Cordova Bay Beach is a long beautiful stretch of beach with spectacular views of San Juan Island across the Haro Strait. The beach stretches for kilometers north and south, making it ideal for long walks along the water's edge.

The beach is pebbly and wide, with a few sandy areas. Unlike some of Victoria's other beaches, Cordova is fully exposed to the environment and winds off the water. Especially in the spring, you may experience four seasons in one day. The wonderful Beach House Restaurant is located just back from the beach. This Cordova Bay icon has wind-protected decks and a good location directly on the beach. In the summer, book a seat outside and have a delicious dinner while observing the activity on the beach.

The ocean and Esquimalt Lagoon are separated by a long stretch of sand. The beach is generally fairly level, and it runs for many kilometers, making it one of Victoria's best walking beaches. The views from here are breathtaking. The Olympic Mountains, which are snowcapped, may be seen in the distance.

The beach is wide and level, with a mixture of sand and pebbles, and a substantial quantity of driftwood. This is a popular beach, so you'll see a lot of people; however, the area is so large that you'll feel like you have your own patch of sand. Parking is available, and many people come here in the winter to sit in their cars and enjoy the view while being protected from the cold. The Esquimalt Lagoon beach is the region that attracts birds from all over the world, as well as birders with binoculars and cameras. Even a walk down the ocean side of the beach will be crowded with wading birds looking for a tasty marine snack. Western sandpipers, black-bellied plovers, horned grebes, and multicolored harlequin ducks are among the species to keep an eye out for.

Gonzales Beach is a wide arc of sand nestled between two headlands. This bay is generally calm, and the waters warm up slightly with a maximum summer water temperature of 13 degrees Celsius, ideal for swimming while being protected on three sides from the ocean's fury.

The beach is also a nice place to sunbathe. Luxury homes line the rocky shoreline, and a small terraced park with picnic tables and restrooms lies just behind the beach. This beach is ideal for stand-up paddleboarding or kayaking due to its protected location. A long, gradual concrete path winds its way down to the beach in a zigzag pattern, making hauling your things relatively easy. You can have a relaxing paddle along the shoreline, past the cliffside homes. Dogs are allowed off-leash September through May, outside of the high-traffic summer months.

Although not a beach for swimming, Spiral Beach is a feast for the senses and a popular place due to its location, below Dallas Road. It's a long and wide all-pebble stretch that traces the arcing coastline from Finlayson Point to Clover Point Park down below on Spiral Beach (Dallas Road Beach, or Clover Point Park Beach). There's a lot of space, so it feels like you're miles away from the city.

This beach, which is always windy, attracts kiteboarders and windsurfers to its offshore environs. In the summer, a wonderful side-on breeze blows here in the afternoons, and the colorful kites and windsurfers provide excellent entertainment and photographic opportunities. The view of the ocean and the coastline is breathtaking. A paraglider or two can often be seen bobbing in the breeze, and you can see all the way to the Olympic Mountains south of the border.

Cadboro Bay Beach and Gyro Park is one of Victoria's largest beach and park combos. This park includes one of Victoria's top beaches for families. Both the beach and the park provide a variety of activities for children that will keep them occupied for hours.

For about a kilometer, the beach runs roughly in the shape of a mushroom head from northeast to southwest. The greatest portion of the beach is next to Gyro Park, making it convenient to visit both areas. Beachgoers will like the generally calm and protected waters, small waves, and pebbly shorelines with sand patches. Gyro Park may become your new favorite hangout spot, especially if you have children. Unique play structures include an octopus, salmon, a ship, a shipwreck, and even a sea serpent known as Cadborosaurus in the extensive playground spaces. A zipline and traditional swings are provided in addition to the play structures.

Island View Beach is the place to go if you want long, uninterrupted stretches of beach and a little quiet time. The 25-minute drive north of Victoria is well worth the time investment since it rewards you with open spaces and few people.

At low tide, you can walk for miles, even out to Cordova Spit if you're feeling adventurous. If you prefer more level terrain, a three-kilometer circular trail runs just behind the beach. Offshore, you'll have views across the Haro Strait of Darcy Island, Sidney Island, San Juan Island in the USA, and the sand-colored bluffs of James Island. The beach is pebbly, with some sand and a lot of driftwood in the back, ideal for resting on and contemplating life. Each summer, seasonal beachside camping is available, with tent sites just steps from the water. This is true beachfront camping, with the sound of the waves lulling you to sleep and the sun rising over the water awakening you up each morning.

At Willows Beach, you'll be greeted with spectacular views over the Haro Strait to the looming Mount Bachelor and the Olympic Mountains. On a clear day, this beach, which faces southwest, has the best views of all the beaches in Victoria.

Willows Beach is one of Victoria's few beaches with a large green space behind it, ideal for kicking a ball around it or playing the game of Frisbee. The spacious lawns will appeal to families since they are ideal for setting up a picnic and allowing little children to run around. On the north side of the open space, there are restrooms, and a small teahouse operates seasonally right on the water's edge. Soft sand surrounds the beach, which spans almost a kilometer in a gentle arc. The smooth sand emerges at low tide, and beach walking is a popular pastime. When the sea is high or rough, a walkway and Esplanade Drive are suitable choices just back from the beach.

Arbutus Cove is one of Victoria's lesser-known beaches, but it also offers one of the most beautiful surroundings. This peaceful location is nestled between two headlands under high cliffs dotted with Arbutus trees.

The beach is not accessible to those with mobility issues, as it is approached by a boardwalk and then a large number of stairs. You'll be rewarded for your efforts because there's a good chance you'll have the place to yourself. The beach features soft sand, however, the water's edge might be rough. At the back, there's a lot of driftwood. The large headlands on either end serve as bookends, making this a highly protected spot. If the parking lot is crowded, consider approaching the beach from the south end at Hollydene Park, which is off Hollydene Place.

If you're looking for a beach close to the city but don't want to deal with the crowds, Ross Bay is the place to go. The Dallas Road Waterfront Trail offers excellent walking opportunities and stunning views of the Juan de Fuca Strait, particularly on a windy, stormy day when the crashing waves may be mesmerizing.

With all the dangerous waves and ominous rocks, it's not a good place to swim. That makes it a bad spot to spend the day with the family, but an excellent place to go for long, contemplative walks away from the distractions of everyday life. Ross Bay provides a possibility to take a break for a while and get in touch with nature. There aren't many amenities at Ross Bay Pebbles Beach, only a small set of washrooms across the road from Ross Bay Cemetery.

It's acceptable that not every beach is suitable for swimming. McNeill Bay is located between Gonzales and Oak Bay, along Beach Road. When you see a portion of green railings and a small pitstop of sand and pebbles below, you've arrived at the right spot.

Because dogs are allowed off-leash, it's a popular spot for walks throughout the year. On the large rocks at the edge of McNeill Bay, there are even two Adirondack chairs where you can sit in the sun and watch for otters and seals. The environment is quiet, peaceful, and excellent for some "me time". The sidewalk with benches arching over the bay is a great spot for a coffee and the newest page-turner mystery novel.