New to Victoria? Hopefully this page will guide you to convenient housing and transportation options.
Short-Term Options
If you are visiting Victoria and looking for a place to stay, please check out our hotel partners, explore the many hostels in the downtown area, or check out vacation rental sites such as www.airbnb.ca/.
Long-Term Options
There are no on-campus housing opportunities for students, but Victoria has an expansive range of rental opportunities.
Here are primary links for accommodations in the Victoria area:
www.usedvictoria.com
www.housing.uvic.ca
canadahomestaynetwork.ca/
www.airbnb.ca/
victoria.en.craigslist.ca
Facebook Marketplace
Places4Students
To help make your housing search more efficient and successful, we have partnered with Places4Students.com, a free service for our students to find suitable accommodations in and around Victoria. Please click on the links below to begin your search.
Explore Our Neighbourhoods
Many would agree that there is no bad place to live in Victoria and surrounding communities, but here is a little guide to help you get a feel for coastal island life before you arrive.
Accessibility Score Legend | ||
 Walking: 10 (0-10 minutes); 9 (10-15 min); 8 (15-20 min); 7 (20-25 min); 6 (25-30 min); 5 (30-35 min); 4 (35-40 min); 3 (40-45 min); 2 (45-50 min); 1 (50+ min) |  Cycling: 10 (0-10 minutes); 9 (10-15 min); 8 (15-20 min); 7 (20-25 min); 6 (25-30 min); 5 (30-40 min); 4 (40-50 min); 3 (50-60 min); 2 (60-70 min); 1 (70+ min) |  Public Transportation: 10 (0-10 minutes); 9 (10-15 min); 8 (15-20 min); 7 (20-30 min); 6 (30-40 min); 5 (40-50 min); 4 (50-60 min); 3 (60-70 min); 2 (70-80 min); 1 (80+ min) |
Downtown Victoria
Urban living has never looked so good! Situated on a spectacular harbour, Downtown Victoria is frequently lauded as one of North America’s most beautiful cities. It has many characteristics of European cities and is occasionally used as a “European city” in films. It is adored for its restaurants, cafes, shops, and venues. It is also extremely walker-friendly with virtually all highlights within a 20-minute walking radius.
Walking: 10
Cycling: 10
(bike lanes)
Public Transit: 10
James Bay
From the ocean, James Bay serves as the gateway to Victoria and is the first community visitors see when they enter the Victoria Harbour. Surrounded by water on three sides, it has a quaint neighbourly feel with bookstores, cafes, and restaurants.
Walking: 8-9
Cycling: 10
(bike lanes and neighbourhood streets)
Public Transit: 10
Vic West
Vic West is surrounded by the water of the Inner Harbour and the Gorge Waterway and is only steps from Downtown Victoria, making it a very popular living destination. With waterfront shops, cafes, and restaurants, and the beginning of the famous Galloping Goose cycling trail, what more could you ask for?
Walking: 8-9
Cycling: 10
(bike lanes and neighbourhood streets)
Public Transit: 10
Fairfield
Fairfield is about as family-friendly as it gets, with beautiful parks, beaches, and heritage homes, and the massively popular pocket community of Cook Street Village.
Walking: 7-9
Cycling: 9-10
(bike lanes and neighbourhood streets)
Public Transit: 10
Fernwood
Fernwood is friendly and increasingly-trendy neighbourhood that is a mecca for backyard gardening and sustainable urban living.
Walking: 7-9
Cycling: 9-10
(bike lanes and neighbourhood streets)
Public Transit: 10
Esquimalt
Esquimalt sits along the south side of Victoria Upper Harbour and boasts stunning views of the Strait of Juan de Fuca and many family-oriented parks and events.
Walking: 7-8
Cycling: 9-10
(bike lanes and neighbourhood streets)
Public Transit: 10
Saanich
Saanich, spilling into Victoria and vice versa, is increasingly becoming a residential destination. With famous shopping such as the Uptown outdoor shopping mall and great restaurants, whatever you need is steps away.
Walking: 5-8
Cycling: 9-10
(bike lanes and trails)
Public Transit: 10
Oak Bay
In Oak Bay world class waterfront living is on display, all only steps away from Oak Bay Village that boasts all the amenities and quaintness needed to find bliss.
Walking: 4-6
Cycling: 9-10
(bike lanes and neighbourhood streets)
Public Transit: 10
Oaklands
Oaklands shares a border with Fernwood and also the penchant for gardening and healthy living. The Oaklands farmers’ market is a must-visit, week after week.
Walking: 4-6
Cycling: 9-10
(bike lanes and neighbourhood streets)
Public Transit: 10
Gordon Head
Flanking the University of Victoria, Gordon Head and Cordova Bay offer stunning beaches, beautiful neighbourhoods and all the amenities for easy living.
Walking: 1
Cycling: 5-7
(bike lanes and neighbourhood streets)
Public Transit: 7-8
Royal Oak/View Royal
With forests, beautiful coast, and parks, it is easy to live an active outdoor life in these communities. It helps that they are connected to Victoria by famous cycling trails, Lochside Trail and the Galloping Goose.
Walking: 1
Cycling: 4-7
(bike lanes and neighbourhood streets)
Public Transit: 7-8
Langford/Colwood/Westshore
These communities boast large-scale and boutique-style shopping, mountains, oceans, and trails and serve as a gateway to the northern part of Vancouver Island. The Galloping Goose cycling trail runs right through here!
Walking: 1
Cycling: 2-5
(bike lanes and trails)
Public Transit: 6-7
Central Saanich/Brentwood Bay
Like Metchosin, this is fantastic rural living on display, with incredibly fertile land surrounded by the Pacific Ocean. It is also home to Pacific Rim College’s campus farms, Ravenhill Herb Farm and Tiny Tree Herb Farm, locations of the Permaculture Design and Resilient Ecosystems diploma. The Lochside Trail safely connects these communities to Downtown Victoria.
Walking: 1
Cycling: 1-2
(bike lanes and trails)
Public Transit: 5-6
North Saanich/Sidney
Sidney by the Sea is Canada’s only booktown with a main street ending at the ocean. Situated at the northern tip of the Saanich Peninsula, ocean is all around and bucolic farms and vineyards are here, there, and everywhere.
Walking: 1
Cycling: 1
(bike lanes and trails)
Public Transit: 1-4
Transportation
Public Transportation
Victoria is connected to its surrounding communities by a comprehensive public bus system. Please visit BC Transit for routes and maps.
Cycling
Victoria has an extensive network of bike paths, lanes and trails. And despite being in the “Great North”, the climate is conducive to cycling year-round with only a few snow days each year. Rain? Yes we have that, but that is what rain gear is for. Please check out the Victoria Bike Map to find routes near you.
