Victoria, the provincial capital of British Columbia on the southern tip of Vancouver Island, impresses with European flair, narrow streets and Victorian architecture. Many of the buildings built before 1945 are listed buildings and the red double-decker buses for city tours are reminders of the British Empire. Not to be missed are the Parliament Building, the Fairmont Empress and the Royal British Columbia Museum. The tearooms, antique shops and galleries are all sure to impress and the abundance of cycling routes make the city easy to navigate.