The Inner Harbour is where Victoria comes together, and where most visitors spend their first hour in the city. Seaplanes land and take off on the water, small harbour ferries and whale-watching boats come and go, and the stone causeway below the Fairmont Empress becomes a stage for buskers and artists in the warmer months. On the south side of the harbour stand the British Columbia Parliament Buildings, the seat of the Legislative Assembly, a grand domed stone building completed in the late 1890s and topped by a gilded statue of Captain George Vancouver. After dark, thousands of small lights outline the whole facade, which is the image of Victoria on countless postcards. The buildings are not just for looking at: free public tours of about 40 minutes take you inside to see the rotunda, the stained glass and the legislative chamber, and you can also wander some areas on a self-guided visit on weekdays. Combine the tour with a slow loop of the harbour walkway, from the Empress past the seaplane terminal to the ferry docks on Belleville Street, and you have the essence of the city in a morning.
Tours: public tours are free and last about 40 minutes. Advance registration is not needed; arrive ten minutes before a tour time at the Tour Desk just inside the main entrance. Tour times change every week because of school and group bookings, and the Legislature posts the next week's schedule on Friday afternoon, so check before you go. In early November 2026, for example, tours ran on weekdays at times between 9am and 3pm, with several departures on Thursdays and Fridays. Groups of 15 or more can book a free tour online.
Opening and access: the buildings are open from 8:30am to 4:30pm, Monday to Friday, for tours and self-guided visits, and closed on weekends and statutory holidays such as Remembrance Day on 11 November. All visitors pass through security screening. Times can change without notice for legislative events, demonstrations or operational needs. The buildings are accessible for wheelchairs, scooters and strollers, with a ramped entrance on the west side, elevators between floors and an accessible washroom; drop-off and parking are best on Menzies Street.
Making it count: walk the harbour in daylight, take the tour, then come back after sunset to see the Parliament Buildings lit up, ideally from the causeway in front of the Empress. The seaplane terminal and the whale-watching docks are a few minutes away along Wharf Street, and the Royal BC Museum and Thunderbird Park sit right next door to the Legislature.
What to expect
The experience
A free walk-up guided tour of the Legislature, combined with a stroll around the Inner Harbour walkway past the Empress, the seaplanes and the ferry docks.
Best time
A weekday morning for the tour, then a return visit after dark when the Parliament Buildings are outlined in lights.
How long
About 40 minutes for the tour and an hour or so for the harbour walk.
Tips
Check the weekly tour times posted on Friday afternoon, allow for security screening, and remember there are no tours at weekends.
Quick picks
- Best for
- First-time visitors, history fans and anyone who wants the classic view of Victoria for free.
- Families
- The tour is free and short enough for children, and the harbour walk has boats and seaplanes to watch.
- Couples
- Walk the causeway at dusk and watch the lights come on over the Parliament Buildings.
- Pair with
- The Royal BC Museum and Thunderbird Park next door, or a seaplane flight from Wharf Street.
- Time needed
- Two hours, plus an evening stroll for the lights.
Good questions
Are BC Parliament Buildings tours free?+
Yes, public tours are free and last about 40 minutes. No advance registration is needed; arrive ten minutes early at the Tour Desk inside the main entrance.
When are the Parliament Buildings tours?+
Tours run on weekdays only, and the times change every week. The Legislature posts the next week's schedule on Friday afternoon.
Are the BC Parliament Buildings open at weekends?+
No, the buildings are closed to visitors on weekends and statutory holidays. On weekdays they are open from 8:30am to 4:30pm.
Are the Parliament Buildings wheelchair accessible?+
Yes, there is a ramped entrance on the west side, elevators between floors and an accessible washroom. Drop-off and parking are best on Menzies Street.
When are the Parliament Buildings lit up?+
The facade is outlined in lights after dark, every evening. The best view is from the harbour causeway in front of the Fairmont Empress.
