Just a few of the words that have been used to describe The Butchart Gardens include “breathtaking,” “astonishing” and “peaceful.” Nestled in Brentwood Bay, it’s about a 30-minute drive from Victoria on Vancouver Island. A designated National Historic Site of Canada, over a million visitors are drawn here every year.
BOOK NOW: Seattle to Victoria Spring Sale
If you’ve never been, prepare to be wowed. Often named among North America’s best public gardens, the grounds come to life via a variety of expressions from spring through the holiday season. No matter what time of year you decide to come, we highly recommend returning to witness the beauty of the seasonal changes. There’s no such thing as too many visits to this world-class botanical garden. In fact, many locals take advantage of the 12-month pass, visiting monthly if not more often.
While you really can’t go wrong with a visit, our guide can help you plan the perfect trip from Seattle to The Butchart Gardens, allowing you to make the most of your time.
In This Guide:
- How to get there from Seattle
- History of The Gardens
- When to go
- What to see and do
- Where to eat
- Additional trip planning information
In-Depth Seasonal Guides to The Butchart Gardens
How to Get to The Butchart Gardens from Seattle
Book Now: Seattle to Victoria, BC Victoria Clipper Ferry with The Butchart Gardens Overnight Package
Book Now: Seattle to Victoria, BC Victoria Clipper Ferry Day Trip with the Butchart Gardens
Fortunately for Seattleites, this world-renowned attraction is easily accessible with a quick, easy, and scenic trip across the Salish Sea. It’s a two-hour and 45-minute ride leaving from Pier 69 in downtown Seattle on the Victoria Clipper ferry. You’ll land at the FRS Clipper terminal, right in the heart of Victoria, BC’s Inner Harbour. A mere 20 minutes later you’ll be off the Victoria Clipper, through customs, and ready to explore!
While renting a car provides the freedom to easily reach numerous attractions, you’ll have lots of options for getting to the gardens and beyond. From downtown Victoria, BC, The Butchart Gardens can also be accessed by motor coach, bicycle, or B.C. transit bus. You can find out more about your options and all the necessary details for getting to The Butchart Gardens here.
We highly recommend booking a tour with Clipper for the most seamless and cost-effective travel experience. If you’re planning to spend the night in Victoria, our Butchart Gardens overnight package will allow you to leave your luggage at our terminal or have it delivered directly to your hotel. That makes for stress-free travel, eliminating any worries so you can simply focus on enjoying your visit.
History of The Butchart Gardens
So how did it all begin? The gardens were birthed as a labor of love. Jennie Butchart aimed to recreate the natural beauty of the area on the barren site of the remains of her husband’s mined-out industrial quarry. To the Butcharts, this land was their home, which they moved to in 1904, naming the estate Benvenuto, Italian for welcome, in 1908.
As the cement plant built on the grounds exhausted the property’s limestone deposits, Jennie envisioned a lush garden in its place. She arranged for horse-drawn carts to haul in soil from nearby farms as she worked. Between 1904 and 1939, she laid out multiple formal gardens including more than 900 different plant varieties. The depleted limestone quarry became the iconic Sunken Garden and for decades she welcomed tens of thousands of visitors to marvel at her creations. But let’s take a deeper dive into the history of The Butchart Gardens which has continued to delight visitors from across the globe with its awe-inspiring blooms and unique plantings.
The Early Years
The Butcharts slowly expanded the grounds between 1906 and 1929 with the modern climate of the area allowing the gardens to flourish. The Japanese Garden by Tod Inlet was the first formal garden. With the help of a Japanese gardener, Jennie created a masterpiece with a stream and footbridges, Japanese maple trees, and stone lanterns. This is where The Gardens’ most famous flower, the Himalayan blue poppy (Meconopsis bailey) can still be found today,
As Jennie’s gardens expanded, so did the number of visitors that arrived. By 1915, the Butcharts were reportedly welcoming 18,000 and the following decade, that number increased to over 50,000. The tennis court became the Italian Garden in the 1920s and the Rose Garden, with 2,500 rose bushes in 280 different varieties, was designed around the Sunken Garden, which took nine years to complete. Inspiration was new garden designs came from international trips on which new plant varieties were procured.
Jennie’s grandson, Robert Ian Ross, received The Gardens as a 21st birthday present in 1939. Butchart heirs also put their stamp on the grounds while remaining faithful to Jennie Butchart’s vision.
A Tea House and Illumination After Dark
In 1946, Robert Ian Ross’ wife, Ann-Lee Ross, opened the Benvenuto Tea House (now known as The Dining Room), continuing the tradition of serving afternoon tea to guests that Jennie had enjoyed for decades. Robert brought in night illumination in 1953, and his son Christopher Ross introduced fireworks shows in 1977, choreographing them until his death in 2000. Robin-Lee Clarke, the current owner and the great-granddaughter of Jennie Butchart, added the Menagerie Carousel and Children’s Pavilion in 2009.
Today, The Butchart Gardens are a National Historic Site of Canada. The site is consistently rated among the world’s most beautiful garden attractions and top places to go in Canada, including by publications like USA Today, CNN Travel, Condé Nast, National Geographic, Tripadvisor, Frommer’s, and more.
When To Go to The Butchart Gardens
The Gardens are open nearly every day of the year although hours are limited during the holiday season and on Christmas Day, it will be closed. From spring through the holidays, visitors enjoy a varied display and experience, which is why so many return again and again. There’s something different to see in every season.
NOTE: please check the current opening days and hours on the official site before planning your visit.
Spring: Mid-March through May
Spring is the very best blooming season, making it the ideal time for your trip from Seattle to Victoria. This is when you can witness the hard work of the talented staff come to life. There will be thousands of flower bulbs, shrubs, and trees bursting forth from winter’s slumber. That includes cherry and plum blossoms, over 28 varieties of magnolia trees with some dating back to Jennie’s original plantings, and more than 160,000 tulips.
Spring at The Butchart Gardens is truly not to be missed!
Read More: From Greenhouse to Heirloom Blooms: Behind the Scenes at The Butchart Gardens
Summer: June through September
Summer is another fabulous time to visit the gardens with the warm glow of sunshine illuminating the grounds. Stand atop the stairs that overlook the Sunken Garden where Jennie’s vision began, gazing out at the jaw-dropping flower combinations and beautifully manicured lawns. Breathtaking by day, after dark on Wednesday to Sunday evenings, thousands of subtle lights appear. The Gardens’ Night Illumination displays turn it into an enchanting wonderland using artistic displays of light and shadows.
On Wednesday through Saturday evenings in July and August, you can also take in live performances from the Concert Lawn. The outdoor stage is tucked into the heart of The Gardens and hosts a variety of performers. If you come on a Saturday, be sure to bring a blanket or lawn chair and stick around for the world-class fireworks.
Read More: The Ultimate Guide to Summer at The Butchart Gardens
Autumn: October through November
Marvel at the striking beauty of fall with The Gardens transitioning into a stunning array of red, russet, and golden hues thanks to the Japanese maples. This is a great season to visit the Japanese Garden in tranquility, with fewer crowds and a kaleidoscope of color. The color is enhanced even more with a diverse collection of vibrant chrysanthemums and dahlas. November is particularly ideal if you want to interact with the gardeners who start planting some 300,000 bulbs for the spring gardens this month. You might even ask if you can get a behind-the-scenes look at a greenhouse.
Read More: The Ultimate Guide to Fall at The Butchart Gardens
The Christmas Holidays: December 1 through January 6
Christmas is magical with The Gardens taking on a whole new look. While it may be chilly out, it’s worth bundling up to enjoy the cheerful atmosphere. You can even sing along with traditional carolers after strolling through the Twelve Days of Christmas displays. The Coffee Shop is the perfect place to go when you want to warm up – cozy up to the fire with some gingerbread and hot chocolate.
Read More: How to Experience The Butchart Gardens’ Christmas Lights Magic
Winter: Mid-January through February
Thanks to the relatively mild climate on Vancouver Island, The Gardens can even be visited during the winter. As mentioned previously, be sure to check the official site for current opening days and hours as there are some closures during this period.
A winter visit brings the chance to immerse yourself in the subtle beauty of the shrubs, trees, and flowers. There might just be some light snowfall that leaves a dusting of powder, adding to the magic. If you get too cold, you can warm up by popping inside the former Butchart family residence, Benvenuto. While taking the chill off, learn more about the history of the gardens through curated displays of memorabilia. Or duck into the Spring Prelude, an indoor garden that provides a taste of spring with daffodils, tulips, tropical plants, and orchids.
Before long, the seasonal change will arrive, with The Gardens coming to life for another spring.
Read More: Winter at The Butchart Gardens
What to See and Do on a Tour of The Butchart Gardens
The lush 55-acre property features five main gardens, magnificent fountains, intriguing sculptures, and bubbling streams. It explodes with wave upon wave of color throughout much of the year. To help you plan your visit, here’s what you need to know about each garden and various other highlights. No matter when you come, you are bound to discover something new.
1. Sunken Garden
The iconic Sunken Garden grew out of what was once just a pile of rock and rubble. As you might recall when reading the history of The Gardens, it’s long been the highlight here. The first land reclamation project in the world, it boasts 151 flower beds while cradling an impressive assortment of flowers, trees, and shrubs.
While passing through the Waterwheel Square on your way in, stop to soak up the view and perhaps capture photos from the lookout. It’s the vantage point you’ve probably seen in numerous images. Afterward, check out the serene pond surrounded by weeping willows in the Bog Garden. Or, climb to the top of “the Mound,” a massive rock embankment rising from the center of the gardens for more spectacular views.
2. Rose Garden
Follow your nose to the heavenly-scented Rose Garden in the center of the grounds. At its peak from summer through early fall, the collection includes a remarkable 2,500 floribundas, climbers, ramblers, and hybrid tea roses. Enjoy a stroll beneath the 30 arches intertwined with large sprays of climber and rambler roses. With the dazzling beauty surrounding you, be sure to take advantage of the fabulous photo ops.
3. Japanese Garden
Step inside the grand Torii gate entrance and into the Japanese Garden, and you’ll be immersed in a natural world of peace and tranquility. This is where Himalayan blue poppies blossom in the late spring while summer is the season for azaleas and rhododendrons, and the maple trees shine with their vibrant red hues in autumn. Keep an eye out for owls – you might even see an owl taking a bath in the meandering streams.
4. Italian Garden
Once the Butchart family’s tennis court, the Italian Garden is home to not one, but two beautiful, flower-studded ponds, including the sophisticated cross-shaped pond. The star pond was originally designed for Mr. Butchart’s collection of live ornamental ducks. Chock-full of beauty, you’ll be able to marvel at 85 different varieties of plants, and 22,000 spring bulbs and biennials. This is one of our favorite spots for spring blooms. And, you can even enjoy a taste of Italy here by picking up an authentic gelato or handmade sorbetto.
5. Mediterranean Garden
Called a “testament to the temperate climate of Vancouver Island,” the Mediterranean Garden is hidden away near the parking lot. It may be small but it’s not to be missed. The array of drought-resistant and exotic plants from across the globe includes everything from electric-blue delphinium to massive-leafed banana plants and an incredibly awe-inspiring agave plant.
6. Ross Fountain
Ross Fountain is located at the far end of the Sunken Garden and deserves an entry of its own. It was installed to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the garden in 1964 by Robert Ian Ross, Jennie and Robert’s grandson who passionately devoted his life to the betterment of the Gardens. Ian was largely responsible for making it one of the most popular attractions in Victoria.
Surrounded by a rotating selection of seasonal blooms, the undulating fountain is spectacular. Catch it during The Gardens Night Illuminations displays in the summer. You’ll see it come alive with magical lighting effects dancing across its waters that rise an astounding 70 feet.
7. Tacca the Bronze Boar
You can’t leave The Butchart Gardens without stopping to say hello to Tacca, the bronze sculpture of a wild boar. Located in the heart of Waterwheel Square, Tacca is a replica of a 1620 bronze cast by Pietro Tacca displayed in the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, Italy. The family came across this legendary find during a trip to Italy in 1973. Wondering why its nose is shiny? Many visitors follow the long-held tradition that rubbing it will bring good luck. You never know, visiting The Gardens might just lead to your own good fortune! At a minimum, you’ll have plenty of postcard-perfect photos.
8. Rose Carousel
Located about midway through The Gardens, the popular Rose Carousel is a remarkable work of art where you can also give your weary feet a rest. One of the newer attractions, it was unveiled in 2009 by Robin-Lee Clark, Jennie’s great-granddaughter and the current owner. Duck inside the domed Children’s Pavilion to hop on one of the brightly painted hand-carved wooden zebras, camels, lions, horses, or chariots for a whirl. Fun for both kids and kids at heart, it’s impossible not to leave with an ear-to-ear grin. Don’t forget to say “hi” to Annabelle, the elegant bronze carousel horse located next to the carousel.
9. Totem Poles
Throughout Vancouver Island and British Columbia, travelers can find many different types of totem poles with a wide variety of carvings. The Butchart Gardens is no exception. The 30-foot-tall totem poles you’ll see rising near the Children’s Pavilion were raised to celebrate the 100th anniversary of The Gardens. They also honor the rich heritage of the First Nations people, carved on-site in classic Coast Salish traditional style by late master carver Charles Elliott of the Tsartlip First Nation.
10. Dragon Fountain
The Dragon Fountain is a fantastical bronze and granite sculpture of the universally recognized symbol of China. Added in 2015, it was a gift from Victoria’s sister city, Suzhou, and the People’s Republic in China. Greeting visitors in Waterwheel Square, the dragon represents the long-standing history The Gardens enjoys with Chinese people locally and within China. It also makes a great spot for a selfie!
Where to Eat
Need to give your feet a rest in between or after exploring everything The Gardens has to offer? Refuel at one of these stops scattered around the grounds.
1. Coffee Shop
For a quick pick-me-up, swing by the Coffee Chop to grab a salted caramel mocha, an Oh Canada latte, or your favorite caffeinated beverage. Paired with a fresh, house-made shortbread cookie, it’s sure to provide the perfect energy boost to fuel your journey through the grounds. Of course, on a warm summer’s day, you might want to go for an Italian soda with a sandwich or a salad.
2. The Dining Room Restaurant
Step into the bright and airy Dining Room Restaurant in the original residence. Overlooking the Italian Garden, you’ll get a beautiful view and a taste of what it would have been like to be a personally served guest of Jennie Butchart herself. There is a variety of fresh, locally sourced lunch and dinner entrees, but afternoon tea with house-made treats is always popular. No matter what your choice, expect a memorable white cloth experience, enjoyed in a cheery, non-pretentious atmosphere.
3. Gelateria Benvenuto in the Italian Garden
A summertime visit to The Gardens wouldn’t be complete without heading to Gelateria Benvenuto. Nestled in the Italian Garden, you can sample one or more of the 12 locally inspired flavors of ice-cold gelato. Every single flavor is unique, mouthwatering, and house-made by The Gardens’ talented culinary team. In fact, they even traveled to Italy to hone their gelato-making skills! We highly recommend the Wildflower Honey & Lavender or the wildberry gelato. Smooth, sweet, and refreshing, your taste buds are sure to be pleased no matter what your pick.
4. Blue Poppy Restaurant
Open seasonally starting in mid-April (April 15, 2024), the Blue Poppy is a cafeteria-style restaurant serving casual fare featuring fresh, seasonal ingredients. Occasionally special brunches are offered like the Mother’s Day Brunch Buffet with fresh seafood and a live band (reservations required). Whenever you dine, the best seat in the house is arguably one under a skylight where you can soak up the warm rays while gazing out The Gardens’ stunning blooms.
With several fresh floral displays that bring new life to The Gardens depending on the season, The Butchart Gardens is a great place to relax and unplug. Bring the kiddos, soak up the elaborate displays, and indulge in some quality family time. It’s sure to build magical childhood memories you’ll all be able to look back fondly upon.
Additional Trip Planning Information
What is the best way to get to The Butchart Gardens from Seattle?
With daily departures from Pier 69 in downtown Seattle, the Victoria Clipper high-speed catamaran provides a quick and scenic ride to the heart of downtown Victoria, BC – you’ll be there in just two hours and 45 minutes. It goes by fast when you’re enjoying the incredible surrounding scenery and keeping an eye out for wildlife like whales, porpoises, and seals – it’s all part of the adventure!
FRS Clipper offers a Victoria Clipper with The Butchart Gardens overnight package including a hotel stay plus a city tour and transportation to and from The Gardens (BONUS: FRS Clipper delivers your luggage directly to your hotel upon arrival in Victoria if you book this package). Alternatively, FRS Clipper also offers a Victoria Clipper with The Butchart Gardens day trip option. Either excursion can also be upgraded to include a stop at the Butterfly Gardens on your way to The Butchart Gardens. It’s another one of the most popular attractions on Vancouver Island – not only are there butterflies, but free-flying tropical birds, flamingos, iguanas, frogs, tortoises, and more.
What are the hours?
While the gardens are normally open every day, year-round, be sure to double-check the official website before your visit for the current, most accurate schedule.
What is the cost of admission?
The admission cost changes depending on the time of year with the month of November being the least expensive time to visit.
What is the best time of year to visit?
The gardens are open year-round but each season brings a new selection of gorgeous plants and flowers to see. Whether you visit The Gardens when they’re bursting with blooms in the spring, come to catch a concert or a stunning fireworks show in the summer, soak in autumnal foliage in the fall, or wander through the illuminated 12 Days of Christmas displays during the winter, there is truly no bad time to visit.
How long does it take to see it all?
To see all that The Gardens have to offer, you need at least three to four hours. Ideally, plan on a half-day or more so that you aren’t rushed. This also provides enough time to stop in for afternoon tea, lunch, dinner, or gelato (a must on a sunny, summer day).
Can I take my dog to The Butchart Gardens?
Yes, The Butchart Gardens is dog-friendly! You are required to keep Fido or Fluffy on a short leash and, of course, pick up after your furry best friend too.
Can I take photos at The Butchart Gardens?
Yes, take as many photos as you please! While tripods are allowed at The Butchart Gardens, please note that drones and selfie sticks are strictly prohibited. If your main goal is to capture outstanding photos, bring a tripod but don’t arrive too early or all the flowers won’t be open. Either way, please be mindful of others when taking photos so that it doesn’t interfere with their enjoyment.
What if it rains?
Visitors are encouraged to check the forecast and bring their own umbrellas if rain is expected. However, staff will distribute hundreds of umbrellas in both the parking lots and the grounds if it rains, so you’ll be able to borrow one to stay dry. Precipitation doesn’t detract from the beauty of The Gardens, quite the opposite as it can add to the tranquil feel.
Is storage available?
The Visitor Center will store small luggage or items for free while you explore The Butchart Gardens.
Is The Butchart Gardens Wheelchair Accessible?
Yes, The Butchart Gardens is wheelchair and scooter accessible. Wheelchairs are available free of charge with a $10 deposit and are available first come, first serve at the Visitor Centre.
Is The Butchart Gardens Baby/Toddler Friendly?
The Butchart Gardens is very child-friendly, and that includes babies and toddlers. Complimentary strollers are also available on a first-come, first-served basis at the Visitor Centre. You’ll find baby changing stations in all of the washrooms on the grounds as well.
Feature Photo: The Butchart Gardens