The 15 Best Victoria Garden Tours

1.The Butchart Gardens Express Shuttle from Downtown Victoria

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 616 reviews · 3 to 5 hours (approx.) · from $44Our pick

Ride from downtown Victoria to Butchart Gardens with Gray Line drivers such as Sarah, Rob, and Emily, who often provide lively commentary along the way. You get round-trip transportation, about three hours in the gardens, and hourly return departures. Admission costs extra.

“Got inspired to purchase the seeds from the gift shop. I was told shouldn’t have problem at customs. How ever if u declare - you must pass additional screening.”

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2.COMBO Victoria City Tour & Butchart Gardens & Entry Tix

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 456 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $106Top rated

Combine a one-hour narrated tour of Victoria with 2.5 hours at Butchart Gardens. Your English-speaking local guide handles the driving, entry ticket, city photo stops, and return transfer. Small vehicles, flexible departure times, hotel pickup, and garden tips make this a practical choice for cruise visitors and first-time visitors.

“The BEST way to experience Victoria and the gardens. We visited at the very end of the fall tour season, so had a smaller group that felt like a private tour. Our guide, Tyko, was very knowledgeable, willing to answer questions, and entertained us with so much information! We enjoyed getting to see some of the city sites without needing to navigate traffic, and the fall leaves in the gardens were beautiful. Our favorite is the Japanese garden, and it did not disappoint! 10/10 would recommend!”

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3.City Highlights and Butchart Gardens Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 148 reviews · from $86

See Victoria’s Inner Harbour, Chinatown, Beacon Hill Park, and Old Town by comfortable vehicle, then spend two hours exploring Butchart Gardens on your own. English-speaking guides such as Michael, Hamish, Jacob, and Jim add local history and practical tips. The tour costs $86 and includes garden admission.

“Great, the young driver was very informative and interesting to listen to, with lots of information about Victoria. The gardens were amazing and we had plenty of time to explore them.”

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4.Vancouver to Victoria Seaplane Day Trip + Butchart Gardens

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 141 reviews · from $504

Fly by Harbour Air from downtown Vancouver to Victoria’s Inner Harbour, ride a narrated coach to Butchart Gardens, then spend about three and a half hours exploring Victoria before flying back. The $504 price includes return airfare, garden admission, and ground transport. Bring photo ID and check in 40 minutes early.

“It was a good flight that took me to one of the most beautiful gardens in the World!”

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5.Victoria Butterfly Gardens Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 74 reviews · 45 minutes to 2 hours (approx.) · from $15Best value

Walk through a warm, humid tropical conservatory where up to 70 butterfly species fly freely among flowers, carnivorous plants, ponds, and waterfalls. You’ll also see flamingos, iguanas, tortoises, frogs, tropical birds, koi, and an insectarium filled with invertebrates from around the world. Allow 45 to 120 minutes.

“Great experience to see all the animals in the same atea… exotic birds from big to Little turtles Koi fish. The surroundings were very natural and I love it. We had a great time. Got some great pictures.”

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6.Victoria & The Butchart Gardens:Deluxe City and Garden Experience

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 71 reviews · 4 hours (approx.)

You’ll visit Butchart Gardens with a local guide, then tour Victoria by private vehicle, stopping at Chinatown, Craigdarroch Castle, Beacon Hill Park, Fisherman’s Wharf, Mile Zero, and the Inner Harbour. Guides include Alan, Phil, Lee, Richard, Darwin, Scott, and Sandy. Garden admission is extra.

“The drive along the coast line and the visit to the Butchart Gardens were the highlights of the tour. Lee talked and explained all of the points of interest along the way.”

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7.Victoria, BC: City Tour and Butchart Gardens Combo Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 71 reviews · 5 hours · from $101

Travel by sightseeing van through Victoria with a local guide such as Mark, Jim, or Marcus, then spend about two to two and a half hours at Butchart Gardens. You’ll see Beacon Hill Park, Fisherman’s Wharf, Government House, Mile Zero, and a West Coast castle, with hotel pickup and garden admission included.

“Tour Guide Mark was amazing! He was funny, informative, and personable. Willing to go the extra mile. Open to questions and comments. Really enhanced our experience. Definitely recommend this tour!”

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8.Garden Entry Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 48 reviews · from $17

Walk eight sandy paths through Cactus Country in Strathmerton, Victoria, home to more than 4,000 cactus and succulent species. Meet local owners Jim, Julie, and John Hall, then stop for cactus cake, cactus ice cream, or cactus cider. Allow 1 to 4 hours, and bring walking shoes, sun protection, and a camera.

“There is an insane amount of cactus set in a well designed space with beautiful architecture and art. It was prettt mind blowing.”

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9.Butterfly Gardens Admission Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 44 reviews · 1 day · from $15

Exchange your voucher at Victoria Butterfly Gardens and spend a day walking through an enclosed tropical house. You’ll see about 70 butterfly species, free-flying birds, poison dart frogs, tortoises, giant iguanas, a flamingo, carnivorous plants, an indoor waterfall, and an insectarium filled with creatures from around the world.

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10.Private Deluxe Tour of Victoria & to Butchart Gardens (5 hrs)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 32 reviews · 5 hours (approx.)

This private Victoria tour combines city highlights with two hours at Butchart Gardens in a comfortable air-conditioned vehicle. Guides such as Linda, Melanie, and Art tailor the route for your group, with pickup at cruise, ferry, seaplane, and Helijet terminals. Gardens admission costs extra, and Craigdarroch Castle is viewed from outside.

“Great van and pick up at the cruise dock. We customized our tour and Linda was great handling the details. She even got us oriented at the Butchart Gardens for easy handicapped viewing of everything. Much easier than the cruise tours.”

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11.Fully narrated tour of Butchart Gardens and Saanich Peninsula

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 15 reviews · 3 hours (approx.)

Travel from Victoria to Butchart Gardens with a private driver and guide, usually spending about 90 minutes exploring the gardens on your own. Expect narration about Victoria and the Saanich Peninsula, hotel pickup, and a return to your accommodation. Admission is extra.

“Hotel pick up in Victoria on time. Our driver/guide Scott was excellent in driving, informative and pleasant. Comfortable clean ride. Gardens and greenhouse were incredible and so glad we booked the tour.”

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12.Private Tour of Gorgeous Victoria and to Butchart Gardens! (4 hr)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 10 reviews · 4 hours (approx.)

Spend four hours with a private host and driver exploring Victoria, from Fisherman’s Wharf and Chinatown to the Inner Harbour and Mile Zero. You’ll also visit Butchart Gardens for 90 minutes, or choose the Butterfly Gardens. Guides including Linda, Lynda, Melanie, and Michelle are praised for flexibility, local insight, and safe transport.

“Linda and all the information she gave us All the great 😊 places she took us We all have amazing memories”

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13.Christmas in Victoria and the Butchart Gardens

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 6 reviews · 4 hours 30 minutes (approx.)

Let Surfside Adventure Tours collect you from your Downtown Victoria hotel for a festive 4.5-hour outing. Guide Alan or another guide takes your group to Butchart Gardens for two hours of lights, carolers, the 12 Days of Christmas display, and optional skating, then adds decorated neighborhoods and Victoria’s glowing Inner Harbour. Admission and skate rental cost extra.

“Alan was a friendly, thoughtful and informative guide. Even though we had visited Victoria and Butchart Gardens several times before, we toured neighborhoods we had never seen, enjoyed astonishingly creative home Christmas light decorations that we would not have found on our own, and learned new things about the city. Highly recommended!”

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14.Private Tour Countryside Drive to Butchart Gardens & Victoria

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 6 reviews · 5 hours (approx.)

Explore Victoria with a private guide and your own group of up to five. You’ll visit the Inner Harbour, drive through Saanich Peninsula farmland, spend 90 minutes at Butchart Gardens, and pass Chinatown, Parliament, the Empress Hotel, coastal neighborhoods, and possibly Craigdarroch Castle. Guides Steve and Richard have both led this tour.

“Our guide Richard was knowledgeable and engaging. He was accommodating to our wishes. We would recommend him as a guide.”

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15.Butchart Gardens and City Highlights Private tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 5 reviews

Join Michele of That Girl in Victoria for a private tour of Victoria’s waterfront sights, Chinatown, Thunderbird Park, the Legislature, the Empress Hotel, and Butchart Gardens. You’ll ride in a Honda Odyssey van with narration, bottled water, and snacks. Garden admission costs extra.

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