Your Ultimate Guide to Visiting Butchart Gardens

Whenever we tell people we are from Victoria, BC one of the most common things we hear is “Oh, it is so beautiful there.  We loved visiting Butchart Gardens!”  It is just one of those must-see tourist destinations and one that almost all visitors to Victoria add to their itinerary.

Growing up on the Island we’ve been fortunate to visit Butchart Gardens more than we can even count.  Even after seeing it so many times, we still go back every couple of years.  It is a place we definitely recommend visiting at least once and we’re eager to share all about how to make the most of your visit to Butchart Gardens!

In this Butchart Gardens guide we’ll cover:

Getting to Butchart Gardens

Best time to visit Butchart Gardens

What to see at Butchart Gardens

What to do at Butchart Gardens

Where to eat at Butchart Gardens

Introduction

Butchart Gardens was started by Jennie Butchart in 1904.  Her husband, Robert Butchart, had developed a limestone quarry and ran a cement plant.  When he exhausted the limestone deposits, Jennie had a desire to beautify the quarry pit and turned it into what is now the Sunken Garden.

Over the years they continued to develop more of the gardens on their 130 acre estate and now the gardens cover more that 55 acres of it.  The gardens quickly grew popular and by the 1920s they were receiving around 50,000 guests a year!

The gardens, still owned and run by the Butchart Family, have been designated a National Historic Site of Canada and receive around one million visitors each year.

You can read the full story on the Butchart Gardens website.

Getting to Butchart Gardens

Butchart Gardens is not actually located in the city of Victoria itself.  It is located on the Saanich peninsula in the town of Brentwood Bay, about half way between Victoria and Sidney.

By Car:

The drive to Butchart Gardens from downtown Victoria takes about 30 minutes and from the Swartz Bay Ferry Terminal to Butchart Gardens it takes about 20 minutes.

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Check out A Local’s Guide to Taking the Ferry from Vancouver to Victoria

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Driving Directions to Butchart Gardens:

Butchart Gardens Parking:

Parking at Butchart Gardens is plentiful.  The lot is well organized and each section is marked with its own animal sign to help you remember where you parked!

By Bus:

You are able to take public transit from downtown Victoria to get to Butchart Gardens.  The bus you want is the 75 – Saanichton.  It runs about every half hour from about 9am-8pm, but make sure you check the schedule ahead of time as it does change periodically.  Riding the bus from Victoria to Butchart Gardens will take about one hour.

A one way ticket will cost you $2.50 or you can buy a day pass for $5.  Note that the buses only accept exact change ($5 bills are acceptable).

By Bike:

The Butchart Gardens has a bike route map from downtown.

By Tour Bus:

CVS Tours offers a tour that leaves from the Empress Hotel in downtown Victoria.

Best Time to Visit Butchart Gardens

The gardens are open year round (yes, all 365 days!) and each seasons has its own draw.  You will see different blooms depending on what is in season.

Visiting Butchart Gardens in Spring

Spring is a lovely time to go to see all the spring blooms and the weather should be somewhat decent.

Visiting Butchart Gardens in Summer

Summer is of course the busiest season as that is when Victoria receives its best weather.  This is also the time to visit to experience the popular Butchart Gardens fireworks show on Saturdays, as well as concerts on the lawn.

Visiting Butchart Gardens in Fall

Fall is a good time to see all the beautiful fall colours and it is a less busy time to explore. It is also the only time you can tour the greenhouses.

Visiting Butchart Gardens in Winter

Winter may not seem like a good time to visit Butchart Gardens but it is a completely different and beautiful experience.  You can take in the beauty of the shrubs and trees, as well as take in the fantastic holiday displays.  The gardens are very festive.

Butchart Gardens Hours

The gardens open at 9am but closing time varies depending on the season.  Check the website to see the hours for the dates you will be visiting.

Butchart Gardens Tickets

If you drive yourself to the gardens you will purchase your tickets at the booths before entering the parking lot.  They accept all credit cards and cash.  You can also purchase your Butchart Gardens tickets online.

The fare varies depending on the season.  As of April 2018, January is the cheapest time to go with tickets costing $18.35/adult and summer is the most expensive at $33.10/adult.  The best deal is to buy an annual pass for only $60.50 (however it costs extra for Fireworks Saturdays).  There are also different rates for children, youth and groups of 25 or more.  Note that all tickets will have an additional 5% tax added on.  You can find all ticket information here.

If you did not get your fill of the gardens you can re-enter, for free (except on Firework Saturdays), on the same day or return the next day for only $3.50!

Additional Information for Visiting Butchart Gardens

Dogs

The gardens are dog friendly!  They just need to be kept on a short leash and of course picked up after.  You will see many people strolling with their fury friends.  There are water dishes around the gardens as well as doggy waste bags.

Accessibility

The gardens are wheelchair and scooter accessible.  Wheelchairs are available free of charge with a $10 deposit and are first come, first serve from the Visitor Centre.

Photos

Tripods are allowed, but no drones or selfie sticks. (However the no selfie stick rule did not seem to be strictly enforced when we visited during spring).

Storage

The Visitor Centre will store your luggage or small items, free of charge, while you tour around the gardens.

Umbrellas

If it rains, umbrellas are distributed, free of charge, throughout the gardens and parking lot!

What to See at Butchart Gardens

Butchart Gardens consists of 4 main gardens: the Sunken Garden, Rose Garden, Japanese Garden and Italian Garden.  Most people visit the gardens in this order.

Tip: If I arrive early, I like to start with the Rose Garden and then head to the Japanese Garden to avoid the crowds and take photos while less people are around.

Sunken Garden

This is the first garden you will encounter if you follow the main path to the left.  After walking through a treed area you will be greeted with a fantastic view over the sunken garden, which was once the limestone quarry.

Walk down the steps and meander through the beautifully landscaped gardens until you find yourself at the Ross Fountain.  You can also climb up the mound in the centre for a nice view over the small lake and gardens.

Rose Garden

This garden is most impressive during summertime when the roses are in bloom.  A vast variety of gorgeous roses are on display and most are labelled with their names and country of origin.

Japanese Garden

This may be my favorite garden.  The entrance is marked by the torii gate.  While not known for its flowers, it is popular for its peacefulness.  Filled with bamboo and pretty shrubs, it is a nice, relaxing place to wander or sit in the shade.

Italian Garden

This is the most formal, yet smallest, of the gardens.  It was built on the site of the family’s tennis court in 1926.  There is a nice pond and fountain with some pretty flowers around the courtyard.  It is a lovely place to sit in the sun and rest your feet while taking in the pretty atmosphere.

Dragon Fountain

This is my favorite of the Butchart Garden fountains!  It is located close to the fireworks viewing area.  This fountain was actually a gift from China and Victoria’s sister-city, Suzhou.

Sturgeon Fountain

You will find this fountain by the entrance to the Japanese garden.

Star Pond

This large pond is surrounded by beautiful blooms.  You will encounter it on your way to the Italian Garden.

Totem Poles

You will find these between the Children’s Pavillion and Fireworks viewing area.

What to Do at Butchart Gardens

Rose Carousel

The Butchart Gardens carousel is Vancouver Island’s only carousel, housed in an impressive domed building with a glass facade to let lots of light in.  All 30 animals are intricately hand-carved.  Rides are just $2/person.  Don’t fret if you don’t have a toonie on you – they accept credit card as well.  Some of the proceeds go towards local children’s charities.

Rides last about 5 minutes and are fun not just for kids, but adults too!

Boat Tour

During the summer months (May 19-Sept. 15) there are 45 minute boat tours available from Butchart Cove, located just after the Japanese Garden.  The ride will take you around Tod Inlet and Brentwood Bay.   The cost as of April 2018 is $19.75/adult plus tax.

Ice Skating

During the Christmas season (December 1st-January 6th) an outdoor ice rink is set up in Waterwheel Square.  You can warm up with some hot chocolate, put on your mitts and enjoy a skate around the rink.  The cost is $5/adult plus $3 for skate rentals.

Visitor Book

Don’t forget to sign the visitor book 🙂  You will find them just after the Italian Garden.

Gift Shop

The Butchart Gardens gift shop sells a large variety of items, including seeds, kitchen accessories, clothing, etc.  A great place to buy a souvenir or even just something practical for home.

Concerts

During the summer months of July and August there are nightly concerts on the Concert Lawn Stage.

Butchart Gardens Fireworks

This is a very popular attraction that only occurs during the summer months on Saturday evenings.  Check current dates and times here.

There is quite a bit of lawn space to enjoy the fireworks from but due to its popularity, it fills up fast!  A lot of people lay down blankets ahead of time to reserve their spot and you would be wise to do the same.  You can also bring lawn chairs if you wish but there is a designated area for them.  Bring a picnic to enjoy while you wait for the show to start.

Tip: Don’t forget to bring warm clothing as it gets pretty chilly at night (this is Canada, after all).

The first time we saw the Butchart Gardens fireworks show it was way better than we were expecting!  It is no wonder it is so popular.  The show is actually pretty long (about 25 minutes if I remember correctly) and is well worth the long day.

Where to Eat at Butchart Gardens

Butchart Gardens actually has a number of dining options available.

Coffee Shop

When you enter Butchart Gardens from the parking lot, the first thing you will see is the coffee shop on your right.  This is an ideal place for a quick bite to eat, such as sandwiches, coffee and pastries.  There is some outdoor seating available.

The Blue Poppy Restaurant

This is a cafeteria-style restaurant located just after the visitor centre and show greenhouse.  Food is moderately priced and the seating area is pleasant but gets quite busy.

Anabelle’s Cafe

This cafe is located adjacent to the Rose Carousel and is only open seasonally.  Here you can find soft serve ice cream, coffee and drinks, and light snacks.

Popcorn Cart

This old restored popcorn cart can be found outside the Rose Carousel and is also only open seasonally.

Gelateria Benvenuto

This gelato stand is located in the Italian Garden.  During a warm day come here for a cool treat and take in the pretty plaza.  Prices are pretty high so you may not want to take all the kids here.

The Dining Room Restaurant

This is my favourite restaurant because of the afternoon tea!  I’m sure the lunch and dinner options are lovely as well, but who can resist afternoon tea in such a pretty setting?

Located off of the piazza, this restaurant is housed in the historic Butchart home.  It is a lovely place to dine with both indoor and outdoor patio seating, surrounded by beautiful private gardens.

Afternoon Tea costs $37.50/adult (as of April 2018) making it one of the more affordable afternoon tea options in Victoria.  Service is very professional and the food is just splendid.  Reservations are recommended.  You can book online via OpenTable.

To start, there are nine teas to choose from, six of which are made exclusively for Butchart Gardens.

Before the tower of finger foods arrives you are served a delightful trifle.

Next, you have your savory tier of 7 different types of sandwiches.  My favorite was the smoked salmon roll and Ryan enjoyed the warm German sausage with mustard.

After your sandwiches, move onto the delicious, warm scone with some Devon-style cream and preserves.

Then you have your array of sweets.  My favorite was the lemon tart and the truffle was really good as well.

We hope you have an amazing visit to Butchart Gardens!  If you have any questions or comments, let us know in the comments below!

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Looking for more things to do in Victoria?  Check out:

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