Tucson Botanical Gardens

Beautiful gardens with indoor and outdoor exhibits. There was a large group of school children there when I visited on Tuesday afternoon that were a bit rambunctious. Other than that the garden was peaceful and not very busy. I was able to enter the indoor butterfly exhibit without waiting, as they limit the number of people inside. Highly recommend! I spent about 2 hours there in total, wandering the gardens. Excellent variety and wonderful gift shop. Decent size parking lot, though it was nearly full when I arrived at noon.

The Tucson Botanical Gardens are absolutely magical! It's a peaceful oasis filled with vibrant flowers, striking cacti, and gorgeous succulents at every turn. One of the highlights of our visit was the Butterfly Garden—an unforgettable experience! We saw huge blue butterflies fluttering around us and even spotted some giant moths. Truly mesmerizing. We had such a wonderful time exploring the gardens. Just a heads-up for fellow visitors: if you're hoping to see the model trains, be sure to come earlier in the day. We arrived around 2 PM, and due to the heat, they had to turn the trains off to protect the engines. Still, that didn’t take away from our experience. The gardens left us with beautiful memories and a sense of calm. Highly recommend to anyone visiting Tucson—this place is a hidden gem!

This place is getting 5 stars but for the butterfly garden only. We were lucky to get there right before they were closing the garden. We were rushed and I wish I knew they closed earlier. So many pretty butterflies. The place needs a lot of renovating and upkeep but still very informative with all the plants. I feel the price of the tickets are a bit too much for what they have.

A Magical and Peaceful Escape! ★★★★★ The Tucson Botanical Gardens is an absolute gem! The serene atmosphere makes it the perfect place to unwind, and the variety of plants is simply breathtaking. The highlight of our visit was the Butterfly Pavilion—it was truly magical to walk among these delicate, colorful creatures as they fluttered around. The gardens are beautifully maintained, with plenty of shaded areas to sit and soak in the peaceful surroundings. The trains were fantastic!Whether you’re a nature lover or just looking for a tranquil escape, this place is a must-visit. Can’t wait to return!

Such a lovely garden. We had a beautiful with butterflies all around us. Great explanation from the staff. A must do if you visit Tucson, and probably also if you live there. Thanks a mil, we've enjoyed big time.

Amazing gardens. We visit botanical gardens around the US every year. There are so many lovely ones and this is such a unique variety of plant species. The displays are beautifully diverse and divided into rooms as it were. The butterfly house was incredible! We’ve visited those around the world and this one is as wonderful as any we’ve visited. The cafe was outstanding as well! The brisket was the best I’ve had and my husband loved the chilaquiles. A perfect morning.

Great place to see a lot of plants and trees common in the desert southwest. Really enjoyed the butterfly experience, despite the extra humidity in that space - made me appreciate the "dry heat" outside. Love that the majority of the plants are labeled, too. Plenty of shade, lots of benches to relax or rest, enough bathrooms, too.

The plant and flower displays were stunning. The staff was very friendly and helpful. I especially enjoyed the butterfly exhibit. It was the best I've ever seen, like being in a magical wonderland of nature.

Beautiful botanical garden! - Plan to be walking mostly outside, not always as shaded. Also determine what time of year you will go. I believe the butterfly garden is not open during the summer, keep that in mind. - Butterfly garden inside greenhouse. - Different parts of the garden have different themes.

We came in a a group of 8 this morning to see an engraved dedicated red Brick we purchased and had placed in the patio area for a friend that passed away And liked coming here. It was a nice idea. A symbol He would have liked.

Incredible! We went to enjoy the Butterfly Exhibit (closes at the end of May!) and that alone was spectacular, so add in the rest of the space and it's truly remarkable... a little oasis. Instantly as you enter the gardens, there's a distinct temperature difference because of all the greenery. Makes me think why we don't have more planted around our town. There are several sections that feature different types of gardens, galleries and art. They have educational activities and programs for several topics around gardening and local plant life. Things like a mini train station build into the natural environment with some really unique home art pieces, a kaleidoscope of flowers, herb gardens and flower gardens, a cafe, a gift shop and more. Truly recommend a stop in!

Great for a morning or afternoon stroll, weather permitting. Lots of variety of plants, flowers, herbs and even a butterfly exhibit. They have a small area for children with books and a water feature as well as some items for them to play with/climb on. There is food available as well as a gift shop but we usually pack our own lunch and enjoy it on a picnic table in the gardens. Staff here are very informative and helpful if you have any questions. They also do seasonal events so be sure to check out their website.

Had a wonderful time visiting the Tucson Botanical Gardens this weekend! We met some of the incredible volunteers and employees who shared so much knowledge about the desert climate and its flora and fauna. A special shoutout to Mary, who provided us with a brief tour around the space. The gardens have a special balance of art and nature, and is a great option for a day visit for kids and adults alike!

A smaller, serene botanical garden in Tucson. They highlight flowering shrubs, flowers and cacti from the Southwest and around the world. Highly recommended. Family-friendly with great walking paths. I could have spent hours just breezing around.

The Tucson Botanical Gardens are a beautiful place to visit any time of year, but they are especially magical during the holiday season. The gardens are decorated with thousands of twinkling lights and luminarias, and there are also special exhibits and events, such as the annual Festival of Lights. Unfortunately, we didn't see the lights on as we visited during the day! But I'd love to come back and see the gardens at night with the lights on. Features: * The gardens are home to over 1,500 different species of cacti and succulents. * The butterfly habitat is a large, enclosed space filled with hundreds of colorful butterflies. We were told there were about 300 there when we went today. * The Great Garden Express model trains. Don't miss these! I would highly recommend the Tucson Botanical Gardens to anyone looking for a fun and festive holiday experience.

A gem in the Sonoran Desert. You're greeted by beautiful flowers from all over the world at this botanical garden. They've got blurbs about the different types of plants and flowers so you can learn about its history in the region. They've also have tons of art installations, many including Mexican artists. Such a gem, go check it out!

I have been fortunate to have come through town for work several times in the past few years and this botanical garden had been on my list. I finally went to visit this year and loved it. The walkways were well maintained and the plants were simply beautiful, emanating a relaxing environment for visitors to stroll through. Parking was plentiful all around the property and we spent about an hour looking at the various flora and fauna. It would be a real joy to come here with a book and just sit for a while.

The Botanical Gardens are a lovely place to enjoy throughout the year. This review is for their "Lights Up" holiday lights event. Thousands of LED lights illuminate the trees, there are gorgeous installations throughout the gardens. The light tunnel, dancing cypress trees, and crescent moon were among our favorites. The giant Christmas tree at the entrance decorated in bird houses was beautiful too. This was our favorite light show of the season.

What a gorgeous display of Christmas lights at Tucson's Botanical Gardens. It is open from November 29th to January 12th, 2025. Being from out of town, I was so happy that I was able to share this moment with my son who is currently living in Tucson. It's a small botanical garden so take your time to soak in the wonder of all these twinkling lights. I was in awe at how high some of the lights were. As you walk into each area, Christmas songs are played. You can't help but sing along. We got some hot cocoa with marshmallows and whipped cream and a hot dog. Both were delicious. You can get these at the cafe or cart. Best to purchase your tickets online to guarantee entry the day of. Parking is limited, first come first serve. Gift shop is near the exit.

Our pups usually go out with us at least a couple times a month but this summer, finding enough shade for them has been a challenge so they've been stuck at home. In comes Tucson Botanical Gardens and its awesome Dog Days of Summer event! June 1-Sept 30 your pup and you can visit the gardens! Dog tickets are 5$ or 20$ for their own membership and unlimited visits! TBG opens up bright and early at 7:30 and we visited pretty much everything at a really slow pace with plenty of breaks by 11:30. Rather than talk about all the cool plants you'll see, I wanted to take a moment and appreciate all the art we saw! There were beautiful tile mosaic benches and murals all over, bee nesting boxes that doubled as sculptures and giant sculptures of sea creatures made from plastic trash! Their trains are so much fun and we loved the miniature landmarks and historic sites and representations of National Parks. The waterfall was also incredible and the amazing volunteers on site not only kept the trains running, they were also happy to talk to folks about the exhibit. We stopped at Edna's Eatery and although all our drinks were delicious, the monkey bread we got tasted really old and the cream cheese frosting wasn't good and the pumpkin scone someone else got in our group was nothing special but at least it tasted fresh! We were starving so we ate them but I don't think we'd eat there again. We'd just stick to drinks. On a final note, 2 folks in our group have mobility issues and need frequent breaks so all the seating scattered throughout the gardens was perfect. You really didn't have to travel much at all before finding the next seating area. It was perfect for us. Don't wait to have out of town visitors to visit Tucson Botanical Gardens. Support this wonderful place year-round!

Beautiful gardens with butterfly area seasonally. I wish it were larger, but very fun for evening events. The starlight party was fun, and the Christmas lights are always a hit!

I love this amazing urban treasure! A peaceful BotanicalOasis plus housing Edna's Cafe. Edna's is the ultimate dinning room and has delicious, inspired selections for breakfasts, lunches and snacks. It's so perfect. Love it here.

This place is lovely. We went last night for the Lights Up event and it was beautiful. We walked around for over an hour enjoying all the lights, luminaries, and desert botanicals. I'm excited to go back during the daytime to see all the vegetation in daylight. We loved the train display! So cute :) I will be back next year for Lights Up!

Looking for a casual walk through gorgeous Christmas lights mixed in with luminaries and a special bonus of model trains with southwest buildings? Tucson Botanical Gardens is hosting their seasonal event, Lightsup, a festival of illumination! We purchased our tickets on their website. We arrived at our designated time, checked in and walked through the event at our leisure. The first thing you will see is a beautiful Christmas tree adorned with bird houses! It is so neat and so unique. The lights inside the gardens have different sections for different displays and the trees are saturated with lights. It is spectacular! Our favorite this year was the model train display. Sonoran desert model builders created beautiful buildings with miniature wreaths, trees, ristas, luminaries, and poinsettias. It truly is a must see. You will also have a chance to have your photo taken by a TBG volunteer at a beautiful light display, that was a special touch too! This event has become our family favorite!

My wife really wanted to come here for the butterflies. As far as botanical gardens go, Tucson's is a relatively small place. It's a quick walk through despite stopping and reading everything. It's relatively shaded, so it's certainly a nice place to visit on a hot day. There is a small enclosure for the Butterfly pavilion and it was nice that they regulated how many people were in there at a time. They said there were many different types of butterflies in the pavilion, but I only saw five to six different ones. And they had a huge moth in there, too. They have a small children's area, and plenty of places to sit and listen to the birds and relax. However, for $19 a person, it was a little steep for the size of the place. Cute, though.

I really don't like giving a negative review but the garden is a bit underwhelming. I've been to several botanical gardens in Texas and California so expectations might have been too high for this one. My main issue with the garden is that the price does not reflect the size and content of the garden. Yes, there are some interesting things to look at (the butterfly green house was a highlight) but not enough to warrant the cost.

Cool place to see on a Thursday morning! The admission fee it's a bit high at $18 per person but I guess you don't see this place more than once. Lovely trees and plants that you only see in Arizona. You can bring your dog with you and the admission fee is $5 per dog. I now have so many ideas on how to create my own lovely backyard somewhat similar to what the botanical garden has.

This venue is apparently in a major state of flux, having, according to the docent vending information, bought up some adjacent properties and received a commitment from a large donor, thereby facilitating significant expansion. If you're into model trains, a chunk of the garden has been turned into a big choo choo track. And there's a zen garden. But the mission seems to have veered away from cactus, succulents and native xeriscape. There is at the moment, so much less to see than when we were last here. I imagine that will change over time, but I doubt I'll be back. It would have been helpful to be advised the gardens were undergoing whatever this is.

I have loved TBG ever since I visited for an interview 17 years ago, and am proud to have served as a volunteer and member ever since! It is truly the jewel of Central Tucson, and easily navigable by people of various abilities. This month, we visited their annual holiday display Lights Up!, which is a must do for everyone who is physically in Tucson for the festive season. This was my second visit to this event, and I brought Tucsonans who had never visited and their reactions were really fun to watch. Between the colors, the music, the luminarias, the cocoa & cookies from the friendly vendors (kettle corn is also available!), the perfect Tucson evening, and the AWESOME gift shop with 50% off holiday merchandise...and an amazing inventory of gorgeous Tucson, AZ & desert-specific goods, this is one fabulous experience for the entire family. Runs through 1/7 and cranks back up in November. Make your plans! And a big shout out to their amazing staff & CEO!!

It's been a while since I have been to the gardens, so when I saw they were having community service day and the entrance fee was free I said why not? I was really pleasantly surprised at the improvements they've made in the garden since the last time I was there. One could easily spend an afternoon or the better part of a day, relaxing in the shade of the garden. My favorite part was the railroad garden. There were five or six trains running simultaneously. There were several on the ground and a couple running overhead. We spent so much time there, we didn't even make it into the butterfly house, which I have been to and know that it's amazing. This is a great place to spend a day ,not only for tourists but for locals as well .

This is for the Lights Up luminaria event. The lights and decorations were really well done. I liked all of it. The trees were wrapped up the trunks some up into the canopy. There were different sections, tunnel, dancing trees, star fall, luminaria lane. It was just magical. I liked it better than Zoo Lights from last year, but this is smaller. The whole way is marked by luminaries lit by white lights, even the path from the parking lot. They were selling bottled drinks as well as hot chocolate and coffee. Drinks were expensive though. We went opening weekend and nothing was burned out or dark in spots. The parking was easy, but I'm sure it will get crowded closer to the main holidays. It's a really good experience overall. Tickets seemed too high, but it is a fundraising event for the garden.

A nice, serene Botanical gardens in the desert. My favorite part was the butterfly house. Helpful, friendly volunteers. A great gift shop. Lots to see and learn.

I spent a little time here before hopping on a plane home. It's an interesting place to visit that will show you the wide variety of cacti from around the world, not just near Tucson. I particularly like the butterfly house, but it's really hot and humid so you can only stay for a little while.

Wandering through the Tucson Botanical Gardens offers a wonderful microcosm of the Sonoran Desert's rich environment, with beautiful cacti and succulent patches throughout. There are also herb gardens, composting exhibits, galleries, a gift shop, and a patio bistro (Edna's Eatery). There are also educational exhibits, including the family history associated with the acreage, and I look forward to seeing what types of community events may be offered in the future, such as music in the garden -- there's a lot they can do with this small but beautiful footprint. A lovely place to spend the afternoon!

Well worth a visit. Plan on at least two hours to take in all they have, including the butterfly house and the wonderful model trains. Plenty of shade and a wide variety of gardens on display. We will be going back.

Definitely come early if you can... We went to the TBG on a Friday morning. Pretty early about 10:30 or so. One, it was very peaceful. Two, it wasn't that hot yet. Three, not crowded at all. :) You'll see Lego artwork along several winding paths and a few small benches to enjoy the surroundings. Best part for me was definitely the butterfly garden. It was a little crowded when we passed by with a group of grade school kids. So we just circled back a short time later to enjoy many butterflies from Latin America, Mexico and of course the Arizona region. This exhibit is small but so worth it. If you have questions on what you are looking at just ask any of the staff members working here. Highly recommend.

What a great place! Thoroughly enjoyed our visit. A lot more shade than I thought there would be and plenty of benches and chairs to stop and linger or take a short rest. The plants and grounds are beautiful. A great display of the many colors and cactus of the desert. We also enjoyed walking through the butterfly house and watching all the butterflies fly around us. Great family outing. There is a nice shop to get a few souvenirs or treats. treats. A little surprise was the cafe where we ordered a couple very tasty iced teas and a bowl of salsa/guacamole. Sat in a little courtyard and enjoyed the shade and a cold beverage. Go check them out.... You will have a great time!

The best botanical garden and I've been to many. Absolutely loved the butterfly exhibit and the model train and historical building models and waterfall area. So charming. And a reasonable entrance price. Wonderful guide with lots of butterfly info. Highly recommend.

Took my dogs for a walk--the path was cool , beautiful and shady. They loved it and so did I. Believe that admissions or memberships for dogs are only available in the summer. Best walk in Tucson!

When in Tucson, (for whatever reason) GO HERE!! This place is small yet mighty! My girls (5,2) and my hubby and I legit had a great time here. The BUTTERFLY exhibit is a must see. So many beautiful butterflies of all sizes and varieties to see in the tropical temperature controlled green house! We got a discount on admission as well for checking in on Yelp! ($1 per ticket). LEGO SCULPTURES being displayed were an added bonus! Check out all the colorful pictures and you will see how cool they all looked. Cute gift shop! Have time, definitely visit!

Ample parking, friendly staff, and nice layout with areas of shade which helped on a hot sunny afternoon. Really cool place to hang out, I suggest earlier in the morning as the afternoon heat does limit time especially with older visitors like my mom-in-law. Plenty of benches, chairs to take a break and check out the birds, bees and butterflies. There are plenty of restrooms, a gift shop. The Butterfly Exhibit is definitely worth the price of admission, saw stuff that I never saw before. I was able to capture a few pics of the birds flying along the different plants. Definitely will be visiting again !!!

Wow what a fun & festive place for Holiday lights. We had so much fun and displays were great. My 2yr old granddaughter had a blast and she was able to run around. She danced at every speaker. So happy we got to see The Botanical Gardens at night.

The gardens were beautiful. Check the train schedule to be sure you visit on the days the train garden is operating. Not sure why proprietor believes political campaign pins from the 1970s to present are relevant to be displayed in the Porter / Yocum exhibit next to Quilts on display? ​

Great way to spend the afternoon in this beautiful Arizona weather. Beautiful plants and greenery.

Beautiful all around anytime of year! I've personally been able to go a handful of times now throughout each season and I have to say their luminary display at Christmastime is by far the best! (Even better than Winterhaven dare I say!). I brought my family from the East coast who enjoyed the lights and Arizona plant displays. You can purchase the tickets online in advance to guarantee your entry time during the holiday show. Parking is limited but you can park North of in the business lot of the garden lot is full.

Went for holiday light shows. Not really a show as much as plants with string lights and a few older large decorations that could use some repair. Disappointed for the price. 2 parents and 2 kids $96. I just didn't feel it was the same as advertised sadly. And the venue doesn't stagger admission of groups so very crowded on some nights. $25 or 30 would have been a fair price. For that price it would be a good starting effort. The highlight will be the train set with building miniatures in a crowded area toward the exit. Got spoiled in a small town in Oregon with moving light shows in twice the acreage for half the price. Perhaps they are trying to make up for low annual visitation. I know the one in Oregon also doubles as a wedding venue so they can keep prices affordable for all incomes. Volunteers also help control spending and encourage community involvement.

My colleagues and I had some free time after a nearby conference and decided to wander through the botanical gardens. We arrived a bit late and only spent about a half hour wandering right before they closed.. I can't imagine you would need much more time.. maybe an hour max? The gardens were beautiful, lots of cactus, flowers, and wildlife throughout and lots of places to sot and rest throughout.

What a beautiful experience. $15 admission (make sure you check in before you purchase your ticket)! If you are remotely in the area make some time. The butterfly area alone is with it but there are animals galore. Just as many butterflies on the outside.

Very small botanical garden but, laid out nicely and they seem to have good events. It only cost $15 to get in today. If there was another cool event, I might come back. I also like that they allow dogs to come in during the summertime. There's a lot of shade and dirt pads that would be cool in the mornings.

Butterfly & Orchid Pavilion had one Atlas Moth found in Asian forests. The rest of the place is ok especially if you're into plants.

This is a great place to visit in Tucson, especially if traveling with older people. Lots to see, with so much seating along the way.

One of my favorite places to visit in Tucson. I will never get tired of coming here. I have created so many memories. They are pet friendly but I'd recommend to contact the garden for further details. It's such a peaceful and beautiful place to be. If you're in Tucson I would add this to my top 5 places to visit.

Lovely gem of a garden close to UAZ. Features an herb garden, kitchen garden and other spaces which display speciality gardens. Corners with benches to sit and contemplate. During the winter and spring months - October to March - they feature a Butterfly and Orchid exhibit.

Absolutely loved this garden! It is the perfect size and has a wonderful layout to the beautiful gardens. The butterfly garden was one of the best I have ever seen, with very knowledgeable staff to answer questions. This is something not to miss when in Tucson.

OVERALL The Tucson Botanical Gardens was smaller than I anticipated, but still an extraordinary place to find inspiration and provide an educational adventure for my young ones. ENVIRONMENT It is in a rather peculiar area - that is, on a busy street right smack in the middle of the desert city, but then again the history of the place was fascinating. There was the expected native plants - especially cacti and succulents, however, I was pleasantly surprised by the plethora of rotating installments. The children's section was a hit with my girls particularly because they got to gently dig for worms. The butterfly exhibit was closed because we got there late. Boo! There were a couple of rotating art exhibitions that we appreciated. My oldest daughter loved watching the three chickens named Jasmine, Angelita, & Marigold. Both of my girls enjoyed the miniature train sets too. SERVICE When we checked in, the guy at the ticket booth didn't know about the Yelp check-in offer. It was the same as buying a ticket online - get a dollar off. He was not particularly friendly or welcoming which was a bit inconceivable. MY FAVORITE PART... The Zen Garden! My kids really want one now. If I build one, I'm not sharing. Lol. Just kidding. NOT SO FAVORITE PART... The price of the tickets on 11/20/21 was a bit steep even with the discount. $15 per adult. $8 for children ages 4-17. LITTLE YELPER'S CLUB They have a small children's garden that little ones will enjoy. PARKING They have their own lot with ample, free parking. TIP Check in to Yelp for $1 off regular admission, up to 4 admissions. "Cannot be combined with other offers or discounts. Special events not included." Adult tickets for ages 18-61 are $15 each while children 4-17 are $8 each. | Experience: 4 | Service: 3 | Environment: 4 | Price: 3 |

We went for the lights up festival. It was cute but expensive considering that the actual display was a lot shorter than the big map made it seem. The staff were all very friendly. My only other gripe is that the parking lot is small so it filled quickly for 6:45 admission time. There was a guy waving a flashlight to come in the lot and then right by the entrance was another girl walking up to each car saying the lot was full and we needed to go park at the Vasa Fitness parking lot. And she didn't go tell the guy it was full so he kept directing cars in.

This is such a great botanic garden, the perfect thing to do with a family on a mellow winter day. We loved the garden beds and the kids especially enjoyed the butterfly pavilion. We are heading back for the winter nighttime light show.