After five years of living in Salt Spring, we've found an endless amount of experiences that make the island unique. With so much to choose from, deciding what to do in just one day can be tough. We've put together this day trip itinerary to help you hit the highlights.
Our Salt Spring Island day trip includes a one-of-a-kind picnic crawl, guiding you to the best artisan spots on the island, as well as scenic stops and fun experiences you don't want to miss.
Overview: Day Trip to Salt Spring Island
Morning: start your day with a gourmet breakfast sandwich, sample chutneys and gather artisan goods for your picnic. Daytime: explore Ganges, try award-winning goat cheese at a farm, enjoy your picnic spread with a wine tasting and relax at a beach with harbour views. Evening: eat farm-to-table cuisine at one of the island's best restaurants. |
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Best day to travel to Salt Spring Island
For a day trip, Saturday is the best day to travel to the island. This is when its bustling Saturday Market is in full swing and almost everything is open. You will also beat the ferry rush on Fridays and Sundays since most people come up on a Friday and leave on a Sunday.
Avoid taking your day trip from Monday - Wednesday since many places are closed, especially in off-season.
Getting to Salt Spring Island
Day trip from Victoria → take the 35-minute Swartz Bay ferry to Fulford Harbour - we recommend taking the ferry around 9AM. Ferry times change throughout the season - check the schedule. This route doesn't take reservations.
Day trip from Nanaimo → take the 25 minute Crofton ferry to Vesuvius Bay - we recommend taking the 8:55 AM ferry - double check times here. This route doesn't take reservations.
Day trip from Vancouver → if coming from Vancouver, we really recommend spending the night since it's quite a big journey. However, if you're determined to do it as a day trip, you can either take the ferry from Tsawwassen to Long Harbour or if the timing isn’t ideal, take the ferry from Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay, then transfer to a second ferry from Swartz Bay to Fulford Harbour. Pay close attention to ferry times because they vary from 1 hour 20 min to 3 hours. Be sure to reserve your ferry in advance.
Ultimate Salt Spring Island Day Trip
Morning
Pick up a gourmet breakfast sandwich from Francis Bread
Francis Bread
After your ferry arrives, head straight to Francis Bread to get your hands on one of their gourmet breakfast sandwiches. They are a local favourite, known for their wood-fired bread made from BC organic grains and daily sandwich specials.
One of our favourites is the Shakshouka Breakfast Sandwich with a farm egg omelette, spiced tomato pepper sauce, caramelized onions, herbs, and chips on a sourdough sweet potato bun. It's so creative!
🧺 Also pick out your favourite loaf for a picnic later in the day. As you continue exploring, this guide will highlight more special Salt Spring items to add to your picnic.
Open: Thursday-Sunday 9am-3pm (may change throughout seasons)
Sample spreads from Salt Spring Island Kitchen Co.
Next door to Francis Bread you'll find Salt Spring Island Kitchen, where you can sample savoury, sweet and spicy jams and preserves at their new tasting bar. Their spreads go perfectly with a charcuterie board. We use them all the time when hosting guests. They also make excellent gifts.
Pick out your favourite for your afternoon picnic. Our favourites are Hot Mango and Spicy Tomato.
🧺 After choosing your chutney, pop into South End Sausage across the street to pick up some local charcuterie for your picnic.
Daytime
Discover Ganges' vibrant creative scene
The best way to discover Salt Spring's vibrant creative scene is by visiting the Saturday Market in Ganges. From April - October over 100 local artisans gather to sell their creations. We recommend visiting Salt Spring on a Saturday so you don't miss this market.
If you can't visit Salt Spring on a Saturday, here are some shops that carry local artisan products:
- Salt Spring Soapworks
- Waterfront Gallery Society
- nook
- Harlan's Chocolate
- The Pottery (located in Fulford Harbour)
Sample artisan goat cheese at the Salt Spring Island Cheese farm
Salt Spring Island Cheese farm
After spending time in Ganges, drive to the laidback south of the island to the Salt Spring Island Cheese farm.
Located on a sunny pasture, the award-winning cheese farm offers a variety of handmade artisanal goat cheeses to sample. With flavours like basil, garlic, chilli, olive tapenade, lemon, pepper, and truffle, which one will you choose for your picnic?
🧺 Top Tip: If you drive by farm stands along the way, pick up any fresh produce you want for your picnic, like cherry tomatoes or strawberries. The stands work on an honour system, so bring cash!
Enjoy your picnic spread at Kutatas Vineyard
At this point, you should have a loaf from Francis Bread, chutney from Salt Spring Kitchen, charcuterie from South End Sausage, goat cheese from Salt Spring Island Cheese and any produce you picked up from farm stands.
Enjoy your picnic spread at Kutatas Winery (pronounced Koo-Tah-Tash) and combine it with a wine tasting. They welcome you to bring your own picnic items to enjoy with their wines.
Relax at the charming picnic tables with a view of the vineyard, where the friendly winemaker will guide you through each wine.
Open:Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday 12pm-5pm (may change throughout seasons)
If you're visiting Salt Spring when Kutatas Winery isn't open, instead have your picnic at Ruckle Provincial Park - it has picnic tables with pretty ocean views.
🧺 Top Tip: Don't forget to bring a knife, plates and napkins for your picnic.
See Ganges Harbour glow in the afternoon at Churchill Beach
Churchill Beach, Salt Spring Island
After your picnic, head to Churchill Beach to see Ganges Harbour light up in the afternoon. This is a great spot to watch float planes take off and land as well.
The beach is located about a 4 minute drive from Ganges at the very end of Churchill Road. Bring something comfy to sit on for the pebble beach, and wear water shoes or Crocs if you plan to swim - some of the rocks can be tough on your feet.
Evening
Eat farm-to-table cuisine at one of the island's best restaurants
Top: Tree House Cafe and Feast | Bottom: Off The Hook
The island’s creative flair and organic, locally grown ingredients combine to create unique eateries. We have three restaurants to pick from that offer delicious eats and a charming island feel.
Treehouse Cafe - this restaurant is the most casual of the bunch. Enjoy your meal in a wooden heritage cottage with a large plum tree as its centrepiece. They don't take reservations.
Off The Hook - located off-the-beaten path in the Fernwood neighbourhood, the restaurant has a welcoming local feel. Their coastal-inspired dishes have an innovative twist, and they recently added a new sushi menu. Reservations are recommended.
Feast - dine at Salt Spring's newest restaurant serving farm-to-table platters made with ingredients sourced within a 100km radius. If the weather is warm, make a reservation for the courtyard in the back.
If you're curious about other dining spots, check out our list of the 26 Best Restaurants on Salt Spring Island.
Take the late ferry home
If you're travelling to Victoria - in summertime the last ferry from Fulford Harbour to Swartz Bay (Victoria) typically leaves at 9:15pm, and from Fall-Spring the last ferry usually leaves at 7:50pm. Double check times here.
If travelling to Nanaimo - the last ferry from Vesuvius Bay to Crofton typically leaves at 9:30pm, except 10:30pm on Fridays. Double check times here.
If you're travelling to Vancouver - pay close attention to ferry times and reserve your ferry. You can either take the Long Harbour ferry or if the times don't work well, you can take the ferry from Fulford Harbour to Swartz Bay and take a second ferry from Swartz Bay to Tsawwassen.
We hope you enjoyed this Salt Spring day trip itinerary!
Thinking of maybe spending the night? Browse hotels in Salt Spring or check out our accommodation guide.Get started on planning your day trip to Salt Spring Island
- ⛴ Book your ferry: BC Ferries
- 🚗 Car rental: see Rentalcars.com to compare car rental prices across different companies.
Combine Salt Spring Island with a road trip through Vancouver Island to Victoria and Tofino.
Want to explore more of the Gulf Islands? Check out our other island guides:
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