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Brooklyn Botanic Garden
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Brooklyn Botanic Garden

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See all things to do
Brooklyn Botanic Garden
4.5
2,495 reviews
#12 of 291 things to do in Brooklyn
Gardens
Read more
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Tuesday
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Wednesday
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Thursday
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Friday
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
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About
Brooklyn Botanic Garden is an urban botanic garden situated on 52 acres in the heart of Brooklyn, fostering delight and curiosity in the world of plants while inspiring an appreciation and sense of stewardship of the environment. The Garden also offers weddings and private event catering at the Palm House and Atrium, in a beautiful outdoor setting. Please note, Brooklyn Botanic Garden is open year-round, but hours vary seasonally. Be sure to visit bbg.org/visit before plan your visit.
Suggested duration
2-3 hours
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Top ways to experience Brooklyn Botanic Garden and nearby attractions

The area
Address
Neighborhood: Prospect Park
How to get there
  • Botanic Garden • 4 min walk
  • Eastern Parkway – Brooklyn Museum • 4 min walk
Best nearby
Restaurants
2,720 within 3 miles
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Brooklyn Botanic Garden
30
0.2 mi$$ - $$$ • American • Vegetarian Friendly
Lincoln Station
44
0.2 mi$$ - $$$ • Quick Bites • American • Cafe
Oxalis
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Chavela's
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Butter & Scotch
32
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Aita Trattoria
27
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Banh Mi Place
20
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Attractions
1,021 within 6 miles
Brooklyn Museum
1,628
0.1 miArt Galleries • Historic Sites
Brooklyn Public Library Central Branch
273
0.4 miLibraries
Grand Army Plaza
332
0.5 miPoints of Interest & Landmarks
Prospect Park
1,408
0.6 miParks
Prospect Park Zoo
213
0.4 miNature & Wildlife Areas • Zoos
Alexander Hamilton Statue
17
0.3 miMonuments & Statues
Soldiers' and Sailors' Memorial Arch
42
0.4 miPoints of Interest & Landmarks • Architectural Buildings
Smorgasburg-Prospect Park
158
0.7 miFlea & Street Markets
Brooklyn Bridge
25,764
Bridges
Park Slope
513
1 miNeighborhoods
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
2,495 reviews
Excellent
1,717
Very good
602
Average
136
Poor
24
Terrible
16
Justin W
Hasbrouck Heights, NJ3,017 contributions
Members Night: Nice night for a picnic but the choice of film was pretty bad
Aug 2022
I went to the first "Members Night" at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden that we had since before the pandemic. We normally have a Movie Night that is open only to the members every year and they show films like "Moonstruck" or "The Goonies" that are family but more adult like films. They showed this film that was so bad that it did not make sense and people were walking out halfway through the film. I never saw so many people leaving the gardens during a film.

The evening before it got dark was very nice though. We had time to tour the gardens, that were in full bloom, before it got dark. That was very impressive as many of the beds were lined with colorful flowers of the end of the summer and the lotuses were in bloom in the fountain beds.

Everything was so green at the garden and members could sit on the lawns and have picnics with their families. That was very nice. I brought in a Banh Mi sandwich from a place around the corner and just relaxed by one of the gardens and ate my dinner.

I toured the gardens for the rest of the evening before I joined the other members on the Cherry Blossom Lawn for the film. When I left about a half hour into the film, I would say about 50 people were leaving with me.

I still had a nice time regardless to the film and it was fun to tour the gardens in the late summer. They are so impressive at any time of the year. Some of the Rose beds were still in bloom and the Shakespear Garden was so colorful.
Written August 25, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Robert C
2 contributions
A delightful refuge in the middle of the city
Jun 2022
My sister took us to the Botanic Garden. A guide at the front desk gave us a concise summary of what was blooming and helped us plan an itinerary. A most friendly and engaging fellow. The gardens were spectacular, and we were thrilled to see the number of school children there: lots of positive energy. Our tour was short and sweet, however, we could imagine coming back just to soak in the beauty and serenity. Fabulous!
Written June 9, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
LnS2004
Cypress, CA6,104 contributions
Beautiful Calming Green Space
Oct 2022 • Family
We really enjoyed our brief visit to this park with our son and his family on a sunny Friday afternoon. He has annual membership and this is one of their favorite place to spend quality family time outdoors. We could readily see why this peaceful space could be very enticing: the garden was gorgeously lush and picturesque; and the absence of noisy crowd and active foot traffic gave it a calming aura. Our walk started with the beautiful photogenic Japanese section followed by the rose garden, ending at the field lined by cherry blossom trees which must be a glorious sight in Spring.
Written October 17, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Jason
2 contributions
The Visitor Services Team is terrible.
Aug 2020
This review has nothing to do with the gardens themselves, which are beautiful and we always enjoy our time visiting.

This review is for the visitor services team, specifically the Director of Visitor Services.

We purchased tickets to the gardens for Sunday 8/16. After I purchased the tickets, I realized that there was an option to choose "Free Week" tickets. Unfortunately, the website did not state when "Free Week" was, it just gave you the option to select free tickets. I did not want to run into an issue when we arrived (since they were operating with timed ticket entrance during the pandemic) and I opted to just purchase the tickets at full price. Upon inquiry to the visitor services team, I was told that it is in fact "Free Week" and that they agreed that they should probably put the dates up on the website. I proceeded to ask if I could get a refund on my full price tickets, so I could choose the free ones instead.

This turned into a long email chain of back and forth with both the visitor services team (multiple staff members) AND their ticket service provider. Ultimately, the Director of Visitor Services told me that she felt that all of the necessary information for Free Week was up on the website and that it was entirely my fault for purchasing full priced tickets. She did not seem to understand that I reached out 4 days before our trip to request an exchange or a refund, that we NEVER went to the gardens and redeemed our full price tickets, and that it was ultimately my fault and "per their policy" she would not be giving me a refund. Even though there was zero exchange of value or resources.

It certainly felt like a power trip experience and I am baffled that they would not refund two tickets to two people who never even redeemed the tickets and tried to reach out more than 72 hours in advance.

10/10 - We always recommend the gardens to friends and family
0/10 - We do not recommend any interaction with Visitor Services as they are not very nice. Do not expect flexibility, understanding, or human decency.
Written August 17, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Justin W
Hasbrouck Heights, NJ3,017 contributions
A nice early Spring walk around the Gardens
Mar 2022
I went to the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens on the first day of Spring to see what might be in bloom and the whole garden was starting to wake from the Winter months.

Daffodil Hill was starting to bloom, and the crocuses were starting to open up and the gardens started to look more colorful. We still have at least a week or so before they peak. The Magnolia Trees are starting to bloom and the smell is nice around the gardens and the grass is greener than before. Spring is on its way.

What is also nice is that they have a ten minute music presentation every hour on the hour in the Cherry Blossom court and it is nice to just relax on the lawn and listen to the music.
Written March 23, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Terrin B
4 contributions
Brooklyn botanical museum and gardens
Jun 2022 • Couples
We had a great day visiting the museum and garden. The garden was beautiful and spacious. Great meandering paths and ominous trees frame the property. A beautiful lake and a Japanese style landscape which appears somewhat tropical with the application of a variety of foliage and flowers. They have a great bonsai collection under Glass and beautiful gardens. There is plenty of open space and grass areas as well and a beautiful rose garden! This is a qualified review because I was a landscape designer in South Florida for my whole career and just recently retired.
Written June 26, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Paul M
1 contribution
Nice but expense
Nov 2022
The Brooklyn Garden light show is is nice evening event to consider. However it is not worth the $40.00 per adult price. There are very nice displays and some that are hard to understand. Over all we had a nice walk thru garden and enjoyed ourselves.
Written December 5, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
old-man-orange
Orange, CT283 contributions
LIGHTSCAPE - incredibly well done !!
Dec 2021
We went on a Saturday night to wander around BBG after dark to see Lightscape.

The entire experience was so well done. The ticketing and admission on my iPhone was good, the check in process smooth.

You begin at the Washington St entrance and wandered along the route throughout the entire Gardens. The various displays were outstanding and all different and many had music. Since it was dark the flow was in one direction and exited at the side which was well thought out.

Overall this is a great way to visit the garden in winter - as we always go in warm weather during daylight.
Written December 5, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Greg Harris
Yonkers, NY1,529 contributions
Greg & Kat’s Brooklyn Botanical Garden Experience.
Aug 2021 • Couples
The Brooklyn Botanical Garden, located in Mount Prospect Park of Brooklyn, NY is a breathtaking and beautiful garden and one that boasts an incredible amount of gorgeous attractions.

In August of 2021, I brought and treated my wife and myself for a visit to the Brooklyn Botanical Garden and we were both amazed and dazzled by its specialty gardens.

We loved exploring the Japanese Hill & Pond Garden and we took great pictures of the garden’s architectural elements such as the wooden bridges, stone lanterns and a Japanese temple dedicated to Inari. Both my wife and I found the pond to be the garden’s highlight due to its calm serenity, and great blending with the garden’s architectural features.

We also did some sightseeing of the Steinhardt Conservatory and enjoyed viewing the aquatic plant house, and the three climate themed plant pavilions.

All in all, both my wife and I very much loved our visit of the Brooklyn Botanical Garden and we highly recommend for everyone to visit this stunning attraction!!!
Written August 17, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
wherehaveinotbeenyet
Manchester, UK415 contributions
Gem in the heart of Brooklyn
Nov 2021
This is a fantastic gem in the heart of Brooklyn. Even though I went in Autumn when all the flowers were gone, it was still worth a visit. The spectacular oranges, reds and yellows were a feast for the eyes. At this time of year it's also 'Pay What You Wish' which is an added reason to visit. The Japanese Garden with its pagoda is an extra special highlight, and if you have children with you there are also exploratory areas geared towards them. The garden is not massive, but you can easily spend 3 hours here as there is so much to see.
Written November 30, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Brooklyn Botanic Garden - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go

Frequently Asked Questions about Brooklyn Botanic Garden
Brooklyn Botanic Garden is open:
  • Tue - Fri 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
  • Sat - Sun 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Buy tickets in advance on Tripadvisor. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel at least 24 hours before the start date of your tour for a full refund.
We recommend booking Brooklyn Botanic Garden tours ahead of time to secure your spot. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. See all 3 Brooklyn Botanic Garden tours on Tripadvisor
Restaurants near Brooklyn Botanic Garden: View all restaurants near Brooklyn Botanic Garden on Tripadvisor