A truly excellent museum with a wide variety of engaging exhibits. When I visited, there was an interactive exhibit on protest music that was fascinating, and the section on local ecology and geography was very informative. The diorama of the city in the early 1900s is top-notch and really brings the past to life. Be sure not to miss the exhibit on native languages — although small, it’s incredibly meaningful and I wish there had been more of it. Outside, the totem poles on the East lawn are a highlight and well worth the time. Overall, a place that combines history, culture, and education beautifully.

Highly recommended! You can see a precious mammoth specimen here. Other animal exhibits are very lifelike, and the displays recreate the animals’ natural habitats. Visiting this place gives you a great understanding of Vancouver’s history, local wildlife, environment, and culture. The lady at the front desk was very friendly — I’m really glad I came to visit!

Employees on strike day we visited so Imax & some areas closed. Museum did not live up to the hype. Second floor natural history displays were poorly lit, hard to read and some videos not working. Disappointing. Best exhibits were on third floor, and covered history of India's manufacturing Chintz. When you see what was involved, you can't not be impressed. Many significant totems, worth seeing. Price of admission reasonable, worth seeing. Excellent gift store and cafe.

If you want to know more about British Columbia this is the place. You will learn about its fauna and flora, about its people, places and influences. I was completely blown way by the room Our living languages ,where you can learn and listening to the indigenous dialects, and the reproduction of the early 19th century town. Quite impressive. Save at least 2h for the visit. I was there all morning. The museum is also home of the Imax cinema. It has a café, souvenir shops and toilets.

I haven't been here in about 30 years and it is much smaller than I remembered. The Johnathan Hunt House and Old Town displays were interesting and well presented. I thought there was a lot more indigenous art on display the last time I visited and was very disappointed. John Lennon's Rolls-Royce was a cool surprise.

Had a great visit with my partner and our toddler. The Music of Resistance exhibit is incredible - go if you can and learn about activism and music in BC and around the world. Lots of cool memorabilia. Unfortunately, the indigenous language exhibit is closed, which was a real let down - its our family's favorite.

During our visit, most of the areas were closed due to renovations, and we weren’t informed about it when we purchased our tickets, which didn’t feel fair. That said, the sections we did get to see were amazing, and I hope we can explore the rest on our next trip

Planned a 3-day meeting for 42 people at the Empress. The staff were all very knowledgeable and helpful. They made certain that every detail was looked after. The Rattenbury Room was comfortable and spacious. The catering was first class and the staff very attentive. The guest rooms very comfortable and well appointed. I could not be more satisfied with the whole experience. I highly recommend the Fairmont Empress Hotel.

Our first visit to Canada was to Victoria specifically to stay at The Empress. We brought our close friends — High Tea there was her dream — and she absolutely loved it. The hotel is stunning and our suites were lovely. We did have one issue: heavy rain caused water to leak through our bathroom light fixture. As Gold guests we were offered alternate rooms, but most were on lower floors with weaker views, and the one large corner suite available wasn’t Gold Club (which we had paid for). This all happened on our spa day, so I had to miss time with our friends to inspect rooms, repack, and move. The Gold team offered compensation but initially it didn’t feel proportionate to the disruption. At checkout they comped one night, one spa treatment, and gave us Empress chocolates — which we appreciated. We truly loved the hotel and want to return. Staff were gracious, warm, and the rooms were spotless. Special thanks to: Haley, Ana, Yeri (Gold Reception), Yaya (Gold Club Server), and Leo (Bellman).

Just came back from my 40th bday celebration from the Empress. What a fantastic hotel- so iconic. My sister and I stayed and enjoyed the Gold status lounge/room. It’s worth the $$$! The staff in the Gold Level lounge goes above and beyond. Thani (I’m spelling her name wrong) was fantastic! Such a great server in the Gold lounge with such a fabulous personality. I will remember her forever. She made me a special bday cocktail and really went above and beyond making my sister and I feel special. What a bespoke experience! Thank you Empress!

Had the most amazing time during our Anniversary getaway. It started off with the most genuine smile and care from Trent and his colleague as we pulled up to the entance of the Empress. Trent was undisputedly kind and welcoming! That first impression set the tone for one of the best nights of service and care i've ever wittnessed. Almost every employee offered their kind gesture of wishing us a happy anniversary and the attention to detail from the staff and genuiness made us feel so special. Thank you Empress for your hospitality, care and class! Can't wait to come back!

It was my first time in Victoria and the Fairmont Empress was everything I had hoped it would be. My husband and I stayed in a Fairmont Gold room for two nights, overlooking the harbour and it was such a breathtaking view. Our room was perfection, the most comfortable bed I've ever enjoyed in a hotel. The Fairmont Gold lounge is where it's at. I loved sitting on the balcony, literally just above our room, staring at the beautiful harbour, enjoying canapes and cocktails, as well as the delicious daily breakfast. I was fortunate enough to get a dip in the pool in the early am before anyone came out. It was so peaceful, the large window showing off a part of the gardens yet still giving you complete privacy. The gardens are absolutely gorgeous. Of course everything was perfectly manicured. Above the luxury of the hotel, all the staff were so kind, well mannered, helpful and welcoming. The Valet drivers and Bell hops all loved our Chucky addition dodge challenger so my husband could have easily talked to them about it all day, he loves that hotrod, yes, it has a hemispherical. 😉 The Fairmont Gold check in and concierge were all amazingly nice, informative and efficient, check in was a breeze. Our housekeeping did such a good job in our room, everything was perfect. My only complaint and it's definitely not a first world issue at all, the hairdryer sucked. I miscalculated a morning swim and when I went back to my room to shower and get dressed to go whale watching, the blow dryer was so weak, it barely did anything to dry my hair after 20 minutes.of trying so I went whale watching with partially wet hair. Luckily it was still warmish in late August and the wind dried it fairly quickly. Like I said, it's barely worth me ruining and had I had my swim a tad earlier, I wouldn't have had the issue to begin with. I cannot wait to return. We will be staying there again.

This was the most elegant hotel I have ever stayed in. From the doormen to the bellhops, they took special care of you. They were so nice and respectful of your time and needs. The breakfast was delicious. We will definitely stay here again.

Our harbor view King suite was a perfect place to relax for a couple nights. The Gold lounge was a wonderful amenity, with excellent service, kind staff, and a great selection of food and beverage. The hotel is a beautiful spot with great access on foot to many things in the Victoria harbor area.

This was definitely a unique experience! Lots of bugs to check out, not for those who fear bugs (such as myself) but still very interesting to learn about them! The staff was very kind and the tour guide was very sweet! This is definitely an attraction for younger kids so there were lots of little kids in there making it a little crowded but not bad! The gift shop had lots of options! I also got to hold one of the bugs! So that was very memorable (scary😅). Definitely check this place out! They also have a student discount which is really nice (we paid around $24 for 2 students to get in and it was a whole day pass)

We had an excellent time! Everyone was so friendly and knowledgeable. We learned new things about some of our favorite insects, and even got to hold a few. Great for kids, but a fun place to go if you're a curious adult.

The Victoria Bug Zoo was a huge hit with our kids! 🐞 From giant stick bugs to friendly tarantulas, every stop had a “Wow!” moment. The guides were amazing — patient, funny, and full of cool bug facts. The kids loved getting up close (and even holding some bugs!) while learning at the same time. It’s small, easy to explore, and packed with creepy-crawly fun. Perfect for curious little adventurers! Pretty gift bugs shop

We had a wonderful time at the bug zoo. The staff is super knowledgeable, kind and interesting. Our guide was incredibly knowledgeable and they were clearly very passionate about the bugs and their care. Would 100% come back just to hear Grey talk more about the bugs. They were fantastic. This zoo is a great short stop and a fun experience in Victoria. The gift shop has very interesting and unique items too.

The bug zoo is an adorable place that I always love visiting! The staff is super friendly and knowledgeable and being able to handle any of the bugs there is always a plus. A small, but amazing little place in Victoria. Highly recommend going — I’ve never been disappointed!

Calyn and Faith were amazing and made the experience exciting. They are 10 out of 10. I thoroughly enjoyed my time at the zoo especially with Calyn’s outstanding tour guide and will definitely return. Thank you for the great team and service.

It is very suitable for children to explore new things. There are a wide variety of insects inside, and even some of them can be taken out and held in your hands. The guide will give a very detailed explanation of the characteristics of some insects, or you can also observe them yourself. Overall, it is still very good and there are many souvenirs for sale. My suggestion is to buy tickets on-site. But this is more suitable for going on a weekend rather than during holidays because the time it occupies is very small, only about 20 to 30 minutes. If you are traveling, you can consider this as a relaxation activity rather than a main activity.

The detail that wanted to every single piece is amazing. You can see pieces from all around the world that were built and put in. There was even one place where they show you about the whole log process, but the machine doesn’t work as they’re not allowed to use it, but there’s a whole video on how that process goes. It was well. Worth our time and money. And if you wanna look at the detail, definitely go there. We spend about two hours there. That’s a good place for kids and adults to visit together. So highly recommend this location if you’re on trip to Victoria !

Loved all the miniature dioramas! I highly admire the work and dedication put into creating all these displays, especially the one of the lumbar mill with a well explained video playing of each working miniature machinery. That was far the most impressive cause the little machines in the video actually worked.

We visited Victoria and wanted to explore some of the recommended places, so we decided to check out Miniature World in downtown. While the displays were detailed and the information provided was good, we found the pricing for adults a bit too expensive for the overall experience. This attraction is definitely more enjoyable for kids than for adults. It works well as a short activity to do in Victoria, especially if you’re visiting with children, but we feel the prices could be adjusted to better match the experience.

you're in Victoria, don't miss Miniature World! This charming attraction is full of stunning, detailed displays that will spark your imagination and take you on a journey through history, fantasy, and more. It's not just beautiful - it's fascinating and fun for all ages. Whether you live here or are just visiting, I highly recommend making Miniature World part of your day. You'll be amazed at the craftsmanship and creativity on display.

What can I say that other reviews haven’t already? Miniature World truly is one of the best places to visit in Victoria. It’s a great place to bring your kids or just yourself. There are so many historical and fantastical models that you could spend all day in here looking at every detail. There are little plaques with information about the scenes and times that the models depict. The world’s smallest working sawmill is not in operation behind the glass due to fire safety regulations, but there is a very informative video from the man who made the model by hand. Such an amazing place for kids and adults of all ages.

An awesome display of various battles over the years as well as a historical diorama of Canada by train. Amazing detail in all the displays. 20 dollar entrance I think and we spent over an hour browsing the works. We'll worth it.

Space section in the beginning was mind blowing before we even entered the real miniature world, loved the history through miniatures and evolution after 1800s , wish we could have spent more time there, almost 2 hours were less, the give multi entry ticket, so make the best of this unique place.

Very nice point, free to watch the pacific coast, the boats and the seals (when they want). We loved spending time in family and walking through. Very rare in North America continent, you can leave the way and walk on the rocks.

If you’re ever in Victoria, you must take a walk to the Ogden Point Sundial. From the moment you arrive, the sights and sounds of the ocean draw you in—and it quickly becomes one of those places that remind you how beautiful nature, architecture, and simple pleasures can be.

A very beautiful and serene place. I was lucky to go close to sunset. It is very cold and windy there though.

What a beautiful place to visit! We visited on a beautiful afternoon. The parking is right next to ogden point sundial. The sundial is near the start of the walk to breakwall. You can spend any where from 30 minutes to an hour enjoying the stunning view. Ogden point is perfect for taking a stroll. You can walk right up to Breakwater Lighthouse. Enjoy the fresh breeze, and it's dog friendly.

It is such a beauty place to see Sun rise and sun set.

Really nice walk down, we saw seals (very cute).

Great place for cruise ship spotting. Recommend walking down to the lighthouse, and even going down to the terminal area for close up looks at the ships.

1. The atmosphere seems fun until you realize cold air is blowing on you through the gap in the windows and that you are looking at a parking garage diagonally across the street and a CBD shop. 2. I love almost all cauliflower recipes but did NOT like this one with dates and the green sauce. 3. The waiter asked if I wanted my appetizer first, and I said, yes, BUT - that meant after bringing my appetizer, they moved my dinner order to the back of the line, so we waited 30 minute more for our entrees!!!! 4. The salmon was ok but was a small, thin piece. This was A BIG WASTE OF MY VALUABLE VACATION MINUTES AT SUNSET TIME. They think we want to spend our valuable vacation time sitting there for 1.5 hours having cold air blow on us looking at a drug shop for lousy food! No! Go somewhere with more atmosphere, or go for a drive on Dallas Road and walk by the beach. This place was a complete waste of our evening. We were staying at the Empress in a beautiful room looking out to the water, and I wish I ate there or anywhere else.

Atmosphere and service are both excellent. The sad thing is the food is nothing special. I have come here multiple times and each time I leave disappointed with the food. Today I ordered the bistro burger, squid, and a pasta. The pasta was so strong with garlic and the burger was very dry and not juicy at all. The squid was good but not worth the price. Overall the best thing we ate were the fries. I do really enjoy the atmosphere here but sadly the food just isn’t good enough for me.

We stopped for lunch on recommendation from our pedicab tour guide. We enjoyed the outdoor seating. The service was excellent and time to prepare our orders didn’t seem unreasonable given the type of restaurant. I ordered the cheese steak sandwich which was really an excellent cut of steak on fresh made bread covered with tasty arugula. Well worth a visit.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 10 Acres Bistro - A great dining experience in downtown Victoria 10 Acres Bistro sits right in the heart of downtown Victoria, in a scenic and lively district. The space is warm and inviting, with both indoor and outdoor seating including a cozy outdoor fireplace that adds a romantic touch. The menu isn’t huge, but it features some interesting and well-crafted dishes. The food itself was very good, but what truly stood out was the exceptional service. Our server was amazing, friendly, attentive, and genuinely pleasant to talk with. She took care of everything we needed and really elevated the whole experience. A great spot for a date night or a relaxed evening out. Highly recommend.

Overall great restaurant nice laid-back atmosphere service was friendly and professional. Food is mostly sourced from local suppliers. Tasty and reasonably priced.

We had a delicious dinner here from appys, main courses and dessert. We had the Crispy Chicken Bites and the Humboldt Squid to start. Then Fanny Bay Pan fried Oysters, Chicken Parmigiano, Chicken Supreme and Prawns with Linguine. The New York Cheesecake for dessert finished off our meal nicely.

One of the best Huevos Rancheros I have had! This place was great and definitely worth a visit! My hubs had the steak sandwich and he was left craving a second plate! Would definitely visit again!

Tried Thai style noodles and Japanese style noodles. Found it little strong in flavours. Amount of protein is less, so if we need more we need to double top it. Service was good and friendly. Less crowded when we were there for lunch on a Saturday. Hence it was a relaxed lunch time.

If I have an option of giving them rating in negative I would. I always order my noodle box from every location but never got any portion issue but I ordered 2 spicy noodle box from downtown location and they both were not even half of the bowl..regretting why I ordered from this location waste of money. I paid full for portion and got half portion for both. Do better just dnt scam people. There are so many other locations in town who will serve you better than this place really disappointed not coming back.

Food is delicious but they always mess something up or they are always inconsistent. One time you will have lots of chicken and broccoli, and the next time like my most recent visit, you’re lucky if you can find one piece of chicken or broccoli. They are good when they are made good, but often they don’t get made good like the boxes we got last week. All 4 boxes were seriously a struggle to find a single piece of protein that you pay $4-$6 extra for.

Ordered Thai style chow mein, they forgot to put any sauce on it. When I brought it up they told me “it was a dry box” and didn’t come with sauce, but the description for the item literally has the word sauce in it. Super annoyed, don’t go here they’ll just mess up your order then double down on it.

Ordered the Honey Garlic beef and rice, So disgusting and disappointed!!!! It was beyond swimming in sauce almost half way up to go container. Never eating at that Location again.

I visited Noodle Box, had tried thai-Style chicken noodles .it was absolutely awesome and had an amazing experience. The environment felt very familiar and comfortable. The service was fast and the food staff were really friendly. A special thanks to the team for being such a helpful and polite staff member.

Tasty food with good spice level...their combinations are worth the visit.

Great food, wines and people. Loved the patatas bravas, boquerones and mushrooms. Wines are very well selected. Manzanilla was salty and flavorful. Wine pours are fair and as per menu, rare these days. Alice, behind the bar, who makes the excellent Vermut, was delightful and attentive while supplying the entire restaurant with drinks. A bit of Madrid in Victoria. Not to be missed!

It was an awesome experience dining at this restaurant. We enjoyed Spanish drinks and tapas. The sausage and clams were delicious, and the ceviche was excellent as well. The service was great. If anything, the outdoor seating was a little dark, but everything else was wonderful!

Amber and the team are top notch. Food was delicious and all in an upbeat atmosphere. Love the tribute to 90s metal bands on their cocktail list. That is impressive!

My favorite restaurant in Victoria now! The ceviche was unique and delicious. It was fresh and light and I couldn’t stop eating with the crunchy texture of the potato chips the acidic salsa verde and the scallops and cod. For once at a restaurant I felt they gave a generous portion of bread to dip in the broth of the shrimp or clams. It wasn’t just a half slice of sourdough bread it was half a loaf of focaccia bread. Thank you! I hate having to pay another $4 for more bread to dip the broth in at other places. This place gives generous portion of bread. The clams were great and shrimp was cooked perfect. Soaking the broth up with focaccia and knowing there were more slices was great. Service was great. Ambience was great for a nice lunch with my fiancé and I. I wasn’t hungry and still finished everything. Only complaint is more of personal preference, the flan doesn’t need the peach addition. I’m a fan of just flan. Will definitely come again when in Victoria. Thanks Bodega team!

I liked the meatballs a lot. I also liked that the potato chips were not salty!! There were no salty things great

Just love this place. My daughter and I just discovered that all our fave plates are on the discounted happy hour menu. Just the cherry on the top. Consistently delicious food, lovely service and lovely space. Last time we were there it was packed and we found a table on the heated patio. They provided blankets as well. Highly recommend

Literally my favorite place in Victoria!! Highly recommend coming here- they have amazing dishes and I’m always blown away every time we come. Beef Carpaccio is probably the best I’ve had and I eat quite a bit because I’m obsessed! Espresso martini was delightful and their servers are very knowledgeable with their wine. If you’re in Victoria, definitely stop by and try a few of their tapas!!!

Great hotel near everything. The hotel is older, so do not go in expecting a modern, renovated building. You are paying for the premium location. This was not an issue to us at all, rooms were comfy and a/c cool. Our only suggestion is it would have been nice to have a bottle or two of water to refill. We were traveling so we didn’t have anything on us, so when we arrived, we had to use coffee cups. Overall, a great stay with friendly service.

Our stay was amazing. The room was clean and has all the basic necessities. The staff were friendly and accommodating (Paul, Jesse and Batman). It was raining the day we checked out and they dropped us off at the bus station as a favor. I would stay here again next time and I highly recommend this hotel to everyone visiting Victoria.

We just had an incredible stay at Chateau Victoria! From the moment we arrived, we were welcomed with warmth and hospitality. A special shoutout to Herb, who truly made our experience unforgettable. His cheerful attitude and fun personality brought so much joy to our stay. He went above and beyond to accommodate our needs and always had a smile on his face. The hotel itself is lovely, with comfortable rooms and nice views. But it was Herb's exceptional service that really stood out. We felt like VIPs the entire time! Thank you, Chateau Victoria, for such an amazing experience. We can’t wait to come back! -The Castles

Room was decent, bed was comfortable. Had AC Pillows werent great this would be my only complaint. Would highly consider staying here again. Their top floor bar/restaurant has great views and is worth checking out.

We always have a very comfortable stay and find the staff very welcoming, kind and accommodating. This is our go to hotel anytime we are in Victoria for an overnight stay. The rooms are clean and well appointed and the fragrance to their signature shampoo/conditioner/bodywash/lotion is to die for!

Locally owned and operated. Downtown Victoria, walking distance to all sites, cost relative to location is good. All front desk staff and cleaning staff were warm, welcoming, personable, respectful and very helpful. Establishment is very clean, room was clean, great bed, comfortable clean bedding. I will stay here again

The hotel was very clean, and the food was delicious. It was right in the middle of downtown, so it was easy to look around nearby. The staff were very kind, and I’d love to come back here again.