The Butchart Gardens Express Shuttle from Downtown Victoria
Victoria, Canada
- 3 to 5 hours (approx.)
- Offered in: English
Why travelers loved this
·
Explore our promoted experiences
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
Supplied by
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 714 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
Nice bus and well informed driver. She made the 40 minute drive interesting with stories about prominent Victorians over the years.
Very easy to find where to get on and off and meet again to return. Convenient to also buy tickets to the Garden from the kiosk so you don’t have to wait in line at the Garden. Also nice to receive a 45 minute narrated tour there and back. Buses leave on the hour.
Amazing Express shuttle. Such a better option than the pricey cruise excursion. Loved our darling driver and tour guide on the bus. Such a great value. I love that we were on our own and catch shuttle as we desired What a great day.
The meeting place for the ticket redemption point indicated in the instructions page of Viator is quite confusing for new travellers not familiar to the place. There’s really no kiosk when you arrive early. However, it was a comfortable trip overall.
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thank you for sharing your feedback!
The bus driver Sara gave all sorts of historical info about the area-she was great. The gardens were spectacular. The only issue was that the instructions told us to go to an address across the street in the back of the Empress Hotel to redeem our tickets and there was no one there. We went out to the front of the hotel where the bus was and they scanned us there without issue. Maybe the instructions need to be updated (for those of us that follow instructions!)
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thank you Sharing your feedback We are very glad to hear you enjoyed the tour and we hope to see you again!
Confusion and lack of communication re. Pickup/Checkin shuttle instructions to Butchart Gardens. We were told to arrive 15 min early at Kiosks by The Empress for checkin. No Kiosks were setup and left unsure if this was correct location. Waited on sidewalk. Around 9am a bus without ID for Greyline arrived. Through word of mouth from other people standing .”around was told that bus would check us in for the Gardens and transport. The checkin person said oh, the Kiosks would be setup later whenever the ladies arrived.
Shuttle narrator on trip to Gardens was well informed, but the local history would have been easier to understand and enjoy if more conscientious with a pause between topics.
Bus Driver and trip narrator were polite.
Would tell others trip was ok but above issues.
The double-decker bus to/from Butchart Gardens couldn't have been easier! Pickup/drop off is directly in front of the Empress Hotel. The drivers are informative and funny. Definitely recommend this. We took a 10-minute shuttle from the cruise terminal that dropped off about 1.5 blocks from this pickup point. It gives flexibility to stay as long (or as little) as you want at the gardens.
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thank you for your kind review !
Beautiful gardens, comfortable and informative trip to and from. Be aware that this is TRANSPORTATION ONLY. I was caught by surprise that I had to purchase an expensive admission ticket when ai got there. Still wonderful but I would like to have known ahead.
Wonderful experience and our bus driver was very entertaining and provided great information/history on Victoria.
try to get the earliest shuttle possible in order to spend as much time in the gardens as you can.
you can spend at least 3 to 4 hours in this beautiful place.
the shuttle up to the garden is in a very comfortable bus and our driver was well informed about the history of every highlight along the route.
Rob, our tour bus driver, was really knowledgeable and thoroughly entertaining! Be sure to get a seat on the top deck.
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback its greatly appreciated! I will pass along your kind words to Rob.
It’s a good way to get to the gardens, from Victoria , if you don’t have access to a car. The buses run hourly, and you can get any time be back, you’re not -restricted to a return time. My ticket was just for the shuttle as I’d already purchased a ticket for the gardens online. Alternatively you can buy a ticket on the bus or presumably at the gate. The drivers gave a tour guide commentary during the drives.
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thank you for your review! We’re glad you enjoyed the ride out to the gardens.
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!
Member Pricing
From
$42.89
per personWas $45.15(-5%)
up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
Compare Similar Experiences
Current
Member Pricing
The Butchart Gardens Express Shuttle from Downtown Victoria
714
3 hours
Free Cancellation
From
$45.15
$42.89
5% savings
Customers Who Bought This Tour Also Bought
Attractions in Victoria, Canada
- Royal British Columbia Museum Tours & Tickets
- Craigdarroch Castle Tours & Tickets
- Gulf Islands Tours & Tickets
- Fisherman's Wharf Tours & Tickets
- Fort Rodd Hill and Fisgard Lighthouse National Historic Sites Tours & Tickets
- Old Town Victoria Tours & Tickets
- Mt. Tolmie Park Tours & Tickets
- Emily Carr House Tours & Tickets
- Victoria Butterfly Gardens Tours & Tickets
- Butchart Gardens Tours & Tickets
- Gulf Islands National Park Reserve Tours & Tickets
- Victoria Bug Zoo Tours & Tickets
- Government Street Tours & Tickets
- British Columbia Parliament Buildings Tours & Tickets
- Sidney (Sidney-by-the-Sea) Tours & Tickets
More attractions near Victoria, Canada