There’s something special about a romantic getaway on Vancouver Island. Maybe because of its mild climate or perhaps that it is physically separated from the rest of Canada and the US. But there’s something romantic and charming about this Pacific coast island that makes it one of the most popular island vacation spots in North America.

Vancouver Island is a large, forest-covered rock that’s 1.5 hours west of the city of Vancouver by ferry. Just to clarify, Vancouver is on the mainland while the capital of British Columbia, Victoria, is located on the southern tip of the island.

This island is huge so don't expect to discover all sides of it on one trip. It takes approximately 8 hours to travel from Victoria in the south to Port Hardy in the north. It takes about 4.0 hours to traverse east to west from Parksville to Tofino & Ucluelet. Select one or two areas and spend a few romantic days in each to discover its charm and beauty.

Visitors be warned – couples usually have high expectations on doing lots of activities in this natural paradise; however, mosty end up resting, relaxing and reconnecting in a tranquil cottage, resort or spa. Blame it on the fresh air!

Browse for romantic accommodations in BC.

Click here to see Romantic Things to do on Vancouver Island in a Google map.

Vancouver Island offers as many different types of romantic getaways as people can only imagine. You can find secluded oceanfront cottages to large, upscale resorts. If you’re looking for adventure, there’s plenty above and below the water, including zip lines, bungee jumping, scuba diving and whale watching. If you and your honey are more interested in a romantic stroll down a sandy beach, you’ll find one of the beast beaches in all of Canada – the famous Long Beach near Tofino.

Just 40 minutes outside of the Victoria, BC, a romantic destination awaits along the southwestern tip of the island. Many couples come to the Sooke area to escape the urban rush of everyday life and find a quiet, natural oasis that harkens to older and slower times. Located in a rural, ocean-side playground, East Sooke is known as Nature’s Gallery due to it’s abundance of wildlife including eagles, herons, seal and whales.

Romantic accommodations include oceanfront cottages, bed and breakfasts and resorts. Come back to a comfortable setting after a day of discovery in the forest or on the ocean. Sight-see in Victoria's inner harbour (only 40 minutes) and then escape to a natural paradise. There’s something romantic about Sooke, BC and it starts with nature.

Romantic things to do in Sooke, BC include:

• hiking, biking or walking in a temperate rainforest,
• whale-watching tours to see orcas & humpbacks,
• taking a zip-line adventures at tree-tops heights,
• venturing on a calm afternoon or full-moon kayak tour.

Who knew that storm-watching could be so romantic? Located on the western side of the Vancouver Island (about 6.5 hours from Victoria, BC) are the romantic getaways of Tofino and Ucluelet.

This is where the wild west coast gets its name as the Pacific storms ram unobstructed into the western shores of Vancouver Island. The rainforests around Tofino & Ucluelet are thick and the trees are large. There's plenty of romantic things to do indoors and out. Go for a hike in Pacific Rim National Park or walk along the many boardwalks below towering trees. Gaze at a power storm from the comfort of your hotel room. What’s more romantic than a stroll down the famous Long Beach, voted Canada’s best beach, followed by a seafood dinner by a fireplace?

Romantic accommodations include beachfront cottages on secluded coves to world-famous hotels perched on rocky cliffs. Enjoy dry summers and stormy winters where the Pacific ocean meets BC.

Romantic things to do in Ucluelet and Tofino include:

• whale-watching tours,
• hiking & eco-tours in Clayuqout Sound,
• taking a beginner surfing lesson,
• beachcombing along Long Beach,
• discover Pacific Rim National Park and all of its hiking trails and boardwalks,
• warm up by a fire at a local restaurant or cafe,
• take a fishing charter offshore to the 'Big Bank' for giant halibut & salmon (hey, some couples think this is romantic).

Victoria is the capital of British Columbia and is a cozy & romantic city to visit. It’s a cosmopolitan city on the southern tip of Vancouver Island and offers plenty of street-side cafes, long oceanfront walks and historic tours along its Inner Harbour. Plenty of upscale hotels dot the waterside with plenty of site-seeing activities including museums, restaurants and even whale-watching. If you’re looking for a romantic getaway with a slower pace, Victoria is the place to create memories.

Victoria has plenty of downtown hotels from which to choose. They are located around the Inner Harbour which is the government and commercial center of the region. The naming may be a bit confusing but Victoria is located on Vancouver Island while the city of Vancouver is located on the BC mainland (a 1.5 hour ferry ride separates the two cities).

Victoria is a popular romantic destination for people from Seattle, Vancouver and the UK. People from Washington State have the option of taking a passenger ferry from down Seattle or a car ferry from Port Angeles. People from Vancouver can take a BC FERRY from Tsawwassen or arrive via Duncan (from Horseshoe Bay). International visitors usually rent a car to tour Victoria and the surrounding area.

Romantic things to do in Victoria, BC include:

• Take a tour of the Inner Harbour aboard a water taxi.
• Explore Victoria's Inner Harbour on foot. Visit the Undersea Gardens, government buildings, street vendors and performers. The night life is great with streetside cafes, pubs and shopping.
• Watch a marine dance between sailboats, ferries and float-planes from waterfront hotels.
• Stroll along the breakwater near Dallas Road. Ocean breezes and mountain views framed this picturesque city.
• Go for a day-sail tour on the Juan de Fuca Strait on a luxury sailboat,
• Take a horse-drawn carriage ride through the streets of Victoria. It's a classic romantic treat that never dies.
• Take a tour of the city on a double-decker bus. Victoria, BC is the only city in North America to use double-decker bus in their transit fleet.
• Take a romantic dinner cruise around Victoria. Enjoy a 3 course meal while watching the sun set over the endless Pacific Ocean.
• Take a daylong rail tour from downtown Victoria, up the eastern side of the island and back. This is one of the best ways to see the beautiful landscape of Vancouver Island.
• Take a break from the urban world and discover the adventurous and spectacular natural setting just outside of the city.

This is one of the largest fresh-water lakes on Vancouver Island and is a romantic getaway tucked between a narrow, water-filled valley. Located 20 minutes from Duncan, BC (1.5 hour from Victoria, BC), the regions has plenty of secluded and charming villages dotting its shores including Youbou and the town of Lake Cowichan. Honeymoon Bay, BC is on a secluded point on the southern shore and has grand views across the valley.

Honeymoon Bay is a former saw-mill town that is now a jewel in the middle of a natural playground. There’s hiking, boating, river-rafting and plenty of secluded beaches to enjoy this quiet lakefront. Unknown to most visitors, this special space can get to +42C (107 F) in the summer, making the refreshing lake quite popular! Honeymoon Bay and the tiny communities around Cowichan Lake are cozy little towns tucked away in one of Vancouver Island's secret locations.

Romantic things to do in Cowichan Lake and Honeymoon Bay, BC include:

• spending a quiet day in the Honeymoon Bay Ecological Reserve. In spring, visitors can witness the rare pink fawn lily.
• escaping to a quiet sand picture-perfect beach along the expansive shores of Lake Cowichan.
• river-tubing down the Cowichan River.
• hike, beach and swim at nearby Gordon Bay Provincial Park.
• take a wine-tour of the many wineries in the Cowichan Valley, the second largest wine region in British Columbia.

Sidney-by-the-Sea is a picturesque seaside community 20 minutes north of Victoria, British Columbia. As you exit the ferry terminal at Swartz Bay or leave the international airport, you'll drive through the pastoral fields on the Saanich Peninsula. Tucked along the shores, you'll find the romantic town of Sidney with an atmosphere as mild as the weather. Giant ocean views await you along the shores of the Juan de Fuca Strait.

Taking a romantic stroll around town is a popular thing to do in Sidney. Meander along the town's main street, Beacon Avenue and peruse the many unique bookstores in the BookTown district, a collection of 12 independently-owned stores. For hikers and cyclists, spend a day on the Lochside Regional Trail, a 29 kilometer groomed path that takes you up the length of the Saanich Peninsula. For boating enthusiasts, enjoy the yachts and sails boats at the Port Sidney Marina.

A popular activity for tourists is a visit to Sidney Spit, a small island 5 km offshore. A part of the Gulf Islands Natonal Park, this 400 hectare park features trails along two long sandy beach spits around a salt-water lagoon. On calm days, there's plenty to see in the intertidal falts and along the scenic viewpoints.

Romantic things to do in Sidney, BC include:

• Stroll the many oceanfront walking trails and beaches including Glass Beach, Patricia Bay, Coles Bay and Island View Beach. Take a ferry ride to Sidney Spit (summer only), a tiny island in the Gulf Islands National Park and beachcomb along the sandy shores for the day.
• Booklovers will enjoy Booktown, a collection of 12 independently-owned bookshops each offering a unique style, collection and treasures.
• Go for a whale-watching tour to view the resident orca pod or migrating hump-back whales.
• View antiques and other preserved artifacts at Heritage Acres. Exhibits include a variety of vehicles, a school house, a blacksmith shop or even a boat house and marine artifacts.
• Spend an afternoon in a flower garden at the Butchart Gardens, a national historic site, in neighbouring Brentwood Bay, BC.