Solo Travel in Victoria, BC
Solo travel is a formative experience, and it’s difficult to express how life changing and empowering it can be. Travelling solo doesn’t mean you’ll be alone, but it will require you to push yourself beyond your internal social barriers to connect with people from around the world. Travelling on your own also means you have to get comfortable with yourself (which can be harder than you’d think), but opens up the opportunity for self-discovery. Victoria is best enjoyed at your own pace. Make each adventure your own with our guide to solo travel in Victoria, BC.
Getting here | Join a tour | Stay at a hostel or go retro | Eat at a bar or a community table | Embrace your alone time | Routines are key | You are the boss | Spread your wings and fly
Getting to Victoria, BC
Simply put, getting here is part of the adventure. One that can be as relaxed or as exciting as you make it, whether that’s weaving through rugged Pacific islands or soaring above them.
Getting here
According to Culture Trip, Victoria is one of the top 10 cities in Canada to travel to solo. It’s easily accessible from Vancouver and Seattle by seaplane, airplane, ferry or helicopter. It’s also known as a relatively safe destination for travellers. As the capital of BC, Victoria has some pretty awesome historic infrastructure and you’ll also be pleasantly surprised by how warm and friendly the locals are! Victoria is also one of Canada’s most walkable and bike-friendly cities, which means it’s easy to explore with your own two feet and heartbeat.
Join a tour
If you’re travelling solo, a great way to meet fellow travellers is by booking a tour. It’s a fantastic way to explore the city, learn from a local guide and connect with other travellers who have common interests.
Whale watching
If you want to get out into the wild, book a whale and wildlife watching tour to get acquainted with Victoria’s real locals. From Victoria's Inner Harbour, you'll set sail out onto the tranquil waters of the Salish Sea, where you might encounter Humpbacks, Grey whales, Orcas, dolphins, porpoises, sea lions, and more. Your odds of seeing a whale are over 95%, but many of Victoria's top provider's even offer guaranteed sightings, meaning that if you don't see a whale on your tour, they'll take you out again for free. You’ll be on a boat for anywhere from 3-4 hours or more, so take the opportunity to strike up a conversation with your fellow whale watchers and swap information to share pictures later.
Photo credit: Brendon Bissonnette via Eagle Wing Whale & Wildlife Watching Tours
Walking tours
Looking for an upbeat way to #ExploreVictoria? A walking tour will give you an in-depth view of the city’s local scene, as well as great views along the way. If you’re a foodie, try A Taste of Victoria Food Tours and bond over gourmet olive oils or a mutual love of matcha. If you’re a culture vulture, check out Discovery Walks History Tours or explore Canada’s oldest Chinatown. Want a mix? Perhaps the Eat Like A Canadian Tour with Off The Eaten Track has your name on it.
Bike tours
Join a bike tour to cover a lot of ground in Victoria in a morning or afternoon. You'll casually work your way through cozy neighbourhoods and stunning landmarks, with opportunities to stop, learn, and ask questions about what makes this place so great. The Pedaler Victoria offers a range of tours from between 2-5 hours, each with a unique theme so you’re able to choose one that suits your interests!
Local tip: Victoria's brewery scene is one of the best in the country, we recommend the Hoppy Hour Guided Tour to savour some of our best sips.
Tour the great outdoors
Fresh air and a shared respect for nature are sure ways to connect with like-minded people. Although Victoria is a city with a vibrant urban centre, we have everything from coastal rainforests and rugged shorelines to well-maintained, sensible trails at our fingertips.
Are you a hiking enthusiast? Join a guided hike led by Rainforest Tours to explore the off-the-beaten-track areas of Victoria in a small group setting. Channel your inner naturalist with Island Trails Ecotours, learning about the flora and fauna of our region. Or, join the folks at Vancouver Island Hikes, Bites + Beer, where, you guessed it, you'll pair a breathtaking hike with a delicious local bite and a refreshing pint!
Paddling tours
Another option is a guided paddling tour. Discover another side of Victoria with Ocean River Sports & Adventures. You’ll explore small the Inner Harbour, pocket beaches, and more as you connect with the coastal energy of the island. It’s truly an experience for the soul. Or try your hand at paddleboarding; the guides at South Island SUP will teach you everything you need to know as you set out on a tour of your choosing, ranging from sunrises to full moon tours to wildlife sightings, and even bioluminescence tours.
Stay at a hostel or go retro
Ocean Island Inn Backpackers Suites
As strange as it might seem to share a room with one or more strangers at first, we guarantee hostels are a pretty great way to meet people and have some fun. Ocean Island Inn even has a family-style dinner so you can meet the rest of the hostel guests. Get tips on where to go and what to see in Victoria, or even make plans as a group if you’d like to buddy up for your next adventure.
Hotel Zed
If a hostel environment’s not your style, go budget-friendly at one of Victoria’s many unique hotels. We recommend Hotel Zed, a colourful, retro-themed hotel with a pool, hot tub, sauna, great backyard outdoors space (perfect for morning yoga), a great restaurant on site, and Grandma's Basement - a groovy retro lounge featuring a pool table and TVs. Best of all, you can choose to borrow a bike to get downtown (about a 15 minute ride) or even use their roller skates or longboards.
Eat at the bar or community table
Going out to eat by yourself doesn’t have to be an anxiety-inducing ordeal. Instead of grabbing a table for one, head for the bar or ask to be seated at a community table. Food and drinks unite people, especially when they’re flowing, so don’t be afraid to get in there!
The Drake Eatery
We recommend The Drake Eatery, a cool, sprawling local pub where you can order a pint and some snacks while mingling with others nearby. The Drake has a European-style system for ordering drinks (order at the bar, no waiters) so you can take turns getting rounds with your newfound friends. The Drake feels like a community pub in the truest form, offering a quite space to encourage conversation between guests, making this a great spot to strike up a conversation at the bar.
Garrick's Head Pub
For dinner, visit the historic Garrick’s Head Pub in Bastion Square. A locals’ favourite watering hole, the Garrick’s Head has 50 craft brews on tap and a great menu of elevated pub classics. Opt to sit up front by the big windows where you can watch the world go by, or tuck into the back area, a cozy nook that was actually the original pub before expansion and renovations a few years ago.
Local tip: Use the restroom… only if you dare! Bastion Square was used for public hangings in the 1800’s, and the condemned were treated to one final meal at the Garrick’s Head Pub. Although it’s been a long time since the last reported paranormal activity, the basement washrooms are said to be haunted by the spirits of those hanged in the square. If you meet friends downstairs, don't be surprised if they ghost you!
Photo credit: Christian Tisdale Photography
Embrace your alone time
Oak Bay Beach Hotel
The coastal magic of Vancouver Island is best experienced in solo serenity. If you feel like splurging for a night or more, take in the energy of the coast in a seaside room at the Oak Bay Beach Hotel. Allow yourself to be fully engulfed in the wonders of the island at the Boathouse Spa’s incredible ocean-side mineral baths, which pair brilliantly with a spa treatment (who doesn't love an oceanside massage).
10 Acres Bistro
If you love embracing the local culinary scene, enjoy a locally sourced meal and wine pairing at 10 Acres Bistro. Located on Courtney Street, across from the Magnolia Hotel, 10 Acres has established itself as a go to spot for locals and travellers alike in search of a farm-to-table meal. The menu at 10 Acres is sourced largely from their own 10-acre farm on the Saanich Peninsula; whatever they can't grow themselves is thoughtfully sourced from local producers. With food as rich in story as it is in flavour, this is certainly a meal that'll get you talking.
Russell Books
Nobody wants to be rushed through an amazing bookshop, especially if said shop has two stories of books stacked floor-to-ceiling. Make the most of your solo experience and take as long as you like at Russell Books, who specialise in rare, used, and out-of-print books. Russell Books, located on Fort Street, is Canada's largest independent bookstore, which means every book you buy is supporting local. Think of this as your favourite book nook, just bigger. Pop in and check out their wide selection of new and used books, stationary, and souvenirs.
Routines are key
Cozy coffee shops
If you live for community, Victoria is the kind of city where you will likely be greeted with familiarity and warmth (and maybe even by name) on your second or third visit to a coffee shop. So, if you plan to be here for a few days, consider establishing a few daily steps in your routine. There’s nothing like a familiar face and a few friendly words to start your day off on the right note. Who knows, your local barista might even volunteer some insider tips on what’s happening around the city. After all, Pacific Northwest coffee culture is as warm as the brews we serve.
Photo credit: @locallovesvi
Exercise
There, we said it. But hear us out; exercise is not only good for your health (and immune system) while travelling. But if you attend a gym, rec centre or yoga studio, chances are you’ll meet some pretty cool people. You might even meet some people who would be willing to share some of their local knowledge with you…or better yet, show you! A lot of local fitness facilities even offer great deals on trials and rentals for equipment you didn’t travel with.
On a day when you don’t care to venture outside, a climbing gym is a fun activity – and rumour has it that climbers are some of the friendliest people around! Crag X Climbing Gym is right downtown, and open late on weekdays. It’s a perfect alternative to a night out on the town if that’s just not your thing.
You are the boss
Make it your own
You don’t always get to be the boss in your day-to-day life, but when you’re travelling solo, one of the greatest upsides is that you make the plan. You can be unapologetically selfish about it, because you’re flying {hot and} solo. You don’t have to compromise on sites to see, or places to linger. You don’t have to feel bad for jumping out of bed early or sleeping in if you had a few glasses of wine the night before. So, indulge in a spa treatment if it’s what your heart desires, or explore local shops that you would never drag your significant other into. The experience is truly your own, so take advantage of it!
Spread your wings and fly/h2>
Start planning
We hope we’ve inspired you to get out here and get wild. So ditch those friends who aren’t ready to commit to travel, throw caution to the wind, and book your first solo trip… because travel is the only thing that makes you richer.
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