens, the harbor, the museum and its totem poles, a beautiful restaurant on the tiptop of a ravine, the waterways to and from Victoria -- "to" being west from Anacortes through the San Juan islands, and "from" being across the Straits of San Juan to the south, back into Washington.
Everything is worth your while! You mustn't plan less than a week, and more if you can afford it!
The castles, the butterfly gardens, the harbor, the museum and its totem poles, a beautiful restaurant on the tiptop of a ravine, the waterways to and from Victoria -- "to" being west from Anacortes through the San Juan islands, and "from" being across the Straits of San Juan to the south, back into Washington.
Everything is worth your while! You mustn't plan less than a week, and more if you can afford it!
Written 3 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.
Louise Masin Sattler
Los Angeles, CA1,570 contributions
July 2024 • Couples
Victoria BC is stunning! The waterfront is alive with activity all day and early evening during the summer months. We walked all around and enjoyed the bagpipers, artisans, variety of restaurants, and people-watching. The walk is easy and mostly flat. The main streets are filled with cute shops and a variety of eateries. The Empress Hotel - a Fairmont property- hosts high tea and also the Miniature museum! Be sure to check out the very helpful visitors center. This area is fun for all ages and very accessible! A “must do” if visiting Victoria!
Written 1 July 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.
The street performers are there for the summer months, and we love to watch them for hours. Can you tell me when the season ends? We’re looking at traveling mid-late September and we’re hoping there would still be performers.
Written 8 September 2018
Sorry I do not know. Victoria harbour tourist info would know.
Written 9 September 2018
Looks like you got your answer.
Oak Bay hosts a market once a month on Wednesday evenings and Sidney hosts one also on Thursdays which can be googled also. Not related to your question but I wanted to share
Written 28 July 2018
ISO a certain personalized wire art vendor that has a booth in the Inner Harbor in Victoria, BC.
I know this is pretty random, but I'm hoping to find the vendor so I can buy something for my daughter for Christmas.
I regret not buying something from her when we were there in August and I didn't pick up her card.
Written 29 August 2016
inspiredwireart
I found her. She is Karen Allan
Written 30 August 2016
majlund67
Hjorring, Denmark
Hej er der strande hvor man kan bade fra ? Eller er det bare ikke et sted for en badeferie ?
Written 15 July 2016
Probably not the best place to go to the beach for sunbathing or swimming...very cold but beautiful scenery.
Written 10 April 2017
Princess Cruises offers a bus (free) from the dock to the Inner Harbor (presumably Government St.) : Do they discharge passengers at the western end or the eastern end first? We would like to visit shops first and work our way east to the Empress Hotel, the Legislative Assembly, and if there is time, the B.C Museum. It is very difficult to budget our time of just 4 1/2 hours in Victoria. We saw the lovely Inner Harbor in 1986 and want to revisit the highlights. Does the Princess Cruise bus pick up passengers to return to the ship from near the Empress pr B.C.museum'
Written 12 June 2015
Yes Princess does offer a Downtown Express Shuttle which will drop you off in front of The Empress Hotel right across the street from the harbor. Easy walk to the nearby stores and the B.C Museum, which is a must see. The Victoria Express is NOT free but is only $10 for an all day pass! A great bargain. Way way cheaper than a cab ride. You can buy this pass on board or online at the Princess website.
Written 31 July 2016
When do the tubboats perform in the inner harbor?
Written 2 April 2015
Patricia answered correctly. Absolutely a wonderful must see !The harbour ferries take you on A wondrous tour through a colorful historic waterway. A must do on everyone's list. ,!!
Written 3 April 2015
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