Are you looking to take your family swimming at one of the public swimming pools in Victoria, BC? Not sure exactly where to go? Well, we’re here to help!
One of the best parts about living in Victoria is being able to get outside and head to the beach. However, the ocean water is too cold for many people to swim in. And, while there are plenty of lakes, you unfortunately can’t swim in them year-round. Luckily, there are plenty of awesome public swimming pools in Victoria.
If you live in Victoria, BC and want to find the best public swimming pools, look no further. We provide a list of the top public swimming pools in Victoria, along with information about the facilities, their amenities, and location.
Whether you’re looking for a place to get some laps in or just play in the pool, here are the top Greater Victoria public swimming pools that are perfect for a day of swimming!
Saanich Commonwealth Place
Address: 4636 Elk Lake Drive
Saanich Commonwealth Place is one of the best public swimming pools in Greater Victoria. Located near Elk/Beaver Lake, this multi-purpose recreational facility is most convenient for those living in Saanich but it’s definitely worth a visit for anyone in the area.
There are multiple pools to choose from at Saanich Commonwealth Place, including a lane pool, wave pool, dive tank, and shallow pool for young children. The pool is also designed for accessibility, with accessible parking, washrooms, change rooms, adapted equipment, and lifts.
The dive tank has several diving boards at multiple heights. Additionally, there is a large water slide to play on, and a sauna and steam room for relaxation.
If you’re hungry after swimming, grab a snack at Kattia’s Kitchen Cafe. There is also a fitness centre here, including a weight room, dance studio, multi-purpose rooms, and a full gymnasium. Also, the Bruce Hutchison Branch of the Greater Victoria Public Library is located at Saanich Commonwealth Place.
Crystal Pool and Fitness Centre
Address: 2275 Quadra Street
Crystal Pool and Fitness Centre at Central Park near downtown Victoria is a great spot for those who want to stay active. They have a 50-m pool that’s split into two sides: one for leisure (complete with a small waterslide) and one for lane swimming. Play in the pool or get in some cardio!
Love water slides? This public pool has a 160-m long slide. For those who want a bit more excitement, there are diving boards. And, the facility has two warm pools for young children.
After swimming, warm up in their hot tub. Or, keep the workout going with their weight room and cardio areas. They also have a number of aquatics programs and drop-in fitness classes. Outside, there are tennis courts, basketball courts, baseball fields, and a playground.
Oak Bay Recreation Centre
Address: 1975 Bee Street
If you’re looking for a well-rounded fitness centre with a public swimming pool, the Oak Bay Recreation Centre is an excellent choice. Located near Bowker Creek, this Greater Victoria rec centre is a great option for anyone who lives on the south side of the city.
The facility features a main leisure pool and for young children, there is a small shallow pool. The lane pool is 25-m long and has eight lanes. Additionally, there are a number of fun features at the pool, including two waterslides, a climbing wall over the water, a rope swing, and a hoop for playing basketball.
If you want a more relaxing visit, there is a hot tub, sauna, and steam room. For those looking for a workout, the Oak Bay Recreation Centre also features a fitness studio with cardio and strength-training equipment, a skating arena, tennis courts, and an indoor sports field.
Gordon Head Recreation Centre
Address: 4100 Lambrick Way
Gordon Head Recreation Centre beside Lambrick Park is an excellent swimming facility with plenty of pool options. It’s a bit on the smaller side but it’s still a lot of fun to visit!
There are four pools at this facility. The 25-m lap pool is great for lane swimming, and also has monkey bars, a climbing wall and accessibility features (e.g. lifts). The leisure pool has a small waterslide and water toys. Children love playing in the river pool, and for tots, there’s a shallow warm pool.
The facility also features a hot tub, sauna, and steam room. The fitness centre includes treadmills, elliptical machines, weight stations, and wheelchair-accessible equipment. There are also many classes offered here such as yoga, swimming lessons, and more!
Outdoors, there is a skate park that’s great for skateboarding, BMX, and rollerblading. And, the Gordon Head Recreation Centre is right next door to the Gordon Head Lawn Bowling Club and the baseball fields and tennis courts at Lambrick Park.
Esquimalt Recreation Centre
Address: 527 Fraser Street
The Esquimalt Recreation Centre beside Bullen Park is a great place to spend a fun afternoon swimming with your kids. Home to a 25-metre lap pool with 6 lanes, a leisure pool and a tot pool for young children, this Greater Victoria public swimming pool is perfect for the entire family!
The aquatic centre has a couple of slides, a diving board, and fun spray features. The hot tub is wheelchair accessible, and there is also a steam room and sauna.
The Esquimalt Recreation Centre also has a massive wellness centre, which features cardio and weight equipment as well as free weights. There is also an indoor gymnasium, a senior’s centre, the Lab Health Physio clinic, and multi-purpose meeting rooms.
Across the parking lot, you’ll also find the Esquimalt Adventure Water Park. This is one of the best outdoor waterparks to take your children on a hot summer day in Victoria!
Juan de Fuca Recreation Centre
Address: 1767 Island Highway
The Juan de Fuca Recreation Centre is a large public swimming pool facility run by West Shore Parks and Recreation. There is a 25-m lap pool with eight lanes and an adventure pool with a small waterslide and spray toys.
More experienced swimmers can use the diving board and if you want to relax, there is a hot tub, sauna, and steam room. For those wanting to workout, there is a weight and cardio training room, and fitness studio. Plus, they have an indoor sports complex with soccer turf and courts for basketball, pickleball, and volleyball.
West Shore Parks & Recreation has a wide range of amenities and facilities, not just the swimming pool. Here, you’ll also find the GVPL Library, a senior’s activity centre, pottery studio, BMX track, picnic shelter, lacrosse box, playground, lawn bowling greens, golf course, tennis courts, basketball courts, beach volleyball courts, baseball diamonds, turf field and velodrome. There is also the popular Wildplay zipline adventure course nearby.
SEAPARC Leisure Complex
Address: 2168 Phillips Road, Sooke
For residents of Greater Victoria who live in Sooke, the SEAPARC Leisure Complex near the Sooke River is a great place to head for a swim. Here, you’ll find a competition pool (25-m long with 6 lanes), leisure pool, swirl pool, and sauna. Also, the pools at SEAPARC use salt purification, which is much kinder on your skin than chlorine.
There are plenty of facilities around SEAPARC, in addition to the public swimming pool. There is a skating arena, weight room, fitness studio, and multi-purpose rooms. For the adventurous, the Sooke Bike Park and Skate Park are nearby too!
Panorama Recreation Centre
Address: 1885 Forest Park Drive, North Saanich
The Panorama Recreation Centre is located on the north side of the Saanich Peninsula, making it a great indoor public swimming pool choice for people who live in Sidney, North Saanich, Saanichton, and Brentwood Bay.
This rec centre is home to the longest and tallest waterslide in southern Vancouver Island. Not only that, the waterslide has an accessible tower with an elevator for accessibility!
The centre features two main pools: a 6-lane 25-m lap pool and a leisure pool. With lots of fun features, the leisure pool will keep children entertained for hours. There are spray toys, a lazy river, and a shallow children’s pool. For adults, there is also a hot tub, sauna, and steam room.
In addition to the swimming pool, the Panorama Recreation Centre also has a weight room, tennis courts, racquetball and squash courts, and skating arenas. There are also lots of recreation programs, like swimming lessons, music, and even cooking!
FAQ About Victoria Public Swimming Pools
Are There Outdoor Public Swimming Pools in Victoria?
Unfortunately, Victoria does not have any outdoor swimming pools. If you want to swim outside, we recommend that you check out one of these top swimming spots in Victoria. Our favourite is Thetis Lake Regional Park!
Are There Waterparks Around Victoria?
Here are some of the outdoor waterparks you can visit for free around Greater Victoria:
Top Travel Tips & Resources for Victoria, BC
- Travel Insurance – If you’re travelling internationally, travel insurance is a must for any trip. Being covered by insurance is especially important when you’re going to an adventure-filled place like British Columbia. If you injure yourself while adventuring, you want to have insurance! We recommend using SafetyWing for international travel insurance. They are affordable and have great policies for travellers, digital nomads, and remote workers. Also, SafetyWing provides COVID-19 coverage, which many other insurance companies don’t cover.
- Car Rental – We find the best deal on vehicle rental prices using RentalCars.com. They compare the prices for different car rental companies so you can find the best deals out there!
- Accommodations – We prefer booking all of our hotels, hostels, and other accommodations through Booking.com because they have a flexible cancellation policy. Also, there are lots of different options on their platform, from hotels to vacation homes. Alternatively, Expedia and Hotels.com are good for booking accommodations. For vacation home rentals, VRBO is an excellent choice (they have lower fees than Airbnb, many of the same properties, and are more ethical).
- Flights – You’ll find many good flight deals on Skyscanner or Google Flights. You can book flights through these websites and they’ll help you find the best prices and flight times. If you fly at less popular times (e.g. mid-week or red-eye flights), you can also save some money.
- Tours – Get the most out of your vacation by taking a guided tour! This is a great way to see the city, adventure to exciting new locations, and learn about the local culture. Viator or GetYourGuide are great options for booking tours.
