Travellers frequently use the term Victoria Island when referring to Vancouver Island but, in this context, the name Victoria Island is a misnomer. Victoria is the capital city of British Columbia, Canada, and is located on southern Vancouver Island. Vancouver Island should not be confused with the city of Vancouver, situated on the BC mainland, nor with the diminutive Victoria Island in the Ottawa River in downtown Ottawa, Ontario.
Whether you call this photogenic city and spectacular island by the names Victoria, Victoria Island or Vancouver Island, this beautiful and westernmost region of Canada will continue to attract over 6 million annual visitors from around the world.
The romantic waterfront city of Victoria is the vacation capital of Canada, and the premier tourist spot in the Pacific Northwest, basking as it does in the mildest climate in Canada.
Victoria’s unique character is deeply rooted in its 150-year history, and its British colonial heritage is still very much in evidence. The one-time colonial outpost is alive with cosmopolitan dining, superb shopping, a colourful nightlife and a full complement of cultural offerings.
Vancouver Island is an outdoor adventure wonderland. Smiles normally break out on the ferry over to the island, where visitors will breathe easy, relax, and get ready to enjoy an escape into some of the finest wilderness North America has to offer.
Follow the links below to comprehensive information on Victoria and Vancouver Island:
Population: Vancouver Island (750,000), Victoria (300,000)
Location: Vancouver Island is located 90 minutes by ferry off the city of Vancouver on the west coast of British Columbia, Canada. Victoria is located at the southern tip of Vancouver Island. The distance by car between Victoria in the south and Port Hardy in the north is 301 miles (502 kilometres).