Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

Craigdarroch Castle, Victoria, British Columbia
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Craigdarroch_Castle_May_2011.jpg
Author: Hugh Lee


Victoria is the provincial capital of British Columbia, Canada. It covers 19.47 sq km (7.52 sq mi) and has a population of 80,000 people (2012 estimate) within a metropolitan area with 345,000 people. The city is on the southern tip of Vancouver Island, about 100 km (62 mi) from the city of Vancouver, which is on the British Columbia mainland.

Until the arrival of European settlers, the Victoria area was inhabited by the Coast Salish tribe of First Nations people. The city traces its history to 1843, when James Douglas founded the settlement of Fort Albert. In 1846 it was renamed Fort Victoria. It was incorporated as the city of Victoria in 1862, and became the capital in 1866.

Today Victoria's economy is diverse, ranging from technology and food products to tourism, education and government administration. It receives 3.5 million overnight visitors and another half a million daytime visitors who arrive by cruise ships.

Visiting Victoria

The BC Ferries provide services between Vancouver and Victoria. These ferries carry vehicles as well. The fare is C$47.25 per passenger vehicle (excluding passengers), C$14.25 for the driver and any passenger aged 12 and above, and C$7.25 for children aged 5 to 11.

You can also fly to Victoria from Vancouver, Seattle, San Francisco, Calgary, Edmonton and Toronto.

Places of Interest in Victoria

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