New to Victoria?

If you're an incoming student and you have questions about the city, the program, accommodations, or things of that nature, email us and we'll get back to you: ghsu@uvic.ca There are dozens of us, and we may be able to help!

One of the most difficult parts about moving somewhere new is figuring out where to go to get what you’re looking for. The following places are all worth checking out, but it's certainly not an exhaustive list!

For advice on the academic side of grad student life, take a look at this helpful guide, and these tips on presenting papers. For Canadianists, there is also a list of useful websites here.

General Advice

  • Your UVic bus pass lets you go just about anywhere in Victoria. For detailed information see http://www.busonline.ca. Local transit can take you as far as Sooke, Sidney, and the BC ferry terminal at Swartz Bay. But be warned, buses usually don’t run past 12 at night.
  • To visit Vancouver, take the number 70 bus (from downtown on Douglas) to the ferry. It costs between 10 and 15 dollars to walk on the ferry. In total it takes about 4 hours to get from city to city. http://www.bcferries.com
  • There’s plenty to explore in and around Victoria. It’s well worth taking a break from school and work to get to know the city and the island.
Things To Do

Outdoor Activities
  • Biking: the Galloping Goose Trail, Mt. Work.
    Strathcona
       Strathcona Provincial Park
  • Hiking: Mt. Finlayson/Goldstream, Mt. Doug, Mt. Work, Mackenzie Bight, Mystic Vale, East Sooke Park.
  • Beaches in Victoria: Gyro Beach, Willows Beach. In Sooke: China Beach, French Beach, Sooke Potholes.
  • Parks: Beacon Hill, Elk Lake, Thetis Lake.
  • There are lots of opportunities for day and overnight trips from the Victoria region, and Vancouver and Seattle are only a ferry ride away. Saltspring and the Gulf Islands are well worth visiting, as is Lake Cowichan. For ambitious hikers and campers, Strathcona Provincial Park offers excellent multi-day hiking and spectacular views.

Biking
  • Spokes is a bicycle bursary program run by the university that lends out bicycles to university students in the hopes of encouraging cycling for commuting and recreation. The application forms can be found online and there is an email address to contact if anyone would like to volunteer to work on bikes. It is a great way to learn some bike maintenance skills and practice on bikes that aren't your own! http://web.uvic.ca/uvbikes/spokes.html
  • Recyclistas is a used bike cooperative that provides the regular sales and service for bikes as well as offering opportunities for bike education and community programing. The folks at the shop set up at UVic outside the SUB from time to time to help people with quick bike repairs on the cheap and at the shop they offer a variety of rates for people who would like to work on their own projects with differing levels of help from the staff. You can also
    IMG_0369
    Sasquatch Music Festival   
    volunteer to help fix bikes in exchange for credit for shop time or parts. They are also the hub of the cycling community in Victoria, throwing great parties throughout the year and promoting cycling-related community events such as the monthly Midnight Mystery Ride (meet at 10:30 pm at Centennial Square the second Friday of every month for a bicycle adventure) and Bike Polo (a pick-up sport held every Wednesday at 7:30 at 1240 Gladstone Ave., just behind the Fernwood Community Centre). Check out their events calendar for updates. www.recyclistas.ca
  • The Greater Victoria Cycling Coalition is a municipal organization that helps to promote cycling and provide info to cyclists about the resources in their community. Check their site out for info on shops near you, cycling laws, events, and anything else you are wondering about regarding bikes in victoria. They also have great maps of the city and outlying areas that identify roads with bike lanes, good routes for commuting, the locations of the steepest hills, complicated intersections, secret bike cut-throughs and recreational bike paths. http://gvcc.bc.ca/recrides.shtml
Local Attractions
IMG_0522
     Lake Cowichan

  • Moss Street Market (at the corner of Moss and Fairfield): a local farmers market that’s worth a look. Saturdays 10 to 2, May to October.
  • A listing of farmers markets in Victoria and the surrounding area can be found here.
  • Royal BC Museum and IMAX theatre.
  • Movies at Cinecenta (on campus): the cheapest place in town, and the best place to look for independent and foreign films.
Places to Eat and Drink
  • Smith’s Pub (777 Courtney): a popular GHSU hangout.
  • The Mint (downtown on Douglas between Johnson and Pandora): it can be a little tricky to find as it's actually down a flight of stairs from street level. But don't let the darkness dissuade you: The Mint serves up great food, and relatively inexpensive drinks. The music and ambience is tough to beat in Victoria and the kitchen is open late.
  • Hernandez (736 View or 1600 Bay): cheap and tasty burritos and other Mexican fare.
  • Cafe Mexico (1425 Store): great Mexican food.
  • Eugene’s Greek Restaurant (1990 Fort or 3-3960 Shelbourne): good souvlaki.
  • Penny Farthing Pub (2228 Oak Bay): great imported beers, amazing food.
  • The Irish Times (1200 Government): great food and music.
  • The Stickey Wicket Pub (919 Douglas): expensive, but worth it.
  • Moka House (110-19 Dallas or 345 Cook): best coffee house in town, and open late!
    IMG_2116
                Long Beach, Tofino
  • Sushi: some of our favourites are Tamami Sushi (505 Fisgard), Sen Zushi (940 Fort - delicious, but a little pricey), and Fujiya (3624 Shelbourne).
  • The Joint (1219 Wharf): a local favourite, they serve a variety of pizza and are open late.
  • Rosie’s Diner (253 Cook): great 1950s-style place.
  • Rebar (50 Bastion Square): vegan and vegetarian food.
  • Jewish Community Centre (3636 Shelbourne): cheap Jewish food, nice Jewish old ladies — who could ask for more?
  • Logan's Pub (1821 Cook): a great little pub with tons of live music.
  • The Reef (533 Yates): a Caribbean restaurant with great prices and awesome staff.
  • Spinnaker's (308 Catherine, across the blue bridge in Vic West): a slightly more upscale brewpub. They have great beer and good food.
  • Cosmos Pizza (1557 Pandora or 3450 Tillicum): they are all business here and they make a good pie.
Groceries
  • Thrifty’s (various locations): has decently priced produce, much of it local and organic.
  • Safeway (various locations): slightly more expensive, but has a great selection of “ethnic foods” and anything out of the ordinary.
  • Fairway Markets (various locations): great selection of local produce at reasonable prices, but other items can be more expensive and the selection is not great.
  • Peppers (3829 Cadboro Bay, along the number 11 bus route): high-end upscale grocery store, but has stuff you can’t find anywhere else.
  • For Good Measure (3831 Cadboro Bay, along the number 11 bus route): bulk food store with everything you can possibly imagine. Students get ten percent off!
    IMG_0105
                Saanich Peninsula
  • Real Canadian Superstore (Langford): if you have a car or know someone with a car, this is a great place to stock up on bulk items.
  • Osman Halal (Mediterranean Place, 2618 Quadra): one of the only places in town to get Halal food products.
  • Aubergine (2579 Cadboro Bay): expensive grocery store, but one of the only places to get kosher products (no meat).
Books
New
  • Bolen Books (Hillside Mall)
  • Munro Books (1108 Government)
  • UVic Bookstore
Used
  • Russell Books (734 Fort – there is also another location on View, one block over)
  • AbeBooks.com
  • SUB TEXT (in the student union building)
Shopping
  • Information compiled by Simon Nantais, Nick Melchin, Grant Burns, Lisa Pasolli, and Stephen Harrison.