Government Street Tours

Government Street featuring a house, a small town or village and street scenes
Government Street featuring a square or plaza, heritage architecture and a city
Government Street which includes a house, street scenes and heritage architecture
Government Street which includes a city, signage and street scenes
Government Street featuring heritage architecture and signage


This central street attracts the crowds with its museums and galleries, historical architecture, shopping districts and Canada’s oldest Chinatown.

Government Street is one of Victoria’s most popular commercial and entertainment streets. Come to this lively area to shop for fashion and handicrafts, visit museums and historical buildings and discover Canada’s oldest Chinatown. If you follow the street south from the city’s downtown district to Holland Point Park you are rewarded with views over the Strait of Juan de Fuca.  

Make use of the wide sidewalks and explore Government Street on foot. Start at the British Columbia Parliament Buildings, a neo-baroque palace overlooking Victoria’s Inner Harbour. Walk north past The Fairmont Empress, an Edwardian hotel built in the early 1900s. For sweet nostalgia, stop in at Roger’s Chocolates, a local favorite since it first opened in 1885. Collectors will find precious old objects and furniture at the auction houses on Antique Row.

Sign up for a Ghostly Walks tour at the visitor information center at the harbor. The 90-minute walk with a knowledgeable local is a fun way to learn more about the street’s intriguing history.

Government Street also has book stores, a mall with international department stores and coffee shops, so allow yourself ample time to take it all in.

Also take some time to explore the pedestrian-only alleys off Government Street. Fashion lovers will enjoy browsing the boutique stores on Trounce Alley. At Bastion Square you can see street performers at work and browse the market during weekends and the warmer seasons. While here, don’t miss the Maritime Museum of British Columbia in the Old Courthouse building. 

Where Government Street crosses Fisgard Street, walk under the colorful Gate of Harmonious Interest to enter Chinatown Victoria. The well-preserved historic district is home to fortune tellers and souvenir shops, restaurants and teahouses. Try a “tea flight,” consisting of three blends that complement each other perfectly.

Government Street is within walking distance of major Victoria attractions, including the Inner Harbour and Thunderbird Park. Pay-and-display parking is available in designated areas of the street. Alternatively, public buses stop close to most of the places that you’ll want to visit.

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Reviews of Government Street

4.4
Top Destination
5 - Excellent
244
5 - Excellent 48%
4 - Good
233
4 - Good 46%
3 - Okay
32
3 - Okay 6%
2 - Disappointing
1
2 - Disappointing 0%
1 - Terrible
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1 - Terrible 0%

3/5 - Okay

Verified traveler

Victoria really needs a higher end gift store on Government Street. The best shopping for items was at the Butchart Gardens.

5/5 - Excellent

Jan

Take your time.

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveler

Fun shopping and great ice cream shops.

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveler

GREAT SHOPPING AND EATING

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Best Lodging Options Near Government Street

Chateau Victoria Hotel and Suites
Chateau Victoria Hotel and Suites
3.5 out of 5
740 Burdett Ave, Victoria, BC
Chateau Victoria Hotel and Suites
Hotel Grand Pacific
Hotel Grand Pacific
4 out of 5
463 Belleville St, Victoria, BC
Hotel Grand Pacific
Fairmont Empress
Fairmont Empress
4.5 out of 5
721 Government St, Victoria, BC
Fairmont Empress
Huntingdon Hotel and Suites
Huntingdon Hotel and Suites
3 out of 5
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Huntingdon Hotel and Suites
Days Inn by Wyndham Victoria On The Harbour
Days Inn by Wyndham Victoria On The Harbour
3 out of 5
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Days Inn by Wyndham Victoria On The Harbour
Bedford Regency Hotel
Bedford Regency Hotel
2.5 out of 5
1140 Government St, Victoria, BC
Bedford Regency Hotel
Royal Scot Hotel & Suites
Royal Scot Hotel & Suites
3 out of 5
425 Quebec St, Victoria, BC
Royal Scot Hotel & Suites
Best Western Plus Carlton Plaza Hotel
Best Western Plus Carlton Plaza Hotel
3.5 out of 5
642 Johnson St, Victoria, BC
Best Western Plus Carlton Plaza Hotel
Coast Victoria Hotel & Marina by APA
Coast Victoria Hotel & Marina by APA
4 out of 5
146 Kingston St, Victoria, BC
Coast Victoria Hotel & Marina by APA
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.