British Columbia is genuinely one of the best places on earth to backpack — big mountains, old-growth forests, ferry routes that feel like adventures in themselves, and cities that are actually liveable. But with so many hostels in British Columbia to choose from, picking where to start can be the hardest part.
Here's my honest take after a decade of calling this province home: start in Victoria.
Why Victoria Over Vancouver?
Vancouver gets all the attention, and fair enough — it's a great city. But Victoria moves at a pace that actually lets you breathe. It's compact enough to explore on foot or by bike, the food scene quietly overdelivers, and the weather is the best in Canada (we get rain, won't lie, but we rarely get snow and the springs here are ridiculous in the best way).
It's also genuinely affordable if you know where to look. Which is where staying somewhere like Ocean Island Inn — a hostel and inn right in the heart of downtown — makes a real difference. Free breakfast, free dinner on certain nights, a shared kitchen, and a lounge where you'll actually meet people. Check the full amenities list before you book — it adds up to real savings fast.
What to Do in Victoria on a Budget
The Galloping Goose Regional Trail
Rent a bike — Ocean Island has bike rentals sorted — and head out on the Galloping Goose, a converted rail trail that runs from downtown all the way out to Leechtown, about 55 kilometres west. You don't need to ride the whole thing (most people don't). Even an hour out and back takes you past tidal flats, farmland, and forest that feels nothing like a city. It's free, it's well-maintained, and it's one of those things that makes locals smug about living here.
Beacon Hill Park and the Dallas Road Waterfront
Walk south from downtown for about 15 minutes and you hit Beacon Hill Park — peacocks wander around in there, which still gets me every time — and then the Dallas Road waterfront path. On a clear day you can see the Olympic Mountains across the Strait of Juan de Fuca. It costs nothing and it's one of the better urban walks in BC.
Chinatown and the Food Scene
Victoria's Chinatown is the oldest in Canada, and the stretch of Fan Tan Alley is worth a wander. More practically: this area and the surrounding blocks are where you'll find some of the most affordable and genuinely good food in the city — dumplings, noodles, bánh mì, bubble tea. Explore on foot and follow what looks busy.
Cook Street Village, a short bus ride or bike ride from downtown, is worth a visit too — good coffee, bakeries, and a neighbourhood feel that the touristy Inner Harbour doesn't quite have.
Whale Watching
If you do one splurge in Victoria, make it this. We're lucky — orca sightings here are genuinely common, especially April through October. Ocean Island partners with Orca Spirit Adventures, and they run both covered-vessel tours and Zodiac tours. Tours run roughly three hours and depart from two different docks near the Inner Harbour — ask at the Ocean Island front desk which one your tour uses, and ask about guest discounts while you're at it. The discounted rate they can offer beats anything you'll find published online.
Getting Around BC from Victoria
Victoria is a natural launchpad. BC Ferries connects you to Vancouver (and from there, the rest of the province). You can also pick up a campervan rental through Ocean Island if you're planning to head further north or do a loop of the Island Highway — it changes the whole trip.
For getting around the city itself, BC Transit buses are reliable and cover most of what you'll want to reach. Exact change for cash fares, or check bctransit.com for current fares and day pass options.
Planning Ahead (or Not)
If you're doing a longer stint in BC — working holiday, travelling slowly, figuring things out — Ocean Island also does extended stays, which is worth knowing. Victoria has a way of keeping people longer than they planned. Happened to me.
For a deeper dive into what's worth doing while you're here, the Victoria Insiders Guide is a solid place to start — real local knowledge, not brochure stuff.
There are plenty of great hostels in British Columbia, but Victoria tends to be the one people are glad they didn't skip. Give it a few days and see if you agree.
