Welcome to Garfield Park Conservatory & Gardens.
Whether you’re visiting for the first time or returning to explore again, here’s everything you need to plan your visit.
Ticketed entry is required to visit the Conservatory and Gardens as well as any events taking place within. Advance reservations are strongly recommended however, walk-ins are always welcome if our capacity limits allow. During times of increased guest traffic, same-day reservations are prioritized for Garfield Park and West Side neighbors.
The EMG Children’s Garden will require its own 30-minute reservations in addition to ticketed entry to the Conservatory. Entry to the Children’s Garden can be reserved at our admissions counter or on our website HERE.
We accept arrivals within 30 minutes of your reservation time.
Can’t find a time that works? Additional reservations are held for members and Garfield Park neighbors. Neighbors can call 773-636-1766 or email us at [email protected].
Adult Group Visits
Looking for a private tour or simply want to explore the Conservatory with your group? We accept reservations for up to 65 people to enjoy the gardens at their own pace. Groups who visit on weekdays may request an orientation.
School Field Trips
School field trips, youth groups, and campers are welcome to visit the Conservatory on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. Please note that youth/school groups cannot make a reservation under the general admission.
Plan Ahead
Location & Hours
300 N. Central Park Ave.
Chicago, IL 60624
The Conservatory is located near the intersection of North Central Park Ave. and Lake St.
Monday & Tuesday: Closed
Wednesday: 10am – 8pm (last entry at 7:15 pm)
Thursday – Sunday: 10am – 5pm (last entry at 4:15pm)
Holidays that fall on normal days of operation may effect these hours. Please contact us at 773-638-1766 or [email protected] for more information or check our Instagram page for updates.
The Conservatory opens at 9:30am on weekdays for school field trips only.
Admissions
For our guests that reside within the City of Chicago, we kindly offer admission at no charge, though we graciously accept donations offered by those able to give and recommend amounts similar to our standard admission fees.
When booking reservations online or in person, simply provide a resident zip code when prompted for each member of your group as well as verification of the Chicago addresses such as a state issued ID or driver’s license.
For guests who reside outside of the city of Chicago’s borders, our admissions fees are:
- Adults (18–64): $10
- Seniors (65+): $5
- Children (7–17): $5
- Students with valid ID: $5
- Active Duty Military & Veterans (with valid ID): Free
We also offer discounts for Museums For All, Illinois teachers, public school field trips, and more. For more information on our year-round discounts, please visit our admissions page.
Getting Here
There are a number of ways to travel to the Conservatory.
By car: We offer FREE parking in the Visitor’s parking Lot just south of the Conservatory entrance.
By the Green Line: Get off at the Conservatory Stop. You won’t miss us, we’re the huge glass building just north of Lake Street on the West side of the street.
By bike: Bike Corrals and a Divvy bike station are available in front of the building on Central Park Avenue.
Accessibility
The Garfield Park Conservatory is committed to providing a quality experience for all visitors. If you would like to request accommodation for an upcoming visit, please contact us at least 24 hours in advance by emailing [email protected] or calling 773-638-1766. For more information, please visit our accessibility page.
Please note, there are active beehives on the south end of the campus.
Gift Shop
Stop by our newly remodeled Gift Shop during your visit to bring home something commemorative of your visit.
Normal operating hours for the gift shop are as follows:
Monday & Tuesday: Closed
Wednesday: 10am-6pm
Thursday – Sunday: 10am – 5pm
These hours may change during special events or while facility rentals are underway.
Our collection can also be shopped online 24/7 with both shipping and in-store pickup options available.
Make the Most of Your Visit
We want people of all ages to enjoy the indoor and outdoor gardens at Garfield Park Conservatory. Although it looks like a park, it is actually a museum with a living collection. Our gardens have both plants and animals that require a level of respect that assures their continuity for all visitors to enjoy. Please help us ensure a safe visit for everyone by observing the following guidelines.
Accessibility & Amenities
The Conservatory is wheelchair accessible, except for the Fern Room. A limited number of wheelchairs are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Visitors using wheelchairs and those who are otherwise unable to climb stairs may enter the Conservatory at the Main Entrance, 300 N. Central Park Ave., via the North or South ramps. For more information, contact us at 773-638-1766.
Yes. Baby changing stations are available in the men’s and women’s restrooms in the Conservatory lobby.
You can download our campus map here.
Photography
The Garfield Park Conservatory is owned and operated by the Chicago Park District (CPD). A CPD-issued photo permit is required for many types of photography and videography. Find out if you need a permit here.
You may take photographs for your personal use only. Tripods and monopods are allowed, but do not block pathways for other visitors.
All visitors to the Garfield Park Conservatory, and to Garfield Park Conservatory Alliance events and programs, may be photographed and/or filmed by staff or hired photographers. These photographs and videos may be used in Chicago Park District and/or Garfield Park Conservatory Alliance printed materials, on our website, and/or in other Conservatory promotional materials. Your attendance serves as consent to be photographed and/or filmed.
Visiting the Conservatory
Visitors must be suitably attired, including shirts, pants, shorts or skirts, and shoes. We are a working greenhouse, so some walkways may be wet. Please wear appropriate footwear and pay attention when you are walking.
Children ages 16 and under must be accompanied by an adult in order to enter the conservatory. Parents and chaperons must remain with their children at all times.
We understand that children can get excited about their visit. For safety reasons, no running is allowed inside the conservatory. We encourage adults to guide their children to one of the many outdoor lawn areas where they may run.
The use of Horticulture Hall for parties or gatherings of 10 or more people during public hours is prohibited. There are rental spaces for those purposes. Book your group of 10 or more here.
Exploring the Gardens
Please leave flowers and plants for everyone to enjoy. Do not collect or remove seeds, flowers, fruits, vegetables, plant labels, etc. Inside the Conservatory, stay on walkways or marked paths. Paths not accessible to visitors are indicated as such. Outdoors, stay on stone pathways or lawn areas. Please do not walk in garden beds.
Do not feed, try to catch, or handle the wildlife. It can be harmful to them–and you. The use of insect nets is prohibited.
Please do not soak, wade, or swim in our ponds and fountains.
In addition, please refrain from throwing coins, rocks, or any other objects into ponds and fountains. You may throw coins in the wishing waterfall in the Palm House only.
What to Bring (and What to Leave at Home)
Mobility items are restricted to strollers, small wagons, and mobility-assistance devices. No rollerblades, two-wheeled scooters, skateboards or “wheelie” shoes with the wheels engaged, or hoverboards.
For the safety of the space and guests, the following are not permitted:
- Balloons or confetti
- Drones, balls, frisbees, or flying objects
- Kites
- Musical instruments, unless they’re part of Conservatory programming
- Personal audio devices without headphones
Many of these activities are welcome across the street in Garfield Park.
Indoors, please restrict food consumption to Horticulture Hall or the lobby. Outdoors, picnicking is allowed wherever there are tables and chairs or in the lawn areas. No alcohol is allowed.
Please be sure to dispose of your waste properly. We recycle here, so make sure to find a blue container if you have plastic, aluminum, glass, or paper.
Service animals (not emotional support animals) are the only animals allowed inside or outside. Service animals are defined as dogs that are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities.
Service animals must be harnessed, leashed, or tethered, unless these devices interfere with the service animal’s work or the individual’s disability prevents using these devices. In that case, the individual must maintain control of the animal through voice, signal, or other effective controls.
Smoking must be confined to areas outside of the facility and at least fifteen feet from any door or window. This includes both outdoor and indoor spaces.
We are excited for your visit to the Conservatory. Please keep your personal items with you at all times. If you find an item that does not belong to you, please turn it in to a security officer or the visitor services staff in the front lobby.
In case of emergency, please alert a staff person. In addition to floriculture and program staff working in the conservatory, you can notify the visitor services at the front desk or any security officer.
The Conservatory reserves the right to ask anyone to leave who does not adhere to the rules stated above.