Victoria sits on Vancouver Island, across the Strait of Georgia. It's a city with a distinctly British feel, with the provincial Parliament Buildings right on the waterfront, the Empress Hotel, and one of the most famous gardens on the planet, Butchart Gardens.
A day trip is entirely doable, but it takes planning: the crossing is the factor that shapes your entire day.
The three ways to get there
The BC Ferries route departs from Tsawwassen, about 45 minutes south of Vancouver, and arrives at Swartz Bay, another 30 minutes from Victoria. The crossing takes 1h35 and is beautiful, weaving between the Gulf Islands. Counting travel to and from the terminals plus boarding, budget 3 to 3.5 hours each way.
The floatplane departs from Vancouver's harbour and lands in Victoria's harbour in 35 minutes. It's pricey, but it's an experience in itself — and it saves nearly five hours overall.
The third option is a private tour with the vehicle loaded onto the ferry: you have a car on the other side, cover the whole route with a guide, and don't depend on public transit on the island.
- BC Ferries: 1h35 crossing, plus travel time
- Floatplane: 35 minutes, harbour to harbour
- Private tour with vehicle loaded onto the ferry
Butchart Gardens: how much time to allow
Butchart Gardens sits in Brentwood Bay, between the ferry terminal and downtown Victoria — which makes it the natural first stop of the day. It's 22 hectares built over a former limestone quarry, divided into the Sunken Garden, the Japanese Garden, the Italian Garden and the Rose Garden.
Allow at least two hours. In spring and summer, with everything in bloom, three hours fly by. From June to September there are musical performances and fireworks on Saturday nights.
What to see in downtown Victoria
The Inner Harbour holds almost everything: the Parliament Buildings, lit by thousands of lights at night, the Fairmont Empress and its afternoon tea tradition, the Royal BC Museum, and a waterfront full of street performers.
If you have time to spare, walk to Fisherman's Wharf, with its colourful floating houses and fish-and-chips stalls, or to Canada's oldest Chinatown and Fan Tan Alley.
- British Columbia Parliament Buildings
- Fairmont Empress and afternoon tea
- Royal BC Museum
- Fisherman's Wharf
- Chinatown and Fan Tan Alley
A one-day itinerary that works
Leave Vancouver around 7 am, catch the 9 am ferry, arrive at Swartz Bay by 10:35 am. Butchart Gardens from 11 am to 1:30 pm, lunch on the island, downtown Victoria from 2:30 to 5:30 pm, and the ferry back at 7 pm, arriving in Vancouver around 9:30 pm.
It sounds long because it is. This is the most tiring full-day tour in our lineup — and also one of the most praised. With young children, consider staying one night in Victoria.
Practical tips
Book your ferry ticket with a reserved time slot in peak season; without a reservation, it's first-come, first-served and you can miss your sailing. Bring a jacket: even in summer, the deck is windy.
Orca whales appear frequently along the crossing between May and October. Stay on the upper deck for the first 30 minutes — that's the stretch with the most sightings.
FAQ
- Can you see Victoria in one day?
- Yes, including Butchart Gardens and the Inner Harbour, as long as you leave Vancouver early and return on the evening ferry. It's a 10- to 12-hour day.
- Do I need to reserve the ferry?
- In peak season, yes. Without a reservation, boarding is first-come, first-served, and the most popular sailings tend to fill up.
- Is Butchart Gardens worth it in winter?
- Yes, in a different way: there are fewer flowers, but from December onward the garden is decorated and lit up for Christmas, with an outdoor skating rink.
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