Frequently Asked Questions

Online advanced tickets are not required to visit The Gardens; tickets are available for purchase upon arrival at our admission gates. Online daily admission tickets for all seasons (except Christmas: December 1 – January 6) are not assigned to a specific date and time, do not guarantee admittance, and are non-refundable. Online tickets do not expire and the value of the ticket can be used towards admission for a future visit. View rates.

Yes. Our Visitor Information Centre can hold luggage and other small items free of charge while you visit The Gardens.

A leisurely walk through The Gardens typically takes 1.5 to 2 hours and covers about 1 mile (1.5 kilometres) if you stay on the main pathways. You may want to allow extra time if you plan to browse the Seed & Gift Store or enjoy one of our food service locations during your visit.

Yes. Pets are welcome to visit provided they are kept on a leash directly at your side and under control at all times. You are expected to clean up after them.

From December 1 – January 6, pets are only permitted between 8:00pm – 10:00pm.

During all other times, pets are welcome during our full operating hours.

Please review the Pet Policy for information about leash restrictions and BC Certified Guide & Service dogs.

The Butchart Gardens has distinct seasons, each with a unique offering. Visit our Seasons pages for further details.

Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

• Spring blooms: Typically, at their best from mid‑April until the first week of May. The end of March is often the peak time for Daffodils & Hyacinths and mid-April is often when the Tulips, Cherry blossoms and Dogwood trees are at their best. The Rhododendrons and Azaleas tend to peak in mid-May along with the rare Himalayan Blue Poppies which bloom from mid-May to mid-June.
• Rose Garden peak: Usually early July.
• Full summer display: From July through the end of September, The Gardens are in vibrant bloom. During July and August, you can also enjoy evening entertainment and our Saturday night fireworks.
• Autumn colours: The most spectacular fall display is generally mid‑October to the first week of November.

Please keep in mind that all of these time frames are weather‑dependent and can shift from year to year.

Complimentary push wheelchairs are available with a refundable $10 deposit, please note that our wheelchairs do not have handbrakes. Wheelchairs are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

The Butchart Gardens does not have electric mobility scooters on site to rent. If you wish to rent a mobility scooter, please contact Motion directly at 1-888-222-2172.

Yes. The Butchart Gardens is over 120 years old. Some pathways are therefore narrow, and as the gardens are built around an old limestone quarry with gardens stretching down to the shoreline, there are pathways with a steeper grade.

Paths with steeper grades are located as follows, and alternate routes are noted by signage and indicated on our visitor map:

• Between the Concert Lawn and the Rose Garden
• In the Rose Garden
• Between the Star Pond and the Japanese Garden
• Between the bus parking lot and the Seed & Gift Store
• Between the statue of Annabelle and the Rose Carousel

Restaurants, Seed & Gift Store and the Carousel are wheelchair accessible.

• Close parking is available upon request.
• Only motorized and standard wheelchairs are permitted; however, the compact-style of a four-wheeled motorized wheelchair is more suitable to our pathways.

Yes. During the month of May, some cruise‑ship excursions to The Butchart Gardens take place outside our regular operating hours. When this happens, we remain open at the request of the cruise lines.

Please note that extended hours for the Seed & Gift Store, food service locations, and the carousel depend on staff availability and may vary. Extended operating hours can change without notice. Guests can view the most up‑to‑date extended hours here: Cruise Passenger Information

Generally, between 9am until 10:30am and then after 3:30pm daily.  Once we are open later in the evenings, this is also a quieter time to visit. Fireworks Saturdays, Special Event days and the Victoria Symphony performance night are our busiest evenings in the summer.

No. We do not offer or permit guided tours of The Gardens. Your visit is a self‑guided experience, allowing you to explore at your own pace. Maps and flower guides are available to help you make the most of your time among the blooms.

Yes. All parking is free. We do not permit overnight parking. We accommodate cars, bicycles and RVs. Accessible parking for those with disabilities is also available.

If it rains – or will rain imminently! – our staff distribute hundreds of umbrellas throughout the grounds and parking lots so you can borrow one and stay dry.

We also encourage visitors to bring their own umbrellas in the event of rain.

Yes. Complimentary strollers are available on a first-come, first-served basis from the Visitor Centre.

All of the washrooms on the grounds are outfitted with baby changing stations for your convenience and there are dedicated Parent Room located across from the Washrooms by our Rose Carousel and in our visitor parking lot.

Admission restrictions apply on Firework Saturdays. 12 Month Pass holders who arrive for a daytime visit on a Firework Saturday will be charged our full admission rate, which will be fully refunded if they depart by 4:00pm. Pass holders who arrive or wish to stay after 4:00pm to view The Gardens, Evening Entertainment or the Fireworks show will be charged the full admission rate. Pass holders will be parked at the south end of the Bus Parking Lot and must enter and exit The Gardens through the Turnstiles. Please note that close parking will not be available on these days.

The show is approximately 30 minutes in length, set to music and is a combination of aerial and ground structure displays.

Readmission is not permitted on Firework Saturdays, so we suggest that you arrive in the afternoon. Entertainment will begin on our Concert Lawn stage 3 hours prior to Fireworks show time. Should you wish to visit with us the next day, when the gardens may be quieter, you can purchase a single next day readmission for an additional $5.00 tax included. You must present your original admission ticket which our staff will collect from you upon re-entry.

Exiting can take upwards of 30 minutes.

You are welcome to bring your lawn chair, and set it up in the clearly designated ‘lawn chair section’. We ask that blankets not be unfolded until after 4:00pm as they can trap heat underneath them, and damage the lawns. After 4:00pm, visitors can set out their blankets to reserve their spot and then continue on to enjoy the Gardens until closer to showtime. We have wooden benches set out on our Concert Lawn that you are welcome to use while enjoying the stage entertainment prior to the fireworks.

Outside food is allowed during your visit, however, alcoholic beverages are not permitted.

There are two picnic tables located close to our Information Centre (if you ask a staff member there, they will point them out to you). Additionally, we have several picnic tables in the green spaces of our parking lots. Picnicking on the grassy areas/lawns within the Gardens is not permitted except for the Concert Lawn and Fireworks Viewing Lawn.

As the fireworks are an outdoor event, they are subjected to the elements. Rain and wind may result in small changes to the performance, but the show will go on! We will have complimentary umbrellas and ‘bum mats’ available for visitors to use and we recommend wearing warm, waterproof clothing on these evenings.

If you are planning to watch our fireworks display on Saturday night, we strongly recommend that you do not bring your pets as they can be very frightened and distressed by fireworks. The temperature is often not cool enough during the summer months to leave your pet in your vehicle and doing so can upset other visitors whom become concerned for your pet’s safety.

Yes. Admission to The Butchart Gardens is required to access all on site dining options, including The Blue Poppy Restaurant, The Dining Room, Coffee Shop, and any other food services located within the Gardens.

No. The Blue Poppy Restaurant is a first‑come, first‑served restaurant.

Yes. When you arrive at the Admission Gate, please let the attendant know that you would like to only shop at the Seed & Gift Store. You will be charged the current admission fee which will be fully refunded when you return within ½ hour, your allotted time to shop. You will be greeted by a Gift Store staff and accompanied to and from the store.

Yes. Outside food is certainly permitted during your visit. There are some picnic tables located close to our Information Centre (if you ask a staff member, they will be able to point them out to you) year-round. Additionally, once we know that they will not damage the lawn, we add some picnic tables in the green spaces of our parking lots (usually June for the summer months).  Picnicking on the grassy areas/lawns within the Gardens is not permitted except on the Concert Lawn and Fireworks Viewing Lawn. If you should wish to enjoy a snack or light lunch such as a sandwich and an apple, you are most welcome to do so on any bench situated on property.

BBQs of any kind are not permitted.

Lost & Found is located in the Visitor Information Centre. Please turn in, collect or report any lost items to this location. If you have lost an item, please contact us at 250-652-4422 and you will be directed to our Lost & Found department.

Yes. Mobile first aid assistance is readily available and we encourage you to accept the help of our well-trained First Aid Attendants. If you experience or witness an injury, mishap or emergency, please notify any staff member immediately, report to our Visitor Information Centre, or call 250-652-4422. Our staff are well-equipped to assist you with an injury or medical incident. Band-aids, anti-nausea and other comfort medications are available for sale in the Visitor Information Centre.

Pull wagons are not permitted, however push wagons are allowed. A limited number of complimentary push carts are available for small children.

No. The entire property, including parking lots, is smoke‑free and vapour‑free.