Booking choice: The Landsea tour by bus, from $221 per person. Check dates Compare the options below
For most people the best time is late spring to summer: the beds are full, the gardens open longest and Victoria's shops stay open later. But each season has a reason to go, from the spring bulbs to the Magic of Christmas lights.
The catch is timing. Day tours from Vancouver are fixed to the ferry schedule, so the gardens' hours in your month decide whether you can see what you came for.
The quick answer
Go April to May for spring bulbs, June to August for roses and the fullest beds, October for autumn colour and lower prices, and December for the Christmas lights (3 to 9 PM, closed December 25). Summer Saturday fireworks in July and August are included with admission, but day tours leave before them. The gardens are closed January 18 to 31, 2027.
When is the best time to visit the Butchart Gardens?
Late spring to summer for the most colour and the longest hours; October for autumn colour at a lower price.
The table sets out each season's hours and adult price (CAD, from the gardens' published rates) with what to expect.
| When | Hours | Adult | What you see |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr to May 2027 | 9 AM to 5 PM | C$42.25 to C$45.60 | Spring bulbs and blossom |
| Jun 1 to Sep 15 | Wed to Sun to 10 PM; Mon and Tue to 5 PM | C$44.25 | Roses and full summer beds; Saturday fireworks Jul and Aug |
| Sep 16 to 30 | 9 AM to 5 PM | C$44.25 | Late summer colour |
| October | 9 AM to 4 PM | C$36.75 | Autumn colour, especially the Japanese Garden |
| November | 10 AM to 4:30 PM | C$28.60 | Quiet gardens, the lowest autumn price |
| Dec 1 to Jan 6 | 3 PM to 9 PM (closed Dec 25) | C$41.00 | Magic of Christmas lights |
| Jan to Mar 2027 | Jan 7 to 17 and Feb 10 AM to 4:30 PM; Mar 9 AM to 4 PM | C$25.20 to C$33.75 | Winter structure; closed Jan 18 to 31 |
Travelling this season? Check your date for the day tour with the garden ticket and ferry included.
Check dates for the Landsea tour by busIs spring a good time to go?
Yes: April and May bring the spring bulbs, and the gardens open from 9 AM to 5 PM.
Spring is also when the days lengthen and the crowds of high summer have not yet arrived. Bring layers: it can be cool and showery on the ferry deck.
What is the Butchart Gardens like in summer?
Summer is peak season: the Rose Garden peaks in early summer, the beds are full, and the gardens stay open until 10 PM from Wednesday to Sunday.
It is also the busiest time, on the ferries as well as in the gardens. Victoria-first tours reach the gardens in the late afternoon, when one reviewer found them fairly quiet and easy to walk round.
Summer visit? STAR goes to Victoria first and reaches the gardens later in the day, with two hours inside.
Explore the top-rated sea and land tourCan you see the fireworks on a day tour?
No: the fireworks are on Saturday nights in July and August, included with admission, but day tours from Vancouver leave before they start.
To see them, stay a night in Victoria. Take the coach and ferry transfer across, and get to the gardens for the evening on your own or by taxi. The gardens' events page has the dates.
Is October a good time to visit?
Yes, for autumn colour and a lower price (C$36.75 adult), but hours shrink to 9 AM to 4 PM and Victoria's shops close earlier.
One guest in September 2026 found the tour much better as a summer experience because shops closed early in the fall. On a gardens-first tour you reach the gardens well before closing; on a Victoria-first tour, check the operator's timing against the 4 PM close.
Autumn trip? Gardens-first tours reach Butchart well before the earlier closing time.
Check dates for the gardens-first day tripWhat is the Magic of Christmas at the Butchart Gardens?
From December 1 to January 6 (closed December 25) the gardens open 3 to 9 PM for the Christmas lights, at C$41.00 per adult.
Because the gardens only open in the afternoon, the standard day tours do not fit December. Operators run separate Christmas departures timed for the lights; search for those, or stay a night in Victoria and go in the evening.
Is winter worth it?
Only if you are already on the island: the gardens are open with shorter hours and lower prices, but closed January 18 to 31, 2027.
In winter the garden is about structure, evergreens and greenhouses rather than colour. If you are in Vancouver in the off-season and want a shorter day, the half-day whale watch is an alternative worth a look.
What time of day is best?
Early for fewer people if you are on your own; on a tour, the order of the day decides it.
Gardens-first tours arrive late morning, fresh; Victoria-first tours arrive in the late afternoon, which can be quieter but also leaves some guests tired. Compare the order and hours of every tour in our tour comparison.
Know your season? Book with free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
Check dates for the Landsea tour by busFrequently asked questions
What month is best for the Butchart Gardens?
For most visitors, May to July: spring bulbs give way to roses and full summer beds, and the gardens open longest.
When are the Butchart Gardens fireworks?
On Saturday nights in July and August, included with admission. Day tours from Vancouver leave before they start.
Are the Butchart Gardens open at Christmas?
Yes, from December 1 to January 6 from 3 to 9 PM for the Magic of Christmas lights, except December 25, when they are closed.
When are the Butchart Gardens closed?
On December 25 and from January 18 to 31, 2027.
Ready to book
Choose your day
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before on every option. Prices are from-prices in USD and move with the season.
Victoria & Butchart Gardens Tour by Bus
- Round-trip BC Ferries crossing through the Gulf Islands
- Admission to the Butchart Gardens (about 1.5 hours there)
- About 3 hours of free time in downtown Victoria
Victoria & Butchart Gardens Day Trip
- Round-trip BC Ferries cruise and coach transport
- Admission to the Butchart Gardens with free time
- Two hours of free time in downtown Victoria
Victoria & Butchart Gardens Sea and Land Tour
New coaches, hotel pickup and two hours in the gardens
