As they say, April Showers bring May Flowers. Spring kicks off the perfect time to visit the most amazing gardens in and around NYC. The beauty and wellness of nature truly don’t have a price, so we’ve rounded up free or pay-as-you-wish gardens to visit in and around NYC!
We also included upcoming events and happenings at each location. Note that these may carry an additional fee or not be included in free/pay-as-you-wish entry. Also, some gardens may have a parking fee, so alternative transportation is recommended. Lastly, some gardens may offer free entry or discounted entry based on age, educational enrollment, military status, or garden membership.
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Brooklyn Botanic Garden
📍 150 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn
🎟️ Free or Pay as You Wish
– Community Tickets: A portion of each day’s tickets are available free of charge to those who need them. Reserve Community Tickets at bbg.org/tickets and present at the admissions booth. These community tickets usually ‘sell out’ weeks in advance, so plan ahead!
– Culture Pass: If you have a library card from the Brooklyn Public Library, Queens Public Library, or New York Public Library, you can reserve free passes to 100+ cultural institutions across NYC, including the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. More Details Here!
– Pay-What-You-Wish Winter Weekdays: Tuesday–Friday, December–February
📅 Current/Upcoming Events: Weekends in Bloom, Saturdays & Sundays, Now – May 11th. Full Calendar Here
New York Botanical Garden
📍2900 Southern Blvd, Bronx
🎟️ Free or Pay as You Wish
– New York City Resident Grounds Access Pass: On Wednesdays, Grounds Admission is free to NYC residents all day and to all other visitors between 10-11 am. Grounds Access Pass includes access to outdoor gardens and collections, including the Everett Children’s Adventure Garden. Does not include admission to the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory, Special Exhibitions, or Tram Tour.
– Bronx Neighbors Program: Bronx Residents are invited to experience the seasonal beauty across their 250 acres, free of charge. The Grounds Access Pass is available Tuesday–Sunday and holiday Mondays. Get tickets online, up to 6 tickets per order.
– Culture Pass: If you have a library card from the Brooklyn Public Library, Queens Public Library, or New York Public Library, you can reserve free passes to 100+ cultural institutions across NYC, including New York Botanical Garden. More Details Here!
📅 Current/Upcoming Events: Mother’s Day Weekend– May 10th & 11th, LEGO Botanical Garden Pop-up– May 10, 11, 17, 18, 23 (Members Preview), 24, & 25, Spring Uncorked– Saturday, May 17th, Van Gogh’s Flowers– May 24th through October 26th Full Calendar Here
Queens Botanical Garden
📍 43-50 Main Street, Queens
🎟️ Free or Pay as You Wish
– Free admission Wednesdays, 3 – 6pm, and Sundays, 9 -11am
– Culture Pass: If you have a library card from the Brooklyn Public Library, Queens Public Library, or New York Public Library, you can reserve free passes to 100+ cultural institutions across NYC, including Brooklyn Botanic Garden. More Details Here!
– Free Admission December 16th-March
📅 Current/Upcoming Events: Floral Design: Mother’s Day Bouquet– May 10th, Mother’s Day High Tea– May 11th Full Calendar Here
Central Park Conservatory Garden
📍717 Fifth Avenue
🎟️ Free or Pay as You Wish
– Free admission 7 days a week
📅 Current/Upcoming Events: Hidden Highlights of the North End Tour– Select Days May 24th – June 28th, Conservatory Garden Tour– June 14th, 18th, 28th. Full Calendar Here
Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Garden
📍1000 Richmond Terrace, Staten Island
🎟️ Free or Pay as You Wish
– Free admission to the main outdoor grounds and gardens 7 days a week, dawn to dusk, and does not require advance registration or ticketing. Does not include admission to the Newhouse Center for Contemporary Art and the Chinese Scholar’s Garden.
📅 Current/Upcoming Events: Shinrin-Yoku United Presents: Forest Bathing Nature Therapy– Select Days Now- December 6th, PASS: Edible Tales: REST by Dancers Unlimited– May 17th, Thursday Farm Stands & Saturday Farm Stands, Now – October. Full Calendar Here
Wave Hill
📍4900 Independence Avenue, Bronx
🎟️ Free or Pay as You Wish
– Free admission on Thursdays, all day
– Culture Pass: If you have a library card from the Brooklyn Public Library, Queens Public Library, or New York Public Library, you can reserve free passes to 100+ cultural institutions across NYC, including Wave Hill. More Details Here!
📅 Current/Upcoming Events: Mother’s Day Picnic & Tea– May 11th, Wings Over Wave Hill– May 18th, Be Inspired! Celebrating Wave Hill at 60– June 5th – June 8th. Full Calendar Here
West Side Community Garden
📍West 89th Street, between Columbus & Amsterdam Avenues
🎟️ Free or Pay as You Wish
– Free entry 7 days a week, dawn to dusk
📅 Current/Upcoming Events: Various Concerts- Select Days Now – Mid-June, Annual Benefit Garden Party– June 12th, Shakespeare Festival– July 12th- 20th. Full Calendar Here
Untermyer Gardens
📍945 North Broadway, Yonkers
🎟️ Free or Pay as You Wish
– Free admission 7 days a week
📅 Current/Upcoming Events: Garden & History Tours– Select Weekends, Minnie Untermyer Concert Series: Moslem Alipour and Roxana Sarrafi– June 7th, Sunset Soirée– June 17th. Full Calendar Here
Bartow-Pell Mansion Museum
📍895 Shore Road, Bronx
🎟️ Free or Pay as You Wish
– Free admission to Gardens and Grounds 7 days a week, 8:30am-dusk. Does not include admission to the Mansion and Carriage House.
📅 Current/Upcoming Events: Sparkling Spring Tea in the Conservatory- May 10th, Young Herbalist Workshop– May 17th, Red Monkey Theater Group Presents AS YOU LIKE IT– June 7th- 15th, Secret Garden Party Fundraiser– June 14th. Full Calendar Here
Elizabeth Street Garden
📍211 Elizabeth Street
🎟️ Free or Pay as You Wish
– Free admission 7 days a week
The Garden is slated to be potentially evicted and destroyed for the city’s affordable housing. BEST WAYS YOU CAN HELP SAVE THE GARDEN: Send this letter to your NY and NYC officials. Share the same letter campaign with friends, family, and co-workers, Donate to the Legal Fund.
The Met Cloisters
📍 Fort Tryon Park, 99 Margaret Corbin Drive
🎟️ Free or Pay as You Wish
– New York State residents and NY, NJ, and CT students: The amount you pay for admission is up to you, but you must pay something. To buy pay-what-you-wish tickets online, you must have a New York State billing address. New Jersey and Connecticut students can only buy pay-what-you-wish tickets in person with valid student ID.
📅 Current/Upcoming Events: Garden Tour at The Met Cloisters– Daily, 11am -12pm, Highlights of The Cloisters– Daily, 1-2pm, Met Expert Talks at The Met Cloisters- Fridays, 3-3:30pm, Garden Festival: Color!– June 7th. Full Calendar Here
Planting Fields
📍1395 Planting Fields Road, Oyster Bay
🎟️ Free or Pay as You Wish
– Free admission for the greenhouse and garden grounds 7 days a week. Does not include admission for Tours (led & self-guided) of the Main House.
📅 Current/Upcoming Events: Book Release Celebration: “Planting Fields: A Place on Long Island”– May 16th, A Moveable Feast– May 17th, Spring 5K– May 25th, Arbor Day– Spring 2025, Planting Pride– June 2025. Full Calendar Here
6BC Botanical Garden
📍624 East 6th Street
🎟️ Free or Pay as You Wish
– Free admission Saturdays and Sundays, 12-6pm, and Wednesdays and Fridays, 5-8pm, at members’ discretion
📅 Current/Upcoming Events: Beyond Flute Group– June 15th, Garden Work Day– July 13th, Beyond Flute Group Concert– July 20th. Full Calendar Here
