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Victoria
...a relaxed and stylish city |
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Located on Vancouver Island, off the southwest coast
of Canada, Victoria offers students a relaxed environment, one that
mixes city activities with outdoor recreation. People in Victoria
enjoy exciting cultural lives and are close to some of North America's
most spectacular wilderness.
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Victoria
is just a 20-minute flight or a scenic ferry trip away from
the international centres of Vancouver and Seattle. Just a
short drive from Victoria's city centre are majestic old-growth
forests and the rugged Pacific coast.
Victoria
is the second largest city in British Columbia and the capital
of the province. A popular international tourist destination,
Victoria was voted one of the "10 most livable cities
in the world."
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night, the downtown centre is magically lit up by the twinkling
lights of our government building reflecting off the city's
Inner Harbour. Tourists from all over the world fill the streets
in the summer. Many writers, musicians, and artists choose to
live here because of the mild climate and natural beauty. These
people contribute to the city's rich cultural scene that includes
many festivals and exhibitions. Downtown cafés and nightclubs
regularly feature live music. On the weekends join local people
as they bike, hike, kayak, rollerblade, and just relax in Victoria's
parks.
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Safe,
clean, and friendly, our city is easy to explore on your own. As a
student in the English Language Centre you will meet many people who
will join you in exploring the city's excellent shopping, restaurants,
nightlife, and outdoors..
Victoria has the mildest climate in Canada, which
makes it the perfect place to live! We do not have very hot or cold
temperatures. Summer is comfortably warm and dry with temperatures
ranging from 15 to 30 degrees Celsius. Our winter is short and brings
mild rain, which makes the city green and beautiful throughout the
winter.
To
find out what the weather is like today in Victoria,
click
here.
Victoria
is located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island, and is surrounded
by the natural wonders of Canada's many different landscapes.
Victoria is a nature-lover's paradise with views of Canada's
tallest trees, some of the West Coast's most beautiful coastline,
and the sparkling Pacific Ocean. The air is clean and fresh
and mountains, lakes, islands, and spectacular old-growth rainforest
surround the city. |
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Bus
Public
buses are very popular and inexpensive in Victoria. You can
explore most of the exciting things to see in Victoria by
bus. Most buses run from about 6:30am to midnight, seven days
a week.
To
view the BC Transit routes, schedules, and fares, click
here.
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Ferries
If
you want to travel to the mainland or to some of the other islands
around Victoria, you will probably take a ferry. BC Ferries
offers trips to Vancouver and many of the beautiful Gulf Islands
every day. The ferry ride allows you to relax as you travel
and to enjoy the beautiful views of the ocean, mountains and
the Gulf Islands.
To
view the BC Ferries schedules and fares, click
here. |
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Victoria
is a scenic paradise. It is surrounded by mountains, the ocean,
islands, and vast wilderness. All this, plus a busy city of
350,000 people make Victoria the ideal place to study. In the
city you will find excellent theatre, fine dining and world-class
coffee bars, exciting jazz and rock nightclubs, a vibrant arts
scene, and many talented street musicians and entertainers.
You'll have the opportunity to sail, scuba-dive, kayak, or to
enjoy many recreational activities. You can visit our beautiful
parks or stroll through historic Old Town or the city's Chinatown,
one of the oldest in North America. |
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Victoria
retains the influence of its British past. You can ride red
double-decker buses, take a horse-drawn carriage ride along
Government Street, or shop at international fashion boutiques.
Make sure to plan a trip to the historic Empress Hotel, where
High Tea is a tradition not to be missed.
Victoria's
small size and friendly people make the city a safe and convenient
location for study. Excellent city transportation and countless
bike trails mean that you are never more than 20 minutes from
downtown!
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Victoria's location
is very convenient for day or weekend trips. Our students often
spend time in Vancouver or visit Seattle, our American neighbour.
There are plenty of attractions to visit in these cities for
a weekend getaway. Saltspring Island, located in the Gulf Islands
region, is another popular destination. You can enjoy nature
and camp, or go for the day to visit the famous craft market
held every Saturday during the summer months. For those of you
who have never seen snow, or for skiers, we are only a few hours
away from Mt. Washington or a short ferry ride and drive from
the world famous ski hill, Whistler! |
Here
are some useful web sites to discover things to do in and around Victoria:
Things to do in Victoria, Vancouver Island and in
the Gulf Islands:
British Columbia
Travel Information
Vancouver
Island
Mount Washington
Ski Resort
Transportation to Mount
Washington
Sightseeing
and Touring Victoria
Things
to do in Vancouver and the Lower Mainland:
Tourism
Vancouver
Whistler Resort
Things
to do in Seattle:
SeattleInsider.com
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