The Sidney center is around 1 mile east of Victoria Airport Hotels and 6 miles northeast of Butchart Gardens.
Sidney has mild temperatures throughout the year, but the best time to visit is between March to August. The weather is warmer in this period, with low chances of rain and snow. You can enjoy the beauty of the Salish Sea and keep an eye out for whales, many seabird species, and the distinctive Douglas firs. If you would like a cultural tour, Sidney has two museums, 12 bookstores, several cafes, many restaurants offering a range of international cuisine, a summer street market, and two annual parades.
As March through August are the busiest tourist months, hotel prices are likely to be high then and finding a good deal on a hotel room might get tricky. You should book your hotel room in advance of the tourist season.
To avoid the crowds and get a more reasonable hotel room price, you might want to wait until September through December. With the advent of chilly winds, rain, and snow, tourism slows down. As a result, you can get a better deal on a hotel room.
For a discount stay near Sidney, go to the Quality Inn Waddling Dog about 3.76 miles to the south in Saanichton. A quiet, friendly place, they have 30 air-conditioned rooms and offer AAA members and senior discounts. Guests can avail of free breakfast, Wi-Fi, newspapers, and self-parking. Hotel amenities include a restaurant, a bar and lounge, an arcade and game room, a gift shop, and laundry facilities. You can get tea and coffee 24/7 in the lobby.
You can also get AAA and Senior discounts at the Econo Lodge Inn & Suites. Located 13.71 miles to Sidney's south, the hotel has 106 rooms, an outdoor swimming pool, and laundry facilities. Guests can enjoy free Wi-Fi and continental breakfast and can bring along their pets.
It takes only a few minutes to reach the Victoria Airport Travelodge from the Victoria International Airport. The hotel is also conveniently close to the BC Ferry terminals and the Washington State Anacortes Ferry. Many of Sidney's shops, restaurants, and other attractions are within walking distance.
The hotel's 88 non-smoking and air-conditioned rooms include 13 rooms with single beds, 72 rooms with double beds, and three suites. They come equipped with a kitchenette, microwave, ice maker, refrigerator, TV, phone, radio, and hair dryer. The amenities that the hotel offers include an airport shuttle, an ATM, a fitness center, a swimming pool, a restaurant, tea and coffee making facilities. Guests can enjoy free Wi-Fi and breakfast.
The Howard Johnson Hotel & Suites is in Victoria, in Saanich municipality, around 10.15 miles to the south of Sidney. The three-floored hotel has 88 air-conditioned, well-furnished rooms, a restaurant, a fitness center, and a swimming pool. They offer free Wi-Fi, local calls, cable TV, and newspapers. An airport shuttle is available.
Sidney is a pedestrian-friendly town, and you can see most of the town's attractions on foot. Visit the Sidney Museum and Archives to learn about the Peninsula's history and view temporary exhibits. At the British Columbia Aviation Museum, you can see aviation-related displays, vintage aircraft, and a variety of artifacts.
For a spot of shopping, visit the street market that springs up on Beacon street on Thursday evenings in the summer and look in on some of the bookstores. Enjoy a meal afterward in one of the many places offering a range of international cuisine, or grab a coffee in one of the cafes.
If you visit in July, there is a "Sidney Days" event that includes a parade, a contest, a fair, and fireworks. There are two other parades in the winter.
For outdoor enthusiasts, a visit to the Shoal Harbour Migratory Bird Sanctuary is a must. They can also go kayaking and scuba-diving.
Take your time to explore Sidney and relax in its waterfront serenity. There are plenty of things to do and see in this small town, so schedule a week-long visit at least. Whether you want to book yourself in a top hotel or a budget hotel, the town has the right accommodation for you.
Below are reviews of the city of Sidney, BC from an actual visitor's perspective.
Love this hotel! Great staff at the front desk, they give you a 20% coupon for the Dicken's Pub right next store. They give you free airport drop off on the day of your flight!
Charming small city with a great selection of retail shops, restaurants, hotels and places of interest/walking trails beside the sea. Great shopping experiences, not in a mall setting.
Good restaurants, no graffiti, quiet city center, airport noise minimal.
Lots of independent coffee shops and stores. Two great bookshops. Lots of restaurants.
Very clean and friendly
Friendly and clean.
Clean, easy to get around and good shopping!
Maria's Restaurant was great! Sidney is a nice little town!
Very nice place to visit with a small town feel!
Visited restaurants, bakeries and the pier. We had the ability to walk anywhere we needed to be within Sidney.
Nice bike ride around the airport and many nice restaurants.
Close proximity to airport.
Sidney is a very amicable city to visit; sea air, lovely scenery, lovely people.
The town of Sidney was quaint. There are lots of unique shops and eateries along the main road. Everything is close by and within walking distance from the hotel we were in.
Sidney is nice and clean. Close to the beach.
Our hotel was within a 10 minute walk of the ocean, and there were some interesting shops along the way. Really liked the little statues on some of the benches closer to the water. There were a fair number of flower boxes too, with bulbs and spring flowers, which was nice.