Victoria has the mildest climate in Canada. Snow is rare (a few days a year at most), the ocean moderates temperatures year-round, and the gardens flower almost continuously — the city celebrates daffodils in February and crocuses in January as local events, and competes with other Canadian cities over who can claim the earliest spring.
June to September is the peak season: reliably dry, warm (20–25°C), and full of visitors. This is the best time for whale watching, outdoor dining, and the evening fireworks at Butchart Gardens. July and August bring the most crowds but also the best weather.
May and early June offer the compromise: warm enough for everything, but without the summer peak. The gardens are at their best in late May and early June.
Winter is quiet but not unpleasant — cool and sometimes rainy, but dramatically warmer than the rest of Canada. Hotels are significantly cheaper and the city takes on a more local character. Christmas light displays in the Inner Harbour are a Victoria tradition.
Whale watching runs from April to October; the best months for orca sightings are July and August.