Every city has its share of spooky tales and local legends. They're great fun at this time of year, offering a taste of the same macabre glee that kept us all telling ghost stories over the campfire as kids. More importantly, though, these stories can also tell you a lot about a place's past. 

Over the years, our real estate agents have become very familiar with both Victoria's local lore and the city's real past. They've noticed that the haunted spots most often mentioned in conversation also have fascinating, concrete history behind them. Celebrate the spooky season with a trip to one of these haunted history spots near our Victoria homes for sale, and you're sure to learn something new.  

Haunted History and Ghost Walks Around Victoria 

Ghostly Walks – Victoria, BC 

October Meeting Point: Market Square, 560 Johnson Street, Victoria, BC 

Ghostly Walks has built an entire business around Victoria's legends and lore. Their Halloween Walk tour takes guests on a 60-minute walk through Victoria's streets to find local haunted hotspots. Each year's route varies depending on road conditions and public interest. Some of the stops they usually hit include:  

• Fan Tan Alley, the heart of the city's Chinatown and the spot where a pair of ghostly lovers are said to roam 
• Trounce Alley, a long, narrow cobblestone passage between Broad Street and Government Street that is said to be haunted by a mysterious ghost 

Halloween tours are given twice a day at 7:30 and 9 p.m. through November 1. Tickets cost $25.44 for adults, $20.14 for teenage students and seniors, and $14.84 for children aged 6 to 11.  

Bastion Square and Helmcken Alley – Victoria, BC 

Address: Bastion Square, Victoria, BC  

If you don't go to Bastion Square and Helmcken Alley on your Ghostly Walk, both spots are worth visiting on your own later on. There are several supposedly haunted locations to visit within the square, including:  

• The old courthouse, where condemned prisoners were once held and where the ghost of infamous "Hanged Judge" Sir Matthew Baillie Begbie is said to prowl 
• Garrick's Head Pub, the place where spectators would indulge in a drink before watching a public hanging 
• Wind Cries Mary, a restaurant rumoured to be haunted by a pair of clandestine lovers who met a grisly end in a back-alley brawl 

As for Helmcken Alley, the narrow brick-lined passage connects directly to Bastion Square and was once used as the city jail. You can still see the bars of the cells where the prisoners were kept, and some say they can still hear the men's ghosts rattling their chains.  

Both Bastion Square and Helmcken Alley are public locations with no ticketing or entrance fees.

Ross Bay Cemetery – Victoria, BC 

Address: 1495 Fairfield Road, Victoria, BC  

Ross Bay Cemetery is a gorgeous seaside graveyard named after Isabella Ross, the site's former owner and the first woman in BC history to officially hold land in her own name. There are dozens of notable BC residents buried here, including:  

• Isabella Ross herself 
• Emily Carr, a world-famous BC-native writer and artist  
• John Hamilton Gray, one of the Fathers of Confederation 
• Several of the province's early premiers, including John Robson and George Anthony Walkem 
• Robert Dunsmuir, local industrialist who built the stunning Craigdarroch Castle 
• Nellie Cashman, an activist nicknamed "Miners' Angel" for her efforts to improve conditions in early mining camps 

This is a public cemetery you can visit for free anytime during daylight hours. If you want a formal tour, the Old Cemeteries Society will host its annual Ross Bay Christmas Tour on December 13 and would love to have you join.  

Craigdarroch Castle – Victoria, BC 

Address: 1050 Joan Crescent, Victoria, BC V8S 3L5 

Built by the wealthy Dunsmuir family at the end of the 19th century, Craigdarroch Castle is one of the oldest and grandest buildings still standing within city limits. Many of the hauntings reported here reflect what daily life in the castle was like when the family still lived there. Look out for: 

• The sound of piano music echoing from the ballroom, just as it would have done during the balls held there during the castle's heyday 
• Ghostly children appearing in the lower levels of the structure, likely where the Dunsmuirs' ten children and their friends would have played 
• The ghost of the late Joan Dunsmuir herself, dressed in period-accurate finery as she descends the grand staircase framed by the home's original stained glass windows 

You can visit the castle Wednesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tickets cost $24.50 for adults, $22 for seniors and post-secondary students, $16.50 for kids aged 12 to 17, and $11.50 for kids aged 4 to 11. Allow at least 45 minutes to tour the property, but you're welcome to stay as long as you like before closing time.  

Pioneer Square – Victoria, BC 

Address: Quadra Street at Rockland Avenue, Victoria, BC 

The ground beneath Pioneer Square holds the graves of 1,300 of BC's earliest settlers, but you'd never know it from looking at the bustling city park it is today. Touring the space with this history in mind is a great way to connect with the city's past and the many generations who came before.  

We recommend pulling up the Old Cemeteries Society of Victoria's Pioneer Square brochure on your phone during your visit to get the most out of the experience. It's an incredible resource that will teach you: 

• How the space first came to be used as a graveyard back in 1855 
• Why it fell into disuse less than 30 years later 
• Why it was eventually converted into a thriving public park 
• Details on the lives of some of the people whose grave markers are still visible 

This cemetery-turned-park is on public land and is free to visit anytime. 

FAQs About Victoria's Haunted History

What are some of the best-known haunted places in Victoria?

Bastion Square, Helmcken Alley, Ross Bay Cemetery, Craigdarroch Castle, and Pioneer Square are all associated with local ghost stories or Victoria's darker history. Many are also significant historic sites that can be explored during the day.

Are there ghost tours in Victoria in October?

Yes. Discover the Past offers its seasonal Halloween Ghostly Walks in October, departing from Market Square. The approximately 60-minute tour combines Victoria history with some of the city's best-known ghost stories.

Can you visit Ross Bay Cemetery on your own?

Yes. Ross Bay Cemetery is a public cemetery maintained by the City of Victoria and can be explored independently. The Old Cemeteries Society also offers scheduled guided tours that focus on the people and events connected to Victoria's past.

Past and Present Intertwine in Victoria, BC 

Victoria's rich and colourful history oozes out of every brick, board, and cobblestone used to build it. Contact us today for details on our premium local home listings and expert help navigating Victoria's real estate market.