Inner Harbour
Inner Harbour
4.5
Bodies of Water • Historic Walking Areas • Piers & Boardwalks
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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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Top ways to experience Inner Harbour
The area
Best nearby
Restaurants
643 within 5 kms
Attractions
163 within 10 kms
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
5,345 reviews
Excellent
3,828
Very good
1,344
Average
144
Poor
21
Terrible
8
Usia2014
Calgary, Canada1,874 contributions
Jun 2022 • Couples
The scenery around Victoria’s Inner Harbour is amazing! We love walking around the harbour and seeing all the colours of the flowers and plants, the vendors, the boats and the beautiful historical buildings. It’s fun to take a water taxi to get a different perspective of the harbour or just to stroll around the area enjoying the views.
Written 10 May 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.
Chuck M
Victoria, Canada77 contributions
Apr 2023 • Couples
Nice visual but a lot of shops now lock their doors and you have to ring to get in because of all the problems with street people and crime. We didn’t feel that safe even in the day light and were advised not to go downtown in the evening. Seems like the drug problem has spread even to this place with not a lot of control on the streets.
Written 18 April 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.
sashakeena
Vancouver, Canada11,343 contributions
Aug 2022
Great place to see the sites & sounds in historic downtown Victoria! Take a stroll along the David Foster walkway or go see the Parliament buildings or the Museum. Lots of nice restaurants & shops if you are inclined for that that option??
Written 27 December 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.
Tyrone E
Caulfeild, Canada4 contributions
Oct 2022
just like walking the sea wall - from the town side across the johnson street bridge towards Esquimalt.
Written 17 October 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.
mindy b
10 contributions
Oct 2022
Meh. Picturesque spot for photos. I think its a must do, not having been in Canada before or having lived in a port city
Written 16 October 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.
VacationsExplorer
Toronto, Canada104 contributions
Sep 2022
Really pretty area but its small Nice walk around harbor and part of main street was closed off for pedestrians only for a nice special event showcasing services offered Also there was a navy demonstration at the time Empress hotel's flowers were in full bloom
Written 26 September 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.
Greg C
Brisbane, Australia15 contributions
Sep 2022 • Couples
Pretty spot. Typical tourist hub. Lots of tourist shops, Irish pubs and restaurants. If you venture out of this area unfortunately you will see the results of the COVID pandemic with closed, empty shops and soany displaced people. Very sad
Written 25 September 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.
fiamma11
Vienna, VA4,760 contributions
Jun 2022
This is a terrific area with fantastic views; a perfect place to go for a walk or grab a water taxi. Delightful for certain.
Written 19 September 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.
andrew h
Hemel Hempstead, UK201 contributions
Sep 2022
Great walks and nicely marked out - really beautiful place to walk around. Clean safe and very nice place
Written 7 September 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.
melvcole
Redmond, OR7 contributions
Aug 2022
We've visited over half a dozen time in 3 decades and love the harbour - always something to watch and do.
Written 23 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.
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.
Francina D
4 contributions
Sorry I do not know. Victoria harbour tourist info would know.
What night are the markets on at Ships point
Jason B
Victoria, Canada26 contributions
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
Beth G
Arlington, VA98 contributions
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.
Dave S
Peachland, Canada322 contributions
inspiredwireart
I found her. She is Karen Allan
majlund67
Hjorring, Denmark
Hej er der strande hvor man kan bade fra ? Eller er det bare ikke et sted for en badeferie ?
JP-hungryincalaveras
Angels Camp, CA13 contributions
Probably not the best place to go to the beach for sunbathing or swimming...very cold but beautiful scenery.
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'
CaliforniaFieldmouse
california6 contributions
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.
carol31352
Sedona, AZ6 contributions
When do the tubboats perform in the inner harbor?
foreverfree
Victoria BC6 contributions
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. ,!!
INNER HARBOUR (Victoria) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go
Frequently Asked Questions about Inner Harbour
- We recommend booking Inner Harbour tours ahead of time to secure your spot. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. See all 39 Inner Harbour tours on Tripadvisor
- According to Tripadvisor travellers, these are the best ways to experience Inner Harbour:
- Historical Victoria Walking Tour (From S$21.36)
- Downtown Victoria Food & City Tour (From S$81.60)
- Victoria and Butchart Gardens Tour from Vancouver (From S$253.98)
- Victoria Self-Guided Audio Tour (From S$20.67)
- 2-day Victoria and Butchart Gardens Tour with Overnight at The Fairmont Empress (From S$782.86)
- Hotels near Inner Harbour:
- (0.19 km) The Magnolia Hotel And Spa
- (0.15 km) Union Club of British Columbia
- (0.09 km) Fairmont Empress
- (0.28 km) Hotel Grand Pacific
- (0.27 km) DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel & Suites Victoria
- Restaurants near Inner Harbour:
- (0.06 km) Milestones
- (0.07 km) Q at The Empress
- (0.06 km) Tea at the Empress
- (0.18 km) Frankie's Modern Diner
- (0.13 km) 10 Acres Commons
- Attractions near Inner Harbour:
- (0.02 km) Victoria Harbour Ferry
- (0.02 km) 3-Hour Sail
- (0.07 km) Prince of Whales - Whale Watching Adventures
- (0.13 km) Ghostly Walks Walking Tours
- (0.13 km) Five Star Whale Watching