Victoria from the UK: what a trip really costs
What a day costs in Victoria, when to go, the visa for British travellers and the sights not to miss. Every figure comes from Trip720's checked data, with its source. Updated 26 Oct 2026.
Plan my Victoria tripDay to day in Victoria, per person
| Style | Food | With transport |
|---|---|---|
| Street food and markets | £26 | £29 |
| A balanced mix | £44 | £47 |
| Mostly restaurants | £62 | £65 |
- Local transport: about £3 a day. Taxi: £2 to start, then £1.23 a km.
- Cooking for yourself: about £13 a day for food.
- Tipping: about 15% where service is good.
Your stay, flights and activities come on top: the planner prices them for your dates. Sources: livingcost.org, bctransit.com, ptboard.bc.ca; in GBP at today's rate.
When to go
7°F
7°M
9°A
12°M
15°J
17°J
21°A
21°S
18°O
13°N
9°D
7°
The most pleasant months are May to September. July is the driest month (18 mm of rain) and November the wettest (154 mm).
Bars: rain each month; green: the most pleasant months. Numbers: average daytime high. Source: NASA POWER climatology.
Best time to visit Canada, place by placeCompare: United States or Canada · Canada or New Zealand
Visa for British travellers
Electronic Travel Authorization
Fee: CA$7 a person.
Allow at least 7 days before you fly.
Official source: gov.uk, checked 2026-10-26. Rules change: your plan checks your own passport when you build it.
Not to miss in Victoria
Craigdarroch Castlecastle · a couple of hoursVictorian mansion in Rockland, a 25-minute walk or bus 11/14 up Fort Street
Royal British Columbia Museummuseum · half a dayOn the Inner Harbour next to the Legislature; First Peoples and Natural History galleries
British Columbia Parliament Buildingslandmark · a couple of hoursFree guided tours most days; come back after dark when the building is outlined in lights
Butchart Gardensgarden · half a dayAbout 20 km north of downtown at Brentwood Bay; bus 75 or a tour; summer evenings have fireworks and lights
- Inner Harbourharbour · a couple of hours
Waterfront walk past the Empress Hotel, buskers and float planes; the Parliament Buildings are lit at night
Beacon Hill Parkpark · a couple of hoursChildren's farm with goats, peacocks, Mile 0 of the Trans-Canada Highway and a waterfront path on Dallas Road
Chinatown and Fan Tan Alleyneighbourhood · a couple of hoursFisgard Street; look for the Gates of Harmonious Interest and Canada's narrowest street
Abkhazi Gardengarden · a couple of hoursSmall heritage garden in Fairfield with a teahouse for afternoon tea; by donation
- Whale-watching tour from the Inner Harbourexperience · half a day
Orcas, humpbacks and grey whales; best April to October; choose a covered boat rather than a Zodiac with young children
- Cycle the Galloping Goose Regional Trailexperience · half a day
Rail trail from Wharf and Pandora across the Johnson Street bridge towards Sooke; bike hire downtown
From our research of travel guides; ticket prices from Tiqets when we found them. Photos: Wikimedia Commons, free licences.
Questions travellers ask
How much does a day in Victoria cost?
Food and getting around come to about £29 a person a day eating street food, £47 with a balanced mix and £65 eating mostly in restaurants, before your stay and activities.
When is the best time to visit Victoria?
The most pleasant months are May to September. July is the driest month (18 mm of rain) and November the wettest (154 mm); daytime highs run from 7 to 21 °C over the year.
Do British travellers need a visa for Canada?
Electronic Travel Authorization, CA$7. Checked on gov.uk on 2026-10-26; rules change, so check again before you book.
What should I not miss in Victoria?
Craigdarroch Castle, Royal British Columbia Museum, British Columbia Parliament Buildings, Butchart Gardens, Inner Harbour.
Your whole Victoria trip, priced from your door
Trip720 adds the flights from the UK, the stays, transfers, food, activities and the visa for your dates and budget, home to home.
Plan my Victoria trip