Want to visit two of the most sought-after attractions for anyone traveling to Vancouver? Want to see Victoria and Butchart Gardens but not sure how to get there?
First things first: Victoria and Butchart Gardens aren't just "around the corner." It's quite common for travelers to contact me at 11am saying "I'd like to visit Butchart Gardens today" — and that goes for people from all over the world, even Canadians from Toronto, Montreal, and Quebec. A lot of people assume "everything's close by"... but it isn't. This trip takes roughly ten hours, so plan ahead and set aside the whole day.
Where is Victoria
Both Butchart Gardens and the city of Victoria (the capital of British Columbia) are located on Vancouver Island. Be careful not to confuse "Vancouver" with "Vancouver Island" — they're different places!
The city of Vancouver, where I live and where Vancouver by Locals is based, sits on the mainland, along the Pacific Ocean. Vancouver Island, on the other hand, sits about 60 km off the coast and stretches roughly 460 km long by 100 km wide. Victoria is located at the southern tip of the island, about 75 km southwest of the mainland.
The garden city
Victoria is the capital of the province of British Columbia, founded in 1843 as a fort for the Hudson's Bay fur trading company. It's a quiet city, with fewer than 1 million residents, known as the "Garden City." The climate is mild year-round — while the rest of Canada is out playing hockey on frozen lakes, in Victoria soccer is played all year on lush green fields, kept that way by an almost-daily drizzle the plants are grateful for.
Spring arrives early, and there's a local tradition of counting how many flowers bloom in the city each year — an event taken quite seriously by residents, with totals tallied and announced on local radio stations. In one record year, the count topped 4 billion blooms.
Victoria is also known for the whales, dolphins, and seals that live in its calm waters — whale-watching tours are quite famous in the region.
A bit of history
Victoria was first settled by Indigenous peoples, including the Songhees and Esquimalt, part of the Coast Salish nation. They lived in cedar longhouses, fished for salmon, and hunted sea lions.
The first European to reach the region was Captain James Cook, in 1778. In 1842, fur trader James Douglas — a leader of the Hudson's Bay Company — arrived in the area, and in 1843 built Fort Victoria, named in honor of Queen Victoria.
In 1858, the gold rush brought thousands of people to the region, causing the fort to grow rapidly. In 1862, Victoria was officially declared a city, with Thomas Harris as its first mayor. In 1871, British Columbia joined Canada, with Victoria as the provincial capital — today the oldest city on Canada's west coast.
What to see in downtown Victoria
Three buildings, located close to one another, make up the must-see photo spots for anyone visiting Victoria:
- The Parliament Buildings — built between 1893 and 1897, with copper domes and a beautiful outline of lights at night
- The Royal British Columbia Museum
- The Fairmont Empress Hotel — famous for its architecture, illustrious guests, and traditional afternoon tea
How to get to Victoria
The connection between Vancouver and Vancouver Island is made by sea or by air. Here are the main options:
By ferry (BC Ferries) — the most popular option. You can travel as a foot passenger (bicycles welcome), by motorcycle, by car, or by bus departing directly from Vancouver's bus terminal. Prices vary by category and change frequently — it's worth checking current rates directly on the BC Ferries website before planning.
By bus tour — several companies in Vancouver offer day trips to Victoria and Butchart Gardens. Worth keeping in mind: most guides speak only English, the pace tends to be rushed, and it's not uncommon to hear from those who've done it that they "came back exhausted."
By private transport — with a dedicated car and driver just for you and your group, picked up from your hotel with personalized attention throughout the entire tour. This is the service we offer at Vancouver by Locals — get in touch and I'll put together a quote based on group size, day of the week, and time of year.
By seaplane — a fast option (about 25 minutes) that flies straight from downtown Vancouver to downtown Victoria. For clients with a bit more budget, I often put together a combined itinerary: we drive to Butchart Gardens, explore downtown Victoria, and at the end of the day the passengers fly back by seaplane while I drive back on my own — that way you gain almost 3 extra hours of touring.
What the ferry crossing is like
For the curious: BC Ferries vessels can carry thousands of passengers and hundreds of vehicles, and the crossing takes about 90 minutes. On board there's a buffet restaurant, cafes, a lounge (paid access), a gift shop with First Nations crafts, comfortable seating areas, a kids' play area, and even workstations where you can charge your phone and get some work done. Keep an eye out the window — it's common to spot whales during the crossing.
When you visit our region, get in touch and take the tour with someone who speaks your language, understands what you're looking for, and knows the region like the back of her hand — because we're locals! Hence the name: Vancouver by Locals.
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