Top 10 Most Instagrammable Places in Victoria
Tag #ExploreVictoria
2. The Butchart Gardens
With 55 acres of beautiful gardens, a traditional carousel, gelato in the Italian Gardens and afternoon tea in their romantic restaurant The Dining Room, there is no shortage of opportunities to capture your next Instagram post at The Butchart Gardens.
The charming steps in the photo below lead into the crown jewel of Butchart Gardens; the Sunken Garden. Formerly a limestone quarry, this is where Jennie Butchart, over a century ago, envisioned landscaping a delightful garden in its place. Her vision flourished, to say the least – delightful is an understatement!
3. Craigdarroch Castle
The epitome of heritage riches and sheer elegance, Craigdarroch Castle rises above rooftops in Victoria as a sort of "bonanza" castle built in 1887 by coal baron and industrialist Robert Dunsmuir. At the time, it's beauty and magnitude was meant as an announcement to the world that Dunsmuir was the richest and most important man in all of Canada. Now operating as a Museum, the castle has been meticulously restored to give visitors a glimpse of what the priviledged life looked like in the 1890's.
Be sure to check out their 21 Treasures Tour, commencing June 1st and taking place every Wednesday. 21 treasured artefacts lie in the Castle with fascinating stories to tell - and this tour goes through all of them!
4. Dallas Road
Whether you walk, cycle or drive, Dallas Road is one of the most scenic spots in the city. Follow the coastline and discover driftwood-covered beaches, shallow bays and unparalleled views of the snowcapped Olympic Mountains.
Take a walk out to the Breakwater and see the intricate Coast Salish First Nations artwork painted on either side regaling the tale of the lək̓ʷəŋən creation story. Discover one of the world’s tallest totem poles at the entrance to Beacon Hill Park and find the beginning of the Trans-Canada Highway at Mile 0. You’ll often see display kites being flown at Clover Point as well as kite surfers and paragliders taking advantage of the ocean breeze.
Insider Tip: While walking Dallas, keep an eye out for the staircase to the ocean, pictured below. This photogenic gem can be found very close to Ogden Point Breakwater.
5. Beacon Hill Park
Beacon Hill Park is the crowning jewel of Victoria’s public park system. With 200-acres of urban oasis and manicured gardens, it's no wonder it's one of the most photogenic spots in the city!
Insider Tip: Keep an eye out for The Moss Lady, an incredible 35-foot long installation by artist Dale Doebert. Peaceful and serene, she blends effortlessly in with the surrounding nature and is a true spectacle to stumble upon.
6. Juan de Fuca Trail
The Juan de Fuca Marine Trail is definitely a bucket-list-worthy hike. The 47-kilometre trail offers scenic beauty, marine and wildlife viewing and roaring surf along the route with numerous suspension bridges and wooden boardwalks. There are countless beautiful spots to take a stunning photo, including Mystic, Sandcut and Botanical Beach.
7. Fisherman's Wharf
Just a short walk from the Inner Harbour, discover these colourful floating houseboats! Check out local stores, boutiques, restaurants and businesses, and pose for a photo op with the colourful backdrop. When you get hungry from all of that picture taking, make sure to drop into Barb's Fish and Chips for a quintessentially Victorian lunch.
Insider Tip: A great event to check out Fisherman's Wharf is just around the corner: Ocean's Week Victoria! There will be interactive activities set up around Fisherman's Wharf to help discover and educate on ways to keep our oceans healthy for generations to come.
8. Hatley Castle
Overlooking the ocean and surrounded by manicured lawns and colourful gardens, we can see why Hatley Castle is a consistent Instagram favourite. Home to Royal Roads University, this opulent 40-room mansion was initially built for industrialist and politician, James Dunsmuir. The property is surrounded by three gardens: a Rose garden, Italian garden and Japanese garden each with distinctive plants and features.
Don’t be surprised if the grounds feel familiar even if you’ve not visited before – the location has been in numerous television and movies including Arrow, Smallville, X-Men and Deadpool.
9. Fan Tan Alley
At its narrowest point, Fan Tan Alley is only 0.9 metres (35 in) wide, so there’s no wonder “the narrowest street in North America” is one of the city’s most Instagrammed spots! Named after a gambling game that was popular in the 1800s this area was a gambling and opium hotspot, a reminder of Victoria’s notorious past. The alley is now lined with quirky boutique stores and ice cream shops.
Just around the corner from Fan Tan Alley on Fisgard Street, be sure to visit the Gates of Harmonious Interest, modeled after the entrance gateway to the famous Dunhuang Caves in northwestern China.
10. Lower Johnson Street, aka. "LoJo"
For all your shopping and Instagram needs, we've been loving Lower Johnson Street – some like to call it, LoJo. Lined with picture-perfect, colourfully restored heritage buildings, independent fashion shops, and aromatic coffee, what more could we want?
Tag #ExploreVictoria
Want to be featured in our next Instagram roundup? Share your photos on Twitter and Instagram with the hashtag #ExploreVictoria. We’ll share our favourites on Destination Greater Victoria’s official social media channels and in the Going Local blog!
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