Heritage, Arts and Culture

Originally established in the 1850’s as a British colony, Victoria is one of the oldest cities in western Canada. Let a local expert take your group on a walking tour to learn about the many fascinating heritage buildings and attractions that evoke Victoria’s frontier past. The annual Ghost Festival in October is a popular time for a haunted walk, such as a spine-tingling, nighttime lantern tour through one of the oldest cemeteries in the world.

The majestic Gate of Harmonious Interest welcomes you to Canada’s oldest Chinatown, which was born when gold fever in the Cariboo region beckoned miners from San Francisco to north of the 49th parallel. A group tour of this three block area includes true tales of opium manufacturing, gambling and tall tales of secret tunnels leading to The Fairmont Empress Hotel. Afterwards, groups can discuss the historical tales over authentic Chinese food or dim sum.

Canada’s Garden City offers horticulturist guided garden tours through some of the extravagantly colourful private and public gardens for which Victoria is famous. Or perhaps, take a totem tour to appreciate the extraordinary examples of this native art form in Thunderbird Park, on the grounds of the Legislative Buildings, or at the Quw’utsun Cultural Centre in Duncan (nicknamed the "City of Totems").