Vic West
Nature meets city in Vic West, an urban neighbourhood with an unrivaled connection to the outdoors. It’s a place where fine dining and paddleboarding go hand-in-hand. This is a great neighbourhood for active travellers who are looking to enjoy outdoor experiences without sacrificing city amenities.
About Vic West
At a glance
Just across the Johnson Street bridge from Downtown Victoria lies Vic West. This neighbourhood has a strong residential vibe, but puts the city's best attractions, dining, and shopping just a short walk away, a sort of best of both worlds that offers an escape from the energy of the city, while still feeling connected to it. Vic West is famed for its walking and cycling paths and breathtaking Inner Harbour views, perfect for catching sunsets or watching the twinkling lights of the city's architecture in the evening.
What it feels like to be here
Active and energetic! Runners jog along the Songhees Walkway, cyclists pedal a network of bike paths, paddlers, harbour ferries, and seaplanes scuttle across the Inner Harbour, every where you look there's always something on the go. Vic West might feel active, but it never feels chaotic. With parklands and beaches a plenty, there are countless opportunities to duck into a space and make it feel your own. Vic West is perfect for on-the-go travellers looking to stay active while exploring the city's top sights.
When Vic West shines
With an east facing coastline, Vic West serves up some of the Victoria's best sunrises every morning, as pastel hues paint the sky above the city. During the daytime, it's a favourite for water lovers, whether paddleboarding the Gorge Waterway, or diving head first into it! In the evening, you'll feel things slow down, as Vic West offers brilliant views of Downtown Victoria, as the city's landmarks begin to sparkle. Whenever you plan to visit, Vic West is ready to welcome you with something special.
Songhees Walkway
A local favourite walkway, the Songhees Walkway spans from the Johnson Street Bridge, following the Vic West coastline, all the way into Esquimalt. It's known for it's stunning views, greenspaces, and pocket beaches. The walkway is a favourite for wildlife spotting, as well as watching the seaplanes land, and cruise ships dock across the harbour. During the evening, it offers spectacular views of Downtown Victoria and its iconic landmarks when they're illuminated by twinkling lights. As you wander the path, restaurants, breweries, and cafes invite you to slow down along the way.
What you’ll love doing
Songhees Tours
Departing from Victoria’s Inner Harbour, Songhees Tours offers canoe and walking tours that cross the harbour into Vic West. These immersive cultural experiences follow the shorelines and city spaces where generations of Lək̓ʷəŋən People have gathered, travelled, and shared knowledge.
On the tour, you’ll be invited to see Victoria as it was before the arrival of Western settlers, learning stories of the Lək̓ʷəŋən People, their ancestral lands, their culture, the lasting impacts of colonization, and their enduring connection to this place. Led by Lək̓ʷəŋən guides, Songhees Tours offer a powerful and moving Indigenous experience that deepens understanding of the land and the people who have stewarded it for many generations.
South Island SUP
Rent paddleboards from South Island SUP, who'll meet you at the Vic West place of your choosing. A popular launch pad is at the dock in Banfield Park, which provides easy access to the water and phenomenal paddling along the Upper Harbour and Gorge Waterway. Paddling the Gorge is a relaxing and easy way to enjoy an on-the-water experience, the protected Waterway means tranquil waters which are perfect for first-timers. The Waterway offers surprisingly warm water at low tide, perfect for a post paddle dip.
South Island SUP
Victoria Harbour Ferries
If you've walked the Songhees Walkway, you've watched the Harbour Ferries sailing back and forth across the Harbour. Pop down to the dock just below the Delta, or ar Songhees Landing, Dockside Green or the Railyards, and catch a ferry to one of more than a dozen stops around the Harbour. The Victoria Harbour Ferry Company also offers tours of the Inner Harbour and Gorge Waterway. This experience is a great opportunity to see some of the city's top sights from a different vantage point - who knows, you might see some aquatic critters too!
Victoria Harbour Ferry Company Ltd.Banfield Park
Banfield Park is a local favourite for warm, sunny days. The park is a testament to the neighbourhood's active vibe, sporting tennis courts, beach access, gardens, pathways, a playground, and possibly the city's favourite swimming dock. Nearby, you'll find tucked away eateries, which make it a perfect spot for a picnic. Swimming is always in season at Banfield Park, during summer months, its a favourite local hang, but even during winter months, it's a favourite spot for a cold plunge. For those travelling with kids, the park offers free-to-use lifejackets.
Banfield Park
What to do in Vic West
Vic West is active by nature. It's a place where you'll paddle alongside harbour seals, cycle through tree-lined pathways, and dive headfirst into the calm waters of the Salish Sea. It's perfect place for those looking to chart their own adventure, or join a guided tour and explore like the locals do.
Local tips
Walk the Songhees Walkway early or late
There's never a wrong time to walk the Songhees Walkway, but it really shines during the "golden hour". Time your walks with sunrise and sunset for spectacular pastel hues and shimmering reflections on the tranquil waters of the Inner Harbour.
Grab a coffee where the locals do
As you explore walkways, bike paths, and trails, you'll discover you're never far from eateries, breweries, and coffee shops. We recommend tucking into one of the neighbourhood's many distinct cafes to indulge in Victoria's famous coffee scene.
Rent a bike and tap into the trail network
Vic West lies at the junction of the Galloping Goose Regional Trail and the E&N Rail Trail, two of the region's longest walking and cycling paths. Hopping onto these paths, connects you with almost all of Greater Victoria's 13 municipalities, making it a great launchpad for exploration by bike.Where to eat
Vic West is known for pairing local cuisine with brilliant ocean views, making it a favourite for brunch and dinner stops. Sat right along the shores of the Harbour, Vic West's dining scene offers some of the best al fresco dining in the city, where you'll watch seaplanes and harbour ferries moving back and forth across the harbour. The luckiest diners might even be treated to an orca sighting.
Getting to Vic West and getting around
How to get to Vic West
Located right along Victoria's Harbour, Vic West is easily accessible by seaplane or ferries from Washington State. While seaplanes and those ferries drop off in Downtown and along the Inner Harbour, it's easy to access Vic West on foot, by car, transit, or Harbour Ferry. For those arriving by BC Ferries, Vic West is just a 35-minute drive from the Swartz Bay Ferry Terminal, just follow Highway 17 into the city, hang a right on Pandora and follow the Johnson Street Bridge across the harbour.
Getting here
Getting around
Cycling and walking are the favourite mode of transportation for locals. Vic West is home to some of the city's best walking and bike paths. Located just across the Johnson Street Bridge, many of the city's top attractions, dining, and shopping, are just minutes away on foot. Vic West is also one of the region's most paddle-friendly city's, meaning it's easy to hop on your paddleboard or into your kayak and take many of the neighbourhoods top seafront parks and restaurants.
Getting aroundWhere to stay
With its proximity to Downtown Victoria and the Inner Harbour, there are many accommodation options in and around Vic West. Most of these accommodations providers put the best the city has to offer in walking or biking range. With so many options to choose from, its easy to find a provider that aligns with what you're looking for, whether that's sustainable stays, boutique accommodations, or budget-friendly hotels that are perfect for families.
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