🇨🇦 Victoria Day Trip｜A Quick Guide to Vancouver Island

A simple travel log for a day trip to Victoria from Vancouver! We chose to travel without a car and used buses on the island. Bus rides are relatively long — about 1 to 1.5 hours between attractions. Took the 9:00 am ferry there and the last one back at 9:00 pm. ⛴️ Ferry from Tsawwassen to Victoria Parked at the terminal lot — both long-term and short-term available. Daily rate: $20. 🚎 On the island, you can buy a one-day bus pass 🎫 for $5 directly on the bus (exact change required!). We took Bus #81 first to Butchart Gardens — less crowded and more relaxed. 📲 Recommend downloading the Transit App to track bus times. Some buses run only once an hour, so plan ahead! ⛲️ Butchart Gardens About 1 hour from Swartz Bay Ferry Terminal. Tickets can be purchased at the entrance. The garden has multiple themed sections — all stunning! 📸 Don’t miss the hidden spot in the Japanese Garden ☕ Try the pastries at the entrance café — highly recommend the Cheese Scone and Tomato Cheese Tart! 🏰 Hatley Castle Located at Royal Roads University. About 1.5 hours by bus from Butchart Gardens. We didn’t go inside, but the exterior and seaside views are extremely photogenic! There’s also a small garden nearby worth exploring. 🍱 Ene Raw Food and Sake Bar A Japanese restaurant in downtown, close to Chinatown. Every dish was delicious and generously portioned — highly recommended! 🍶 Try the Lychee Sake Spritz! Opens at 3:00 pm, with happy hour from 3:00–5:00. 🏢 Legislative Assembly of BC (Parliament Building) We arrived too late in the afternoon to enter — guided and self-guided tours are only available from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. 🎣 Fisherman’s Wharf A charming fishing pier with snack shops and colorful private houses on the water. You can also take a water taxi here! #Victoria #CanadaTravel #DayTrip #VancouverIsland #TravelGuide 🌸📸🚌