The Butchart Gardens Experience

The world-famous Butchart Gardens: a wonderland of spectacular themed gardens, exotic plants, streams, ponds and fountains—sure to create a lasting impression!

Enjoy round-trip transportation between Downtown Victoria and The Butchart Gardens aboard our fully narrated coaches. Your ticket includes admission to the gardens.

Check in for your tour at our red kiosks located in front of the Empress Hotel. During the peak summer season, explore the gardens at your own pace and spend as much time as you wish enjoying the spectacular displays. When you’re ready to return, simply board any of the hourly departures back to Downtown Victoria.

Discover Victoria

Tour Highlights

The Butchart Gardens Experience Tour

Ticket Prices

Departs daily from in front of the iconic Fairmont Empress Hotel, see “Route and Schedules” or departure times.

This experience includes:

Admission to The Butchart Gardens included in price
Round trip transportation
Live driver narration
The most modern double decker busses on the Island

Routes and schedules are subject to change.

Schedules

Schedule

Schedules can vary by season. Check with your Gray Line agent on check-in to confirm times.

March 1 to 14: Friday, Saturday, Sunday

Depart: Fairmont Empress Hotel	Depart The Butchart Gardens
11:30	14:30
Daily departures

March 15 to April 30: Daily Departures

Depart Empress Hotel	Depart The Butchart Gardens
9:30	12:30
11:30	14:30
Daily departures

May 1 to 31: Daily Departures

Depart Empress Hotel	Depart The Butchart Gardens
9:30	12:30
11:30	14:30
13:30	16:30
Daily departures

June 1 to September 15: Daily Departures

Depart Empress Hotel	Depart The Butchart Gardens
9:00	12:00
10:00	13:00
11:00	14:00
12:00	15:00
13:00	16:00
14:00	17:00
Daily departures

July 1 to August 31: Saturday Evening Fireworks

Depart Empress Hotel	Depart The Butchart Gardens
19:00	30 minutes after fireworks are over
Saturdays only

September 16 to October 14: Daily Departures

Depart Empress Hotel	Depart The Butchart Gardens
9:30	12:30
11:30	14:30
Daily departures

October 15 to 31: Friday, Saturday, Sunday

Depart Empress Hotel	Depart The Butchart Gardens
9:30	12:30
11:30	14:30
Friday, Saturday, Sunday

December 1 to 31: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday

Depart Empress Hotel	Depart The Butchart Gardens
18:00	21:00
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday

December 1 to 31: Friday, Saturday, Sunday

Depart Empress Hotel	Depart The Butchart Gardens
16:00	19:00
18:00	21:00
Friday, Saturday, Sunday

Kudos

What Our Customers are Saying

					We booked prior to our cruise. They seem very organized. Rob was a super driver/narrator. Flexible pick-up times. We booked our CVS tour to Butchart Gardens on the internet before our cruise. We had booked the 11AM tour, however we made it into the center of Victoria earlier than expected and they allowed us to take the 10AM tour instead. The CVS kiosk is very easy to find outside the Empress Hotel in the center of Victoria. (See my photos).

When they say 'tour', they really mean a bus ride to and from Butchart Gardens with narration. Your entry ticket is included, but you're on your own in the gardens and you can pick which time you want to come back as they have buses pick-up every hour again from Butchart. I liked that flexibility. We were in the gardens around 2 hours. If you plan on eating there, you would probably add another 60-90 minutes. This schedule allowed us to get back to the center of Victoria and see the town before having to take a shuttle ride back to the ship. By the way, the approx duration of the bus ride from the center of Victoria to Butchart Gardens was 30-40 minutes. 

The bus was modern and clean and the driver/narrator Rob was one of the best I've ever had on a bus tour. His narration was very clear and slow and he put passengers at ease with his directions of what to expect when we got there, etc. You could tell he was very experienced. 

Butchart Gardens itself was beautiful and a great place to take close up photos of flowers. I'm glad we went early in the day when it wasn't quite so busy. 

They have a cafe, plenty of WCs, a visitor center and a large quality gift shop.

Please CLICK the THANK button if you found this review useful.
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Don'tWaitForRetirement
6/17/2018
					Our driver, Ed, gave excellent advice ("Stay to the left as you tour the garden") and was very relatable and entertaining. Ed did an excellent job of describing local attractions and history stories and was a highlight of our first trip to Victoria!
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Rich Connell
4/18/2024
					Victoria, complete with gardens and town We did the gray line Victoria Island Buchart gardens,  it was a wonderful day with a good sample of the garden and wharf.  Our guide was Dave—he was super.
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Jeff and Kim
5/27/2023
					We booked prior to our cruise. They seem very organized. Rob was a super driver/narrator. Flexible pick-up times. We booked our CVS tour to Butchart Gardens on the internet before our cruise. We had booked the 11AM tour, however we made it into the center of Victoria earlier than expected and they allowed us to take the 10AM tour instead. The CVS kiosk is very easy to find outside the Empress Hotel in the center of Victoria. (See my photos).

When they say 'tour', they really mean a bus ride to and from Butchart Gardens with narration. Your entry ticket is included, but you're on your own in the gardens and you can pick which time you want to come back as they have buses pick-up every hour again from Butchart. I liked that flexibility. We were in the gardens around 2 hours. If you plan on eating there, you would probably add another 60-90 minutes. This schedule allowed us to get back to the center of Victoria and see the town before having to take a shuttle ride back to the ship. By the way, the approx duration of the bus ride from the center of Victoria to Butchart Gardens was 30-40 minutes. 

The bus was modern and clean and the driver/narrator Rob was one of the best I've ever had on a bus tour. His narration was very clear and slow and he put passengers at ease with his directions of what to expect when we got there, etc. You could tell he was very experienced. 

Butchart Gardens itself was beautiful and a great place to take close up photos of flowers. I'm glad we went early in the day when it wasn't quite so busy. 

They have a cafe, plenty of WCs, a visitor center and a large quality gift shop.

Please CLICK the THANK button if you found this review useful.
read moreread less
Don'tWaitForRetirement
6/17/2018
					So much beauty all in ONE day!! We had a fabulous day from we boarded our coach in Vancouver to the Ferry to explore Victoria and all its beauty. But hart gardens was first and as our Guide Senan promised we were definitely not disappointed!!! The gardens were spectacular and we had just enough time to enjoy as Senan gave us some ‘insider tips’. Victoria was so interesting and beautiful too.. drop off points and pick up allowed us plenty of time to enjoy and we left wanting to come back for more!!!  Hopefully soon ?
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Tina
10/08/2023
					Tim was our driver to Butchart Gardens Christmas Lights last night. Tim was wonderful, very informative, included some local history and pointed out some interesting sights along the way. His humor and consideration of everyone added to the enjoyment of the experience.
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Micha
12/21/2024

Evening CitySights Tour

Holiday Lights Tour at Butchart Gardens