Denver Botanic Gardens - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)
Denver Botanic Gardens
Denver Botanic Gardens
4.5
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
About
Spanning more than 24 acres, Denver Botanic Gardens at York Street presents a wide range of gardens and collections that illustrate an ever-widening diversity of plants from all corners of the world. Distinctive gardens define and celebrate our Western identity and a unique high altitude climate and geography. We are passionate about connecting people to plants through botanical beauty, education, art, events, conservation and sustainable living.
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Admission tickets
from $15.75
All you need to step foot in the door.
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  • urbanguy
    Richmond, Virginia4,635 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    There Were Some Bonuses to Our Visit
    We visited on July 1, and I'm not sure if there any flowers not in bloom. The garden was full of colors, shapes, and forms. The "Bonuses:" (1) An exhibit of Ansel Adams' photographs. As I'm sitting here on my computer in our "playroom," I have on 3 of these walls a total of TWELVE Ansel Adams' photographs. Obviously, a favorite of mine. (2) There was a very interesting film about the Amache Natl. Historic Site, formerly known as the Granada (Colorado) Relocation Center. This was an internment "camp" for Japanese-Americans from 1942-1945. Having visited Manzanar in California, I was very interested in the subject matter of the film, which was very well done.
    Visited July 2023
    Written July 6, 2023
  • desertswim
    Berlin, Connecticut130 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    One of the Best
    I really enjoyed Denver's Botanic Gardens. They had plants from all different climates, an orangerie, a Japanese Garden, an interactive building for the kiddos, a bonsai area, a hothouse with orchids and other tropical items, and a large lily pool. There is also an informational center that had an exhibit of Ansel Adams photographs (the exhibits rotate, but I was lucky, since Adams is one of my favorites).
    Visited June 2023
    Written August 13, 2023
  • jrzj42
    Ellicott City, Maryland1,563 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Excellent gardens
    A surprisingly good selection of plants, trees, etc., arrange in very nice settings. Easy to spend a few hours walking the paths and enjoying all that the botanic gardens has to offer. Worth a repeat visit.
    Visited October 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written October 22, 2023
  • CrystalEats
    South Bend, Indiana125 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Blossom of Lights
    This was an absolutely gorgeous display of lights. Holiday music drifts in the air, lights seem to cover nearly every inch in different shapes and colors. It’s a one way path and you should amble at a leisurely pace as it’s just under a mile. I high recommend for any age.
    Visited November 2023
    Traveled with friends
    Written November 26, 2023
  • Cecilia S
    3 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Denver Botanic Gardens: Urban Nature Escape
    Denver Botanic Gardens is like a green sanctuary in the city. The gardens are a mix of beautiful plants and calming vibes, making it a perfect escape for families and anyone who loves nature. It's not just a garden; it's a place that feels alive and teaches you cool stuff about plants. With its cozy nooks and changing displays, it's a chill spot to connect with nature right in the heart of Denver.
    Visited September 2023
    Traveled with friends
    Written December 25, 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles5,806 reviews
Excellent
4,427
Very good
1,088
Average
212
Poor
54
Terrible
25

Jennifer W
Santa Ana, CA3 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2021 • Couples
We visited on Saturday May 1, 2021 and we were surprised at the fact that the majority of the garden was dead... there were very few flowers in bloom. I think you would see more greenery at the park down the street. I thought springtime would be an ideal time to visit a botanic garden but I guess not in Colorado?

It was also extremely packed to the point where it was not fun, and many of the exhibits were still closed due to covid.. you would think if there were still closed exhibits that maybe they would try to limit the capacity ? They had an online ticketing system when we came, you could not purchase tickets in person, and you had to reserve a time slot. However once you go in you’re not limited on how long you can spend there, so by the time we got there in the afternoon it was just packed to the brim with people. They have signs everywhere suggesting people wear masks but around half the people there were not wearing masks. Which might have been okay if it hadn’t been so extremely packed.

This was a waste of money and a waste of time, worst botanic gardens I’ve ever been to. The one sore spot of an otherwise great trip to Denver.
Written May 2, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Kerri D
1 contribution
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2021
I traveled to Denver to see the Botanical Gardens specifically with my entire family. We were celebrating my daughters one year cancer free remission date. When we arrived at the Botanical gardens, parking was a nightmare. We then proceed to go to the ticket booth to purchase tickets. We are a military family so the discount was nice. However, my husband has severe PTSD and has our dog; and American Bully to ease his anxiety and paranoia at times in crowds. As we had already paid for 4 tickets to enter the garden when we were stopped by an extremely rude Botanical Garden security and he stated that " If the dog does not have a working dog vest he can not be let in." I had just paid for 4 tickets mind you, so the special celebratory trip was missing a parent and beloved pet because of some security persons ideals. Also I was not refunded my money then, I had to call a main office and was told it would be three to four days to receive my money back. That is crap!
My husband had to wait in the car while my daughters and I looked at the garden. While walking around the garden there were 4 other dogs running around in Halloween costumes. These costumes were not service dog vests. I felt discriminated against because of how my dog looked. The day was ruined, and not good at all. The Gardens were hard to find one's way around and boring. So many areas were closed off due to weddings and events happening. This is a very horrible place to go . Do not waste your money, all of the reviews on google state it is absolutely amazing. Keep scrolling to see how many horrible reviews there are. Please keep scrolling to see the one star reviews that never show up. I would hope that the Botanical Gardens would apologize to my family and my pet, however I will not hold my breath. Put your money towards something that is really family friendly.
Written October 11, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Amanda D
Houston, TX113 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2020
Family of four visited on July 4, 2020. The gardens are very pretty and scenic, if your interested in plants. Masks were required, even for small children. A lot of exhibits were closed, but there we a number of accessible restrooms. Parking was free, but admission for 2 adults and 2 children was around $53.
Written July 9, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Melissa H
Denver, CO97 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020
Absolutely magical!!! My family and I attended January 3rd. We were unable to park in the Botanic Gardens parking lot so found off site parking (challenging since a lot of the area surrounding the gardens is for permits only) we had a chilly walk of about 4 blocks to the gardens. Our tickets were for 7pm and we got there early but it was not a problem, they let us right in. I was stunned by the amazing light displays and all of the work that would go into creating such a winter wonderland! The pictures I took on my camera just didn't do it justice. There was a projection show of Santa placing presents under a tree in a window of one of the houses that are around the property and even my teen boys thought it was cool! I felt like a little kid walking around with wide eyes and a permanent smile in place. Completely worth the drive to Denver and appropriate for all ages. We loved it and would do it again and again!
Written January 12, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

RYC88
Centreville, VA1,315 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2022
There is a parking area across the street, but the underground parking is not obvious, so don't think the top surface lot is all the parking there is. There are signs that say tickets must be purchased before entering the main building and you can do that by scanning the QR code, however, once you enter the building, there are staff members at the desk selling admission passes. I'm assuming they are trying to keep the staff from being overwhelmed with sales. The actual grounds are fabulous, beautifully laid out, and with plenty of signs with information on the flora and fauna. All the various sections are so thoughtful and the use of water features and sculpture and landscaping is wonderful. It's a huge complex and it's just beautiful and well worth a visit.
Written July 7, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Mary M
Denver, CO7 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2019
We love botanic gardens! The Denver gardens are a special treat. No matter what the season, there is something interesting to see. The building that houses the tropical plants and rainforest is a one of a kind, must see, piece of architecture! Throughout the gardens are lovely sitting areas for a quiet moment of observation or a picnic. Two restaurants provide lovely food. During the summer months the Denver Botanic Gardens hosts some pretty big name outdoor concerts where you are welcome to bring your own picnic dinner and bottle of wine. It is just a very special place!
Written March 5, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

bokie007
Annandale, VA6 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020 • Friends
On my business travels I usually make it a point to visit botanical gardens, just to get away from the stresses of work.

These sprawling gardens are of the best I’ve seen, even though it’s the dead of winter, I can only imagine how vibrant they are in warmer months.

There are indoor exhibits to check out such as a rain forest; a phenomenal display of orchids; unusual plants and trees (eg. coffee & chocolate); a very copacetic Japanese garden with its huge koi pond; a succulents and cacti garden. Etc.

If in Denver and you love exploring flora & fauna or you are an avid gardener, I urge you to check out this one, you’ll leave with a heart full of love and peace.
Written February 29, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

mjmees
Longmont, CO10 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2019
We had out of state family visiting at Christmas. In the past we have visited zoo lights at Christmas and wanted to do something different. We loved the Christmas lights. We were kept on a path so as to see everything. I was so impressed with the experiences we were exposed to. There were special eye glasses to look through that allowed us to see candy canes on the trees. We walked through a covered walkway
with lights dancing and other such special features.
Written January 9, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Cyn
14 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2021 • Solo
Stunning, lush gardens. Beautiful design with pathways that leads to a multitude of garden spaces. Many benches with places to sit in the shade and take in the wonder of it all.

I tour botanic gardens wherever I travel and this is one of the best. Treat yourself to lunch in the cafe (the quiche is amazing) and plan to spend at least a couple of hours in the gardens to appreciate nature’s beauty.
Written June 19, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

MelissaWP
Shorewood, IL493 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2021
After vacationing in various cities around Colorado, this was my favorite spot we visited. We immediately gravitated to the striking Chihuly sculpture that we love finding in various locations we visit. There were so many numerous varieties of flowers and plants with such vibrant colors that it was easy to slowly stroll through and difficult to leave this place. If I lived in Denver, I could easily make frequent visits here to peacefully relax.
Written September 18, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Denver Botanic Gardens - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

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