Victoria has a lot going on — whale watching, incredible food, trails that could eat up a whole week — but the castles? They're the thing that makes first-time visitors do a genuine double-take. Two honest-to-goodness castles, both within reach of downtown, both with stories that are way more interesting than the stone walls let on.
Craigdarroch Castle
The Story Behind It
Built in the late 1880s for coal baron Robert Dunsmuir and his wife Joan, Craigdarroch was the kind of project that said, loudly, *we made it*. Dunsmuir didn't actually live to see it finished — he died in 1889, just before completion — so Joan moved in with the kids and made it home. The castle changed hands several times over the following century: it served as a military hospital after World War One, then a music conservatory, then offices for the Victoria School Board. By the 1970s it was pretty rough around the edges. A community-led restoration effort saved it, and today it's run as a historic house museum.
The result is one of the best-preserved Victorian interiors in Western Canada. Four floors, 39 rooms, original stained glass that catches the afternoon light in ways that'll stop you mid-step.
What to See Inside
- The stained glass — genuinely spectacular, especially on the upper floors. Budget a moment to just stand and look.
- Period furnishings and wallpapers that give you a real sense of how the wealthy lived in 1890s Victoria.
- The tower — climb all the way up for a panoramic view over the city and the Olympic Mountains. Worth the stairs.
- Rotating exhibitions that dig into local history, the Dunsmuir family, and the castle's various past lives.
Self-guided tours are the norm, with interpretive panels throughout. It's genuinely one of those places where you can spend a leisurely couple of hours without rushing.
Getting There from Ocean Island
Craigdarroch sits in the Rockland neighbourhood — about a 20-minute walk uphill from downtown, or a short bus ride on BC Transit. Check bctransit.com for current routes and fares, or ask at the front desk and we'll point you to the right bus. Bikes are also a solid option if you don't mind a climb on the way up (the ride back is very satisfying).
Check thecastle.ca for current hours and admission details.
Hatley Castle
The Story Behind It
Hatley Castle was also a Dunsmuir project — this time Robert's son James, who apparently looked at his father's castle and thought: *I can go bigger*. Built between 1908 and 1910 on a sweeping estate in Colwood (about 20 minutes west of downtown), Hatley is a Scottish Baronial–style castle set within 565 acres of formal gardens, forests and shoreline on Esquimalt Lagoon.
James Dunsmuir was a former Premier of BC and Lieutenant-Governor, and Hatley was built to match that scale of ambition. The estate reportedly cost a staggering sum — and the story goes that when asked what the budget was, James told the architect simply: "Money doesn't matter, just build what I want."
The Dunsmuir family sold the property in 1940. It became a Royal Canadian Navy officer training college (HMCS Royal Roads), and today it's home to Royal Roads University. The castle itself is a designated National Historic Site.
If Hatley looks vaguely familiar from screen, there's a reason: it's appeared in the *X-Men* films as Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters, and has popped up in several other productions. Film nerds, this one's for you.
What to See
- The castle exterior and grounds — Hatley is dramatic from the outside, and the setting along the lagoon is genuinely beautiful.
- The Italian, Japanese and Rose Gardens — meticulously restored and well worth wandering through, especially in spring and summer.
- The surrounding trails — the estate has forest and shoreline paths that are lovely for a wander.
- Heritage tours of the castle interior run seasonally; check availability in advance as access to the interior depends on university scheduling.
Getting There from Ocean Island
Hatley is out in Colwood, which makes it a bit more of an expedition — but a very doable one. BC Transit runs routes out that way; check bctransit.com for the current schedules. Many visitors combine Hatley with a trip out to the Galloping Goose Trail, which passes through the area and makes for a great cycling day.
For current tour options, seasonal opening details and everything else, visit royalroads.ca/about/hatley-park-national-historic-site.
A Tale of Two Castles
If you only have time for one, Craigdarroch is the easier half-day trip from downtown and the interior is exceptional. If you're up for a longer day out — especially combined with a bike ride or a wander along the lagoon — Hatley and its grounds are something else entirely.
Honestly? Do both. Victoria is one of the very few places in Canada where that sentence makes sense.
*Want help planning your castle day — including transit options, what to pair it with, or questions about our partner tours and activities? Swing by the Ocean Island front desk and we'll sort you out.*
