The simplest way from downtown Victoria to Craigdarroch Castle is a BC Transit bus along Fort Street, or a taxi for about 3 km and 10 minutes by road. The castle sits at 1050 Joan Crescent, just off Fort Street, close to the core.
Buses up Fort Street
BC Transit routes 11 and 14 run from downtown and stop at the foot of Joan Crescent. From there it is a short walk, roughly two minutes, to the castle door. Other routes along Fort Street also pass the area, so you can get off at the Fort and Fernwood stop and walk about a block.
Departure times change between weekdays and weekends. Open the BC Transit trip planner, enter your starting point and the castle, and it will show the next bus and the exact stop to use.
Walking or cycling along Fort Street
Walking from the Inner Harbour area takes a bit under an hour at an easy pace, and the castle’s own visitor page describes a stroll of around 20 minutes from the downtown end of Fort Street. The street is lined with shops, cafes and antique dealers, so many people treat the walk as part of the outing. The last stretch climbs, which is worth knowing if anyone in your group tires easily.
Fort Street also has dedicated bike lanes, which makes cycling a reasonable choice in dry weather.
Driving, parking and taking a taxi
By car, head up Fort Street and turn onto Joan Crescent. Admission to the castle includes use of its private parking lot, and there is also street parking in the surrounding blocks. Posted signs on those streets decide what is allowed, so read them before you leave the car.
If you would rather skip the parking question, a cab from downtown is a short ride. The Victoria taxi page lists local operators, and the taxi fare estimator gives a rough fare for the distance. Ask the driver to stop at the main entrance on Joan Crescent.
For current opening hours and ticket details, check the castle’s own website before you set out.