The Fairmont Empress is one of the oldest and most famous hotels in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. Located on Government Street facing the Inner Harbour, the Empress has become an iconic symbol for the city itself. It has been designated a National Historic Site of Canada due to its national significance.

Miniature World is an amazing museum and one of its kind. Animation, lighting and sound effects enhance more than 85 highly detailed miniature scenes. Displays include a circus, one of the world's largest doll houses, a Swiss Family Robinson tree house, Jack and the Beanstalk and a futuristic space diorama. Scenes illustrate historic battles, fairy tales, nursery rhymes, "Gulliver's Travels" and novels by Charles Dickens. The Great Canadian Railway exhibit re-creates rail transportation in the late 19th-century Canada.

Tip:
Take your time and press the display buttons. You will watch trains, plane propellers, cars, a trolley, a castle door, goldfish, double-decker buses, a waterwheel (etc.) move within the dioramas.

Opening Hours:
Summer Hours: 9am-9pm; Winter-Spring: 9am-5pm

Inner Harbour is the bustling, vibrant center of action in downtown Victoria. You can admire its old renovated buildings, as also the wide variety of its restaurants and shops. Along the waterfront, there are many street musicians, jugglers and artists, performing against a picturesque backdrop of yachts, the legislature buildings and the Fairmont Empress Hotel.

Why You Should Visit:
One of the most beautiful waterfront walkways anywhere; very scenic and very quaint. Lots of free entertainment of breathtaking variety.

Tip:
If you're into it, take a horse-drawn carriage ride, or take a mini-boat tour (fee).

The Wharf Street floats are located north of the seaplane terminal. This marina offers year-round transient moorage, monthly moorage, and low season moorage from October to May.Wharf street is also a desirable route for bike tourism and recreational rides in addition to a direct, comfortable and convenient corridor to service the downtown destinations

Market Square is a very famous location, very popular with the locals too. Here you will find more then 45 fascinating and unique specialty shops. Fashion, exotic teas, garden décor, camping goods, souvenirs and many other commodities can be found here. The area also has a vegetarian restaurant, a nightclub and is host to live festivals too.