Lincoln Park Conservatory (FREE Tickets Required)

We purchased free tickets to reserve a time slot. We spent a longer time exploring the zoo that we were a half hour late for our time slot and was able to still go in and explore. For a chilly day in Chicago it was quite warm and inviting to get some reprieve. They were setting up one of the rooms for winter flowers and plants so we could only see so much but definitely worth the visit!

Beautiful, well maintained, and free! It's takes about a half hour to walk through the various spaces and it's a great option to get out of the cold or heat for a moment. It's a great edition to walking around Lincoln Park or when visiting the zoo.

I loved all the plants and flowers in the conservatory. Everything was extremely well kept and clean. You should make a reservation before but it’s free. The print vending machine is also there and it’s definitely worth checking out!

Lincoln Park Conservatory is one of our favorite spots in Chicago! It’s such a peaceful and beautiful place to visit any time of the year. The lush greenery, tropical plants, and seasonal flower displays make every visit feel special. We love that it’s free for residents all year round — a real hidden gem in the city! Always clean, relaxing, and perfect for a quiet walk or family visit. 🌿🌸

The conservatory was surreal and beautifully maintained. You can tell a lot of care goes into keeping everything in great condition. That said, it was strange to see how close people were getting to the plants… some were literally brushing against them with jackets or bottles. There should be clearer rules or stricter enforcement to prevent this. Overall, the maintenance team is doing an excellent job, and better visitor awareness would make the experience even better.

I had a wonderful time visiting Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago! 🌿🐾 It’s one of the oldest zoos in the country and the best part is—it’s free to enter. I loved how it’s beautifully set inside Lincoln Park with a mix of history, nature, and wildlife. From majestic lions and playful primates to the serene Nature Boardwalk, every corner felt engaging. The zoo is very family-friendly, easy to explore, and offers great city views along with close encounters with animals. Overall, it was a perfect blend of relaxation, learning, and fun in the heart of the city.

A peaceful, succulent little oasis. A walk under huge leaves, through blooming flowers, and around glistening ponds left me full of serenity and awe. Amazing that this paradise is free 🪷🪻⛲️🌴

It’s free and it’s beautiful! Just gonna scan QR code and purchase your free ticket. Conservatory is not huge, but there are benches, so you can sit down and enjoy plants. Good selection and nice layout.

What an amazing place So many amazing flowers & plants Great staff Sweet docents Kids loved it We loved it Would return Would recommend

There's always free street parking outside along the zoo/farm/conservatory area. However, it's always packed and it may take a little while before a car leaves and you get a parking spot. Keep in mind they are closed Monday and Tuesday and you can pre-book tickets online. It's free and it's really pretty inside and well maintained. You can pay a donation fee of your choosing which helps with maintaining the conservatory. It's always a hit with our our of towners and we always leave learning something new. They usually change themes and decorate the main area accordingly.

The Lincoln Conservatory was a great attraction, especially considering admission was free. It was a calm and inviting space filled with well- maintained plants and clear walkways. The interior is kept warm to support tropical species and small ponds and fountains added to the soothing atmosphere. Some plants were marked with "smell" signs, which offered a more interactive and sensory experience. While the conservatory wasn't very large, the variety and quality of the plants makes it worth a visit. It would be a good add-on to the day, particularly since it's so close to the zoo and the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum. I finished the entire conservatory in 45 minutes. The affiliated lot charged $28 for our short visit as we weren't able to find any free street parking. Overall, a lovely spot to stop by if you're already in the area.

What's not to love about a free attraction. Beautiful flowers and foliage inside and outside. Friendly and informative staff. It was a great little stop if you're in the area.

Gorgeous! Lovely location located in Lincoln Park. We made a reservation online, which was free with donations encouraged. It is a time slot format to decrease over crowding. The plants were beautiful and there was a plethora of different types many of which I had never seen before! It took my friends and I about an hour to walk through taking our time to smell the flowers. Afterword, we walked around the fountain out front and enjoyed the garden.

On a very cold day came here to enjoy some beautiful flowers. There is not an entrance fee, but donations are welcome. They do recommend getting timed entry tickets before visiting. We booked the morning of our visit. During our visit the Spring Flower exhibit ... Spectrum of Spring was going on and it was beautiful. The spring flowers were an abundance of colors and scents. Definately worth visiting. It is well maintained and a green oasis in the middle of the city .

Such a stunning observatory! So nice of them to make this free to the public. They had an abundant array of plants, flowers, ferns, you name it. It feels like you're walking through a Ghibli scene. Absolutely beautiful and would recommend to anyone visiting Lincoln Park.

Amazing display of plants and flowers! "Spectrum of Spring" flower show is on display between February 12th - May 11th. Walk-in is okay based on popularity on the given day. Reservations are suggested for a time slot when you would like to attend. Entry is free, but $10+ donations are welcome. I made my reservation for Friday 14th, and I was running one hour late due to the traffic jam I couldn't voided. The employees were super helpful when I arrived, and let me in immediately, even after being late. The entire Conservatory is beautiful! There are separate sections for different plants and flowers, which require special arrangements for humidity and temperatures. Be prepared for high temperatures and humidity!!! Dress with layers, so you can remove warm clothes and enjoy the environment! There are restrooms in the front, by the entrance. Also, there is a tiny table with merchandise, hats, t-shirts, bags, books for purchase. This place is worth visiting! I would recommend to anyone!

Visited Lincoln park conservatory earlier this year in February and it was amazing! If you live in Chicago and not sure what to do on a cold wintery Sunday day, look no more and visit this absolute masterpiece in the Lincoln Park area right across the zoo. The entry is free but you have to reserve your spot online. The space is pretty big but walkable. There are variety of species of plants, ferns and flowers. They have multiple gnomes and their houses which were pretty cute. Highly recommend going there if you miss greenery in the middle of the winter like me!

For sure this is one of the best things in this big park that you can go any time of the year, and can go even when it's cold. Lincoln Park is best known for the Zoo, but there's also the Conservatory, a large building filled with flowers and plants. It was in fact the one of the first in the United States. A lot of great picture taking opportunities are in and around here. This place is popular for big events, like weddings, banquets, and more. Besides the Conservatory, there's many other reasons why people come to Lincoln Park such as the Zoo and more. It's actually located just to the Zoo's north side. This has no nearby L station, but you can get to here by bus though. Get off here and you can make it this way fast. This place has been here since 1893, replacing a smaller one. It has numerous themed rooms, each filled with exotic and native plants, some of these which can't be found elsewhere in horticulture. These include both desert and tropical plants. Many rooms are connected, and it's easy to get lost. There's outdoor gardens too. One of these is the Formal Garden. This is one of the oldest gardens in Chicago, and is a great place for seeing public art and sculptures. Check out the famous Shakespeare Monument. This is located in the Grandmother's Garden, another one of the gardens that are popular. Certainly most people come to Lincoln Park for the Zoo and the Conservatory. It has a convenient stop on the bus along Clark Street that takes you by most of the stuff in the park. The admission is free but be sure to sign up for reservations.

Great free experience in Chicago. We came the Saturday before Mother's Day and it was a bit crowded but we got reservation while In line and walked right in. The climate is nice and there are a lot of beautiful flowers.

Absolutely loved it when I went mid-December! It's a beautiful and surprisingly big conservatory slightly north of downtown. There was some free street parking available (at least in the morning when I went). My friends & I got there as it was opening, obtained our free same day tickets by filling out a quick form, and really enjoyed our time walking through the conservatory & the rotating exhibit. Anyways, I can't recommend this place enough!

Omg, this place is truly a hidden gem. The admission is free!!!!! It's right by the Lincoln park zoo. We went in for the Sweet Gnome Chicago: Spring Flower Show. You have to register online and show the registration before being able to enter. This place is huge with multiple exhibits. I expected this place to be smaller since it's free. The whole place was nice and warm with tons of sunlight. All the plants are labeled to give you more information about their scientific name and their place of origin. They have multiple exhibits such as the Orchid Room, the Fern Room, the Palm Room, etc. They having different shows as per the seasons. It can get a little crowded on the weekends though. They also had a small koi pond which was too cute. A must visit in Lincoln park, with kids, family, etc. and also makes up for a great photography location.

Beautiful! Not quite as big as the Garfield Park conservatory (which I love) but way more convenient for those who live on the North Side. We didn't register in advance but it was super easy to just fill out a registration online upon arrival. Entry is free with a suggested donation of $10. My favorite part by far was the flower show - definitely make sure to visit when there's one in session!

Free entry Now is the gnomes exhibition I love it, go and enjoy yourself I love the end. Looking around is gnomes everywhere My favorite was the Blues brothers gnomes Register and enjoy

Although it was a cold day, coming inside the conservatory takes you to a whole new location by being warm and hot in some areas. They offer many siting areas and it takes you to a new place for every room you go into. Each plant has a description, and location where you can find them. Don't be surprised if you run into some critters, birds or fish.

Wow! I am embarrassed to say that this was my first visit. I live a short walk away and have never checked it out...until this past Sunday. Nestled into trees on the edge of the park and next to the zoo, the big domes stand gracefully, waiting for you. The view down the park from the conservatory's front doors is stunning. Walking through the doors, I felt the vintage edge, as it reminded me of an elementary school from the 1960's. Terrazzo floor, small restrooms suited for grade school kids - I loved every inch of the place. The staff were incredibly welcoming. There were several people at a table to check everyone in. It was a gorgeous Sunday, so it was busy but not crowded. The volunteer ladies were so darn cute and sweet as can be. They gave us a general run down, explained how they work together with the Milwaukee Domes and shared tidbits about the first few plants and trees to get us started. The we wandered through at our own pace. We followed the curvy walkways, sat at random benches to take in the serenity. There are plants, trees, flowers, statues, waterfalls and even giant Koi Fish. i can't wait to check it out soon after they finish decorating for the holidays.

I love the conservatory and try to visit once a month. It's suggested donation and you need to reserve a spot in advance. But it just makes an extra nice bit to your days plans. It's not huge, you can easily walk it fast. It really helps with those chicago winter blues or just a break from the hustle of the city. They rotate exhibits, this month it's Gnomes. But yeah definitely add tickets to check it out if you doing anything in Lincoln park. Pairs well with the zoo or the farmers market.

Such a beautiful place to visit in the heart of Lincoln Park. Checked it out during their Spring garden gnome exhibition. The spring room smells sooo good and the place was much larger than I was expecting. I loved all the different rooms like the fern room, spring room, tropical room, etc. definitely a place to check out and reserve tickets ahead of time.

Super super stunning, great quick place to walk around and take in all the interesting variations of plants.

I absolutely love this conservatory in Lincoln Park Chicago. Tickets are free online, and you can select different time slots to visit the area. The entrance process was smooth and you were able to walk around the Conservatory and learn about different plants and flowers. The staff we're very nice, and offered to teach us about the different plants as well as answer any questions that we had. Lots of places for photo ops, and observing gorgeous, multi colored flowers, and plants. Such a cool date spot, or place to visit with friends !

A nice little conservatory at Lincoln Park. Free admission, but for the sake of crowd control reservations are required. I simply scanned the QR code at the front door and made a reservation for the current time. Lovely plant rooms. For the holidays there's a special one with lots of poinsettias and Christmas trees. I docked a star because the fern room looked a bit too overgrown; the plants were bunched up together too closely and only a few plant species were labeled. Spent about 30 min here. Overall worth a visit (it's free to look after all!), but if you ask me I prefer the Garfield Park Conservatory, which is also free and in Chicago.

If you are into plants or nature this place is for you. It is free to enter by signing up on Eventbrite app or scanning their QR code at the front. It is not too small and not too big so u aren't walking around all day but get to see a lot of different plants. My favorite part was the pond with all of the big and beautiful koi fish

What a pleasant way to start the day and/or an excellent place for a break. And it is FREE! (You need to get advance tickets online though.) It is not as grand as the Garfield Park Conservatory, but as part of a visit to the Lincoln Park Zoo, or a walk through Lincoln Park, it is a great addition. The conservatory is a truly all-year attraction, especially nice to visit during the colder months. The main hall, right after the entrance, has a surprising number of fruit bearing trees, which I found quite interesting. I was also surprised by the size of the facility. It was larger than I expected. It is well-worth a visit, and if you are local, I don't see why you wouldn't go a few times a year. Note: SUPER CONVENIENT FREE PARKING. The street in front of the conservatory has free parking. If you get there early, you will probably have no problem finding free street parking. I was shocked. I did not realize there was any free street parking in Chicago anymore.

Great place to come and spend some time if you're visiting Chicago! Reservations are required during these COVID times, but the great thing about that is that it ensures it's not too crowded. They're pretty lax about the reservation times as well - our time was for 10:30AM and they let us in at 10:15AM. The conservatory itself isn't too big - it's made up of 4 different rooms and will probably take you 15 minutes to get through everything. However, everything is very nice and well taken care of. Also - it's free! Once you're done with the conservatory, stroll a few steps down and you'll find yourself at another free Chicago site - the Lincoln Park Zoo.

Wow! I saw on Eventbrite Chicago that there are FREE TIMED (1 hour) TICKETS! See: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lincoln-park-conservatory-0514-timed-admission-reservations-registration-326733196787?aff=ebdssbdestsearch What a treasure! The Conservatory is a Greenhouse Enclosure with three separate biospheres: 1. Fern Room 2. Orchid Room 3. Showroom There are plants from all across the World AND the United States. For example: Did you know that the Lady Slipper Orchids are native to the FORESTS of the STATE OF VERMONT? See: New England.com "Are the Lady Slippers Endangered?" https://newengland.com/today/living/gardening/are-lady-slippers-endangered/ There were also ponds with Koi, Fish and Turtles. The sounds of birds and crickets were abound! Not to mention the biodiversity of the three rooms which had all of the species of plants nicely labeled. You can see Bananas and Papayas in their native habitat...really great for children, adolescents and adults alike. FYI-I asked a male front desk team member what happens to the fruit when it is ripe (as several papayas were ripe)-he stated that they are ALL COMPOSTED-good and bad-wish they could be raffled off or in some way used to educate students in the City of Chicago.

By far one of my favorite places to relax, read or write in the city. Well...it will be again when the benches come back. Although there are no seats at current it's still a great escape and fun way to get in a few steps while enjoying beautiful flowers. Honestly I wish I could have someplace like this in my back yard. And bonus: it's free. You can park on the street if your lucky. But those spots go super quick. There is a lot on the other side of the zoo. Quick little walk around or through. If you're a zoo member that could be free parking. Right now you will need to reserve a time through Eventbrite ahead of time. The hours here are not up to date.

Came to visit Chicago and this was one of our stops and I loved it! Reservations are required and the conservatory is free (donations HIGHLY recommended, they do such a wonderful job here). All of the staff was friendly and knowledgeable. I wasn't able to catch all of their names but Juan and Patricia were fantastic. I felt as if I was getting a private tour of the conservatory!! They had told me facts and stories of the plants' origins/relatives and it made the experience much more pleasant. The plants and flowers seemed to be well taken care of and thriving. Currently they have their Christmas decorations up and Patricia informed me they're handmade! What a sight to see, definitely recommend coming if you're in the area.

Chicago 23 December 2019 I wanted to go to Zoo Lights at the Lincoln Park Zoo and shoot some photos. I parked a block away at the Lincoln Park Conservatory ( $30.00 Parking ) but free entry to the Conservatory. I took a quick tour of the Conservatory while en route to Zoo Lights. Like Lincoln Park Zoo , the Conservatory is compact and not as large as Chicago's premiere Conservatory located on the West Side in Garfield Park with FREE entry AND with FREE parking. If in Chicago visit the Garfield Park Conservatory with free parking and SECURITY in the parking lot and Security inside the Conservatory. Ok , once inside the Lincoln Park Conservatory I found it very crowded due to the season and the unusually warm winter weather , 50 degrees. However , due to it's small size I was able to zip in and out in 15 minutes. I took a few photos but there was no special Christmas Show like the one at the larger Conservatory in Garfield Park. Sorry , I'm spoiled. I grew up on the west side and have frequented the GPC dozens and dozens of times during my life and love it's size and grandeur and outside gardens as well as inside green house. I took some photos here in LPC and will post them for viewing. The main attraction at this venue is the close proximity between the Lincoln Park Conservatory and the Lincoln Park Zoo a block away. I usually hit both places when I come here. That way I pay to park at one venue and after my visit I walk to the other venue. Parking here is expensive. Public Transportation is more economical and advisable. Ok , now to post some photos.

Wonderful place to walk and "smell the roses" ...lol... the online ticket reservation was slightly awkward but probably makes sense when it's busy. If you're coming here, schedule ahead on their online reservation system because you'll have to do it to get in regardless.

This place is stunning and well kept. You'll see so much beauty and for free! The whole conservatory is beautiful and picturesque. The guides are very helpful and really know their stuff. I'd love to visit again.

What a beautiful place! I have heard of this conservatory but thought it was at the zoo. It is NOT. Went yesterday, so pretty some of the fountains were off maybe because of the cold. It is smaller than our other major gardens in Chicago but mighty! There were 3 different rooms I think. Such amazing plants. Free admission, donations accepted, parking is brutal on weekends. No outside food or drink perfect for dates, gal pals, families.

Stunning, gorgeous & spectacular place. Next to Lincoln Park Zoo. Glad we came here, need a reservation. Perfectly designed, nice location, lots of trails & a very walkable.

Absolutely love this place. I have been going here with my parents since I was young. The flowers and plants only get better. It is also a nice free place that you can take your kids to in the city.

I was so excited to go here! I'm a big plant person so the conservatory was a must for me to go. We ended up sitting down in the fern section and just taking in the humidity, the warmth, and the fresh air the plants were providing.

Though I've visited Chicago many times, I had never visited the Lincoln Park Conservatory - mainly due there being so many things to do in Chicago, as well as the fact that it's not AS close as some of the other things in the Loop area. However, I realized this time that it's actually just a really easy (and pretty quick) bus ride to get from the Loop area to the conservatory, so decided to check it out! First, it's so nice that it's free to visit! Don't let the fact that it's free make you believe that it's not worth seeing! I went in with low expectations but was blown away! Like other botanical gardens, there are different rooms w/ differing themes (rainforest, flowers, etc.) and therefore differing temperatures). I'm not sure if this "exhibit" is here all the time, but the room with the flowers was amazing! I loved this room so much that I visited it twice... and took sooo many pictures (but also tried to just stand and soak it all in). The bowls (that chime when they collide with each other) is a nice touch and love all the variety! So pretty and colorful. I always love seeing the variety of all the different types of plants, fruit trees, flowers, etc. I went on a Monday (late morning) and it wasn't too crowded. Definitely worth a visit if you're visiting Chicago, or if you're a local.

Came here today, and it is absolutely beautiful! I've seen this conservatory so many times, but I have never gone in here until today. My parents have always told me to visit, and I finally did and am so happy I did because it was beautiful. The conservatory isn't super large, but there are plenty of beautiful flowers and plants, as well as cute little ponds and waterfalls. There are different rooms within the building because of course, different flowers need different climate conditions. The first room near the entrance is pretty warm and humid, the second room is even warmer, and then the third room is cooler with a bit more wind. The atmosphere in every room is so peaceful, and there are benches that you can sit on and just meditate or relax. Entrance is free here, or you can donate money near the entrance, but there are a few workers here that stand at the entrance to ask what zip code you live in so that they can see where their visitors are from. I saw someone taking engagement pictures here, and I think that it really does make for a beautiful backdrop for any type of photos that you need to take. I took TONS of cool pics of the plants and flowers, as you can see attached to this review. If you are looking for something to do that is absolutely free, I suggest coming here early, park near the conservatory on the street so that parking will also be free rather than paying for parking, and then visit the conservatory AND Lincoln Park Zoo.

The Lincoln Park Conservatory has officially broken my heart. The other day we went to go spend time in the park outside of the conservatory. It used to be one of my favorite places when I lived downtown. We used to sit among the rows of flowers upon flowers. It was such a magical place that if you hung around on a Saturday or Sunday you were guaranteed to see at least a couple of newlyweds getting their pictures taken in all of their wedding glory. You may actually get to see a wedding take place there it was such a beautiful place. Instead, this time, all I saw was a big open field of grass. All of the rows where the flowers used to be are now just these dirt beds. It was absolutely heartbreaking. And guess what, there was absolutely no one spending any time in this supposed garden because it's just that depressing and ordinary.

You should absolutely see this place. Where else can you be in the tropics in the middle of Chicago? Did I mention admission is free and it's right next the the zoo? As soon as you walk in 25 feet the heat and humidity hits you like a wave. Followed by the smell of a tropical jungle - in a good way. A real welcome contrast to the unseasonably cold 45 degrees on May 11 2019 I can't begin to list all the fauna and flora. There's 3 separate sections. One for plants and trees. One for ferns and orchids and one for flowers. So come now- it's free

Came here on one of the last days of summer on a weekday. It was pretty empty and we almost had the place to ourselves. It was a wonderful break from the city and everything was well marked. It's not that large but it is densely packed with awesomeness. You could cover it all in 30-60 minutes depending on how much you linger or take pictures. There are several areas with different types of plants. Loved the Orchid and Fern rooms. Don't forget the Lily Pond outside. We did!!

One of my favorite free activities in the city, it is near the Lincoln Park Zoo and they do a nice job curating an environment with beautiful plants and art. Being a conservatory/greenhouse, it feels tropical inside which is nice during the winter. We didn't run into any staff while we were there and some parts of it are tough with a stroller, however it is beautiful and free! Highly recommend!

This place was free, but there is a $10 donation suggestion for each adult and $5 for each child. It is definitely worth donating because there were so many beautiful flowers. Because of COVID, they currently require tickets to be booked in advance. It's a lot bigger than it looks and my whole family gives this conservatory an A+.

WOW!!!! The conservatory did not disappoint!! This was such a peaceful experience and is great for the cold days when you don't want to stay inside. When I went they were requiring reservations to be made and couldn't accept walk ins because they were all booked. For the low price of $0 I would definitely say I would come back just to try to look at each plant. There are so many that I don't think I really got the chance to enjoy them all because I was distracted by others. I spent a little under an hour walking around and I'd say that was a good amount of time. Their time slots allow for an hour, but there also weren't employees shooing people out so I'm sure you could take your time in here. Overall a very calming place with such beautiful plants you never want to leave!

If you are going to the zoo, you should definitely stop in to the conservatory as well, it is literally steps away from a zoo entrance. Such a lovely peaceful spot, a hidden gem. So much going on in such a little space. Trees that produce fruit, a serious fern room (who knew there were so many kinds!); and a simply gorgeous Japanese style garden in the rear, with a sun atrium complete with benches for relaxing, reading, meditating, all while surrounded by gorgeous flora.

I stumbled upon the Lincoln Park Conservatory while visiting the zoo. The conservatory is a great addition to your zoo visit! While not as large as the Garfield Park Conservatory, this is still a great place to visit, and is in a safer part of town. You can stop in and tour the building for free. The staff are all very friendly and full of information about the plants and the animals (like turtles) that live in the conservatory. For me, the highlight was the Show House. It was an entire room full of absolutely stunning flowers! Not to be missed.

The Lincoln Park Conservatory is meticulously maintained by the Chicago Park District and is conveniently located next to the Lincoln Park Zoo. A fantastic FREE place with ancient ferns and tropical plants. The conservatory has four sections the Palm House, the Fern Room, the Orchid House, and the Conifer Garden. The Palm House is the first room that you step into and has dozens of different types of Palms as well as many food plants such as bananas, grapefruit, oranges, papaya, Etc. Next you will step back in time as you enter the Fern Room. You can just imagine Jurassic Park in this room in fact if you look down into one of The Small Ponds you will actually see some dinosaurs. The Orchid House has hundreds of orchids and also holds a number of tropical carnivorous plants. It is very humid in the Orchid House, and you will be able to see some giant koi fish in here. The Conifer Garden is outdoors and surrounds the west and south sides of the conservatory. The garden includes more than 150 trees and shrubs including a number of dwarf varieties. They are open everyday of the Year from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. . Admission is FREE except for special events. There are also docent-led tours you can call the Lincoln Park Conservatory at 773-883-7275 for more information. They also have seasonal flower displays, for a current schedule you can call 312-742-7736.

This is a great 120+ years old piece of Chicago History for a solid day out standby, especially on a cold day. Popped in for a slow walk and visit with my nephew and brother when they came into the city for a few hours. At you can still enjoy. Oodles of plants from all around the world. Bring the kids, or your pals, and look for the dinosaurs in the fern room.

Get ready to enjoy the tropical environment of the Lincoln Park Conservatory. The tropical plants need the humid and extra warm temperatures of the equator. There are banana trees, the interesting corpse plant which blooms every 7 to 10 years, cascading small waterfalls, koi-filled ponds full of playful fish, and beautiful tropical flowers.

It's such a treat to visit this place in the middle of the city. Recommend you make a donation, however it's free and open everyday. There's a great diversity in the plants that they hold, and the orchids are amazing. I'm a most recent visit, I noticed the Buddha hand fruit plant which I didn't notice on my previous visits.