Butchart Gardens covers 55 acres on Vancouver Island, its Sunken Garden planted in an old
limestone quarry. Sail through the Gulf Islands, walk down among the flowerbeds, then spend your free time on Victoria's Inner Harbour.
The hours, spelled outTime at the gardens and in Victoria, tour by tour
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Free cancellationUp to 24 hours before, on every tour here
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Tours
Choose your Butchart Gardens tour
The most-reviewed day trip, gardens first, in the centre. Beside it, a coach of up to 30
that does Victoria first, and a 24-seat mini-coach with about three hours in town.
A smaller coach of up to 30 guests: about three hours in Victoria for lunch and the sights first, then Butchart Gardens in the afternoon before the ferry home.
What's included
Round-trip ferry crossing and coach transport
Butchart Gardens admission (about 1.5 hours in the gardens)
About three hours in Victoria, with an optional short driving tour
Meet at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver, or arrange hotel pickup in advance
The classic day: a BC Ferries crossing through the Gulf Islands, Butchart Gardens first with admission included, then two free hours in Victoria. Pickup at select downtown hotels.
What's included
Round-trip BC Ferries crossing and coach transport
Butchart Gardens admission, with free time in the gardens
About two hours on your own in downtown Victoria
Driver-guide; pickup at select downtown hotels or meet at Canada Place
Not included: food, drinks, gratuities, airport drop-off
A mini-coach of up to 24: about three hours around the Inner Harbour, the Empress and Chinatown, then about 1 hour 45 at Butchart Gardens. Meet at Canada Place.
What's included
Round-trip BC Ferries crossing
Mini-coach with a maximum of 24 passengers
About three hours in Victoria's Inner Harbour area
Every Vancouver tour includes both ferry crossings and garden admission, and every one is a long
day. What really differs is the order of the stops and how the free time is split between the gardens and Victoria.
Most tours price children aged 3 to 12 separately at checkout. Every tour here cancels free up to 24 hours ahead.
How the day works
Butchart is not in Victoria, and the day is long.
The Butchart Gardens sit in Brentwood Bay on the Saanich Peninsula, about 20 km (12 miles) north of
downtown Victoria, in a former limestone quarry that Jennie Butchart turned into the Sunken Garden. The ferry
from Vancouver lands at Swartz Bay, at the northern tip of the same peninsula. A day trip from Vancouver means a
coach to the Tsawwassen terminal, about 1 hour 35 minutes on the ferry through the Gulf Islands, a drive to the
gardens and into Victoria, and the same again in reverse.
Hence 12 to 14 hours door to door, and roughly two hours in each place. What changes between tours
is the order. Gardens-first days put you among the flowers while you are fresh; Victoria-first days start with
lunch in town and reach the gardens in the afternoon. Every Vancouver tour here includes both ferry crossings
and the garden admission, and that is the real reason to book one.
13 h
A typical day door to door. Around three of those hours
are on the ferry, so bring a jacket for the deck.
Pickups, prices and ages, the rules and what to bring: one tab each.
Westcoast Sightseeing picks up at select downtown Vancouver hotels, or you meet at Canada Place (999 Canada Pl).
Landsea meets at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver (900 W Georgia St), 25 minutes before the 8:00 or 9:00 AM start.
Discover Canada meets at Canada Place at 8:00 AM and has no hotel pickup.
Your hotel pickup is earlier than the tour start time: check your voucher, a point several guests raise.
Airport drop-offs and luggage transfers are not included on the Westcoast tour; fly out the next day.
Full-day tours from Vancouver run from $161 to $255 per adult on Viator in 2026.
Every Vancouver tour here includes both BC Ferries crossings and Butchart Gardens admission.
Most tours price ages 3 to 12 as children and charge the adult rate from 13.
For comparison, the gardens' own adult gate price in October 2026 is CAD 36.75 (Canadian dollars, tax included).
Food, drinks and gratuities are extra on every tour.
Most tours are marked not wheelchair accessible; STAR and Pacific Coach can carry a foldable wheelchair.
At the gardens, push wheelchairs are lent for a refundable CAD 10 deposit and strollers are free, first come, first served (the gardens' FAQ).
The combo tour needs a booster seat for children under 6; STAR has booster seats on request.
Late arrivals may not be able to join: the coach runs to a ferry schedule.
Tours run rain or shine.
Comfortable walking shoes for the garden paths and Victoria's streets.
Layers and a rain jacket: the ferry deck is windy.
No umbrella needed at the gardens: staff leave hundreds around the grounds and car parks for visitors to borrow (the gardens' FAQ).
A card for lunch, coffee and souvenirs.
A phone charger: one guest's tip is that you can charge devices on the ferry.
Snacks and water for the coach.
IncludedBoth ferry crossingsTsawwassen to Swartz Bay and back, about 1 hour 35 minutes each way.
IncludedGarden admissionYour ticket to Butchart Gardens is in the tour price.
IncludedDriver-guideCommentary on Vancouver, the islands and Victoria along the way.
Free timeVictoria's Inner HarbourThe Parliament Buildings, the Empress and Chinatown at your own pace.
Extra costLunch and drinksOn the ferry, at the gardens or in Victoria.
SeasonalChristmas lightsDecember 1 to January 6, when the gardens open from 3 to 9 PM.
Where the day starts
Canada Place meeting point
Canada Place, Vancouver
999 Canada Pl, Vancouver, BC V6C 3E1, Canada
Canada Place, the cruise ship terminal on the downtown waterfront, is the meeting point for the
Westcoast Sightseeing day trip if you skip the hotel pickup, and for the Discover Canada tour. Other tours
start elsewhere: Landsea at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver, Gray Line at 909 W Cordova St, and STAR, Pacific
Coach and the combo tour from downtown hotels. Your voucher names your exact point and time.
Be at your pickup point early: coaches run to a ferry schedule
Butchart Gardens itself is at 800 Benvenuto Ave, Brentwood Bay
4.6★★★★★ 3,178 reviews · Victoria & Butchart Gardens Day Trip live Viator & Tripadvisor figure
★★★★★
If you like gardens and flowers this is the place for you! Beautiful and relaxing. This was my second time and it did not disappoint. Highly recommend.
★★★★★
It's a long day but so worth it! Downtown Victoria is beautiful and unlike any other city with the little water taxis, huge historic hotel and seaplanes landing right in the harbor. Butchart Gardens is gorgeous, and the ferry ride between Vancouver & Victoria is an experience!
★★★★★
I wasn't sure much would be in bloom in October but the gardens were beautiful. Our tour guide Ryan was wonderful. He really knew where to send us.
★★★★★
Victoria was lovely and the structure of the day, going to Victoria first, meant that Butchart Gardens was fairly quiet and it was easy to walk round and see the planting displays clearly.
★★★★★
This is a memorable full day experience - although it does pass very quickly! Butchart Gardens were stunning [...] I would definitely recommend this tour.
★★★★★
It's a long day but evenly paced, packed with fun and plenty of bathroom breaks. There were wonderful views and discussion of the history of Vancouver & Victoria. You had enough time to explore on your own in Victoria and at Butchart Gardens.
★★★★★
The gardens are beautiful. Enjoyed the drive. On the ferry ride, we saw a whale. Andrea was an amazing guide. We really enjoyed this tour.
★★★★★
This was the perfect way to visit Victoria during our stay in Vancouver. From easy pickup locations, to seamless transfers at every stop, plus our wonderful guide sharing knowledge and stories along the way, we were entertained all day long.
★★★★★
It was a pretty long day but our Driver/Guide Andrea was amazing! She's extremely knowledgeable and I learned so much about the history of Vancouver and Victoria. The gardens are beautiful and the day just flies by.
Already in Victoria?
Skip the long ferry day
Staying a night or two in Victoria, or arriving on a cruise ship? A short tour from downtown
gives you more time in the gardens and none of the ferry hours.
Victoria City and Butchart Gardens Tour
★ 4.9 · 687 reviews · 5 hours
Already staying in Victoria, or arriving on a cruise ship? Skip the long ferry day: a local operator picks you up downtown, runs a short city tour with photo stops, and gives you about two and a half hours in Butchart Gardens with admission included, in a small group.
Two ferry crossings, one of Canada's best-known gardens and the capital of British Columbia, all in
a single day from Vancouver. Here is what that day looks like on the ground, and how to pick the version that
suits you.
What the day actually looks like
Vancouver Island is not a short hop. Coaches leave downtown Vancouver in the morning and drive south to the
Tsawwassen ferry terminal. The BC Ferries crossing to Swartz Bay takes about 1 hour 35 minutes and threads
through the Gulf Islands. Plenty of guests call it a highlight. There is an open deck, food on board and a chance
of eagles, sea lions or a whale, though nothing is promised. From Swartz Bay the coach runs down the Saanich
Peninsula to Butchart Gardens in Brentwood Bay, then on to downtown Victoria, about 20 km further south. In the
evening you do it all in reverse.
Add it up and the tours run 12 to 14 hours, with around two hours at the gardens and one to three in
Victoria. Hotel pickups come before the advertised start time, so the alarm goes off early, and guests report
getting back to Vancouver between about 8 and 10 PM. Pack layers for the deck: even a sunny crossing can be cold
and windy. Reviews keep landing on the same verdict: long day, worth it.
The crossing to Swartz Bay runs through the Gulf Islands.
Why the gardens are worth the crossing
Robert and Jennie Butchart bought the land in 1904 for a cement works on a limestone deposit. Once the quarry
was worked out, around 1909, Jennie set about turning the pit into the Sunken Garden, with topsoil brought in by
horse and cart. It took years. The Japanese Garden, laid out with Isaburo Kishida, was among the first formal
gardens to follow. Today the gardens cover 55 acres and have been a National Historic Site of Canada since 2004.
Tour or do it yourself?
You can do it on public transport: transit to Tsawwassen, a foot-passenger ferry ticket each way, buses on the
island to the gardens and into Victoria, and back in time for a late sailing. It works. It also takes careful
timing, and the garden admission comes on top; the price guide
does the maths. The tours bundle both crossings, the admission and every transfer, so the price buys you the
logistics plus a guide's commentary. Driving yourself adds a vehicle fare on the ferry. With one free day in
Vancouver, take the tour.
The honest small print: the complaints in reviews are rarely about the gardens. They are
about time: hours on the coach and ferry, hotel pickups that eat into the morning, free time that feels short.
Choose a tour with your priority first, eat on the ferry, and check your pickup time the day before.
Gardens first or Victoria first?
This is the real choice between tours. Gardens-first tours, such as the Westcoast Sightseeing day trip,
Pacific Coach and the combo tour, reach Butchart in the late morning and leave the afternoon for Victoria.
Victoria-first tours, such as Landsea, STAR and Discover Canada, start with lunch and sights in town. One
Landsea guest felt the group was tired by the time they reached the gardens. A STAR guest found them pleasantly
quiet late in the day. Flowers are why you are going? Pick gardens first. Want a proper lunch in Victoria? Pick
Victoria first.
The Sunken Garden fills the old limestone quarry.
Making the most of two hours at Butchart
Two hours is the right amount. The gardens themselves reckon a leisurely walk on the main paths takes 1.5 to 2
hours and covers about 1.5 km, a mile (the gardens' FAQ). Start with the Sunken
Garden, the former quarry that made the place famous, then follow the path to the Rose Garden and the Japanese
Garden. Watch the clock: coaches leave on schedule.
Rain is no reason to stay away, since staff leave hundreds of umbrellas around the grounds to borrow. A sandwich
from the ferry is fine too: outside food is allowed, with picnics kept to the Concert Lawn and the Fireworks
Viewing Lawn. In Victoria, stay close to the Inner Harbour, where the Parliament Buildings, the Fairmont Empress
and the waterfront sit within a short walk, with Chinatown a little further.
Which season to pick
Spring brings the bulbs, from daffodils at the end of March to tulips around mid-April. Roses fill the Rose
Garden from June through August. October is for maples and quieter paths. From December 1 to January 6 the
gardens trade flowers for lights and open from 3 to 9 PM, and from January 18 to 31 they close completely. More
detail in the best-time guide.
Victoria's Inner Harbour, with the Empress behind.
Straight answers to what travelers ask most about Victoria and Butchart Gardens tours.
How long is the Victoria and Butchart Gardens tour from Vancouver?
Plan on 12 to 14 hours door to door. The tours drive to the Tsawwassen ferry terminal, cross to Swartz Bay on Vancouver Island (about 1 hour 35 minutes each way), visit the gardens and Victoria, and return on an evening sailing. Guests typically report a pickup around 7 to 8 AM and a return between 8 and 10 PM. How the day works.
How much time do you get at Butchart Gardens?
Between about 1.5 and 2.5 hours, depending on the tour: the Westcoast and Pacific Coach day trips give about two hours, Landsea about 1.5 hours and Discover Canada about 1 hour 45 minutes. The gardens put a leisurely walk on the main paths at 1.5 to 2 hours. See how long you need at Butchart Gardens.
Is Butchart Gardens in Victoria?
No. The gardens are in Brentwood Bay on the Saanich Peninsula, about 20 km (12 miles) north of downtown Victoria. The ferry from Vancouver lands at Swartz Bay, further north still, so a tour visits the gardens and Victoria as two separate stops.
How much does a Butchart Gardens tour from Vancouver cost?
On Viator in 2026, full-day tours run from $161 to $255 per adult, and every tour listed here includes both ferry crossings and Butchart Gardens admission. For comparison, the gardens' own adult gate price in October 2026 is CAD 36.75. See the price guide.
Is the ferry included in the tour?
Yes. Every Vancouver tour on this page includes the round-trip BC Ferries crossing between Tsawwassen and Swartz Bay, which runs through the Gulf Islands. Food and drinks on board are at your own cost.
Is lunch included?
No, none of these tours includes lunch. Eat on the ferry or during your free time in Victoria; one guest's tip is not to spend garden time queuing for food. The combo tour hands out bottled water and a snack bar.
Gardens first or Victoria first: which is better?
Gardens-first tours (Westcoast, Pacific Coach, the combo tour) get you to Butchart while you are fresh. Victoria-first tours (Landsea, STAR, Discover Canada) give you lunch in town and reach the gardens later in the day, which one STAR guest found quieter. Pick the order that matches your priority.
Can you go from Vancouver to Victoria by seaplane instead?
Yes: Harbour Air flies from Coal Harbour in downtown Vancouver to Victoria's Inner Harbour, and its listing puts the flight at about 35 minutes. The seaplane packages on Viator are marked as ending in October 2026, so book flights with the airline. Compare the options in the Vancouver to Victoria guide.
When is the best time to visit Butchart Gardens?
Spring and summer for the fullest flowerbeds, autumn for colour and smaller crowds, and December for the Christmas lights, when the gardens open from 3 to 9 PM. The gardens close from January 18 to 31. See the best time to visit.
Is the Victoria and Butchart Gardens tour worth it?
Most guests think so: the tours here are rated 4.4 to 4.9. The catch, repeated in review after review, is the length. Much of the day is transit, and many wish they had longer in each place. Spare a night in Victoria if you can; if not, a day tour is the easiest way to see both.
Can I cancel my tour?
Yes. Every tour listed on this page can be cancelled for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time on Viator.
Are the tours suitable for children or wheelchair users?
Children are welcome, and most tours price ages 3 to 12 as children. The combo tour needs a booster seat for under-6s, and STAR offers booster seats on request. Most tours are marked not wheelchair accessible, though STAR and Pacific Coach can carry a foldable wheelchair. At the gardens themselves, push wheelchairs are lent for a refundable CAD 10 deposit, and the rates table at the gardens starts at age 5.
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