The Butchart Gardens Express Shuttle from Downtown Victoria
Victoria, Canada
+1
- 3 to 5 hours (approx.)
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Butchart Gardens is one of Victoria's most popular attractions—but if you don't have your own transit, getting there from the city center can be tricky. Instead, make logistics simple with this round-trip shuttle service. With multiple daily departure times and transit from a central meeting point, you can leave the logistics to someone else—and save more time for a self-led, sweet-smelling stroll through the 55-acre (22.2-hectare) garden (admission own expense).
- Travel in comfort and ease aboard a spacious shuttle bus
- Leave all the logistics and navigation to someone else
- This transit service is a great option for independent-minded travelers
- A number of departure times are available to fit your schedule
What's Included
- Only Transportation
- Air-conditioned vehicle
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- Gray Line Sightseeing Victoria721 Government St, Victoria, BC V8W 1W5, Canada
Please proceed to the Sightseeing Victoria Kiosk, on the sidewalk in front of the Fairmont Empress hotel. Please check in 15 minutes prior to your tour start time.
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.Itinerary
This Butchart Gardens express shuttle offers convenient transport to and from the attraction.
At your chosen time, meet your shuttle bus in the city center, right near the Fairmont Empress hotel. Once you board your vehicle, settle in for the ride, which takes about 35 minutes from downtown Victoria without major traffic delays. You also have the option of pre-booking admission tickets when you board for an even smoother visiting experience.
Alternatively, once at Butchart Gardens, pay for your admission tickets and head inside. You'll have ample time to explore at your own pace, and admire the wide range of plantings and attractions on view, before it’s time for your ride back to downtown Victoria.
Drop-off is at the same spot you were picked up from originally.
At your chosen time, meet your shuttle bus in the city center, right near the Fairmont Empress hotel. Once you board your vehicle, settle in for the ride, which takes about 35 minutes from downtown Victoria without major traffic delays. You also have the option of pre-booking admission tickets when you board for an even smoother visiting experience.
Alternatively, once at Butchart Gardens, pay for your admission tickets and head inside. You'll have ample time to explore at your own pace, and admire the wide range of plantings and attractions on view, before it’s time for your ride back to downtown Victoria.
Drop-off is at the same spot you were picked up from originally.
1
The Butchart Gardens
3 hours • Admission Ticket Not Included
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Butchart Gardens offers wheelchair hire for a fully refundable $10 deposit. If a passenger is in their own collapsible wheelchair, but not completely confined to it and are able to board the bus unassisted, the chair can be stored as luggage. If a passenger is confined to a wheelchair, please advise at time of booking and wheelchair access will be requested.
- Wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Infants must sit on laps
- Transportation is wheelchair accessible
- Surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Most travelers can participate
- This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
4.5
based on 696 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
Don't book a shuttle to the Butchart gardens too late. I booked mine to go to the gardens at 4PM and return around 8PM, on the Viator website. When I got to the bus to go it was not identified. No driver was on it before departure time. I found out from the Grayline staff nearby that the last DEPARTURE from the gardens would be at 5PM. In other words I'd have about 10 minutes at the gardens!!! Viator should not let you book returns time that aren't real. I ended up taking the local bus back. Next time I'll skip the shuttle and take the local bus both ways.
Beautiful location! Wonderful color of the flowers. Friendly staff. Very enjoyable experience. Bs driver and guide were excellent!
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thank you for your feedback! Hope to see you again next time.
Great way to get to the gardens!
Friendly driver who told us more about the surrounding area. Fast and easy!
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thank you for your feedback! Hope to see you again next time.
I recommend this bus ride out to Butchart Gardens. The drivers both directions gave a very informative tour talk on the way oh my gosh there and the way back. Information you wouldn’t get if you drove out on your own or took a taxi. We went thru the original town, thru China town and down street we would not have gone had we not taken this bus tour to Butchart Gardens. I loved it because then when you get to the garden, you are on your own to travel thru the gardens at your own pace. You can stay as long as you like and catch the bus back on the hour every hour up until 6:00pm then it is 8pm or 10pm. The most spectacular gardens I have ever been to. It is a must see, memorable experience. Let someone else do the driving and sit back and relax. Also, on the upper deck if you can be lucky enough to get up there first, sit in the front 4 seats. Best view of your surroundings.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Thank you so much for the detailed review and recommendation! We’re thrilled you enjoyed Your trip to the Gardens.
Great ride to and from the gardens. Our driver had a lot of great information that he shared with us on our ride there.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Thank you for your review! We’re glad you enjoyed the ride and found our driver’s information helpful. We hope you had a wonderful time at the gardens!
Check in was easy peasy. Great directions for return also. Only one suggestion: It would have good to have a heads up about the butterfly sanctuary so we had time to decide to get off the bus and then return to the next bus to go the rest of the way to Bushart Gardens.
Very fun, lots of pretty flowers, and fountains to look at. Very unique flowers, the bus ride to the place was fun. The food was great too. The kids also enjoyed the big chess there. The sunken garden was my favorite. the boat tour on the Butchart was FANTASTIC.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Thank you for the wonderful review! We’re so glad you enjoyed your trip to the Gardens.
The gardens were beautiful, but the shuttle experience was horrible!!!! The gardens were open until 10:00 and I booked a 4:00 shuttle to the gardens. I even called to confirm that there would be a return shuttle and was told yes, they would keep running until the gardens closed. When we arrived at the Grayline kiosk, we were told that their last bus left the gardens at 5:00 and we would have to get our on transportation back!!! So in addition to the $44 round trip tickets that I had paid Viator, I had to pay more money for the one hour trip back to Victoria!! Needless to say, I will never use Viator again!!
We used Viator to secure transportation to the Butchart Gardens in downtown Victoria. We walked up from our cruise ship (about 30 minutes via Dallas St. then Government St.--well worth it, as you walk by Emily Carr's childhood home). We also bought Butchart Gardens tickets online and saved a BUNCH of money from the cruise ship excursion price. Our big beautiful bus was driven by a great and informative driver. We had a magical night out at the gardens.
Driver is also a tour guide, giving out tidbits about the surrounding area. Double decker bus. Can sit all the way up front on the second floor. Kinda fun.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Thank you so much for taking the time to leave us such a kind review!
It’s a long ride, but the Shuttle driver provided info about Victoria, as well as about the gardens.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Thank you for your kind review! we are happy to hear that the driver made the experience more enjoyable for you.
The experience with booking was easy and efficient. The only reason it is not perfect marks is the Viator rep did not tell me that the cost did not include admission to the gardens as well. We found out from the tour operator when boarding the shuttle. They said lots of people are tripped up with viator descriptions.
Could have purchased a package 5 dollars less that would have included both.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience! I’m so glad you enjoyed your tour. We’re very fortunate to have such knowledgeable drivers who genuinely love what they do! We hope to see you onboard again in the future.
The ticket is not included in the price quoted but must be purchased separately. This is buried in the tour operator’s boiler plate but not readily obvious. The bus was nice and the driver/ guide very knowledgeable and friendly. The buses run on time.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. Our shuttle is a narrated tour from downtown Victoria to The Butchart Gardens. For a quick and convenient entrance to the Gardens, we always offer guests the option to purchase their admission tickets before departing on our shuttle. We appreciate you sharing your feedback with us.
Very easy to book online and a lot cheaper than booking on the cruise ship. Easy to find the check- in, commentary by the driver in both directions. The return bus leaves Butchart Gardens on the hour so you can spend as long as you like without the time pressure of an organised trip
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Thank you so much for sharing your experience! We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed our tour and your time in Victoria. The Butchart Gardens is a wonderful way to spend a day in Victoria, and it’s especially beautiful this time of year. We hope to welcome you back again soon!
The bus driver was one of the bet tour guides I’ve ever had, clear, interesting funny and delightful.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Thank you so much for sharing your experience! We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed our tour and your time in Victoria. Our drivers are truly tour guides at heart and absolutely love what they do. We’re so fortunate to have such passionate and knowledgeable members on our team!
The Butchart Gardens is a wonderful way to spend a day in Victoria, and it’s especially beautiful this time of year. We hope to welcome you back again soon!
Very nice shuttle to the gardens! Our tour guide was excellent and of course the gardens were SPECTACULAR!
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Thank you for your Kind review!
Knowledgeable Driver gave overview of landmarks in Victoria on the way to the Gardens. Nice surprise.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Thank you for your review! Hope to see you next time!
Very easy and delightful! The bus ride was very comfortable too. The gardens were absolutely amazing!
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Thank you for your review! Hope to see you next time!
Our Bus driver Rob was excellent. He shared his knowledge to and from the garden. The gardens are beautiful, well worth the time and expense.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Thank you for your review! Hope to see you next time!
We were greeted with friendly faces when we checked in for our ticket. The double decker bus was fun for all, we particularly enjoyed being up top, (arrive early if you want the front seat)
Our driver was friendly and knowledgeable and gave lots of tidbits of info on the drive to the gardens.. We took the 7pm ride on Saturday and enjoyed the gardens at dusk, live music and fireworks -bring a blanket for fireworks (or buy a basic one there for $17) and claim your spot in the lawn as soon as you arrive. Enjoy!!
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Thank you for your review! Hope to see you next time!
Package offered an affordable, worry-free and very convenient means of round-trip transport from downtown Victoria to the gardens.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Thank you for your wonderful review!
I was reluctant to book this since I could take a city bus for a few bucks….but I’m so glad I did! The service was really good — on time, safe, efficient, and informative. It was worth the cost!!
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Thank you for your kind review! We're delighted to hear you had a great experience !
Nice buses, and the drivers give you a tour to and from the Gardens. Nice easy way to get their and back
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Thank you for your wonderful review! We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed your Tour.
Look for the red umbrellas instead of a kiosk when looking for your meeting spot. The ride to and from the gardens is smooth and informative. Both drivers were friendly, polite and informative. Gardens are gorgeous!
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Thank you for talking the time to leave us such a kind review! we are so glad to hear you enjoyed your trip to the Gardens.
It’s a beautiful place! Definitely worth a visit! The staff was friendly and the flowers were gorgeous. Great options for lunch and a nice gift shop.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Thank you for your Kind review! We're delighted to hear that you had such a great experience exploring Victoria with us!
Very informative/educational guide. Learned so much about Victoria! Comfortable motor coach. Worth the $.
Easy check in at the red umbrella kiosks in front of the Empress Hotel. Do not follow map directions. Follow written directions to meet up location. Enjoyable drives to and from Butchart Gardens.
This shuttle to Butchart Gardens was excellent from start to finish. The vehicle was very clean and nicely air conditioned — a welcome comfort on a warm day. The driver and attendants were kind and genuinely informative, sharing great context along the way. And then there’s the destination itself: Butchart Gardens is spectacular. If you can only visit one place, make it this one — it’s an absolute must-see!
Convenient transportation to and from the Gardens. Bus was comfortable and ride pleasant. Enjoyed the driver commentaries both ways.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your experience! Were Gald you enjoyed your tour!
My 2 tickets were for the shuttle to the garden at 4:00pm. I checked in as directed at 3:05pm. I was told there would be no shuttle to the garden at 4:00pm because the trip takes 45 minutes and the garden closes at 5:00pm. I was told by Grayline employees that I should contact Viator for a refund. I have the booking and the ticket reference number. But I cannot find an option to request a refund. Viator sold tickets to a nonexistent shuttle. VERY UNHAPPY WITH VIATOR!
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you for sharing your feedback. We truly value hearing from our guests.
Could you please contact us directly at info@sightseeingvictoria.com? I'd like to look into your reservation and better understand what happened.
For reference, our Butchart Gardens Shuttle operates with hourly departures Monday through Wednesday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., with extended operating hours Thursday through Sunday. We sell our final downtown departure at 3:00 p.m. (Monday to Wednesday) to ensure guests have plenty of time to enjoy their visit to the beautiful Butchart Gardens before returning to Victoria.
From $45.72
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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The Butchart Gardens Express Shuttle from Downtown Victoria
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