Where to Stay in Victoria
Are you wondering where to stay in Victoria, Canada?
Victoria is the lovely capital city of British Columbia, Canada. Although Vancouver is the largest city in the province with more than 675,000 people, Victoria is much smaller with fewer than 100,000 people.
Being a waterfront city located on Vancouver Island, Victoria is very picturesque.
You can visit Victoria from Vancouver (it’s a total journey time of 3.5 hours with a 1 hour and 45 minute ferry ride) or from Seattle, Washington, which is a 2 hour and 45 minute ferry ride away.
Victoria is the perfect destination for a weekend trip.
These are some of the top things to do in Victoria:
- Take a free self-guided tour of Victoria’s iconic Parliament Buildings
- Have afternoon tea at the Empress Hotel (also the best place to stay in Victoria!)
- Stroll along the pedestrian-friendly Inner Harbour Causeway
- Go on a whale watching tour from Victoria
- Visit Victoria’s small but fascinating Chinatown neighborhood
- See the beautiful Butchart Gardens just outside the city
- Take a panoramic seaplane tour over Victoria
- Visit the Royal British Columbia Museum (perfect for a rainy day!)
And now let’s get into where to stay in Victoria.
Best Hotels in Victoria
Downtown and James Bay are the two best neighborhoods in Victoria for tourists. Both of these neighborhoods are centrally located and have easy access to the waterfront, making them ideal bases.
Here are my top picks for where to stay in Victoria, Canada:
- Best overall: Fairmont Empress Hotel
- Best affordable luxury: Hotel Grand Pacific
And here’s a full breakdown of the best hotels in Victoria.
Tip: I use and recommend Booking.com for getting the best deal on hotels. If you book directly through a link on this page, I may earn a small commission at no cost to you. Thank you for supporting Stay to Wander!
Fairmont Empress Hotel
The Fairmont Empress Hotel is by far the most iconic hotel in Victoria and the best place to stay in the city. This famous luxury hotel is located right along the waterfront in the heart of Downtown.
In addition to its unbeatable location, the hotel also has tons of great amenities. Guests can enjoy access to an indoor swimming pool and a hot tub, a full-service spa, a salon, and a rooftop terrace.
Hotel Grand Pacific
Another one of the top hotels in Victoria is Hotel Grand Pacific. This hotel is also optimally located close to all the main tourist attractions in Victoria, including museums, shopping, and restaurants.
Guests staying at this hotel will appreciate the comfortable guest rooms, some with private balconies and waterfront views. The hotel also has an indoor swimming pool, a hot tub, and a fitness center.
Victoria Regent Waterfront Hotel & Suites
Another great place to stay is Victoria Regent Waterfront Hotel & Suites. This hotel is also conveniently located in Downtown right on the water, just a couple of minutes from Victoria’s Chinatown.
Many rooms at this hotel have waterfront views, and some rooms also have private balconies. Free parking is available to guests, making this a good option if you have your own car with you.
Oswego Hotel
Oswego Hotel is a nice place to stay, located in the peaceful James Bay neighborhood that is just a few minutes from Downtown. This hotel is a good place to stay if you want to have some extra space.
All the accommodations here are suite-style with separate bedrooms, kitchens, living areas, and balconies. Amenities at this hotel include a fitness center and a scenic rooftop terrace.
WorldMark Victoria
WorldMark Victoria is another one of the best places to stay in Victoria. This hotel is located near Fisherman’s Wharf, a picturesque part of the city that’s about a 15-minute walk from Downtown.
All rooms at this hotel are suite-style, and they include a private balcony, and many have waterfront views. Amenities at this hotel include a fitness center, an outdoor swimming pool, and a hot tub.
The Magnolia Hotel & Spa
The Magnolia Hotel & Spa is another one of the best hotels in Victoria. This hotel is in Downtown within easy walking distance to the city’s top tourist attractions, shopping, dining, and nightlife.
In addition to being a convenient base for exploring Victoria thanks to its central location, the hotel offers comfortable, stylish guest rooms and amenities, including a fitness center and a full-service spa.
Coast Victoria Hotel & Marina by APA
Coast Victoria Hotel & Marina by APA is a good place to stay in the Fisherman’s Wharf area of the city. It’s an easy 15-minute walk along the pedestrian waterfront walkway to get to Downtown from here.
The location of this hotel is very peaceful, and many rooms offer private balconies with excellent waterfront views. The hotel also has an outdoor swimming pool, a hot tub, and a fitness center.
Victoria Marriott Inner Harbour
Victoria Marriott Inner Harbour is a great place to stay if you want to be in the heart of Downtown, just steps away from museums, attractions, restaurants, and shopping. It has an excellent central location.
Some rooms at this hotel offer waterfront views, and others have sweeping city views. When it comes to amenities, guests staying at this hotel will enjoy the indoor swimming pool and a fitness center.
Chateau Victoria Hotel & Suites
Finally, one of the best hotels in Victoria is Chateau Victoria Hotel & Suites. It’s located in Downtown just a couple of minutes from all of the top tourist attractions in the city, making it a convenient base.
The hotel offers standard hotel rooms as well as suites with separate bedrooms, kitchens, and living areas. There’s a free shuttle around Downtown Victoria, an indoor swimming pool, and a fitness center.
Where to Stay in Victoria
This guide showed you where to stay in Victoria, Canada.
To recap, my top picks for where to stay are:
- Best overall: Fairmont Empress Hotel
- Best affordable luxury: Hotel Grand Pacific
Have a great trip and enjoy your stay in Victoria!
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