5 Best Butchart Gardens Tours From Victoria (Insider Picks!)

So you want to visit the world-famous Butchart Gardens?

Blooming brilliant idea!

One of the most stunning gardens in Victoria, Butchart Gardens is a star attraction in the city (proudly nicknamed the “City of Gardens”).

We live in Victoria and have visited these gorgeous gardens countless times. In fact, we keep going back, usually to show them off to visiting friends and family. (And the Sunken Garden still makes us stop and say, “Wow!”)

To help you plan your visit, we’ve rounded up the best Butchart Gardens tours from Victoria. (Coming from Vancouver? See our guide on the top Butchart Gardens day trips from Vancouver.)

Let’s go smell the roses!

Top tours at a glance

---

Best overall: Small-group Butchart Gardens and Victoria sightseeing tour

This premium 5-hour combo tour (with 2½ hours at the gardens) is our top pick for first-time visitors. Admission included.

Best independent option: Express Garden Shuttle

The Butchart Gardens Express Shuttle from downtown Victoria is perfect if you simply want to visit the gardens.

• Multiple departures throughout the day
• Spend as much time at the gardens as you wish
• Most affordable option for one or two people

Best for families and groups: Private tours

Choose from 4-, 5- or 8½-hour private tours (see #3, #4 and #5)

• Ideal for cruise ship passengers
• Great value when traveling with family or friends
• Customize the itinerary to suit your interests

All tours here can be booked through Viator (a TripAdvisor company). We use Viator often and love their flexible 24-hour cancellation policy – handy if your plans change!

Location

You’ll find Butchart Gardens in British Columbia on Vancouver Island’s scenic Saanich Peninsula:

• Driving time – About 35 minutes by car (longer by public bus or shuttle)
• Town – Brentwood Bay
• Distance from Victoria – 13½ miles (22 km) north of downtown

In 1904, Robert and Jennie Butchart moved to Vancouver Island to build a cement plant on a limestone-rich site.

When the quarry was tapped out, Jennie had a more beautiful vision – she began transforming the site into a lush garden, hauling in topsoil by horse and cart.

Over the years, her project bloomed into one of the world’s most celebrated display gardens. Today, Butchart Gardens is a designated National Historic Site in Canada that welcomes over a million visitors each year.

We’re always amazed by how different the gardens look from season to season.

In spring (perhaps our favorite time), tulips and daffodils steal the show. Come summer, the Rose Garden explodes in color. In autumn, Japanese maples turn fiery red and gold, while winter brings snowdrops, silence and the magic of thousands of twinkling lights.

Fun fact: It takes 50 full-time gardeners (plus 20 more gardeners in summer) to keep Butchart looking this fabulous.

Don’t miss

• The dramatic Sunken Garden, set in the original quarry pit
• The Rose Garden, with 2,500 rose bushes (sniff before you snap!)
• The tranquil Japanese Garden
• The formal Italian Garden and lily pond
• The Mediterranean Garden, with its cypress trees and pathways
• Playful fountains and water features

Be sure to pop into the lovely gift shop!

It’s filled with beautiful garden-themed gifts. We’ve picked up everything from flower seeds to butterfly glassware and delicate wind chimes here.

Opening hours and cost

• Hours – Open year-round, the gardens remain open for viewing until one hour after the entrance gates close. Hours vary by season.
• Cost – Admission also varies by season. It’s roughly $29 to $44 CAD ($20 to $31 USD) per adult.
• Up-to-date info – See hours and rates.

How to get to Butchart Gardens

Public bus

The cheapest way to get there – if you don’t mind a slow ride – is by BC Transit.

• Route – Board the #75 Bus at Belleville St. and Government St. (right by the Empress)
• Ride time – About 55 to 60 minutes
• Cost – $6 CAD (approx. $4.20 USD) for a day pass

Car

If you have a rental car, it’s a 35- to 40-minute drive from downtown Victoria to the gardens via the Patricia Bay Highway (Hwy #17). Parking is free and plentiful.

Taxi or Uber

A taxi from downtown Victoria to Butchart Gardens should run between $55 and $65 CAD ($38 and $45 USD) plus tip, each way. It’s quick and convenient if you’re short on time.

Uber is usually a titch cheaper, though we’ve seen recent reports of Uber costing $70 CAD ($50 USD) for a one-way ride from the cruise terminal (close to downtown) to the gardens.

Guided tour

If you’d rather let someone else do the driving and enjoy narrated sightseeing along the way, the following guided tours make getting to Butchart Gardens fun, easy and comfortable.

1) Butchart Gardens shuttle bus

Hop aboard the Butchart Gardens Express Shuttle!

If your only goal is visiting Butchart Gardens, this is our favorite independent option. It’s affordable, flexible and far easier than taking public transit.

We also love that there’s no rush – you can spend as much time as you want at the gardens. You can even enjoy afternoon tea in the beautiful restaurant before heading back.

Operated by Gray Line Sightseeing, the round-trip shuttle service takes you from Victoria’s downtown Inner Harbour straight to the gardens.

Once there, let your inner botanist roam free as you explore at your own pace.

What’s included and tour details:

• Departs from – The sidewalk in front of the Fairmont Empress Hotel
• Travel time – About 35 to 45 minutes each way
• Multiple departure and return times – Choose a schedule that suits you (in summer, departures are hourly from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm, with returns from noon to 5:00 pm)
• Live commentary – Enjoy interesting facts about Victoria from your driver on the way
• Return cost – $62 CAD (approx. $44 USD) p.p.

Garden admission isn’t included, so you’ll need to buy that separately.

Tip: Grab a seat upstairs at the very front of the double-decker. You’ll enjoy the best views on the drive. And because the return trip follows a different route, you’ll see fresh scenery on the way back too.

2) Small-group Victoria and gardens experience

If it’s your first visit to Victoria, this highly-rated small-group tour (max. 14 guests) is the easiest way to pair Butchart Gardens with a taste of the city.

In 5 hours, it combines two of the city’s biggest highlights – the gardens plus a sightseeing tour of Victoria – without the hassle of arranging transportation or tickets yourself.

What’s included and tour details:

• Hotel pick-up from downtown Victoria
• Choice of several tour times – In summer, from 8:30 am (beat the crowds!) to 6:30 pm (for Butchart’s Saturday night fireworks display); 10:00 am and 1:00 pm rest of the year
• Narrated city sightseeing with photo stops – Including Fisherman’s Wharf, the picturesque Inner Harbor and the Parliament Buildings
• 2½ hours at the gardens
• Admission to Butchart Gardens
• Viator “Experience Award Winner”
• All-inclusive cost – From $142 CAD (about $105 USD) p.p.
• Rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Unlike the shuttle option (#1), your ticket to the gardens is included in this tour.

Pssst! We’re not the only ones who love it. Recommended by 98% of travelers, this experience has earned hundreds of glowing reviews!

3) Private 4-hour city and gardens tour

Traveling with family or friends? A private half-day tour is a fantastic choice. It’s especially ideal if you’re visiting Victoria on a cruise, as you can choose a time that fits your schedule.

This is the best-value (and highest-rated) private tour we found for groups of up to 5 people.

Because it’s a private tour, the itinerary is flexible. Spend a little longer wandering the gardens or make extra sightseeing stops around Victoria – just let your driver-guide know.

What’s included and tour details:

• Pick-up and drop-off in Victoria – From your hotel, cruise ship terminal, Clipper or Coho ferry terminal, or seaplane terminal
• 2 hours at Butchart Gardens
• Sightseeing around Victoria – Possible stops include Fisherman’s Wharf, historic Chinatown, Craigdarroch Castle, Government House, Beacon Hill Park and Emily Carr House
• Cost – $706 CAD (about $508 USD) for a group up to 5
• Rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Note: The cost of your Butchart Gardens ticket is extra.

4) Private 5-hour city and gardens tour

If you have a group of up to 8 or simply want more time to explore Victoria, this private 5-hour tour is an excellent choice. It’s similar to the 4-hour option above (#3), but offers better value for larger groups and allows for more sightseeing.

What’s included and tour details:

• Free pickup from your Victoria hotel
• 2 hours at Butchart Gardens
• Sightseeing in Victoria – It includes the top sights, including Fan Tan Alley in Chinatown (North America’s narrowest street!)
• Cost – From $750 CAD (about $530 USD) for a group up to 8 people (summer rates are higher)
• Rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Note: Admission to Butchart Gardens is extra.

5) Ultimate 8½-hour private tour (gardens, winery and more)

If you have a full day to explore Victoria, this private tour is the ultimate way to experience the area.

We especially like that it includes wine tasting at a local vineyard in a beautiful pastoral setting. (And yes, BC wines really are that good!) You’ll also have time to tour the inside of Craigdarroch Castle, rather than just admire it from the outside.

What’s included and tour details:

• 2 hours at Butchart Gardens
• Winery visit – Taste award-winning wines at Church and State Wines in Brentwood Bay. Perhaps have lunch on their bistro’s patio overlooking the vineyards! We’ve enjoyed their farm-to-table pizzas made with local Vancouver Island ingredients, and they’re yum!
• Craigdarroch Castle (1 hour) – Step back in time as you tour the grand Victorian mansion built by one of Western Canada’s wealthiest industrialists.
• Mount Tolmie – Take in sweeping panoramic views over Victoria and the surrounding area from the top of Mt. Tolmie.
• Stops at other Victoria sights
• Recommended by 100% travelers
• Cost – From $965 CAD (about $700 USD) for a group of up to 5
• Rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Note: Wine tasting, lunch, Butchart Gardens admission and entry fees for Craigdarroch Castle are not included.

FAQs on visiting Butchart Gardens

How long does it take to walk through the gardens?

You can see the highlights in 1½ hours or so. But for a more leisurely stroll, allow about 2 hours.

We’ve happily whiled away 3 hours at the gardens, simply wandering the pathways and admiring the ever-changing displays.

Is it a guided tour all the way?

No. On most Butchart Gardens tours, your guide will give you an introduction to the gardens and point out the highlights before you set off to explore.

Some guides may walk with you for part of the visit, sharing stories and pointing out special features or hidden corners. But you won’t have a guide by your side the whole time.

That’s actually a good thing. The gardens are easy to navigate and best enjoyed at your own pace, stopping whenever something catches your eye.

Is afternoon tea at Butchart Gardens worth it?

Absolutely! If you have time, afternoon tea in The Dining Room (the Butchart family’s original home) is a delightful way to wrap up your visit.

Expect a traditional afternoon tea with:

• Finger sandwiches, sausage rolls, quiche and other savory treats
• Their signature ginger scones with strawberry preserve and clotted cream
• English trifle
• House-made sweets, such as hazelnut milk chocolate truffles and vanilla cake with lemon buttercream

Reservations are highly recommended, especially in summer. You can reserve online or call 250-652-8222.

Pin this Butchart Gardens travel guide!