Southern Vancouver Island
Gardens, Vineyards & Capital Charm
Southern Vancouver Island enchants visitors with its breathtaking landscapes, from the stunning views of the rugged Sooke coastline to the vibrant blooms of the iconic Butchart Gardens. Immerse yourself in whale watching adventures, explore charming towns like Victoria and Sidney, and discover the serene beauty of Salt Spring Island and the Gulf Islands. This region offers a perfect blend of natural wonders and cultural experiences, making it an ideal getaway for every traveler.
Mild year-round climate with beautiful spring gardens and summer festivals
Regional Experiences
Historic attractions
Award-winning wineries
Island-hopping
Culinary excellence
Regional Map
Explore the geography of Southern Vancouver Island and plan your route between cities
Map Legend
Explore Cities in Southern Vancouver Island
Each city offers unique attractions, events, and local character
Salt Spring Island
Salt Spring is the largest of the Gulf Islands and it has three ferry terminals, so which one you use depends on where you start: Fulford from Swartz Bay, Vesuvius from Crofton, Long Harbour from Tsawwassen. The Saturday Market runs in Ganges through the warmer months.
Sidney
Population: 11,583
Sidney is the closest town to both Swartz Bay and Victoria International Airport, which makes it a practical first or last night on the island. Its main street runs down to the water and carries several bookshops; the Shaw Centre for the Salish Sea is at the end of it.
Sooke
Sooke is the last sizeable town on Highway 14 heading west out of Victoria, and the road past it carries on to Juan de Fuca Provincial Park and Port Renfrew. Sooke Potholes Regional Park is up the river behind town and East Sooke Regional Park is across the harbour.
Victoria
Population: 91,867
Victoria is the provincial capital and sits at the southern tip of Vancouver Island. The Inner Harbour, the Royal BC Museum and the legislature are within a few blocks of each other, and Butchart Gardens is about half an hour north of the city.
Featured Venues
View All VenuesA Taste of Victoria Food Tours
Victoria
Two-hour walking tours of Victoria with six tastings at locally owned restaurants and shops: one through Chinatown, Old Town and the Inner Harbour, a craft-beer route called Alleyways & Ales, and a Vistas & Views tour. Groups cap at twelve and meet at the Phillips Brewery tasting room on Government Street. Tours run Tuesday to Saturday at 11:30am and 2:30pm, from $99.95 a person.
Westcoast Bathhouse : Seaside Sauna
Victoria
Westcoast Bathhouse creates healthy social spaces around sauna, cold plunge and nature. Its location is at 1 Cooperage Pl in Victoria.
Kelp Reef Adventures
Victoria
Kayak tours from Fisherman's Wharf in Victoria: a three-hour, six-mile paddle at $120, a two-hour version at $80, and a 90-minute family trip in sheltered water using stable doubles, with children seven to twelve at half price. Gear, lifejackets, spray skirts, jackets, gloves, water and a dry bag all come with it. Harbour seals, river otters, herons and eagles are the regulars, and from July to September you may see seals with pups.
Cole's Bay Bed And Breakfast
Sidney
Three units on Ardmore Drive in North Saanich: a two-bedroom suite and a cottage, both over 1,100 square feet with full kitchens, plus a one-bedroom library room. Morning baking comes with the stay. The Ardmore golf course is across the street and Coles Bay beach a five-minute walk; the airport and the ferries are minutes away and Victoria about half an hour.
Japanese Head Spa by Ana
Victoria
Sukhothai Thai Spa
Victoria
Sukhothai Thai Spa combines compression, acupressure and passive stretching in traditional Thai massage in Victoria. Services include Thai Hot Oil Massage, Thai Foot Massage, Gua Sha Facial and Prenatal Massage. The spa does not offer Registered Massage Therapy (RMT) services, insurance claims or BC Health coverage.
Upcoming Events
View All EventsMultifaith Food Share
University of Victoria, Victoria
Monday, October 19, 2026
Weekly | Monday through Friday The food share program provides food for the UVic community through the Multifaith Centre.
Heart to Heart
University of Victoria, Victoria
Monday, October 19, 2026
Multifaith Centre. Weekly | Monday through Thursday Conferring with a spiritual counsellor in the Christian tradition available for fresh insight on challenges you may be facing.
From Ideas to Apps: Create Apps & Learning Games with Generative AI
University of Victoria, Victoria
Monday, October 19, 2026
Imagine bringing your ideas for custom apps and learning games to life without ever writing a single line of code. This hands-on workshop introduces you to the world of “vibe coding, “a modern software development technique where your natural language descriptions are transformed into fully functional web applications using generative AI tools. Digital Scholarship Commons A308, Mearns Centre for Learning - McPherson Library (LIB).
Study Hub
University of Victoria, Victoria
Monday, October 19, 2026
MacLaurin (MAC) D109. PLEASE NOTE: Location has changed for this week to MAC D109. Need a place to study, get organized, or get unstuck? Come to the Study Hub. No registration required!
ANTH colloquium: “It Was a Catastrophe for Birches”: Indigenizing Invasive Species in Sápmi
University of Victoria, Victoria
Monday, October 19, 2026
Cornett B235.
Chemistry seminar: Ginger Shultz
University of Victoria, Victoria
Monday, October 19, 2026
Engineering/Computer Science (ECS) 116. Ginger Shultz , Professor at the Department of Chemistry at the University of Michigan
Plan Your Southern Vancouver Island Adventure
Discover the best experiences, events, and venues across the region