For personal assistance with planning your trip, call the Customer Information line at 382-6161, and press zero for a Customer Service Agent.

Malls

The Bay Centre, on Douglas at Fort between Government & Douglas.

Expansive indoor shopping mall in a four-level galleria featuring more than 90 shops, boutiques, eateries and services in the heart of Victoria's downtown. Outdoor seating at the Elephant & Castle.

Details, call 952-5680.

The Bay Centre is a departure and arrival point for most downtown bus routes.

Canwest Shopping Centre, 2945 Jacklin Road.

Canwest is the largest indoor shopping mall in the Western Communities area with 45 stores.

Details, call 474-9654.

Take the #50; #51; #54; #55; #56; #57; #58 or #61.

Hillside Centre, 1644 Hillside Avenue.

Indoor shopping centre located close to Camosun College. Features 103 stores and a food court.

Details, call 595-7154.

Take the #4; #8; #22 or #27/28.

Mayfair Shopping Centre, 3147 Douglas Street.

Plan to meet "at the clock". The 100-year-old Jeweller's Clock, located at the entrance of Toys 'R Us, greets shoppers who explore the more than 120 boutiques of the mall or stop for refreshment at the Food Court.

Details at www.mayfairshoppingcentre.com or call 383-0541.

Take the #8; #30/31; #50 or the #61.

Tillicum Mall, 3170 Tillicum Road.

More than 70 stores and services throughout the indoor shopping mall anchored by Winners. Situated beside the Silver City Theatres.

Details at www.tillicumcentre.ca or call 381-7123.

For service directly to the mall, take the #11; #26. These buses will take you within a block of the mall: #8; #21 or #22.

University Heights Shopping Centre, 3980 Shelbourne Street.

Indoor mall anchored by Safeway. Includes a fitness club and a movie theatre with underground parking.

Details call 477-2122.

Take the #26; #27/28; #39 or the #51.

Squares

Bastion Square, off Government St. & View St.

Bastion Square is a great place to sip a latte and people-watch. Terrific summer outdoor markets of locally-made handicrafts.

Two to three blocks from all downtown buses.

Market Square, 560 Johnson Street.

Located in the heart of Old Town, this square was once the setting for Victoria's seamier side. In place of opium dens, brothels and saloons, today's visitors find a collection of interesting shops set in heritage buildings around an open-air square.

Details at www.marketsquare.ca or call 386-2441.

Take the #6; #24 or the #25.

Plazas

Saanich Centre, Quadra & McKenzie Avenue.

An open-air shopping centre anchored by Thrifty Foods and London Drugs.

Take the #6 or #26.

Saanich Plaza, Blanshard & Ravine Way.

An open-air shopping plaza anchored by Save-On Foods and TD Canada Trust.

Details, call 727-6333.

Take the #26; #30/31; #50; #70; #75.

Town & Country Shopping Centre, 3940 Saanich Road.

A wide variety of shops in an outdoor mall anchored by Wal-Mart and Fairway Market.

Details call 383-8093.

Take the #26; #30/31; #50; #61.

Other Shopping

Antique Row 1000 Block of Fort Street.

Treasure hunters will delight in this row of little shops brimming with silver, military memorabilia, rare prints, fine china, antique furniture and Victoriana bric-a-brac. Take time to preview Lund's and Kilshaw's auction houses further down the avenue.

Take the #11; #14 or the #22 and get off anywhere between Blanshard & Cook streets.

Chinatown, Lower Fisgard St.

These two blocks bustle with activity much as they did in the 1870s when it was the largest Chinatown north of San Francisco. Pass through the Gates of Harmonious Interest to explore artists' studios, boutiques and shops filled with Oriental giftware. While you're there, make sure to take a stroll through Fan Tan Alley, the narrowest street in Canada. Restaurants serve authentic Chinese food.

Take any bus going north on Douglas Street. Get off and walk west on Fisgard.

Oak Bay Village, Oak Bay Avenue at Hampshire Road.

Step behind the Tweed Curtain and enjoy a stroll through the Village. Boutiques feature island-made crafts, book and clothing stores, sweets shops and a butcher shop with old English charm. Of course, you will want to stop and pause for a cuppa.

Take the #2 or #2A.