Victoria is one of the most walkable cities in Canada. The entire downtown, the Inner Harbour, Chinatown, and the heritage district of James Bay are all within comfortable walking distance of each other. A flat, 8 km cycling path along the waterfront connects the centre to Ogden Point and beyond.
BC Transit covers the whole city by bus; the tourist-heavy routes run frequently and are easy to use. Double-decker buses (in a nod to Victoria's Anglophile identity) run on the main routes. The harbour ferry system runs small boats between the Inner Harbour, Fisherman's Wharf, and several waterfront destinations — a pleasant alternative to walking for some legs of the journey.
For Butchart Gardens and the Saanich Peninsula, a car or the dedicated Butchart Gardens shuttle (from downtown hotels in summer) is the easiest option. Whale watching, cycling tours, and kayak rentals are all available from operators clustered around the Inner Harbour causeway.