Information
Landmark: Victoria Harbour FerriesCity: Victoria
Country: Canada
Continent: North America
Victoria Harbour Ferries, Victoria, Canada, North America
Overview
Hop aboard a Victoria Harbour Ferry for a one-of-a-kind ride, gliding past colorful docks and shimmering waves as you take in the city from the water.The ferry runs across Victoria’s Inner Harbour and up the Gorge Waterway, carrying sightseers past bright waterfront cafés while doubling as a handy water taxi.Founded in 1990, the company started with just two boats and has expanded into a fleet of 15 distinctive passenger ferries, nicknamed “pickle boats” for their striking green-and-black paint.We offer guided harbour tours that last about 45 minutes, winding through Victoria’s Inner Harbour where you’ll pass vibrant waterfront cafés, historic buildings, and some of the city’s best‑known landmarks.Passengers can take in sights like the British Columbia Parliament Buildings, the grand Fairmont Empress Hotel, and the colorful floating homes bobbing at Fisherman’s Wharf.These tours bring Victoria’s maritime past to life, offering vivid stories of old shipyards and salty sea winds.Experience: The guides share lively, detailed stories as you travel, helping you leave with a richer grasp of Victoria’s history and culture-like the scent of old cedar lingering in its heritage halls.Being so close to the main landmarks, it’s a favorite spot for visitors who want to see the city from the water-watching towers and rooftops drift by.The Gorge Waterway Cruise lasts 75 minutes and carries you deep into the Upper Harbour, past the clang of busy shipyards and the quiet charm of historic homes lining the water’s edge.In Victoria, the Gorge Waterway winds past a mix of busy shops and quiet homes, their gardens leaning toward the water’s edge.On this cruise, you’ll drift through a quiet, often overlooked corner of the city, passing green banks and weathered docks rich with maritime history.On the cruise, you’ll get an up-close look at Victoria’s lively waterfront-fishing boats bobbing, gulls calling-and see the city from a whole new angle.Victoria Harbour Ferries runs on-demand water taxis, whisking passengers between more than a dozen waterfront stops-a quick hop from the market pier to the quiet marina in minutes.Popular routes include stops at familiar spots like Fisherman’s Wharf, the Songhees neighborhood, and the calm bends of the Gorge Waterway, along with hidden corners you can only reach by boat.It’s perfect for tourists and locals alike who’d rather skip the traffic and enjoy a scenic ride along the waterfront instead of driving or walking.Flexibility means you can get picked up right where you are and dropped off exactly where you need to be, whenever it suits you, making the ride feel like it was built just for you.One standout at Victoria Harbour Ferries is the Sunday Morning Water Ballet, where boats glide in sync across the harbour like dancers tracing ripples in the sun.Each summer, the company puts on “water ballet” shows, with ferries gliding in sync to music, their wakes curling like silver ribbons across the bay.It happens every Sunday morning, a tradition loved for more than 20 years, with the smell of fresh coffee often drifting through the crowd.Locals and tourists alike gather to watch, laughing as the colorful boats drift and dance across the water.What makes it special?Picture Victoria’s little boats gliding in perfect sync, their polished wood catching the light, as coordinated movements turn the waterfront into a scene that leaves audiences smiling.You can watch the event for free, and it brings a playful spark to Victoria’s lively harbor, where gulls wheel overhead and the water glitters in the sun.The company takes pride in its seasoned captains, a crew drawn from diverse paths-retired naval officers, former mayors, and other professionals whose stories smell of salt air and long days at sea.Personal Touch: These captains like to swap personal stories and sprinkle in bits of history-maybe about an old lighthouse they once sailed past-making the trip feel richer and more vivid.This personalized service turns every trip into a friendly chat with someone who knows the town’s stories, adding a richer, more rooted sense of place.Ferries leave from several docks along Victoria’s waterfront, but the main hub is the Empress Dock-right across from the Fairmont Empress Hotel at 721 Government Street, where you can smell the salt air and hear gulls overhead.It sits right at the heart of the city, easy to reach whether you’re a visitor or a local, just a short stroll from the main square.The service is open every day, usually from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., though the hours shift with the season-summer evenings often stretch a little later.In summer, hours stretch later to meet the rush, especially when tourists crowd the streets and shop windows glow past dusk.Booking: For tours or water taxis, you can often just stroll up and step aboard, but if you’ve got a special request or a big group, it’s best to reserve ahead.To learn more or book a trip, call Victoria Harbour Ferries at (250) 708‑0201 or drop by their website at victoriaharbourferry.com.What makes Victoria Harbour Ferries worth a visit?One thing that makes Victoria Harbour Ferries so inviting is the view-bright boats bobbing along the water and the city’s waterfront unfolding in every direction.The city’s famous Inner Harbour glitters in the sunlight, and the best way to take it in is from the deck of a boat.Step onto the harbor and you’ll feel its history-salt in the air, gulls wheeling overhead-as the tours walk you through the city’s maritime story, from its early days and steady growth to the vital role its waterways played in shaping it.The water taxi lets you slip into corners of Victoria you’d never reach by car-quiet docks, tucked-away coves, places where the gulls wheel overhead.It’s a handy way to hop between waterfront spots, letting you take in several places-maybe the pier, a café, and the old lighthouse-all in one day.The boat glides softly over the water, giving you a calm, unhurried view of the city’s charm-far from the street traffic and blaring horns.Passengers can soak in the quiet as the boat glides past calm, glassy waters and stretches of green that sway gently in the breeze.The Harbour Tours and Gorge Waterway Cruises are perfect for families, mixing fun with a bit of learning for all ages-think spotting seabirds as the boat glides past calm, sunlit water.The Water Ballet offers a splash of fun the whole family can enjoy.Final thoughts: whether you’re after a laid‑back ride along Victoria’s sparkling shoreline, need a quick hop across the harbor, or want to catch the playful splash of the Water Ballet, Victoria Harbour Ferries makes it a trip to remember.Scenic vistas, rich history, and lively locals come together to make a day on the sparkling waters of one of Canada’s loveliest cities truly unforgettable.
