A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Columbia River Gorge vs. Victoria for Food, Hiking, Families, and Couples

Should you visit Columbia River Gorge or Victoria?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Columbia River Gorge or Victoria, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Columbia River Gorge

Columbia River Gorge is a beautiful, scenic, and natural region. With stunning beauty, Columbia River Gorge attracts visitors from all around. It's also popular because of the food, hiking, and shopping. See Columbia River Gorge travel costs.

Victoria

Victoria is a scenic, relaxing, and cultural city. It's also known for museums, nightlife, and food. See Victoria travel costs.

Columbia River Gorge and Victoria: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Columbia River Gorge or Victoria?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Columbia River Gorge than Victoria, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Columbia River Gorge is better known for its food, hiking, and impressive beauty, while Victoria is more popular for its museums and attractions. Columbia River Gorge is well known for its hiking, biking, and high number of waterfalls. Also, Columbia River Gorge is famous for Vista House at Crown Point. Victoria is well known for its colonial buildings and public parks.

How is Columbia River Gorge different from Victoria?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Victoria and Columbia River Gorge. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Columbia River Gorge or Victoria?

Victoria is a nice place to visit for its sights and museums. However, Columbia River Gorge is not a good region for its museums and history.

Victoria is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. There are several popular museums like the Royal BC Museum and Craigdarroch Castle. Also make sure you check out the Parliament Buildings.

While most people don't head to Columbia River Gorge specifically for the museums and attractions, it does offer a few options. There are a couple of local museums in the area, but most visitors spend their time exploring the region's natural beauty.

Is the Food Better in Columbia River Gorge or Victoria? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Columbia River Gorge is a very popular place for its restaurants. Also, Victoria is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its restaurant scene.

Columbia River Gorge has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. You'll find many great restaurants in the area that serve local dishes that make use of the region's agricultural scene.

Victoria offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. You'll find tons of fresh seafood around town. Make sure you try to the Dungeness crab, wild caught salmon, and fish chowder.

Is Columbia River Gorge or Victoria Better for Nightlife?

Both Columbia River Gorge and Victoria are notable when it comes to partying.

There's a variety of activities in the evening in Columbia River Gorge. Local breweries, wineries, and bars offer a relaxing setting with a local vibe.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Victoria. There are a good number of bars and pubs around town. Most offer a relaxed atmosphere where you can enjoy a cold drink in a casual setting.

Is Columbia River Gorge or Victoria Better for Hiking?

Columbia River Gorge is a very popular place for its hiking trails. Also, Victoria is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its hiking experiences.

Many visitors explore the nearby hiking trails while visiting Columbia River Gorge. There are world-class hikes that take you to iconic waterfalls, breathtaking viewpoints, and along scenic waterways.

Victoria is a good destination for hiking. There are many outdoor spaces and parks that offer local hiking trails. This is a great way to experience the scenic beauty of the area.

Is the Shopping Better in Columbia River Gorge or Victoria?

Both Columbia River Gorge and Victoria are notable shopping destinations.

Columbia River Gorge is a great destination for shopping. Art galleries feature local artwork and artisan crafts. There are photography shops and other venues that sell items highlighting the region's beauty.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Victoria. There are plenty of larger shopping malls as well as local boutiques and farmer's markets.

Is Columbia River Gorge or Victoria More Beautiful?

Columbia River Gorge is a very popular place for its scenery and beauty. However, Victoria is not a destination known for its beauty.

With stunning beauty, Columbia River Gorge attracts visitors from all around. Impressive waterfalls and breathtaking mountain vistas make this a truly beautiful place to visit.

Victoria is not a destination known for its beauty.

Is Columbia River Gorge or Victoria Better for Families?

Columbia River Gorge and Victoria are both great destinations for the whole family.

Columbia River Gorge is a very family-friendly place to visit. Kids will love exploring the waterfalls and mountains as much as the adults do. There are kid-friendly hikes as well as bakeries and restaurants with many kid options.

Because of its large number of kid-friendly activities, Victoria is very family-friendly. There are plenty of opportunities to get outside and get the energy out. Walking trails are popular. You can also do the Malahat SkyWalk which offers impressive views. Cadboro-Gyro Park has a playground, zip-line, and picnic areas. Another hightlight for kids is a visit to the Beacon Hill Children's Farm. If the weather isn't cooperating, you can visit the BC Aviation Museum.

Is Columbia River Gorge or Victoria Better for Couples?

Columbia River Gorge and Victoria are both great to visit as a couple.

Columbia River Gorge is a very popular place to visit for couples. Couples will love the romantic hikes and waterfalls. There are also beautiful scenic viewpoints and wonderful restaurants.

Victoria makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. The city offers many great activities for couples such as a visit to Hatley Park and Castle. The city is also famous for its many flower gardens which are best visited in spring. Kayaking, hiking, and exploring are also favorite activities for couples.

Is Columbia River Gorge or Victoria Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Columbia River Gorge is a very popular place for backpackers and budget travelers. Also, Victoria is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for backpackers.

Plenty of budget travelers and backpackers visit Columbia River Gorge. You'll find hostels and campgrounds in the area that are perfect for backpackers and budget travelers.

Plenty of budget travelers visit Victoria. There are a few hostels around town that attract the backpacker and budget traveler crowd.

Is Columbia River Gorge or Victoria Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Both Columbia River Gorge and Victoria offer respectable public transit options.

Public transit is generally limited in Columbia River Gorge. There are some buses, but don't rely on them to efficiently explore.

Public transit is mostly limited in Victoria. While there are buses, it's best not to count on them because they're not particularly reliable.

Is Columbia River Gorge or Victoria a more walkable city?

Victoria is a well-known place for its walkability. However, Columbia River Gorge is not a good region for its high level of walkability.

Victoria is very walkable. Many of the sights are close by and easy to walk to.

Columbia River Gorge is not a very walkable region. You really need a car to explore the area, but some visitors rely on a bike.

For even more information, also check out Is Columbia River Gorge Worth Visiting? and Is Victoria Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Victoria or Columbia River Gorge?

How long in Columbia River Gorge or Victoria?

It's fun to spend time in either Columbia River Gorge or Victoria. Generally, people tend to spend more time in Victoria due to the larger number of activities and things to do. Usually, 2-3 days is a good amount of time for Columbia River Gorge, and 3-4 days is enough time in Victoria.

Families should spend more time in Victoria than Columbia River Gorge. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Victoria, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Columbia River Gorge than Victoria if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Columbia River Gorge.

One day in Columbia River Gorge or Victoria?

The beautiful region of Columbia River Gorge offers nightlife and food. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

Many travelers enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the destination of Victoria. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything.

A weekend in Columbia River Gorge or Victoria?

Columbia River Gorge is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this region makes for a great vacation. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Columbia River Gorge, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Victoria is a fun place to experience. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than a weekend exploring. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from.

Five days in Columbia River Gorge or Victoria?

Columbia River Gorge is a popular choice for travelers. Five days is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

Many people visit Victoria for five days. You'll find museums and nightlife around the city of Victoria. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything.

A week in Columbia River Gorge or Victoria?

Columbia River Gorge is a great place to explore. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This region offers something for everyone.

The scenic destination of Victoria offers nightlife and food. It will give you the chance to have new experiences. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Los Angeles, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from New York City, The Best Adventure Tours to Canada, and The Best Eco Tours in Canada.

When comparing the travel costs between Columbia River Gorge and Victoria, we can see that Columbia River Gorge is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in North America, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Columbia River Gorge Expensive? and Is Victoria Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Columbia River Gorge or Victoria?

Victoria has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Columbia River Gorge. When comparing the sizes of Columbia River Gorge and Victoria, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.

When is the best time to visit Columbia River Gorge or Victoria?

Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Columbia River Gorge or Victoria in the Summer?

Both Victoria and Columbia River Gorge during the summer are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Columbia River Gorge for the hiking and the family-friendly experiences. Also, many visitors come to Victoria in the summer for the hiking and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Columbia River Gorge is generally a little warmer than Victoria. Daily temperatures in Columbia River Gorge average around 68°F (20°C), and Victoria fluctuates around 16°C (60°F).

Columbia River Gorge usually gets more rain in July than Victoria. Columbia River Gorge gets 0.7 inches (18 mm) of rain, while Victoria receives 13 mm (0.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Columbia River Gorge or Victoria in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Columbia River Gorge and Victoria. Many visitors come to Columbia River Gorge in the autumn for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area. Also, most visitors come to Victoria for the hiking trails and the shopping scene during these months.

Columbia River Gorge is a little warmer than Victoria in the autumn. The daily temperature in Columbia River Gorge averages around 55°F (13°C) in October, and Victoria fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).

In October, Columbia River Gorge usually receives around the same amount of rain as Victoria. Columbia River Gorge gets 2.6 inches (67 mm) of rain, while Victoria receives 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Columbia River Gorge or Victoria in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Columbia River Gorge as well as Victoria. Most visitors come to Columbia River Gorge for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Victoria because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

The weather in Victoria can be very cold. Columbia River Gorge can be very cold during winter. In the winter, Columbia River Gorge is cooler than Victoria. Typically, the winter temperatures in Columbia River Gorge in January average around 40°F (4°C), and Victoria averages at about 5°C (41°F).

It's quite rainy in Victoria. Columbia River Gorge receives a lot of rain in the winter. Columbia River Gorge usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Victoria. Columbia River Gorge gets 5.2 inches (132 mm) of rain, while Victoria receives 138 mm (5.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Columbia River Gorge or Victoria in the Spring?

Both Victoria and Columbia River Gorge are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The spring months attract visitors to Columbia River Gorge because of the natural beauty.

In April, Columbia River Gorge is generally a little warmer than Victoria. Daily temperatures in Columbia River Gorge average around 51°F (11°C), and Victoria fluctuates around 10°C (49°F).

In April, Columbia River Gorge usually receives more rain than Victoria. Columbia River Gorge gets 2.4 inches (61 mm) of rain, while Victoria receives 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Victoria and Columbia River Gorge