A Day Trip to Victoria from Vancouver with Kids: the Ferry, Butchart Gardens and the Harbour
Victoria, the capital of British Columbia, sits on Vancouver Island, and getting there is part of the fun: a 1 hour 35 minute ferry ride through the Gulf Islands. Kids get open decks, big views and, on the larger ships, an indoor play area.
The honest catch is time. Both ferry terminals are outside the cities: Tsawwassen is about an hour from downtown Vancouver by transit, and Swartz Bay is about an hour from downtown Victoria by bus. Door to door, plan on three and a half to four hours each way. It's doable in a day, especially with a car, but pick two big stops, not four. Check the official websites for sailing times and opening hours.
Vancouver to Victoria and back
An early ferry, Butchart Gardens, fish and chips, the museum and the harbour.
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Early morning
Tsawwassen ferry terminal (opens Google Maps)
Take one of the first sailings, booked ahead: reservations are strongly recommended on this route, and check-in for booked sailings closes 30 minutes before departure. Without a car, ride the Canada Line to Bridgeport and the 620 bus to the terminal.
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Morning
The ferry through the Gulf Islands
A non-stop crossing of about 1 hour 35 minutes. Go out on deck as the ship threads between the islands, then warm up inside: the big Spirit-class ships have a kids' play zone and cafeterias, though amenities vary by ship.
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Late morning
The Butchart Gardens (opens Google Maps)
Only 10 to 15 minutes' drive from Swartz Bay, so go straight there. Paths wind through the famous Sunken Garden and seasonal displays, and there's a Rose Carousel for little ones. Hours change by season; buy tickets online.
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Lunch
Fisherman's Wharf (opens Google Maps)
About 35 to 45 minutes' drive into Victoria. A floating boardwalk with colourful float homes, fish and chips and ice cream. Look for harbour seals, but don't feed them: it's banned.
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Afternoon
Royal BC Museum (opens Google Maps)
Meet Woolly the mammoth in the Natural History Gallery, walk the streets of Old Town and see a replica of the ship HMS Discovery. The Ancient Egypt exhibition runs until January 3, 2027.
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Late afternoon
Inner Harbour walk (opens Google Maps)
Stroll the harbour in front of the Parliament Buildings and watch the floatplanes land. In season, the little Victoria Harbour Ferry boats do short harbour tours; check their website for dates.
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Evening
Back to Swartz Bay (opens Google Maps)
Allow about an hour to get back to the terminal (the 70 bus takes 50 to 60 minutes from downtown), plus check-in time. Pack dinner or eat on board.
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Night
Ferry home to Tsawwassen (opens Google Maps)
Another 1 hour 35 minutes on the water, then about an hour more to downtown Vancouver. Pyjamas in the bag are a good idea.
Is it doable in a day?
Yes, if you start early and keep the list short. The travel adds up: about an hour to Tsawwassen, 30 to 60 minutes of check-in, 1 hour 35 minutes on the ferry and up to an hour from Swartz Bay into Victoria. That's roughly seven to eight hours of travel for the round trip, leaving five or six hours on the island.
- With a car: Butchart Gardens is on the way from Swartz Bay, so the plan above works. Book the vehicle reservation both ways, especially on summer weekends.
- On foot: walking on is easier to book but slower on the island. Choose either downtown Victoria (bus 70 from the terminal) or Butchart Gardens (bus 81 meets some sailings), not both.
- With toddlers: the day is long for small children. A night in Victoria makes it a much gentler trip.
- The fast option: floatplanes fly from downtown Vancouver to Victoria's Inner Harbour in about 35 minutes. It costs much more than the ferry, but it turns a long day into an easy one.
Good to know
- Book the ferry: BC Ferries strongly recommends reservations on this route. Summer weekends and long weekends fill up, and sailing waits are common without one.
- Butchart Gardens by season: autumn and winter days are shorter; from December 1 to January 6 the gardens open in the evening for Christmas lights. Check the hours for your date.
- Rainy day? The Royal BC Museum is the best indoor stop; the museum is open daily except December 25 and January 1.
- Car sickness: the crossing is usually smooth, but sit in the middle of the ship and look out the window if anyone feels queasy.
Make it a game
A Play Your Trip book turns your ferry day into an adventure: every stop a quest with a coin to collect, every place one tap from the map. Make your Vancouver book or play the demo.
Questions
How long is the ferry from Vancouver to Victoria?
The BC Ferries crossing from Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay takes about 1 hour 35 minutes. Add about an hour to reach Tsawwassen from downtown Vancouver and up to an hour from Swartz Bay to downtown Victoria.
Is Victoria worth a day trip from Vancouver with kids?
Yes for school-age kids who enjoy the ferry, if you start early and pick two main stops, such as Butchart Gardens and the Royal BC Museum. With toddlers, an overnight stay is easier.
Do I need to book BC Ferries to Victoria?
Reservations are strongly recommended on the Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay route, especially with a car on summer weekends and holidays. Travelling on foot avoids most vehicle sailing waits, but arrive early either way.
Can you do Butchart Gardens and downtown Victoria in one day?
With a car, yes: the gardens are 10 to 15 minutes from Swartz Bay and 35 to 45 minutes from downtown Victoria. On foot by bus, it's tight, so pick one.