The Butchart Gardens is the most famous sight on Vancouver Island and one of the great show gardens of the world. It sits in Brentwood Bay on the Saanich Peninsula, a drive of roughly half an hour north of downtown Victoria, and it began in the early 1900s when the Butchart family set about turning the exhausted limestone quarry beside their cement works into a garden. The result, now more than 120 years old, is the Sunken Garden, a lush bowl of lawns, flower beds and trees laid into the old quarry floor and viewed from a lookout above, followed by a loop of themed gardens that runs down to the shoreline of Butchart Cove: a Rose Garden, a Japanese Garden, an Italian Garden and a Mediterranean Garden among them. The gardens are still family owned and are open every day of the year. November is the quiet season between the autumn colour and the Christmas lights, with fewer crowds and the fall foliage in the Japanese Garden, while from 1 December to 6 January the Magic of Christmas fills the paths with lights and festive displays. This page links to The Butchart Gardens on Tiqets, rated 5.0 by visitors.
Tickets and hours: from 1 November 2026 the gardens open at 10am, and throughout November the admission gates are open from 10am to 4:30pm. Regular online day tickets outside the Christmas season are not tied to a date or time, do not expire and are non-refundable, so you can buy ahead and go when the weather looks best. For the Magic of Christmas season, from 1 December to 6 January, booking a timed entrance ticket in advance is strongly recommended though not required, and on busy evenings guests without one may be asked to come back later. Arrive within ten minutes either side of your ticket time.
Food and getting there: you need garden admission to eat at any of the on-site food outlets, which include The Dining Room, the Blue Poppy Restaurant, a coffee shop and a gelateria. The Blue Poppy does not take reservations, while a Dining Room reservation can stand in for a timed Christmas ticket. Visitors arriving by BC Transit do not need timed tickets, and shuttle tours run from downtown Victoria, though most people drive or take a tour; the Victoria Butterfly Gardens is a few minutes down the same road and pairs well.
Access and pets: complimentary push wheelchairs are available for a refundable deposit, some paths are steep or narrow with signed alternate routes, and the restaurants, gift store and carousel are accessible. Close parking can be arranged on request. Leashed pets are welcome during regular hours, but from 1 December to 6 January they are only allowed in the late evening, from 8:30pm to 10pm.
What to expect
The experience
A self-guided walk along paved paths through the Sunken Garden and a chain of themed gardens down to Butchart Cove, with restaurants, a gift store and a carousel on site.
Best time
A dry weekday morning in November for quiet paths and autumn colour, or a December evening for the Magic of Christmas lights.
How long
Allow two to three hours for the full loop, longer with a meal in The Dining Room or the Blue Poppy.
Tips
Buy your day ticket ahead, book a timed ticket for December evenings, and wear shoes you can walk in on wet paths.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Every first-time visitor to Victoria, gardeners, photographers and anyone who wants the island's signature experience.
- Families
- Children enjoy the carousel, the gelateria and the Christmas displays, and the paths are easy for strollers and wheelchairs.
- Couples
- Go late on a December evening under the lights, or book dinner in The Dining Room in the old Butchart family home.
- Pair with
- The Victoria Butterfly Gardens a few minutes away, then dinner back on the Inner Harbour.
- Time needed
- Half a day including the drive from downtown Victoria.
Good questions
What are The Butchart Gardens hours in November?+
From 1 November 2026 the gardens open at 10am, and admission gates are open from 10am to 4:30pm throughout November. The gardens are open every day of the year.
Do you need a timed ticket for The Butchart Gardens?+
Not outside the Christmas season, when online day tickets are not tied to a date or time and do not expire. For the Magic of Christmas, from 1 December to 6 January, a timed ticket is strongly recommended.
How far are The Butchart Gardens from downtown Victoria?+
The gardens are in Brentwood Bay on the Saanich Peninsula, roughly half an hour north by car. You can also go by BC Transit or on a shuttle or tour from downtown.
Can you eat at The Butchart Gardens without a ticket?+
No, garden admission is required for every food outlet, including The Dining Room and the Blue Poppy Restaurant. The Blue Poppy is first come, first served.
Are dogs allowed at The Butchart Gardens?+
Yes, leashed pets under control are welcome during regular hours. From 1 December to 6 January they are allowed only from 8:30pm to 10pm.
