San Diego Botanic Garden
DID YOU KNOW? The San Diego Botanic Garden Has Been Named One of TOP 10 North American Gardens Worth Travelling For!
Located 30 minutes north of San Diego in Encinitas, California, the 37-acre San Diego Botanic Garden offers visitors a chance to see all sorts of lovely foliage: rare bamboo groves, desert gardens, a tropical rainforest, California native plants, Mediterranean climate landscapes, succulent gardens, an herb garden, a subtropical fruit garden, and native coastal sage natural areas. It’s a wondrous place! Kids love the Hamilton Children’s Garden and its climbing structures, a petting zoo, interesting crafts, and a new scavenger hunt every month! Discover their variety of inspiring and creative classes and special events that happen throughout the year!
Some of the gardens at the Botanic Gardens include:
African Garden
Along a sandstone ridge discover unusual plants from showy African tulip trees to water-smart succulents and cycads.
Bamboo Garden
Experience the exotic drama of the nation’s largest collection of bamboo. Marvel at the giant timber bamboo.
Bird and Butterfly Garden
Discover flowers and plants that attract butterflies and hummingbirds to your yard. Located by Hamilton Children’s Garden.
Hamilton Children’s Garden
Here you can climb Toni’s Tree House in a jungle canopy, hop through an elephant foot tree forest, see live quail, play in a mountain stream, make music, and so much more.
Herb Garden
See a selection of medicinal and culinary herbs from around the world located around a giant Mysore fig.
Jon Thorn
22:27 17 Feb 22
The nighttime Valentine's Day experience was great! I got an email about the event several days in advance since my wife and I are members. Being made aware of this event was appreciated and it was really easy to buy tickets via the website. It was a really unique experience to have at the gardens. The lighting was very nice and they had scent stations which I thought was a nice addition. Can't wait to visit again during daylight hours!
Katie Armstrong
16:53 11 Feb 22
My husband and I love to have long walks in the botanical garden at least once every few months. The lookout tower is an amazing spot, but the Mexican Garden is my favorite. There are so many beautiful spots in this garden - it's soothing to my body and soul to be around in such calming environment. Just sitting on the bench and sharing silence sometimes is the best way to level with our daily stress.
Topher Taylor
05:36 14 Jan 22
The largest path is completely paved and has some inclines, but nothing crazy. There are lots of side paths, almost all of which are wide enough for most wheelchairs, but wheelchair users might need some assistance going up certain hills. Even if there are stairs, there is another accessible path to reach the same spot, so look for the alternate route. It's an amazing and gorgeous place!
Ian Lenahan
15:16 19 Dec 21
THE place to get married in San Diego, a great day trip destination for locals, and a "must visit" for vacationers in the San Diego area. The garden is the most beautiful in the US and the staff is very friendly and knowledgeable. My family really enjoys visiting annually during the holiday season to see the Christmas light displays through the garden, and as a bonus we get to see Santa! This garden is an excellent option and very cost friendly for couples looking to get married at an outdoor venue. My wife and I were married here in 2018 and our guests still talk about how beautiful the day was! Enjoy!
Michael Truong Nguyen
21:29 08 Dec 21
We visited this unique garden a few weeks back to see the corpse flower in bloom. The biggest flower I have ever seen. The kids had a lot of fun climbing the tree house. We hiked to the overlook for the ocean view. The staff is very friendly and helpful. Decoration for holiday lights were being installed. Will be back.
Holly
15:24 03 Nov 21
The reviews and ratings don't lie! What a beautiful place to be. We came to see the magnificent corpse flower. We had an amazing experience. The garden is tended to by many friendly and knowledgeable employees. Not only it's a food for soul, but the garden is also kid friendly. There's plenty of places to run, discover and even a few play structures. Definitely coming back and recommend!
Patricia Crockett
22:07 19 Oct 21
This botanical garden is wonderful! They have many shows, the World of Orchids may have been the best orchid show I’ve ever seen. September had a lovely bromeliad show. An enormous Corpse Flower is about to bloom any day now! If you can, take time to walk and visit the … children’s garden … butterfly garden … tropical gardens with waterfalls … the small bamboo forest that leads to a pond filled with turtles and dragonflies everywhere! There’s so much to see, bring a picnic and have a great day outdoors!
Jack Marrin
01:14 02 Oct 21
The San Diego Botanic Garden has more species of plants than any other botanical garden I have been to. There is something for everyone, even a large kids garden with plenty of docents to help. The gardens range from a sub tropical rain forest to desert gardens to palm gardens. You name it and they have it. Beautifully maintained and worth several visits.
Jenny Branson
20:11 17 Sep 21
Not only is this one of the most beautiful, and magical spots I’ve ever been to in Southern California, the staff is amazing. Helpful. Kind. Conscientious. And Josh, in membership, is fantastic! He helped my mother get tickets to a special event because she was confused on the computer. He took extra time and care to get everything was all set. Thank you, Josh!
This is a very special place with special people.
This is a very special place with special people.
Johnny Law
01:27 05 Jul 21
I was so impressed with these gardens I converted my day pass into an annual membership. 🌳🌴🌺
The gardens does a great job packing in every imaginable flower and plant into every inch of the garden's grounds. They even had the corpse flower, something I only thought I would see in a documentary.
The staff is friendly and knowledgeable. Plus I loved how they designed parts of the garden to engage and educate children. I have never seen a botanical gardens do it this well. Bravo!
I am only disappointed that I waited over a year to visit them since moving here.
The gardens does a great job packing in every imaginable flower and plant into every inch of the garden's grounds. They even had the corpse flower, something I only thought I would see in a documentary.
The staff is friendly and knowledgeable. Plus I loved how they designed parts of the garden to engage and educate children. I have never seen a botanical gardens do it this well. Bravo!
I am only disappointed that I waited over a year to visit them since moving here.
Gray Strickland
00:36 03 Jun 21
A VERY LOVELY BOTANIC GARDEN!
We are sustaining members of our own hometown botanical garden, which allows us to visit all of the gardens in the US which are members of the American Horticultural Society Reciprocal Admissions Program (nearly all in the country) for free or at a reduced price. Consequently, we have visited botanical gardens all over the country for years. So we can say with authority that the San Diego Botanical Garden is top rate, well curated and lovingly cared for - and they have many species which I haven't seen elsewhere. There are bigger gardens (hello Dallas, hello Chicago...), but don't miss this one if you have the opportunity. You will be pleased.
We are sustaining members of our own hometown botanical garden, which allows us to visit all of the gardens in the US which are members of the American Horticultural Society Reciprocal Admissions Program (nearly all in the country) for free or at a reduced price. Consequently, we have visited botanical gardens all over the country for years. So we can say with authority that the San Diego Botanical Garden is top rate, well curated and lovingly cared for - and they have many species which I haven't seen elsewhere. There are bigger gardens (hello Dallas, hello Chicago...), but don't miss this one if you have the opportunity. You will be pleased.
Logan Swiecki-Taylor
02:54 01 Jun 21
🌸💮🏵️🌹🌺🌻🌼🌷🌱🪴🌲🌳🌴🌵You must see with your own eyes 👀 to experience just how beautiful this botanic garden truly is. May I interject, the various species are WELL marked. If you're present and take your time you will experience many beautiful intricate ecosystems. Exquisitely maintained. No litter 🚮! Bring sunscreen, reusable♻️water bottle, sunglasses 😎 & or a hat🧢, and good walking shoes 👟! Enjoy! #respectitdontneglectit
Eric Christensen
15:07 28 May 21
Absolutely beautiful garden. I would highly recommend spending the money and time. The price of admission is very acceptable for the amount of work that goes into maintaining this garden. It takes about two hours to make it through the whole garden at a steady pace.
I love that they have different sections based on where the plants and trees come from in the world, so at one moment you feel like your walking through the Australian outback and the next your waking through a Chinese bamboo forest! Beautiful plants and trees, extremely vibrant flowers and plenty of shade.
I love that they have different sections based on where the plants and trees come from in the world, so at one moment you feel like your walking through the Australian outback and the next your waking through a Chinese bamboo forest! Beautiful plants and trees, extremely vibrant flowers and plenty of shade.
Bharath Bharadwaj
05:35 11 May 21
Amazing fair like environment with live band and delicious food to go with artistic vibe! There are a lot of stalls for vegetarian and vegan food! Walkable distance from Oceanside pier. Really interesting place for locals and tourists alike! They just opened up the marker after a long break due to covid situation.
Tiffany Albert
21:32 10 May 21
Such a wonderful place to go spend an afternoon. Getting the yearly pass is totally worth it in my opinion. Parking is free. Bathrooms are open however the concession stand is not yet. With your yearly pass you get 2 additional passes for friends or family so we were able to take the in laws. Plus you get access to other parks around the country. Dogs are not allowed unless they're service animals. Added just a few pics from our last trip but there is so much more to see and experience.
Adriana H
20:54 24 Apr 21
This place is breathtaking! A perfect place to spend some time with family and you get a great workout! I love that you do have to make a reservation to go, it's definitely not crowded at all. You feel comfortable to walk without feeling like you're shoulder to shoulder with someone.
K Sparrow
00:34 16 Apr 21
As it was a 1st time visit for my 5 year old granddaughter and I, we enjoyed every step, from the children's tree house to the look out tower. You'll find that getting lost only enlightens to a new adventure. Be prepared to walk up and down hills and to rest at many bench locations that you need. We heard many birds singing and we saw lizards, a butterfly, singing humming birds, bees, guppies at the top of the waterfall, 2 black crows, and many types of flowers, trees and bushes. There are small labeled signs and larger colorful ones full of information. We saved the glass building of orchids for last. Bring a snack and water. Bathrooms are available. Hope you enjoy as we did. 🌿
Savonne Castro-Johnson
11:34 21 Mar 21
This place is HUGE lots to look at & to think some parts are closed because of the pandemic. They have a fun interactive children's section which is always a plus. I'll put a warning since no one else did. It isn't completely stroller friendly for those with kids. Be prepared for a LOT of hills, inclines, & stairs & some unpaved areas. It's perfect for spring time since it's not too hot. The herbs & floral sculpture statues in the Mexican garden are a nice touch. &of course great for pictures. The front desk staff is friendly too (whoever was working at 3PM today) It would be a 5 star review but you kinda have to see the things twice or miss a few things if you have a stroller still a great garden.
Martha Emma
20:14 09 Mar 21
What a relaxing afternoon spent walking and learning about the plants. I had not been since my kids were little, as now they are teenagers and I was pleasantly surprised with the new entrance gate. The online reservation system was easy, although it should be posted before people get in line to avoid delays. Other than that, a good way to spend outside in nature.
Michael Lyons
01:16 21 Feb 21
Great variety of living green things... Which is like saying look at the drops of water in the sea. The scope and scale of the garden is impressive no matter how large your green thumb may be. Visit, enjoy the fresh coastal air and smell the flowers. You won't be disappointed.
JESSE Velasco
00:48 19 Feb 21
Really nice place to see a whole bunch of nature. Well worth the trip and the entrance fee is for adults $18 and for kids $10. lots to see and can be around 2hours or more to walk the whole thing. Great place overall.
Millie L.
18:26 02 Feb 21
First time to visit the botanic garden and It was so beautiful and healing to my family.
We bought one-day tickets but we changed to buy annual pass tickets after looked around.
The annual ticket can see all other botanic gardens in the USA. It’s so great!
We love to walk this place and my kids also enjoyed various plants and flowers.
The staff was so kind to explain and we were lucky to get poinsettia. Thank you!
We bought one-day tickets but we changed to buy annual pass tickets after looked around.
The annual ticket can see all other botanic gardens in the USA. It’s so great!
We love to walk this place and my kids also enjoyed various plants and flowers.
The staff was so kind to explain and we were lucky to get poinsettia. Thank you!
LaToya Lynn
06:18 17 Jan 21
Cool tree house! We went during the winter wonderland and it was nice. It was dark so we didn't get to observe a lot of the plants but it was still gorgeous at night. We def want to go back during the day and are thinking of trying out the membership!
Tracy Zetko-White
03:53 24 Dec 20
I went at night for their Botanic Wonderland. It's beautifully decorated and festive throughout the many different garden areas. Some areas were blocked off but there is still lots to see. The metering of guests ensured that there is plenty of room to safely distance. Check in was quick and simple. Employees were friendly and helpful in finding my way around. A great pandemic-friendly activity during this challenging holiday season.
Danny Lucero
04:22 17 Dec 20
What an absolutely amazing place. I loved every moment of it, the coffee truck in front was perfect we got a nice hot tea and a hot coffee before we enjoyed the beautiful gorgeous light show at the botanical gardens me and my wife and my son loved all the lights. The way they were fixed was just beautiful their fake snow, the fire places and even the violinist they had playing it was just the most wonderful experience. I can’t wait to go back
Irene Lawson
21:42 09 Nov 20
What a great experience!! My daughter and I spent the morning here, hiked all over the gardens. It's very hilly and natural so you fell like you are not in the city. Even though not much was in bloom it was still beautiful and informative. Definitely not for anyone that is ambulatory challenged due to the hilly landscape. Definitely recommend, beautiful layout and worth a few hours of your time! Hope to return during bloom time!!!
Chad Davis-Montgomery
03:35 06 Nov 20
Such a fun experience. Came here in October 2020 during COVID for my Mom's birthday. It was a great time. Lovely outdoor walks to all the different theme gardens. You could get lost just trying to explore every inch. Great way to learn about plants as well.
Nurse Grace
06:38 20 Oct 20
Breathtaking views, quiet beautiful and serene. Tranquility at it's finest! I could spend hours here and the staff are super friendly and treat you like family! This is a must see whether you're from the area or visiting, you won't want to leave it's so impeccably beautiful!!! Definitely get a membership!!!!
Max Madrigal
02:39 04 Oct 20
Huge garden with all kinds of trees, plants and flowers from all over the world. I would really suggest getting the household membership because there are other gardens you can enter into with the same pass. All and all the garden is beautiful and lush. Plenty to see over and over again!!
Rachelle Andrews
20:20 29 Sep 20
I haven't been to the garden for many years, and I was pleasantly surprised how beautiful it was and how much bigger it is than I remember. It is a great Covid outdoor activity for the entire family! We spend 4 hours here, but honestly could have stayed longer.
Jamie Heimforth
23:35 15 Sep 20
Loved the peaceful areas to sit and reflect. A little confusion with Covid following arrows. But that's OK.
Andrea Wlodarczyk
00:40 08 Sep 20
Gorgeous, social distancing conscious, excellent for the family...bring your snacks and drinks!
Marcos Lopez
20:35 27 Aug 20
We spent about 3 hours at the Garden, and left because it was just too warm. (Nearly 90 at the coast) It was so beautiful. I can’t wait to return.
Kimberly Thomas
00:18 21 Aug 20
Nice visit to the Sea life Aquarium! Perfect for younger kids as it is not too long of a day.
Anne Vance
17:14 13 Aug 20
Have visited the gardens for several years. Just recently purchased an annual membership so I am now enjoying weekly visits. The gardens are spectacular, beautifully maintained and such interesting plants to view. Great areas to walk through, and I love the location of very private benches scattered through the gardens, where a relaxing rest and read can be enjoyed. Staff and Volunteers are always welcoming and helpful to guests. Especially now, during the pandemic, how fortunate are we to have this beautiful garden to relax and escape to. One small comment, majority of guests are very courteous with social distancing and wearing masks, but some are not wearing masks. Hope that guests can be reminded at the entrance that masks are mandatory.
James Bautista
08:50 08 Aug 20
I'm so glad they had a student discount fee here. Hahah... money is tight for everyone these days. The ticket price was not bad though. Anyway the garden itself is magnificent and the floral displays are breathtaking! I personally love sitting near a pond or the lake and doing nothing. Its a nice way to relax and appreciate the beauty. The waterfall is really nice too, though the brown color concerns me slightly. I love the themes around the garden too. I'd go again. Definitely.
Deja Osbourne
01:59 07 Aug 20
I decided to go here spur of the moment. My son and I arrived at 3:30pm and I was worried if that would be enough time to explore and I'd say it was just enough time because we left just 5-10 minutes before closing (5pm).
the place is beautiful and my son had so much fun exploring. They had bathrooms but I did not see any place to buy water so bring enough water if you go. Right now they require masks outside if you're within 6 feet of others, and are asked to social distance.
I am very pleased except with all the one way routes they created it, we had to walk extra distance to get to where we wanted, that felt a bit restricting. I was surprised we got to check out everything that was open, but when they reopen everything that is closed, 1.5 hours would not be enough to see everything so we'll definitely go back again with more time to spare.
the place is beautiful and my son had so much fun exploring. They had bathrooms but I did not see any place to buy water so bring enough water if you go. Right now they require masks outside if you're within 6 feet of others, and are asked to social distance.
I am very pleased except with all the one way routes they created it, we had to walk extra distance to get to where we wanted, that felt a bit restricting. I was surprised we got to check out everything that was open, but when they reopen everything that is closed, 1.5 hours would not be enough to see everything so we'll definitely go back again with more time to spare.
Shirley Zhou
17:39 06 Aug 20
It is the nicest botanic garden I've ever seen! There are a diversity of plants from different world regions. No snakes, rats, foxes, coyotes, etc. are around. The garden configurations are delicate, where you get a top view of the surrounding farms, ocean, and city, a fall with a pond covered by water lily and hovered by red dragonflies, banana and fig tree fields, bamboo area, and so on. The garden is a great place for a nice view, hike, relaxation, etc. every now and then.
Tyler Worth
04:53 05 Aug 20
Such a beautiful place to get out and experience nature! As you are walking around the different sections of the garden (divided by regions from around the world) you almost forget that you're in San Diego. There are lush tropics, desert landscapes, a bamboo forest, a new greenhouse, fountains, lotus ponds, and sculptures throughout. A wonderfully peaceful place to explore when you need to reconnect with nature.
Jose Contreras
23:58 02 Aug 20
A very nice place for a walk & for kids to explore. Rolling hills, many shady spots. Beautiful ocean views & many good places to sit & rest or relax. Lots of different plants & flowers of course!
Jackie H
05:03 27 Jul 20
A very enjoyable outdoor activity for the whole family! Stroll down the trails to view many unique and amazing trees and plants from all over the world. We saw cherries, figs and pomegranates growing on their trees to name just a few.
GC BA
03:18 27 Jul 20
Happy to have found this place. Great way to spend a few hours walking with your family and seeing lots of diverse plant life. If you like to garden this is a place to see.
re j
19:04 25 Jul 20
Really good place, beautiful. Botanist delight. Good distancing, most with masks.
Michelle Cortado
23:03 22 Jul 20
Beautiful grounds! So well maintained with detailed signage about each plant variety. Our family loved walking the trails and learning
Norma Griffin
11:12 22 Jul 20
I have been coming here my whole life and it is a big part of the reason I'm going to school for plant biology. It is a beautiful garden and well worth the trip. It would be a perfect place to take a date or to spend the afternoon with your grandparents (which is what I've always done).
William Barnes
14:09 19 Jul 20
The Botanic Garden is a peaceful, low key place to come to for relaxation & reflection. It has beautiful flora & fauna representatives, some of who are very exotic. It is located in a quiet and uncrowded part of Encinitas. For those who want to be off the grid for a while, this is the place.
YsY SoCalProHealth
02:15 12 Jul 20
Wow! We are a bit partial to the Huntington Library and Gardens but this place wowed us. Staff is so friendly. Lots of acreage, variety of terrain and plants. Definitely will return. Well worth the membership and reciprocal gardens deal.
Jeremiah Sherman
11:02 09 Jul 20
I love this place for a short walk or hike around all day. I have very fond memories from my childhood and have taken my two-year-old many times. It is very special to have a place like this so close to town.
Emiliano Rodrigez
08:29 04 Jul 20
I took a tour of this location and absolutely love it. It has so much variety and they even have special events for the holidays. This is a great place to bring the family, go on a walk or just spend some time meditating in the gardens.
Carolyn Fisher
18:30 24 Jun 20
Must book online. Beautiful. Peaceful. Come by yourself and relax and unwind a while from covid crazy....
Mike Thornton
17:27 22 Jun 20
Great place to relax and recharge. Fresh air with extra O2 and negative ions help get rid of the stresses and get a good night sleep.
Terry O Donovan
01:19 19 Jun 20
Enjoyed 3 hours walking around the Botanical gardens with a good friend I haven't seen since the beginning of the lock down. The gardens are beautiful and our visit was exactly what I needed. Lots of fresh air, good conversation, photo ops all at a safe distance with face masks. I strongly recommend.
Clayton Casipit
03:25 18 Jun 20
Beautiful! Old, established trees from South Africa (Dragon trees), Madagascar.... and a huge bamboo collection. One of the better botanical gardens I've seen in CA.
Roberta Nicole Photography
17:13 15 May 20
I photograph weddings all over San Diego County, and San Diego Botanic Garden is easily my favorite wedding venue. It is the most beautiful location for photos. It's also easily accessible for all your guests, yet it feels like you are tucked away out in nature.
Tayler Suterko
18:32 01 May 20
I'm the owner and photographer of Tayler Ashley Photography and I have had the pleasure of shooting at this beautiful venue! The staff is very helpful and the area is stunning. Brides would be lucky to get married here!
Cheryl McLeod
00:41 17 Mar 20
I am glad that we have such a large botanical garden near our home. It is nice to walk thru on the first Tuesday of each month when they waive the admission fee for locals. This was my first time in the new green house. I enjoyed the displays of chocolate, vanilla and cinnamon plants -- probably because a nice docent told us about the plants, a little about how they arrived at the gardens, and some of the staff's struggles to keep them healthy. I would recommend a docent-lead tour if one is available during your visit, and I might even look into becoming a docent now that I am retired.
The main garden is huge and amazing, but only sparsely labeled. I think they could use more volunteers to help remove any invasive weeds, repair fading signs, and create audio walking tours so you can slip in one ear piece and learn about the garden and it's plants.
The main garden is huge and amazing, but only sparsely labeled. I think they could use more volunteers to help remove any invasive weeds, repair fading signs, and create audio walking tours so you can slip in one ear piece and learn about the garden and it's plants.
Sarah Kelley
16:07 11 Mar 20
So so so beautiful. This is the most diverse garden I have ever been to. They mimic natural landscapes from all over the world and have winding paths that make you feel like you are discovering something new. I spent 3.5 hours here and saw a total of 6 people. You HAVE to go here!!!
Sebastian Arteaga
19:33 13 Feb 20
A beautiful place to walk around and enjoy all different kinds of plants all in one place. I love what they have done with the concrete tree house and area around it. Additionally the sculptures scattered around the gardens are beautiful. During the winter season there are beautiful lights set up and marshmallow roasting! All in all, this place is very well rounded and offers pleanty to do in a day.
Johny Clancy
00:35 10 Feb 20
Very nice. We went in February so some things were still under construction but it was beautifully laid out. The new conservatory was really nice. Lots of kid areas that we all enjoyed (the youngest in our group was 16 so not just for kids).
