Craigdarroch Castle & Grand City Drive Tour

The Grand City Drive Tour is a must to round out a visit to Victoria -- you'll discover the best of Victoria's lovely homes, gardens and points of historic interest on board an authentic English double decker bus. On this 90-minute tour, you'll learn the fascinating history behind famous landmarks like the Fairmont Empress Hotel, Chinatown, and Antique Row. Your narrated tour includes a brief stop at Cattle Point with views of the elegant Oak Bay residential neighborhood and the Coast Mountains. You'll also enjoy a ride along Marine Drive with its scenic views of Mt. Baker and the San Juan Islands.

This tour is a great way to become familiar with this fascinating city. In addition to seeing the sights of the Garden City, you'll get to visit stunning Craigdarroch Castle. Craigdarroch Castle was built in the late 1800s by Robert Dunsmuir, a Scottish immigrant who made his fortune from Vancouver Island coal. Only the finest materials were used to create this superb home for the Dunsmuir family. Fine woods, stone and glass were all meticulously tooled to create one of Victoria's favorite landmarks.

Tour Highlights

• Craigdarroch Castle
• Fairmont Empress Hotel
• Chinatown
• Antique Row
• Cattle Point
• Oak Bay neighborhood
• Rockland neighborhood
• Uplands neighborhood
• Garry Oaks neighborhood
• Victoria Golf Club
• Beacon Hill Park
• Coast Mountains
• Marine Drive
• San Juan Islands
• Mount Baker
• City Center
• Olympic Mountains
• Juan de Fuca Straits
  

Details

• Price includes 90-minute fully-narrated tour on double decker bus and admission to Craigdarroch Castle.
• Tours depart at various times seasonally. Please check the schedule for specific dates and times.
• Tour length is approximately 2.5 hours.
• This tour is appropriate for all ages.
• Buses are handicap accessible, but upper deck is restricted.
• Some walking and stair-climbing is required at Craigdarroch Castle.
• Bus seating is on a first come/first served basis.
• Cameras and video cameras are permitted.
• Comfortable clothing and walking shoes are recommended.