The Peninsula
About the Peninsula
At a glance
For those arriving from BC's mainland by ferry, the Saanich Peninsula will be the first part of Greater Victoria to welcome you. The Peninsula is more than just a neighbourhood, it's a collection of seaside communities stitched together by sprawling farmlands and rolling coastlines. A day on the Peninsula might look like a morning stroll through a manicured garden, a stop at a local farmstand to fill up your picnic basket, a glass of cider amidst the apple trees of an orchard, and a sunset paddle across tranquil waters.
What it feels like to be here
The Saanich Peninsula feels like a region within our region, filled with it's own distinct communities and charm. It's a place where you can swap the bustle of city life for country lanes, pocket beaches, and farm-to-table dining. The Peninsula affords you a pace where you can slow down and savour each moment. It can be as much or as little as you need it to be, with an unhurried vibe that lends itself to exploration and restoration. The Saanich Peninsula rewards the curious with hidden gems and unexpected flavours.
When the Peninsula shines
Each season on the Peninsula offers something a little different. The spring sees gardens, like the world-famous Butchart Gardens, come into full bloom, looking like a storybook spilled from its pages. Summer is a favourite for beach days and sunset paddles - or maybe even a bioluminescent paddle after dark. Fall envelopes rural parks and farms in autumn hues, rolling out the red carpet for a harvest season unlike anywhere else in Canada. Winter brings the cozy season, a perfect moment to enjoy the stillness in seaside spas and find quiet moments with those you love amongst the twinkling holiday lights.
The Butchart Gardens
A National Historic Site of Canada, that's over 100 years in the making, The Butchart Gardens, simply put, are one of the most spectacular demonstration gardens on earth. On your visit, you'll meander through over 55-acres of garden displays that rotate with the seasons. From the famed Sunken Garden through the Italian Rose Garden and Japanese Garden, The Butchart Gardens are filled with all the "oohs", "ahhs", and every other exclamation of joy that you'd expect from these picture-perfect floral displays.
The Butchart Gardens
What you’ll love doing
The Flavour Trails
The Flavour Trails encourage you to get off the beaten track and explore more of the Saanich Peninsula, one bite at a time. Pick a route that speaks to your palate, and let your taste buds lead you through farmstands, wineries, cideries, and a wealth of restaurants that measure local on a scale of metres not miles. These self-guided itineraries are designed to connect you with the best of the region as well as hidden gems, leading you down country roads and to the water's edge on your quest for fresh flavours.
Flavour Trails
Victoria Butterfly Gardens
Step inside a tropical paradise right in the heart of the Saanich Peninsula. The Victoria Butterfly Gardens welcome travellers of all ages to experience their jungle-like atmosphere as butterflies dance through the air all around you. As you wander the pathways keep your eyes peeled for all sorts of tropical life including macaws, flamingos, tortoises, a caiman, and more, as well as an array of plant life from Asia, South America, and Africa.
Victoria Butterfly Gardens
Heritage Acres
The Saanich Peninsula is Greater Victoria's agricultural heartlands. Heritage Acres is a 29-acre living museum dedicated to preserving the history of this unique part of our region. On your visit you'll wander through heritage buildings, get hands-on with artifacts that show you how things used to be, and definitely snap a few fantastic photos on an old tractor. Heritage Acres doesn't live behind glass, but encourages you to see, hear, and touch, the equipment that helped sow Greater Victoria's roots.
Heritage AcresBC Aviation Museum
History takes flight at the BC Aviation Museum. Located next to YYJ Victoria International Airport, the BC Aviation Museum is home to an array of aircraft and interactive exhibits, including the legendary, and massive, Hawaii Mars waterbomber, which served from the 1940s until its final flight in 2024. As you explore the museum, there are countless opportunities to swoop into the stories of these aircraft, their pilots, and the rich aviation history of British Columbia.
BC Aviation Museum
What to do on the Peninsula
From the shores of a tranquil regional park to the awe-inspiring wonder of world-class attractions, the Saanich Peninsula has a little bit of everything. Whether you're a history buff looking to dive into another story or an adventurer looking to paddle out to a distant island, the Peninsula offers something for every type of traveller.
Local tips
Follow the pull of the water
The Peninsula is surrounded by water. Whether it's a beachfront picnic, a boat ride to Sidney Spit, a dip in a lake, or pulling that paddle through bioluminescent waves, you'll find countless ways to connect with the water that surrounds us.
Visit when wonder is in season
It's hard to pass up on the pull of the summer sun or the flavours of harvest season, but the holidays are a sight to behold on the Peninsula, as The Butchart Gardens dazzles with its brilliant Magic of Christmas holiday light display.
Bring an appetite and a picnic basket
Some of the Peninsula's best meals begin with a stop at a roadside farmstand. With fresh ingredients available just about everywhere you look, the Peninsula affords you the opportunity to curate your culinary journey just the way you like.Where to eat
Dining on the Saanich Peninsula puts local first. Taste the flavours of the region, whether that's crisp ciders made from apples straight out of a seaside orchard or vegetables fresh from the soil at a restaurant's own 10-acre farm. The Peninsula does real food for real foodies.
Getting to the Peninsula and getting around
How to get to the Peninsula
The Saanich Peninsula might feel a world away from the city, but it's actually accessible from just about anywhere. BC Ferries Swartz Bay Terminal connects the Peninsula to BC's Lower Mainland and the Southern Gulf Islands, and YYJ International Airport, also on the Peninsula, connects it with destinations across Canada and the United States.
Getting here
Getting around
Getting around the Peninsula and its communities is easy. It's well connected to Downtown Victoria, just a 20-minute drive away. It's easily accessible by bike along the Lochside Regional Trail. You can paddle the coastlines, or walk through the coastal communities. As part of Greater Victoria, the Peninsula is frequently serviced by transit as well. If you're just looking for a day trip to the Butchart Gardens, several local transportation providers offer shuttle service between downtown and the Gardens.
Photo credit: District of Saanich
Where to stay
A stay on the Saanich Peninsula offers a quieter pace. From oceanside resorts to camping in National Parks, or convenient accommodations for when you need to catch a flight, staying on the Peninsula helps take the stress out of travel.
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