The Butchart Gardens Review

They made our bus driver turn his engine off with 50 of us on in 28 degree weather. It heated up very quickly inside. When the driver asked to turn the engine on for the air conditioning to work they said no. Even though the bus is a certified clean idle bus. If you left a dog in the car in the hot sun you would be arrested. I guess paying customers don't matter. Thankfully, our excellent bus driver kept our bus running for us while the tour guide went in to get the tickets. The two hours that we were there, we counted 35 buses coming in with at least 50 passengers each. Seems a lot of business comes from these buses. I felt bad for our driver who had to argue and justify running our bus for our safety and comfort with one of your teenage or young adult employees. Our driver has been coming to butchart gardens for 18 plus years. Longer, I'm sure, than the employee who was quite rude with our outstanding driver. Never again will I ever visit butchart gardens and I will let everyone know about this incident

One of its kind if you are fan of flora, biggest collection I have ever seen, remember its not natural or historical site

every season is different fall had wonderful colours

Took bus #75 from Victoria to the Gardens. Super easy. Gardens are spectacular... Give yourself at least a couple of hours to walk around. Check the activities schedule as there are frequently performances of some sort in the evening. We caught a ballet troupe before heading back on the late bus. If you plan to go more than one time in a year you should buy a season ticket for $60

Beautiful garden. Should come at summer season to see the bloomed flowers.

So beautiful. A great way to spend the afternoon. A little on the pricey side.

We went to the Gardens and had their afternoon tea it was elegant and over-the-top we were so happy we bought year-round passes so that we can regularly go there for tea and tour the beautiful gardens when the weathers nicer we can bring our boat to their docks.

Wonderful time, amazing flowers. Everything was perfect

I went here on new years and it was really impressive with all the lights.

Even on a very rainy day this lovely garden does not lose any of its charms. Themed gardens and beautiful flowers make sure you take your mind off the busyness of modern lives and pay attention to the nature that surrounds us

Beautiful, well maintained garden. It has so much to explore inside. Great place to take pictures. Loved the merry go round!

A truly beautiful garden. The weather had caused some damage just before our visit so staff were busy, but still willing to talk with visitors. Some small critters spotted if you look carefully.

During the winter season, the most spectacular and beautiful thing happens... The lights come on and the wonderful clash of nature emerges and the life that lives in the Buchart gardens is almost like real magic. And the shops are full of life and the activities are bountiful. I definitely recommend you come and see for yourself.

Butchart Gardens' Christmas Lights are ABSOLUTELY worth your time and money. I recommend arriving before the rush begins at 3pm, as there will be cars lined-up for over a kilometre to get in during peak times. Come a bit early, stroll around before the crowds, enjoy a snack or a beverage, and then make the full loop once dusk arrives. Finish off with the brass band and carolers in the piazza and cup of peppermint hot cocoa.

The temperate climate means there's still lots of greenery to enjoy, even without the blooms, and the lights are simply magical, plus a carousel ride for only $2 is sure to delight little ones. Every detail has been thought of, the gardens are fully mobility-friendly, loaner umbrellas are easy to find in case of a light sprinkle, and the staff are friendly and knowledgeable.

Lovely, of course, during the main season when everything is in bloom. Simply stunning over the holidays; a must-visit!

Beautiful gardens with annuals padding out the old shrubs and trees. Lovely sculpters

The Christmas light display was very nice. They seemed to focus on creating scenes in the various areas. I was kind of disappointed that some areas were closed after 4pm.

So incredibly beautiful! Every color scheme and garden theme perfectly manicured! A must see!

The Butchart Gardens was absolutely beautiful! We had such an amazing time walking through the gardens of bloomed flowers, vibrant colours and all types of fountains! The walk through was pleasant, the staff were very friendly, the area was very well kept and clean. We had a great time and definitely recommend it!

Very beautiful location that you could spend hours walking around in! We were there when they had a fireworks display at night, which was not that great of a display. I would get their early to enjoy the gardens rather then going late to see the firework show.

Went for the winter lighting show. Stayed for dinner.it may have been the finest beef dinner ever

Incredible assortment of flora and fauna ! Definitely visit this beautiful place !

Pet friendly and beautiful gardens year-round. There are limits to where one can explore. The cost ($32/person) is the downside. Parking included and they provide excellent parking lot traffic control.

A very well maintained and thoughtfully planned garden. Simply stunning on a sunny spring day.

Simply beautiful! I was here in early June on a gorgeous 70 degree day. The grounds are simply amazing. The gardeners and landscapers do a great job. Even if you keep stopping to take a moment and smell the flowers, you can see everything in a little over two hours.

Most beautiful place in world.plan to make afternoon and night there.night lights are fantastic

I wasn't impressed as it doesn't offer very specific plants. It's a nice place as a park but it doesn't worth to spend almost $40 for nothing special.

Gardens are so good ,we got a yearly pass with one (1) fireworks night.

This is so worth a visit! Set aside a whole day to explore and enjoy.

garden is neat and tidy. offers good service of plant identification, gift shop, cafe. afternoon tea. Admission is pricy for adults but youth is 50% less than adults! large and spacious, no time limit. spacious and comfortable!! a good place to visit
would be nice if a recommended route was given, but it is fun to wander

Definitely worth visiting if you love traditional gardens. A popular tourist destination with a somewhat pricey entrance fee.

Butchart Gardens is a must see whether you are a tourist or a local. The different areas are breathtaking and ever-changing. Be sure to bring your camera and also check out the gift shop for souvenirs. There is lots of parking and the price of admission is well worth it.

As a novice gardener I could not have enjoyed this place more. It's really a must see when in Victoria. Take the time to learn the history of how the gardens came to be and it will enhance your enjoyment further. We went on the little boat ride around the bay at the end of the Japanese garden, it was relaxing and fun. We also ate in the cafeteria style restaurant, prices were surprisingly reasonable and the food was delicious.i picked up some seeds in the gift shop and am looking forward to seeing a piece of Butchart in my garden!

It was one of my best experience o Victoria island. It s worth to visit this garden.

beautiful garden with lot of floral plants. well maintained.

Well worth the visit! The gardens are well kept, and the colors were amazing. My favorite was the sunken garden. The food prices are reasonable.

Good place to visit and enjoy once in a life time you should visit

If you're into flowers, this is the place. We went an hour before sunset and there weren't many people. I've heard if you go during peak hours it's too crowded. Kind of expensive just to look at flowers, but if that floats your boat then go. The gelato was good.

Always a beautiful spot to visit. Appreciate all measures put in place due to COVID this year.

Absolutely stunning place! A must go in the winter when it's all lit up with Christmas lights. Absolutely beautiful.

The best gardens to visit by far. The fireworks are also incredible!

Holidays at the gardens is just beautiful. I would say go after dark for the full experience. They have the little ice rink up- and there is music playing in the different sections with actual singers alternating with a brass band over by the restaurants. The Twelve Days of Christmas song is staged through out the park- the 4 calling birds was hilarious- and just a lovely way to spend an evening.

I visit these phenomenal gardens every time I am in Victoria. Four times and looking forward to the next. The sunken garden is amazing, start there.

My absolute favorite place in the world! No matter the season, the gardens have lots of beauty and wonder to offer.

Wow what place so beautiful and peaceful it is a place very recommended to visit in vancouver island. The ice cream is awesome.

Quaint afternoon tea experience in a lovely setting

The most attractive rubbish bins i've ever seen. The gardens are pretty good too. A must for gardeners.

Gardens are quite amazing. Well staffed. They really buy into the tourist trap idea though. Poor food and very poor coffee for a high price.

Beautiful gardens in Victoria, BC. We visited the gardens as part of a shore excursions during our Alaskan Cruise. The amount of time alloted to us was not enough to see these amazing gardens. It is a must see for anyone visiting this area, just allow yourself time to see and enjoy everything. They also have a lovely gift shop that you will enjoy. One of the things that amazed me was the area where they are growing Dahlia's. Some of them were the size of a dinner plate. Just gorgeous!

Beautiful gardens with immense amounts of effort put in to keep the gardens in constant seasonal bloom. The lights display at Christmas is also stunning and the fireworks show in the summer is unparalleled. Annual passes are super reasonably priced. Butchart Gardens is one of my favourite places to be.

It's expensive, so make the best of out it. The best time to go would be on the spring, if you like flowers and plants and not that many tourist. Going in the summer is a bad idea: way too many tourists. On some weeknights it has concerts, which are usually music for mostly the older generation. The best time to go? Christmas! The lights are beautiful! but bundle up because of where this is at, temperatures drop. The second best time to go? Summer nights! Go after 7:00pm and while everyone is listening to the concert, go for a walk around the gardens instead

Delightful winter wonderland- never has the 12 days of Christmas shine so brightly!

I'm typically sceptical about these types of tourist attractions, but this was WAY beyond my expectations. From the moment you arrive, there is a plethora of young people there to get you in and parked. The price of admission had me wondering if I was going to regret it, but it was worth every dollar. The Christmas light display was phenomenal. It will definitely be a part of our Christmas tradition for years to come

Gorgeous gardens. You can't go to Victoria BC and hot visit this amazing place.

Beautiful place has fireworks show but doesn't have students discount

We've been here several times; we make it a point to visit Butchart Gardens whenever we are in Canada. What a magnificent place! Every visit (at least 6) to the gardens has been different, changing with the seasons. Each area has it's own special style, from the Sunken Garden to the Japanese Garden, to the Rose Garden. The sculptures, ponds, and statues are lovely as well.
There are a few different places on the grounds in which to enjoy a meal. We've always been pleased with the food. The gift shop is very nice, has a wonderful assortment of gifts and souvenirs, and the prices are reasonable.
It is such a treat to be able to visit Butchart Gardens and have it be affordable and well worth the money.

Beautifully managed garden Full of colour. The sunken garden is a delight. The fountain in the old quarry is stunning. Just a bit too popular. Excellent icecream in the Italian garden and very good gift shop.

Wonderful lights at Christmas. Make arrangements to get there early, the traffic is terrible from 3:30 onwards. The Garden's really need a better solution to the entrance gate, fee taking is far too slow! Take a hint from BC Ferries - they too have high volume times but are much quicker!

a truly beautiful place... we were able to get there at opening and pretty well avoided the crowds... by 11 it was starting to become a zoo.

This location is beautiful in every season, but my favorite time would have to be when the rose arches are in full bloom - usually late June or spring early July. It can be incredibly crowded during summer, but if you arrive on a weekday just as the gates open or right before they close, it is much quieter.

The Christmas lights are really great to see. My kids really enjoyed the skating and scavenger hunt. During the holiday be sure to get there before dark as the traffic lineups at the gate can be an hour and a half.

I was lucky enough to come to butchart gardens during rose season. You walk through rows of dufferent colors, shapes, and smells. These gardens are stunning. We stopped and got what I could consider some of the best lavander gelato I have ever had. The gardens are very busy, was shocked around quite a bit by busy tourists. Wish I had packed a picnic the grounds are superb

It is a must if you go to Victoria, nice place to visit.

This place is truly magical. A friend and I went in May when the Tulips were in bloom. I've never seen so many varieties of flowers in my life, let alone tulips. It's essentially Disneyland without all the novel fantasies. Well worth making the trek out to even if you only have a day or two on the island.

This was a nice place to visit. You could spend an entire day here; i.e., if you take your time. The garden is divided in different region (like flowers from other part of the world). I would recommend coming during the fall season (we came 2nd week of October), when the leaves changes color (of course with the exception for evergreens). If you like taking photos, then this is a great place. If you have a smart phone with a good camera feature, then you're set. I would've brought my DSLR, but I decide not to and just enjoy the scenery. This is a large garden so take you're time. Btw, the staff were quite friendly, some educated us on the different flowers/plants.

This place has the most Exquisite display of flowers and fauna that the world has ever seen. It is like the most beautiful place to stroll through. It takes about 6 hours.

Cool, but pricey and crowded. If you want wander throughout a quiet garden, this is not the place.

Easily one of the most beautiful places I have ever been. So pretty, and absolutely worth the ticket price. I would definitely go back!

The most beautiful garden I've ever seen! Wonderful place to go and we will go again. The landscape planning was very through and thoughtful.

Breathtaking views all year around, personally I prefer Christmas time, it's georgous and I've gone every year since I've moved to Victoria. It's amazing if you haven't been, you have to!

Number 1 to do when visiting Victoria BC!
Only regret I have is not coming on our first day landing in Sydney, you must have allot of time in order to experience the entire garden.
Beautiful!

Fantastic place to bring your family, girlfriend, or parents. The Christmas lights are beautiful.

If you have a couple of days in Victoria, dedicate one day to checking out the lovely Butchart Gardens...

I'm a city guy, but I was in complete awe of the overall beauty of the Gardens. Meticulously designed and maintained, the views throughout the garden are awesome. My favorite section was the Japanese Garden. You feel like your away in Japan as you stroll through. Lots of social media opportunities by the bridgers and Japanese outdoor decor.

The Sunken Garden is a close second and looking down at it from a top view is amazing. As you walk through admiring all the flowers, you'll end up at Ross fountain. This synchronized dancing fountains are tucked away into a rock corner that also is a social media favorite.

There are plenty of snack opportunities throughout the garden to keep you refreshed. There's a restaurant that I wish I had the chance to dine at. The gift shop is large and well stocked with souvenirs and of course gardening and flowering seeds and accessories. Bring some comfortable clothes and shoes as the garden is massive and you'll be walking for hours.

In summary, this is a beautiful garden to see once if given the opportunity. If you're into flowers and gardening I'm sure you'll disagree with that statement. I hope the weather is nice when you visit, and I'll see you in the city. =) Enjoy!

I went with my husband during the off-season in November. We still had a wonderful time. It must be beautiful year round. I'm hoping to go back in April! This is an unforgettable experience that you will not regret. It is worth the price of the ticket!

I've been to the gardens twice, once in the spring and once in the fall, both were unbelievably stunning. This place is truly glowing with magical colors

Absolutely amazing curation. Very well set up, with good services. It was a little overcrowded when I went at dusk in the summer

Beautiful lights during the holiday season! It was extremely fun and we plan on coming back in the future!

Beautiful place to enjoy all year round. Plus a big bonus that they allow dogs.

Family vacation and was a stop on our Alaskan cruise. Loved this place and how beautiful it was here. We celebrated my birthday by having afternoon tea. This was so amazing..the food and service!

This is one of the MUST visit place on your trip to Vancouver Island. A bit pricey but if you got nice weather it will worth every single dollar that you spent. All trip took around 3-4 hours with stops for diner and coffee.