Car Rental Victoria

Victoria is in a fantastic location on the southern tip of Vancouver Island. The island’s main highway, Trans Canada Highway BC 1, begins in the city and opens up the whole of the coast beyond.

The Patricia Bay Highway, meanwhile, takes you a short way north to the picturesque Swartz Bay where you can catch a ferry to the gulf islands. From here you can experience Salt Spring Island and the mainland via Vancouver.

When exploring the local sights on foot, a variety of lots and on-street spaces are available for you to park your rental car – close to the main museums and historic landmarks. And when it’s time to venture further afield, you’ll find plenty of great options.

The artistic community in Chemainus awaits around an hour’s drive away, and this interesting town is adorned with more than 40 murals that depict scenes from its former industrial past, and honour its First Nation heritage. There’s creativity everywhere you look here, with independent theatres that put on regular performances throughout the year.

With a wealth of landscapes and wildlife to discover, when you rent a car from Victoria you can explore the many natural parks too. Drive north to explore a part of the Cowichan Valley Trail that begins in Cowichan River Provincial Park and heads towards Koksilah River Provincial Park.  

This hiking route is particularly spectacular for its mountainous vantage-points, lush forests and scaling trestle bridges. To explore only a part of the 36km trail, park in the Kinsol Trestle Parking Lot near Shawnigan Lake. The historic Kinsol Trestle bridge stands 44 metres tall, spans 187 metres in length and overlooks a canopy of green fir trees stretching into the distance. 

The city of Nanaimo to the north is another great place for a day trip, with its own art, history and parks to discover, while Surrey and Vancouver are both reachable via ferry.

As Vancouver Island is brimming with wildlife, drive carefully through the winding roads. This will also give you the opportunity to enjoy the ever-changing landscape as you go.

With a unique past and natural and historic sights to see, there are plenty of activities in and around Victoria you won’t want to miss.

Here are just some of things you can see and do.

Visit the Royal BC Museum

It’s no surprise that many people flock to explore the interactive exhibitions here.

Dedicated to the First Nations with historical artifacts and findings dating back many thousands of years, see a life-size Woolly Mammoth, marvel over ancient masks and traditional totem poles, and visit the large IMAX theatre – where you can immerse yourself in a sensory film experience.

Historic buildings and harbour-side splendour

One of the most important landmarks in Victoria is the British Columbia Parliament.

First built in 1893 in a neo-baroque architectural style, the ornate domed structure is impressive. Set on an open green park, complete with a centrepiece fountain, there’s plenty of space to soak up the grandeur.

The building dazzles at night as it’s illuminated with more than 3,000 lights, and you can take a guided tour to learn more about the political heritage of British Columbia.

When you’re in Victoria, a trip down to the port to explore Fisherman’s Wharf is a must as well. This interesting area boasts quaint seafood restaurants, quirky retail outlets and all manner of wonderful sights among the fishing boats and yachts in the harbour.

Its biggest draw is arguably the pretty, colourful houses that float on the water. Stroll around to get a better picture of how each house was built and to capture the vibrant atmosphere. If you’re feeling adventurous, take to the harbour on a kayak or paddleboard to explore more of the picturesque area.

Immerse yourself in natural surroundings

Vancouver Island is all about embracing nature – and what better way to do that than to explore the land and sea.

There are many parks in the area, but Butchart Gardens has to be one of the more exquisite. Built on top of a former quarry, the horticultural gardens were created by the Butchart family who opened them up to the public in 1904.

Brimming with plant-life, explore the areas dedicated to English, Japanese and Mediterranean flowers and trees. Enjoy a vintage carousel, idyllic fish ponds and quiet spots under shaded trees to grab a moment of blissful peace.

When the seas are calm around Victoria, you can join a boat tour in search of Orca, Humpback and Grey Whales as they jump from the waves. The city is home to several eco-friendly tours that generate funds for conservation projects to help protect these magnificent creatures. Seals and dolphins are regularly spotted in the Salish Sea too.

With car rental in Victoria, you can experience all the best things to do in this great city, before setting out to explore the rest of British Columbia too.