Our top three for Diane
If we only read one page
With an 8 pm arrival, everything happens after dark, which is when Victoria is prettiest. Eat an early farewell dinner, then head out.
Enchanting Butchart Gardens (Evening Calls)
The world-famous gardens illuminated at night, with the lit Ross Fountain. About an hour each way by coach and 60–90 minutes in the gardens.
Why for Diane: magical, gentle and a lovely last memory of the trip.
Details & booking ↗O Canada: Victoria Night Lights & Highlights
A coach tour of the lit Inner Harbour, the Parliament Buildings, the Fairmont Empress, Chinatown and Beacon Hill Park.
Why for Diane: seated, just over an hour, and early to bed before travel day.
Details & booking ↗A Guided Walk into Victoria
Walk with a guide through the James Bay neighbourhood to the Parliament Buildings and the Empress, then a shuttle back.
Why for Diane: a stroll at her own pace, if she's up for walking.
Details & booking ↗Every option
All Victoria excursions, by type
Holland America's 2026 prices per adult (2027 prices aren't out yet). Easy means mostly seated or level walking; Moderate means some uneven ground or climbing in and out; Strenuous means real exertion. The Diane tag is our read for a 70-year-old with average mobility.
Butchart Gardens
Victoria's showpiece, lit up at night · 1 optionThe illuminated gardens and the lit Ross Fountain. Back around 11:30 pm.
Some slopes and steps in the gardens. Only runs on evening calls.
Details & booking on Holland America ↗Victoria by night
Harbour lights and city tours · 4 optionsCoach tour of the lit Inner Harbour, Legislature, Empress, Chinatown and Beacon Hill Park.
Details & booking on Holland America ↗Mostly seen from the coach: neighbourhoods, Chinatown and the Inner Harbour.
Check that it runs in the evening.
Details & booking on Holland America ↗Through James Bay to the Legislature and the Empress, then a shuttle back.
Check that it runs in the evening.
Details & booking on Holland America ↗Beer and whisky tasting plus a downtown drive.
19+. Check that it runs in the evening.
Details & booking on Holland America ↗Daytime only
Listed for Victoria, but they won't fit an 8 pm call- Victoria Culinary Walk with Food & Wine, $139: restaurants close too early for an 8 pm start.
- Victoria Highlights & Craigdarroch Castle, $109.95: the castle closes in the evening.
- Best of Victoria: Butchart & Butterfly Gardens, $155: the Butterfly Gardens are daytime only.
At a glance
The price ladder
Every excursion from least to most expensive, per person. Gold bars are our picks.
Three ways to spend the evening
Sample Victoria plans
Have an early farewell dinner (5:00–5:30 pm) so you're ready to go ashore at 8. Prices are for all four of us.
Butchart by night
≈ $576 for four
- 5:15Farewell dinner (Dressy night)
- 8:15Enchanting Butchart Gardens (3¼ hrs)
- 11:30Back aboard; bags outside the door
Harbour lights
≈ $396 for four
- 5:30Farewell dinner
- 8:15O Canada: Night Lights (1¼ hrs)
- 9:45Nightcap aboard, then pack
On our own
≈ CA$15 taxi
- 5:30Farewell dinner
- 8:15Taxi or a 25-min walk to the Inner Harbour
- 8:45Parliament lights, the Empress and the harbour buskers
- 10:30Taxi back; pack
On our own, for free (or close to it)
Victoria's prettiest sights are free after dark, a short taxi or a 25-minute walk from Ogden Point.
Butchart Gardens' Sunken Garden · Warfieldian, CC BY-SA 3.0Walk out on the breakwater right by the ship.
A pleasant 20–25 minute walk to the Inner Harbour.
Outlined in about 3,300 lights at night.
The grand 1908 hotel facing the harbour.
Buskers and street performers on summer evenings.
From Ogden Point to downtown.
Good to know
Before we book
Butchart hours. Summer hours have run until about 10 pm, with viewing until 11. There are no fireworks on Friday, Sep 3 (they're on Saturdays). Confirm Holland America's evening tour runs on our date.
Packing night. Luggage goes outside the cabin door by about 10 pm. Pack before going ashore.
Passports. Bring them ashore. Canada requires them.
Prices. Holland America refunds in full if it cancels a tour, and its Best Price Guarantee gives 110% of the difference as onboard credit if you find the identical tour cheaper.