Sidney is located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island on the Saanich Peninsula - just a 20 minute drive from downtown Victoria. Sidney is home to the Canadian terminus of the Washington State Ferry from Anacortes/Friday Harbor and just minutes from the Victoria International Airport as well as the Swartz Bay BC Ferry Terminal. Wide-rang local bus service is available to all areas of the Peninsula and downtown Victoria. The weather here is the mildest in Canada with prevailing westerly ocean winds moderating both summer and winter temperatures.
A year round tourist destination with 3.6 kilometres of waterfront and many wonderful activities to explore including: two Museums (Marine and Historical); a Marine Ecology Centre; whale watching; street statues and murals; a Mineral World; and our 420 ft. Fishing Pier. The town's waterfront location allows for many other water related activities such as boating, sailing, kayaking, diving and fishing.
Sidney's pedestrian friendly downtown offers an excellent variety of stores, specialty shops and businesses providing unique products and personalized service. Sidney is known as Booktown where you can enjoy many hours of browsing through new and used books in a large number of bookstores. Sidney’s restaurants offer a diverse assortment of excellent meals and cater to all tastes.
Sidney is alive with culture and entertainment, boasting its own Star Cinema Theatre with first run movies and the Mary Winspear Centre providing meeting rooms, convention facilities and the 310 seat multi-purpose Charlie White Theatre for stage productions.
Enjoy special Town events, such as:
Sidney Days/Canada Day Celebrations;
Matinee Concert Series (Sunday Afternoons, July through August);
Summer Street Markets (Thursday Nights, June to August);
Sidney Fine Arts Show;
Christmas Writers' Festival;
Lighted Boat Sail Past & Santa Parade; and
First Night New Year's Eve Celebrations.
Sidney is a wonderful place to visit and live, providing a high quality of life and a friendly, receptive atmosphere.
