Miniature World,
649 humboldt st. at the back of the empress hotel, +1 250 385-9731, (http://www.miniatureworld.com/). an extensive display of miniature landscapes, cities etc., some rather bizarre or at comically mismatched scales. includes the world's smallest working saw mill at a scale of 1:12.
Royal British Columbia Museum
This tell's BC story, especially from 1850 to 1920. It has amazing exhibits, and is easily worth half a day. There are three permanent galleries: Modern History, story of the European settlement; First Peoples, pre-contact and post-contact; and Natural History, mainly oceans, large animals, and climate. All are explained with phenomenal immersive exhibits. This is one of two museums in Canada holding the 'Royal' designation.
Victoria Bug Zoo,
631 courtney street, +1 250 384-2847, (http://www.bugzoo.bc.ca/). open daily except christmas and new years, 10am-6pm extended summer hours. fee $8 several discounts. looking at bugs while on holidays doesn't sound like it'd be appealing, but this is a fantastic little place filled with very knowledgeable and friendly guides, and where else would you get the chance to hold so many crazy creatures?
Legislative Buildings
At the inner harbour, +1 250 387-3046, (http://www.legis.gov.bc.ca/). at night it is lit up with 13,000 lights. free public tours are excellent.
IMAX Theatre,
675 bellville st. part of the royal bc museum, +1 250 953-4629, (http://www.imaxvictoria.com/). a variety of shows on the imax screen. $9.75 adult admission, $7.50 for seniors, students and youth, $5 for children. tickets are not included with regular museum admission but discounted combo tickets are available.
Craigdarroch Castle Historical Museum,
1050 joan crescent in the rockland area, +1 250 592-5323, (http://www.craigdarrochca...). this castle was built in 1890 by a wealthy and powerful scottish family who at that time owned a quarter of vancouver island. great architecture. about 25 minutes' walk from the downtown core, or else take buses 11 or 14 up fort st.
Abkhazi Gardens
1964 fairfield road, +1 250 598-8096â, (http://www.conservancy.bc...). love affairs make great stories, and this one resulted in a great garden. prince and princess abkhazi along with designer john wade came together and created a garden that took over 40 years to come together on a beautiful property overlooking the strait of juan de fuca and the olympic mountains.