Lurie Garden
Lurie Garden
4.5
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The area
Neighborhood: Millennium Park
How to get there
- Adams/Wabash • 6 min walk
- Randolph/Wabash • 7 min walk
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3,023 within 3 miles
Attractions
1,011 within 6 miles
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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
126 reviews
Excellent
75
Very good
34
Average
12
Poor
4
Terrible
1
Monique R
34 contributions
May 2022
We stumbled onto this small park tucked within larger Millennium Park just before sunset. What a hidden gem! Soft shades of blue, yellow, purple, pink and white, with the stunning skyscraper skyline as a backdrop. I especially liked that many of the plants are North American Natives and that the gardeners left last year's plant stubble over the winter to provide habitat for insects and other small creatures. While everyone else is gawking at the Bean, go out of your way to enjoy this quiet, beautiful spot!
Written June 10, 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.
dese2
Auburn, NY3,632 contributions
Jul 2022
This is such a beautiful spot in Millennium Park, but it can almost be missed. Despite my research I didn't know about this park before arriving. I walked by on my way to the Lake Michigan waterfront.
I visited two times while in Chicago over the weekend. It was very close to my hotel and made an excellent evening walk after a day indoors conferencing.
The garden is free and easy to enter on Monroe St. just opposite the Art Institute.
Walk around to see all the flowers and maybe catch a glimpse of animals carrying-on.
Boards along the way will help you identify flowers.
Of course, the array of flowers will be seasonal. The park covers five acres and according to the web page is open all year round.
My only regret is that I didn't take more photos. I was too busy enjoying the experience!
I visited two times while in Chicago over the weekend. It was very close to my hotel and made an excellent evening walk after a day indoors conferencing.
The garden is free and easy to enter on Monroe St. just opposite the Art Institute.
Walk around to see all the flowers and maybe catch a glimpse of animals carrying-on.
Boards along the way will help you identify flowers.
Of course, the array of flowers will be seasonal. The park covers five acres and according to the web page is open all year round.
My only regret is that I didn't take more photos. I was too busy enjoying the experience!
Written July 31, 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.
Irina
United States14,598 contributions
Jun 2022
The striking beauty of Lurie Garden is in the natural prairie looks, contrasting with the modern design of the urban park with shaded walkways, benches, a boardwalk, multiple information boards, etc. This public park is named after Ann Lourie, who donated millions of dollars to build and develop the park.
Both parts of the park -- Dark Plate and Light Plate -- represent the natural flora of the Midwest -- perennial flowers, plants, trees, various types of prairie grasses. The park is open all the year round, so you can enjoy the change of colors along the change of seasons. The Dark Plate looks like a giant green wall of tall trees, densely planted and trimmed, thus providing extra shade for visitors in the summertime.
By the time of our visit (end of June), the garden looked like a vast prairie land, with not too many flowers blooming. It was nice and pleasant to stroll and relax in the shaded alleyways of the garden.
Lurie Garden is well marked, it is located in the Millennium Park, just some minutes of leisurely walk to its main attractions -- Great Lawn and Jay Pritzker Pavilion, Promenade, sculptures, fountains, restaurants and cafes, and many other attractions. The Chicago Skyline looks absolutely spectacular from Lurie Garden!
Both parts of the park -- Dark Plate and Light Plate -- represent the natural flora of the Midwest -- perennial flowers, plants, trees, various types of prairie grasses. The park is open all the year round, so you can enjoy the change of colors along the change of seasons. The Dark Plate looks like a giant green wall of tall trees, densely planted and trimmed, thus providing extra shade for visitors in the summertime.
By the time of our visit (end of June), the garden looked like a vast prairie land, with not too many flowers blooming. It was nice and pleasant to stroll and relax in the shaded alleyways of the garden.
Lurie Garden is well marked, it is located in the Millennium Park, just some minutes of leisurely walk to its main attractions -- Great Lawn and Jay Pritzker Pavilion, Promenade, sculptures, fountains, restaurants and cafes, and many other attractions. The Chicago Skyline looks absolutely spectacular from Lurie Garden!
Written January 21, 2023
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.
Coastal44749708791
1 contribution
Aug 2024 • Friends
Used to come to Lurie Garden once a week in the summer. It’s been horribly neglected in the past few years. No longer a world class garden nor true to Piet Oudolf’s design. Please start reinvesting in Lurie Garden!
Written August 23, 2024
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.
Irina
United States14,598 contributions
Jun 2017 • Solo
These 2,5 acres of seasonally blooming beauty split the Millennium Park in a natural way. Its dark plate is a green wall of very densely planted tall trees with some flowers that love shade (hence the name 'dark'). And of course the light plate is all about different types of prairie grass, shrubs, bulbs, and a multi-colored ocean of flowers. Only perennial flowers, needs to be noticed.
I visited this garden at the end of June -- too late for bright-colored tulips, too early for coneflowers and asters. The garden was in between the blooming seasons, in subdued hues, but nonetheless very attractive.
I have to say that if one expects a traditional look of the garden with 'combed' flowerbeds that won't be the case . Lurie Garden preserves that natural prairie looks that is so particular of the Midwest. And this is wonderful: it has all the four seasons to grow and gradually, unassumingly change.
The detailed description of this striking garden can be found in many Chicago guide books, so I won't go into details. Believe me, if you are a gardener - you'll love this garden. If you happen to be just an urban explorer of the city sites you'll be stunned at how unexpectedly vast (even wild), and powerfully gorgeous it is, how fantastic those skyscrapers in the background look. The garden has a boardwalk, properly marked. The flowers and plants are not labeled - you have to know (guess, or ask) what you are looking at!
All kinds of guided tours, lectures, demonstrations are also being offered at Lurie Garden. The garden is right across the Arts Institute of Chicago, and it is easily entered from Monroe St.
And of course, you might wonder who we might thank for this beauty. It was Ann Lourie who donated 10 million dollars to build and develop this gorgeous park.
I visited this garden at the end of June -- too late for bright-colored tulips, too early for coneflowers and asters. The garden was in between the blooming seasons, in subdued hues, but nonetheless very attractive.
I have to say that if one expects a traditional look of the garden with 'combed' flowerbeds that won't be the case . Lurie Garden preserves that natural prairie looks that is so particular of the Midwest. And this is wonderful: it has all the four seasons to grow and gradually, unassumingly change.
The detailed description of this striking garden can be found in many Chicago guide books, so I won't go into details. Believe me, if you are a gardener - you'll love this garden. If you happen to be just an urban explorer of the city sites you'll be stunned at how unexpectedly vast (even wild), and powerfully gorgeous it is, how fantastic those skyscrapers in the background look. The garden has a boardwalk, properly marked. The flowers and plants are not labeled - you have to know (guess, or ask) what you are looking at!
All kinds of guided tours, lectures, demonstrations are also being offered at Lurie Garden. The garden is right across the Arts Institute of Chicago, and it is easily entered from Monroe St.
And of course, you might wonder who we might thank for this beauty. It was Ann Lourie who donated 10 million dollars to build and develop this gorgeous park.
Written September 16, 2017
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.
Jydeoo
Lagos, Nigeria2,311 contributions
Jan 2020
I visited here, as part of my visit to Millennium Park. Being someone that loves nature, the garden was a delight to me.
Written June 13, 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.
AMohsen
Port Said, Egypt687 contributions
May 2019
It worths a visit and having a look for a variety of pretty flowers. It is a well-maintained park and it is located in the great Miliniieum Park.
Written April 25, 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.
Laura B
Indianapolis, IN47 contributions
Jul 2019 • Family
My favorite place in Chicago- absolutely stunning gardens juxtaposed with the skyline of the city. Butterflies abound. Sit next to the water or wade into it to cool off.
Written July 8, 2019
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.
Rachael H
Harrisburg OH7 contributions
Apr 2018
Everyone should experience the Lurie Garden at Millenium Park. As a Landscape Architect who focuses on planting design, I can't say how inspiring and comforting and alluring and compelling this garden is to me, personally. But you don't have to be a designer to appreciate a walk through at any season! A Must-see while visiting Chicago.
Written March 19, 2019
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.
Andy R
Chicago, IL84 contributions
Sep 2018 • Couples
Lovely, well-maintained urban flower garden that seems to get better each year. While it's right next to the Bean and the Pritzker Pavilion, it's a joyful space and definitely worth a visit throughout the seasons when visiting Millennium Park. There are early morning tours in the Spring and throughout the summer to become familiar with the many and varied flowers planted there. It's right across the street from the Art Institute of Chicago so can cover them both in the same trip.
Written October 20, 2018
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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