A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Columbia vs. Victoria for Families, Couples, Attractions, and Food

Should you visit Columbia or Victoria?

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

Should I visit Columbia or Victoria? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Columbia

Columbia is a welcoming, suburban, and friendly city. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and shopping. See Columbia travel costs.

Victoria

Victoria is a relaxing, cultural, and scenic city. And you can't forget about the hiking, shopping, and museums. See Victoria travel costs.

Columbia and Victoria: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Columbia or Victoria?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Victoria than Columbia, as it is bigger with more sights, attractions, and activities for visitors. Victoria is more touristy than Columbia and is popular for its colonial buildings and public parks. It is also home to Butchart Gardens. Columbia is popular for its southern hospitality and friendly people.

How is Columbia different from Victoria?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Plenty of people visit the good sights and museums in both Columbia and Victoria.

Columbia offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. As the state capital, there are some decent museums around town like the Columbia Museum of Art, the South Carolina Military Museum, the South Carolina State Museum, and the U.S. Army Basic Combat Training Museum.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Victoria. There are several popular museums like the Royal BC Museum and Craigdarroch Castle. Also make sure you check out the Parliament Buildings.

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

Victoria is a popular place for its local cuisine and restaurants. However, Columbia is not a good city for its restaurants.

Visitors will find a budding food and restaurant scene in Victoria. You'll find tons of fresh seafood around town. Make sure you try to the Dungeness crab, wild caught salmon, and fish chowder.

Columbia may not make the list for most foodies, but you'll find what you need while you're in town. Barbecue and other southern favorites are among the more local dishes, but the city is also filled with fast food joints and other major chain restaurants.

Is Columbia or Victoria Better for Nightlife?

Both Columbia and Victoria are good when it comes to partying.

There's a variety of activities in the evening in Columbia. You'll find live music venues as well as low key bars and more trendy cocktail lounges.

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 or Victoria Better for Hiking?

Victoria is a popular place for the nearby hiking options. However, Columbia is not a hiking destination.

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.

Columbia is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Columbia or Victoria?

Both Columbia and Victoria are good shopping destinations.

Columbia offers some nice shopping areas. You'll find independent and locally owned shops along Devine Street and in the Five Points area. Also interesting are the Vista, which is a warehouse district, and Trenholm Plaza.

Victoria has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. There are plenty of larger shopping malls as well as local boutiques and farmer's markets.

Is Columbia or Victoria Better for Families?

Victoria is a well-known place for its family-friendly activities. Also, Columbia is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its kid-friendly activities.

Victoria is a very kid-friendly city. 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.

Columbia is a family-friendly city. Around town you'll find parks, playgrounds, and kid-friendly restaurants. There's a zoo in the area as well as a nice state park - Sesquicentennial State Park. There's also EdVenture Children's Museum, which is filled with hands-on exhibits.

Is Columbia or Victoria Better for Couples?

Victoria is a well-known place for its romantic activities. However, Columbia is not a good city for couples.

Victoria is a very popular place to visit for couples. 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.

Columbia is not always the best place to visit for a couple. You'll find parks to explore and some nice restaurants that make for a good date night.

Is Columbia or Victoria Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Victoria is a popular place for backpackers. However, Columbia is not a good city 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.

Columbia is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. While it's not an expensive place to visit, there is little in the area to attract backpackers.

Is Columbia or Victoria Better for Students?

Columbia is a good destination for its student-friendly activities. However, Victoria is not popular with students.

Plenty of students visit Columbia. The University of South Carolina, and other nearby colleges all bring in a decent student population.

Victoria is not popular with students.

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

Both Columbia and Victoria offer decent public transit options.

Public transit is generally limited in Columbia. The COMET is the bus system through town, but you really must have your own car to enjoy the city.

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 or Victoria a more walkable city?

Victoria is a well-known place for its high level of walkability. However, Columbia is not a good city for its ease of walking around.

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

Columbia is not a very walkable city. It's filled with suburban-style development and is generally very car dependent.

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

Should I spend more time in Victoria or Columbia?

How long in Columbia or Victoria?

It's fun to spend time in either Columbia or Victoria. Generally, people tend to spend more time in Victoria due to the larger number of activities and things to do. Usually, 1-2 days is a good amount of time for Columbia, and 3-4 days is enough time in Victoria.

Families should spend more time in Victoria than Columbia. 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.

Couples should spend more time in Victoria than Columbia. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Victoria that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Victoria than Columbia 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 Victoria.

One day in Columbia or Victoria?

The city of Columbia offers nightlife and shopping. With all of its activities, you can easily fill one day here. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

The city of Victoria offers food and shopping. 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.

A weekend in Columbia or Victoria?

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

Victoria is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than a weekend exploring. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Five days in Columbia or Victoria?

Columbia 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.

Victoria 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.

A week in Columbia or Victoria?

Columbia is a great place to explore. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This city offers something for everyone.

Victoria is a great place to explore. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This city offers something for everyone.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Train & Rail Tours in United States of America, The Best Sightseeing Tours in United States of America, The Best Adventure Tours to Canada, and The Best Eco Tours in Canada.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Columbia and Victoria, we can see that Victoria is more expensive. And not only is Columbia much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Columbia would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Columbia and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Victoria would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Victoria than you might in Columbia.

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

Which is Bigger, Columbia or Victoria?

Victoria has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Columbia. When comparing the sizes of Columbia 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 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 or Victoria in the Summer?

Both Victoria and Columbia during the summer are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Columbia for the family-friendly experiences during these months. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Victoria because of the hiking and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Columbia is much warmer than Victoria. Typically, the summer temperatures in Columbia in July average around 82°F (28°C), and Victoria averages at about 16°C (60°F).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Columbia. Columbia usually gets more rain in July than Victoria. Columbia gets 4.6 inches (116 mm) of rain, while Victoria receives 13 mm (0.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Columbia or Victoria in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Columbia and Victoria. The autumn months attract visitors to Columbia because of the shopping scene. Also, the hiking trails and the shopping scene are the main draw to Victoria this time of year.

In October, Columbia is generally much warmer than Victoria. Daily temperatures in Columbia average around 64°F (18°C), and Victoria fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).

In October, Columbia usually receives more rain than Victoria. Columbia gets 3 inches (75 mm) of rain, while Victoria receives 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Columbia or Victoria in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Columbia as well as Victoria. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Columbia this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Victoria for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Victoria. Columbia is a little warmer than Victoria in the winter. The daily temperature in Columbia averages around 45°F (7°C) in January, and Victoria fluctuates around 5°C (41°F).

It's quite rainy in Victoria. Columbia usually gets less rain in January than Victoria. Columbia gets 3.7 inches (93 mm) of rain, while Victoria receives 138 mm (5.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Columbia or Victoria in the Spring?

Both Victoria and Columbia are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities.

In the spring, Columbia is much warmer than Victoria. Typically, the spring temperatures in Columbia in April average around 64°F (18°C), and Victoria averages at about 10°C (49°F).

In April, Columbia usually receives more rain than Victoria. Columbia gets 2.8 inches (72 mm) of rain, while Victoria receives 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Victoria and Columbia