{"id":1250,"date":"2014-06-26T09:08:02","date_gmt":"2014-06-26T16:08:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.hoteldealsrevealed.com\/blog\/?p=1250"},"modified":"2014-06-26T09:08:02","modified_gmt":"2014-06-26T16:08:02","slug":"cruise-stop-in-victoria-bc","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hoteldealsrevealed.com\/blog\/cruise-stop-in-victoria-bc\/","title":{"rendered":"What to Do During a Cruise Stop in Victoria BC"},"content":{"rendered":"

Although I am biased from having lived there, Victoria is a great city to visit. Whether on a cruise or visiting nearby cities like Seattle or Vancouver, there is no shortage of things to do in Victoria. One of the challenges, however, is the limited time that many cruise ships stop there. \u00a0Some visits are just a few hours long. Very few cruises stop for longer than a day. If you are visiting British Columbia’s capital, this guide will help you decide what to do during a cruise stop in Victoria BC.<\/p>\n

Absolute Must Sees – Top of the List<\/h2>\n

Inner Harbour: \u00a0<\/strong><\/em>No matter how much time you have, the one thing you must do is visit Victoria’s Inner Harbour. This is iconic Victoria, from the Parliament Buildings on the south end to the Empress Hotel and the Causeway. \u00a0This should top your list of must-sees in Victoria no matter how much time you have.<\/p>\n

Getting to the Inner Harbour is fairly easy. \u00a0A taxi from the cruise terminal will have you there in about 5 minutes at a cost of roughly $10. \u00a0However, if you are taking a taxi, why not pay an extra $10 to $20 and have the driver give you a little tour. \u00a0I recommend the scenic route through Beacon Hill Park and out to Clover Point.<\/p>\n

\"Walking

Shortest route from the cruise terminal to the Inner Harbour.<\/p><\/div>\n

If have the time, why not walk to the Inner Harbour. \u00a0Taking Dallas Road, the route is just under 2km (1.3 miles) or about a 20 minute walk.<\/p>\n

Take a Side Trek to Fisherman’s Wharf: \u00a0<\/strong>Along the way to the Inner Harbour, I recommend taking a stop at Fisherman’s Wharf. They have ice cream and coffee shops along the wharf, and it gives you a good glimpse of west cost culture. \u00a0Not everyone lives in a houseboat, but they are fun to look at. \u00a0Think of this as a subdued and more authentic version of San Francisco’s Fisherman’s Wharf.<\/p>\n

\"Walk

Route to walk from the cruise terminal to the Inner Harbour via Victoria’s Fisherman’s Wharf.<\/p><\/div>\n

Victoria City Tour:<\/strong> <\/em>\u00a0If you only have a few hours and want to see the highlights, take a city tour of Victoria. \u00a0There is a large selection from luxury charter buses to converted double deckers from England. \u00a0Strong recommendation: \u00a0do not take the double deckers without a roof. The weather is too unpredictable in Victoria, and even if the peak of summer, there’s a good chance you will be cold.<\/p>\n

The city tour will likely take you through the Inner Harbour, China Town, along the coast (Beach Drive and Dallas Road) with a trip through Oak Bay Village and back into town.\u00a0I do not generally recommend taking a horse-drawn carriage. They are expensive, smelly, and provide poor coverage if you want to see the highlights.<\/p>\n

Cruising from Vancouver or Seattle?<\/strong> If you are using Priceline or Hotwire for your hotel, you might want to see what hotels other travelers are getting<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

If You Have More Time<\/h2>\n

If your cruise stop in Victoria, BC, is longer than 2 to 4 hours, here are some additional things you might want to consider.<\/p>\n

Pub Crawl:<\/strong> \u00a0Victoria has lots of great pubs. \u00a0Some of the best spots for tourists are:<\/p>\n