Hang out in the Inner Harbour
During the summer the causeway is alive with crazy performers, people selling cool stuff, and wow - so many tourists. You can check out the parliament buildings, which are pretty cool, and there's always cool sailing ships parked there in the harbour, they're interesting to look at. Definitely something you have to do while you're here.
Check it out: we found some awesome 3D QuickTime VR Panoramas of the Inner Harbour ↑.
Check out the Street Markets (Summer only)
Government St. Market
has a great array of handmade goods, clothes, and imports - located downtown at Government and Pandora St.
Sundays and Holiday Mondays from 11am-4:30pm
Moss St. Market
features crafts, food, and occasional performers - located in Fairfield at Moss and Fairfield St. at Sir James Douglas School
Saturdays and Holiday Mondays from 10am-2pm
Fernwood Community Market
is a small gathering set in the heart of Victoria’s bohemian art district - located in Fernwood Square at Fernwood and Gladstone St.
Sundays 10am-3pm
James Bay Community Market
is not far from downtown in beautiful James Bay - the market is located at Menzies and Superior St.
Saturdays 9am-3pm
The Bastion Square Festival of the Arts
Features an array of vendors as well as live music - located downtown in Bastion Square
Thursdays through Sundays from 10:30am-5:30pm
Go for a walk
Visit Beacon Hill Park
Beautiful Beacon Hill Park, just a few steps from downtown, is a piece of Victoria that you don’t want to miss. Stroll through the 89 hectare park and check out the wildlife (including swans and more ducks than you can shake a stick at), the water, the fields, the second tallest totem pole in the world, and the beautiful flowers, very characteristic of Victoria. Don’t miss the Beacon Hill Petting Farm, in the middle of the park: get up-close and personal with African pygmy goats, Vietnamese pot-bellied pigs, donkeys, horses, peacocks, and more…
Explore Dallas Rd. Beach
Take the short walk to Dallas Rd. Beach (walk straight down Douglas St. until you reach the water).
While some of the beach borders on Beacon Hill Park, it goes for miles in both directions - so take a walk or just sit and watch the waves (and the many Victoria dogs out for their walks).
Bring a picnic lunch and a Frisbee and watch the day fly by.
Walk the “Breakwater,” a curving walkway that stretches out into the water from the beach. Located at Ogden Point (where Dallas Rd. meets Dock St.) in James Bay
Cemetery/Beach walk
Take the bus (#2) or walk to Ross Bay cemetery in Fairfield, where you’ll see graves and tombs of some of Victoria’s founding mothers and fathers.
Walk along Dallas Rd (by the water) or along the little coves and inlets to Beacon Hill Park, where you can play in the sun, check out the gardens, check out the people, and play in the petting zoo.
Continue along the waterfront to the Ogden Point Breakwater (hard to miss), and stop for refreshments in the café.
Continue along Dallas Rd and follow the signs for downtown; you’ll be on the causeway in front of the Empress Hotel in no time
From there, downtown is yours!
Spend a Day at Willows Beach
Willows Beach in Oak Bay is a popular destination in the summertime. Behind the beach (which has great views of Mount Baker) there’s a large field, perfect for playing Frisbee, tossing a football, playing volleyball, or whatever.
If driving, take Johnson St. out of downtown, stay on it as it turns into Oak Bay Ave. and once you reach Beach Dr., you’re there.
If bussing during the day Monday-Saturday, take the #2a Willows (catch it at Johnson & Douglas); if bussing after 6pm Monday-Saturday or on Sunday, take the #11 Uplands (get on at the Fort St. stop near Douglas St.)
Relax at Gonzales Beach
A small beach in Fairfield, this is a great place to spend a quiet afternoon in the sun
Following Dallas Rd. as it turns into Hollywood Crescent will get you there, or take the #3 Gonzales bus (catch it on Douglas and View St.)
Fisherman's Wharf
Check out the ships, floatplanes, harbour ferry, houseboats, feed seals, and have some amazing fish and chips at the outdoor restaurant down at Fisherman's Wharf. It's about a 20 minute walk along the water (some parts nearer to the water than other parts) towards beautiful James Bay and should not be missed!
Explore Market Square
Feel like doing a little shopping or just a little wandering? Market Square is a great place to do both - with its plethora of unique shops and its heritage charm; this is a uniquely Victorian venue.
Located between Johnson St. & Pandora St. near Wharf St.
Wander Through Chinatown
Enjoy the history, architecture, people, stores, and food of Chinatown.
Admire the intricate artwork of the recently restored Gate of Harmonious Interest. While you're there, pick up some food, 'cause walking around Victoria gets you hungry, and an avocado is less than a buck. You know you want to. Chinatown's shops are also a great source of Asia's greatest export since dirt-cheap computer hardware and anime: the best junk food in the world.
Check out this rad 360° panoramic QuickTime VR movie of Chinatown ↑!
Check out Fan Tan Alley - accessible from either Pandora St. or Fisgard St. (between Government St. & Store St.)
It's full of cool clothing stores, record shops, random asian stuff stores, new age-y stores, a great art gallery... and it leads right into the middle of Chinatown! 
Go Window-shopping on Fort Street
The “Antique Row” stretches from Fort and Quadra to just past Fort and Cook St and there are antiques of every kind: china, furniture, silverware, nick-knacks, art and more.
