Sidney, BC

Know the town

About Sidney

Sidney is a seaside town at the northern tip of the Saanich Peninsula, about half an hour north of Victoria. With a walkable main street running straight to the water, a busy marina and views out to the nearby islands, it has the feel of a small resort town while still being a full-service community for the north end of Greater Victoria.

Booktown

Sidney is known as Canada’s booktown, thanks to an unusually large number of bookstores — new, used and specialist — packed into its compact downtown. Browsing them along Beacon Avenue is one of the town’s great pleasures, especially on a rainy day.

The waterfront

Beacon Avenue ends at the Sidney pier and a long seaside walkway lined with benches, public art and gardens. The Shaw Centre for the Salish Sea, a small aquarium on the waterfront, focuses on the creatures of the local waters, from octopus to jellyfish. In summer, a weekly street market fills Beacon Avenue with farmers, crafters and food vendors, and the marina buzzes with boaters heading out to the islands.

Ferries and flights

Sidney is surrounded by ways in and out. Victoria International Airport is just south of town in North Saanich, BC Ferries’ Swartz Bay terminal is a few minutes north, and a seasonal ferry to Anacortes in Washington State has historically sailed from Sidney itself. That makes the town a convenient base for exploring the region and the islands.

Getting here

The Pat Bay Highway connects Sidney to Victoria, and the Lochside Trail gives cyclists a mostly flat, car-free route down the peninsula through Saanichton and Saanich.

Sidney’s verified local businesses follow, from booksellers to boat services, with any upcoming events in town.

For council, permits, garbage and recycling, parks bookings and other local services, visit Town of Sidney.