Best Day Trips from Victoria, BC in 2026 (Including Car-Free Options)

Victoria, BC is one of Canada's most beautiful cities — but some of the best experiences in the region are just a short ferry ride, bus journey, or seaplane flight away. Whether you're a local looking for a weekend escape or a visitor eager to explore beyond the Inner Harbour, the area surrounding Victoria offers some truly world-class day trip destinations.

Here are the best day trips from Victoria, BC in 2026 — with special attention to Salt Spring Island, which tops the list for good reason.

1. Salt Spring Island — The Best Day Trip from Victoria, BC

If you only do one day trip from Victoria, make it Salt Spring Island. Just 35 minutes by ferry from Swartz Bay (or 20 minutes by seaplane), Salt Spring Island is the largest of the Southern Gulf Islands and a place unlike anywhere else in Canada.

Known for its thriving arts scene, artisan food and drink producers, stunning natural landscapes, and laid-back pace of life, Salt Spring Island is the kind of place that makes you wish you'd booked longer.

Why Salt Spring Island Makes the Perfect Day Trip from Victoria

• Easy to reach without a car — walk on the ferry as a foot passenger and you're there in 35 minutes
• Tons to do in a single day — the Saturday Market, artisan cheese, craft beer, lavender farms, wineries, and cider houses
• The Hop On Hop Off Artisan Trail Tour — the best possible way to experience the island's highlights in one day

How to Get to Salt Spring Island from Victoria for a Day Trip

By ferry (recommended): Take BC Transit Bus 70 or 72 from downtown Victoria (Douglas St. & Pandora Ave.) to Swartz Bay Ferry Terminal — about one hour. Board BC Ferries as a foot passenger to Fulford Harbour (35 minutes). BC Transit then connects Fulford Harbour to Ganges Village in about 20 minutes. Total travel time: approximately 2.5 hours. Cost: approximately $25 return for bus and ferry combined.



By seaplane: Harbour Air operates flights from Victoria Harbour to Ganges Harbour in approximately 20 minutes — a spectacular option if you want to make the journey part of the experience.

For the complete car-free travel guide, see our full post: How to Get to Salt Spring Island from Victoria Without a Car

Stops on the Artisan Trail include:

• Salt Spring Island Cheese Company —  goat and sheep milk cheeses, wood-fired pizza, house-made gelato, and a self-guided farm tour
• Sacred Mountain Lavender Farm —  60+ varieties of lavender, a fragrant gift shop, and lavender popsicles in a stunning farm setting
• Salt Spring Brewing Co. —  craft beers brewed with mountain spring water since 1998, in a forested West Coast setting
• Garry Oaks Estate Winery —  estate-grown wines at a century-old heritage farm overlooking the Burgoyne Valley
• Ciderworks & Salt Spring Apple Co. —  over 425 heritage apple varieties and a full range of handcrafted organic ciders
• Ganges Village & Public Market —  the island's charming main hub with cafes, galleries, the famous Saturday Market (April-October), and the harbour boardwalk

The tour operates April to October. It books out during summer — reserve your spot in advance.

2. Butchart Gardens — A Victoria Day Trip Classic

Just 20 km north of Victoria, the Butchart Gardens is one of Canada's most celebrated horticultural attractions — 55 acres of manicured gardens carved from a former limestone quarry. The Sunken Garden, Rose Garden, Japanese Garden, and Italian Garden are all spectacular, and the Saturday evening fireworks displays in summer are genuinely magical.

Getting there without a car: BC Transit Bus 75 runs from downtown Victoria to Butchart Gardens seasonally. Several tour companies also offer guided day trips from downtown Victoria.

Best time to visit: May through September for peak blooms; July and August for Saturday evening fireworks.

3. The Cowichan Valley — Wine, Food, and Farm Country

North of Victoria on Vancouver Island, the Cowichan Valley is BC's warmest growing region — a patchwork of organic farms, vineyards, cideries, and artisan food producers. It's Victoria's answer to wine country and a fantastic day trip for food and drink lovers.

The Cowichan Valley wine trail includes over a dozen wineries, plus the famous True Grain Bread in Cowichan Bay, Hilary's Cheese, and some of BC's best farm-to-table restaurants.

Getting there: The Cowichan Valley is best explored with a car, though Duncan is accessible by BC Transit. For a truly effortless food and drink day trip without a car, the Salt Spring Island Hop On Hop Off Tour remains the easier and more curated experience.

4. Sidney by the Sea — A Relaxed Waterfront Town

Just a short distance from the Swartz Bay ferry terminal, the seaside town of Sidney is a delightful half-day trip from Victoria. Known as "Book Town" for its collection of used bookshops, Sidney also has a lovely waterfront promenade, seafood restaurants, and the Shaw Centre for the Salish Sea.

Getting there without a car: BC Transit Bus 70 or 72 from downtown Victoria runs through Sidney. It pairs well as a morning stop before catching the ferry to Salt Spring Island.

5. The Other Gulf Islands — Including Galiano, Mayne, and Pender

Salt Spring Island gets the most attention, but the other Southern Gulf Islands are equally rewarding. Galiano Island is known for its dramatic sandstone cliffs and hiking at Bluffs Park. Mayne Island feels like stepping back in time with heritage farms and a historic lighthouse. North and South Pender Islands offer beaches, kayaking, and sweeping views.

All are accessible by BC Ferries from Swartz Bay as a foot passenger. Note that the curated Hop On Hop Off Artisan Trail experience is unique to Salt Spring Island — making it the standout choice for a food and drink-focused day trip.

Tips for Day Trips from Victoria

Book ferry travel in advance

If you're bringing a vehicle, reserve your spot early — especially for Salt Spring Island, where summer sailings fill weeks ahead. As a foot passenger, you have much more flexibility, but it's still worth checking sailing schedules at bcferries.com.

Go car-free where you can

For Salt Spring Island in particular, going car-free is genuinely the better experience. Walk on the ferry, let BC Transit take you to Ganges, and let the Hop On Hop Off Tour handle the rest. You'll see more, stress less, and actually enjoy the ride.

Start early

Most day trips from Victoria work best if you're on the road or water by 8-9 am. This is especially true for Salt Spring Island if you want to catch the Saturday Market and still have time for the Artisan Trail.

Layer up

The Gulf Islands can be breezy even on sunny summer days. Bring a light jacket — you'll thank yourself on the ferry deck.

The Best Day Trip from Victoria? Salt Spring Island, Every Time.

Of all the day trips from Victoria, Salt Spring Island consistently stands out — for its accessibility, its range of experiences, and the genuine magic of spending a day exploring an island that operates at a completely different pace from the mainland.

The Salt Spring Island Hop On Hop Off Artisan Trail Tour is the perfect way to make the most of it: no car, no stress, just great food, drink, and scenery from start to finish.

Book the Salt Spring Island Hop On Hop Off Tour Today →