What to do in Vancouver Island

Activities, attractions and tours

Tofino showing tranquil scenes and a lake or waterhole
Tofino showing tranquil scenes and a lake or waterhole
British Columbia Parliament Building showing night scenes, a fountain and heritage architecture
Port Alberni featuring landscape views, tranquil scenes and a sunset
Englishman River Falls Provincial Park featuring forests and a bridge

Vancouver Island Attractions

Let Expedia help you experience the best that Vancouver Island has to offer! If you’re looking for fun itinerary ideas, we can provide you with a list of the top sightseeing attractions, as well as helping you to find unmissable activities. Whether you’re travelling with your family, planning a romantic trip with your loved one, or visiting on business, we’ll make it easy to plan an unforgettable holiday that checks all the boxes.

Activities and Tours

Vancouver Island is crammed with must-see places to visit and things to do. We can help you decide where to stay, and make it a breeze to explore the surrounding areas with our guides on where to go, what to see and when to see it. No matter how long your stay, it’s easy to find places of interest in Vancouver Island to make sure that you enjoy your experience to the fullest and don’t miss a thing. Leave the local knowledge to us and leave the hassle behind.

If you’re planning a visit, why not check out our handy guides to places of interest in the area? You can browse lists of things to do, learn about the most popular attractions, and get help with planning the details of your trip. Expedia makes it easy for you to check out all the top sights.

Vancouver Island Attractions

Expedia has something for everyone, so whether you’re planning to get active on a summer holiday, put a spring in your step with a romantic rendezvous, or pamper yourself with a leisurely winter trip, you’ll find plenty of attractions to keep you entertained. In addition to scheduling local tours, booking reservations and scoring advance event tickets, Expedia makes it easy to book your flight, hotel and rental car in advance, all on one consolidated travel itinerary, making for hassle-free travel and freeing you up to explore the sights of Vancouver Island.

Looking for things to do can be time consuming, but we can take the hassle out of planning your holiday. Whether you’re looking to get active in the great outdoors, sample the cuisine or catch up with the vibrant local culture, our guides to Vancouver Island attractions ensure that you’ll have a successful trip, whatever the season.


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Top places to visit

1. Victoria Harbour

Come to Victoria Harbour to experience the spirit of the city at its most dynamic. Get a sense of the area’s modern atmosphere and culture as well as its history. Watch street performers flaunt their skills, visit some of Victoria’s most significant buildings and browse the markets for the perfect souvenir. All this against the backdrop of the sparkling waves, topped with vessels of all kinds.
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Victoria Harbour showing a bay or harbour and heritage architecture

2. Butchart Gardens

The bright colors and glorious fountains of Butchart Gardens make it look like the set of an inventive fantasy film. Watch fireworks explode into colors as vivid as the flowers growing beneath them and enjoy concerts on the sloping, grassy lawn. Boat tours, carousels and magical nighttime illuminations add to the appeal of this popular Victoria attraction.
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Butchart Gardens featuring flowers and a garden

3. Victoria Fisherman's Wharf

At Fisherman’s Wharf you can feed seals, explore a picturesque floating village, enjoy fresh seafood, join whale-watching tours and watch a unique water “ballet.”
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Victoria Fisherman\'s Wharf which includes a bay or harbor and a coastal town as well as a family

4. Chesterman Beach

Grab a board and tackle the gentle breakers at Chesterman Beach or sit back and look on as rookies and experts surf the waves together. The 1.7-mile (2.7-kilometer) white sandy expanse is a popular place for learning how to surf. It's also where you can walk to an island, see migrating whales and explore tidal pools for marine life.
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Chesterman Beach which includes landscape views, general coastal views and a sandy beach

5. Pacific Rim National Park Reserve

The Pacific Rim National Park Reserve is a natural and cultural wonder with rainforests, beaches and history. It is the main attraction on Vancouver Island, offering something for every type of traveler, from campers and sunbathers to history buffs. Camp and hike in the park, which stretches across more than 123,000 acres (50,000 hectares) of picturesque landscape and ocean.
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Pacific Rim National Park Reserve featuring general coastal views and a sandy beach

6. Royal BC Museum

At the Royal BC Museum you can see totem poles and dinosaur footprints, learn about British Columbia’s human and natural history, and visit two of the oldest buildings in the province. Founded in 1886, the museum joined forces with the BC Archives in 2003 to create one of Canada’s most revered cultural museums.
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Royal BC Museum which includes interior views as well as an individual female

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What to do in Vancouver Island


Discover the most popular places to visit in Vancouver Island

Explore areas of Vancouver Island

Victoria featuring a city, street scenes and a house

Downtown Victoria

4.5/5(1,898 area reviews)

Downtown Victoria boasts a lively atmosphere with movie theatres, stage theatres, hotels, and various dining options. Explore tourist attractions like Bastion Square, Centennial Square, and the historic Chinatown.

Downtown Victoria
Victoria Harbour showing a bay or harbour and heritage elements

Inner Harbour

The captivating waterfront views and popular shops are just a few highlights of Inner Harbour. Make a stop by Victoria Harbour or Victoria Clipper Ferry Terminal while you're exploring the area.

Inner Harbour
Victoria featuring a coastal town and a marina

James Bay

4.5/5(1,099 area reviews)

You can explore vibrant attractions like Beacon Hill Park, Fisherman's Wharf Park, and the Royal British Columbia Museum in this area near Victoria's Inner Harbour. Accessible via Belleville Street and other main roads, it also offers a HeliJet terminal and a US ferries terminal.

James Bay
Victoria_UniversityofVictoria_6072293-3

Saanich East

4/5(1 area review)

While visiting Saanich East, you might make a stop by sights like Cadboro Bay and Cedar Hill Golf Course.

Saanich East
EyeEm Custom Shoots Q4 2018

Esquimalt

5/5(2 area reviews)

Southern tip of Vancouver Island hosts Esquimalt, a municipality with a rich naval history and heritage sites like Craigflower farmhouse and schoolhouse. Explore the area along the historic Esquimalt and Nanaimo Railway.

Esquimalt
C51DMA Viewpoint looking towards suburbs of Victoria BC Canada. Fairfield. Sunny calm summer morning. Calm seas blue skies

Fairfield

4.5/5(48 area reviews)

Residential community featuring low-rise apartments and single-family homes, Fairfield boasts ocean waters perfect for wind surfing and para-sailing. Enjoy scenic views at Clover Point, and explore Cook Street Village's cafés, boutiques, and grocery stores.

Fairfield

 

Looking for fun things to do nearby? Check things to do near me to find and book the best things to do, fun activities, and top attractions wherever you happen to be.

 


 

Day trip destinations from Vancouver Island

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