Victoria Neighbourhoods, Area by Area
Victoria changes a lot from one neighbourhood to the next. You can live near downtown and the water, close to the University of Victoria, or in a much more rural setting around Highlands or Metchosin. I’ve lived here all my life and have spent time in just about every corner of the region. These are my notes on the main areas, from Sooke to Sidney and up toward Shawnigan Lake.
There are a lot of neighbourhoods to cover, and I’ll keep adding to this page. Send us your favourite photos of these neighbourhoods and we'll feature them here!
Victoria
Victoria proper includes several well-known neighbourhoods with very different housing, walkability and street layouts.
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Downtown
Downtown Victoria is compact and walkable, with restaurants, shops, pubs and coffee close together. Most housing here is condos and apartments, and it suits people who want to be close to work, the harbour and downtown services.
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James Bay
Just south of downtown, James Bay is an older residential area beside the Inner Harbour. Beacon Hill Park and the Dallas Road waterfront are close, and housing ranges from older houses to apartments and condos.
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Fairfield
Fairfield has tree-lined streets, heritage homes, and easy access to Cook Street Village and the ocean. It’s very walkable, with Cook Street Village and the ocean close by. Housing ranges from older houses to condos and apartments.
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Fernwood
Fernwood has older homes, the Belfry Theatre, small businesses around Fernwood Square and a strong neighbourhood identity. The square can get busy around events and on warm evenings.
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Rockland
Rockland sits just above downtown and has many older large homes, heritage properties and the Government House gardens. The streets are generally quiet despite being close to the city centre.
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Oak Bay
Oak Bay has that classic old Victoria feel. Think tree-lined streets, Tudor style homes, and manicured gardens. It’s an upscale area with oceanfront streets like Beach Drive and some of the most desirable real estate in the region. Oak Bay Village has a small main-street feel with shops and cafes. Uplands has some of the region’s largest lots and higher-priced homes.
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Esquimalt
Esquimalt is just west of downtown and is home to the naval base. It also has waterfront streets and parks close to the city centre, along with a mix of older housing and newer development.
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View Royal
View Royal sits between Victoria and the West Shore, with older homes, newer townhouses and easy access to Thetis Lake Park. Its location can be practical for people who need to travel in either direction.
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Saanich
Saanich is huge and has a lot of variety. It wraps around much of Victoria and stretches from the lakes and farms of the interior all the way to the ocean.
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Gordon Head
Gordon Head is a suburban area close to the University of Victoria, with many detached homes, schools and parks. It can be practical for people who work or study at UVic.
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Cadboro Bay
Cadboro Bay sits between the university and the ocean. The beach is popular with families and dog walkers, and there’s a small group of shops and services near the village centre.
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Broadmead
Known for its West Coast contemporary homes and forested streets, Broadmead is peaceful and well maintained. You’re close to trails, parks, and shopping at Broadmead Village.
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Royal Oak
Royal Oak is a central Saanich area with shopping, schools and trail access. Housing includes condos, townhouses and detached homes.
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Swan Lake
Swan Lake is centrally located and has a mix of older and newer homes. Access to downtown and Highway 17 can make it practical for commuters.
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Ten Mile Point
Ten Mile Point is a quiet waterfront area with many larger properties and low-traffic residential streets. It’s close to Cadboro Bay and the university but feels more removed from the main roads.
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Langford
Langford has changed a lot over the last decade, with new subdivisions, condos, townhouses and commercial development. Bear Mountain, Langford Lake and the main shopping areas are all within the municipality.
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Colwood
Colwood includes Esquimalt Lagoon, Royal Roads University and a mix of established neighbourhoods and newer housing. Some areas have ocean views, while others are closer to the shopping and services shared with Langford.
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Metchosin
Metchosin is much more rural, with farmland, forest, larger properties and fewer urban services. It suits people who want more land and don’t mind driving farther for day-to-day shopping.
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Highlands
Highlands is heavily forested and rural compared with most of Greater Victoria. Many properties are larger, roads are less urban, and trail access is a big part of the area. It’s close to Langford geographically but feels quite different.
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Sooke
Sooke is farther west, with more distance from central Victoria and a mix of town housing, rural properties and oceanfront homes. Sooke real estate can offer more space than some closer-in areas, but the commute is an important part of the decision. East Sooke Park and the Juan de Fuca coastline are nearby.
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Sidney
Sidney is a walkable oceanside town on the Saanich Peninsula. The centre has shops, cafes, book stores and a waterfront walkway, and the airport and Swartz Bay ferry terminal are nearby. That location can be practical for people who travel often.
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North Saanich
North Saanich is mostly rural, with farms, waterfront properties and low-density residential streets. It’s close to the airport and has several coastal areas, but daily errands can involve more driving than they do in Victoria proper.
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Central Saanich
Central Saanich includes farmland, roadside markets and residential areas around places such as Brentwood Bay and Saanichton. Butchart Gardens is here, and the peninsula location keeps you reasonably close to both Victoria and Swartz Bay.
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Shawnigan Lake
Shawnigan Lake is north of Greater Victoria in the Cowichan Valley. There are lakefront and residential properties around the area, and some people commute south to Victoria. The distance can work for the right schedule, but I’d test the drive before choosing it mainly for a Victoria commute.
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Greater Victoria is a collection of municipalities and neighbourhoods rather than one uniform city. The right area depends on how close you want to be to downtown, the ocean, schools, transit and daily shopping. Spend time in a few areas before deciding; they can feel very different even when they’re only a short drive apart.