With not only the city itself having plenty to see and do, but the whole of Vancouver Island also having plenty to experience and the waters around the city offering some of the best whale and Orca watching opportunities in North America, the port of Victoria is one built around excursions.

But just what are the top 10 Victoria shore excursions? That is just what we answer in this list, which is based on our experience of visiting the port on a cruise holiday and the research we did before visiting there.

Shore Excursions In Victoria, BC

Butchart Gardens

If you arrive into the city in the morning, or have a full day there, there can only be one option to top a list such as this one.

If we had more time in the city, we would have chosen to visit the beautiful gardens of Butchart, a National Historic Site of Canada and one of the country’s top tourist destinations.

Your visit will see you take a coach through the city and then be give plenty of free time to explore on your own once you get there.

Whilst seeing the flowers of the gardens is the biggest draw for many but even if you are there at night and not too interested in flowers, the gardens are illuminated with coloured lights and still makes for an impressive experience.

Wildlife Boat Tour

This is a great option for those who love wildlife and nature and who also only have a limited time in port.

It is also the excursion that we did when we visited the city, and we are so glad that we did!

You take a short walk from your cruise ship to board a modern boat and then head out to some small islands home to seals and sea lions.

From there we headed out of the to where a humpback whale had been spotted and not only did, we got to see it but we also saw it breach.

The highlight of our boat ride was not only getting close to a large pod of Orca’s, but we also got to see them hunting a seal, with the seal using the hull of our catamaran as a hiding place.

Whilst you may not get as lucky as we did, you are sure to see some of the local wildlife that calls the waters around Vancouver Island home.

Craigdarroch Castle

Craigdarroch Castle is the sort of castle you would expect to see in a holiday horror movie or an Agatha Christie like whodunnit, but it is actually an 1800’s stately home that sits in the heart of the city.

You can explore its 39 preserved rooms and then head up the 87 steps to the top of one of its towners for incredible views out over the city itself.

Most excursions heading there will also take you around the city, past many of its iconic sights and some will even drop you off downtime allowing you to explore on your own.

Afternoon Tea

Despite been a little under 5,000 miles from the beating heart of Victoria London, the city has retained many aspects of Victorian life over the past century or so and includes int fondness of an Afternoon Tea, the English classic meal including sandwiches, cakes, scones and of course lots of tea.

These can be enjoyed in local cafes, some of the cities luxurious hotels and even at the iconic Butchart Gardens with many excursions on a short tour before dropping you off for a meal to remember.

City Tour

If you are only in the city for a short period of time, as so many unfortunately are when docking there, a guided bus tour is the best way to as much of Victoria as you possibly can do.

Highlights of the city include Chinatown, Fisherman’s Wharf, the Legislative Buildings, the Inner Harbour, its Old Town, Beacon Hill Park, Antique Row and the Waterfront.

Night Tour

A lot of those visiting the city will only be in port for a few hours and if like us, that is late afternoon into the evening and you are visiting early or late in the Alaskan cruise season, you will be there mostly at dusk and at night.

That can limit the options you have for excursions but one that is specifically designed around you is a guided night tour of the city.

Many of the cities most famous buildings are well lit at night and these tours take you past those that are before heading to some of the most interesting districts of Vicotria including Beacon Hill Park, China Town, the Parliament Buildings and the Empress Hotel.

Horse Drawn Trolley

The city of Victoria really plays into its Victorian heritage, unsurprising really, so it could be argued that the best way to see the city is onboard a traditional horse and carriage.

These large trolley-like carriages take you and fellow guests around the highlights of the city including the inner harbour, Beacon Hill park and the incredible architecture of Victoria’s historical buildings.

Island Tour

Many of those who visit the port will only have a half day to explore and if you want to see as much of Vancouver Island and possible, and organised island tour is arguably the only way to do it.

From the city’s Fisherman’s Wharf to the Beacon Hill Park and from the rugged coastline of the Pacific Rim Highway to the stunning natural beauty of the seaside town of Tofino, there is lots to experience on the island and for those in port for a full day, an island tour is the way to take it all in.

Vancouver Seaplane Journey

For this one, you will need a big budget, a passport (maybe even a visa depending on your passport) and a long stay in dock but if you would prefer to visit the iconic city of Vancouver, why not do it in style.

Seaplanes, or floatplanes if your prefer, set off from near the cruise dock and land you right in the heart of Vancouver allowing you take in views of Vancouver island and the skyscrapers of Vancouver.

You will then have free time to explore the city before heading back to the island in time for sail away.

Food and Drink Tours

Canada has a thriving street food scene and Victoria is no different but it can be difficult to know which stall is the best to visit.

From local delicacies such as Poutine to global food staples, there is something for everybody and by taking a walking tour of the best local cafes, bakeries and street food stalls, you can try them all.

If you prefer to try local tipples whilst on holiday, there are plenty of opportunities to do just that including visiting the Cowichan Valley and a winery or head to a number of distilleries where you can try local whisky.

Lastly, there is a decent craft beer scene on the island and many offer the chance to tour their micro breweries and see how the drinks are made before trying a tipple or two for yourself.

Victoria ShoreEx

The city of Victoria, on Vancouver Islands in British Columbia is often used as a short stopping off port for ships heading between Alaska and Seattle but that tends to mean that you only have a limited time in port.

If that sums up your visit there or if you have already been there a number of times and want to see what more is on offer, this is the list for you as we take a look at the best of Victoria shoreex options.