Marie Selby Botanical Gardens Reviews

A lovely, relaxing few hours wandering through the beautiful floral displays. Easy to find and just makes for a pleasant afternoon.

This is an awesome place in Sarasota to spend a few hours! It was 25$ admission/person which we thought was a bit high, but after seeing the treehouse installation, we understood the price! The treehouses and suspension bridges with the waterfall and zen-sounding instruments to play are worth visiting in itself. The kids area is excellent!! We also loved the wooden pathway through the mangroves. My mom is a big fan of flowers and plants of all kinds and she was impressed with their selection. It’s much smaller than other botanical gardens we have been to (like Longwood Gardens), but still a lovely place. We spent 3 hours there and could have spent a bit more time. The Monet/Lichtenstein exhibit was just okay in our opinion. We are big fans of Monet but not as much Lichtenstein fans. If you like Lichtenstein, you’ll love the exhibit, though! Their gift shop has a lot of plants to buy but my mom said they’re a bit overpriced compared to other local places for the same things. Overall, definitely worth a trip if you’re looking to escape the city of Sarasota without actually leaving! I’d add more pictures but it says the size it too large, sorry!

We visited the middle of January and were amazed only by the Costa Rican mask display in the house. Excellent project to support local artists from Costa Rica.
Another non amazing were the flowers in bloom. Greenhouses had very few blooming plants, perhaps suggesting we visited at the wrong time of year. Oh, no, wait, many orchids blooming and for sale in the gift shop. Way more orchids

Beautiful gardens. Amazing exhibit on George Harrison the Beatle and his passion for gardening. Well laid out paths. Delightful lunch cafe.

What an amazing place to visit in Sarasota. Two Campuses to visit, downtown Sarasota is a living museum of plants on 15 acres with a beautiful view of Sarasota Bay. On most Saturdays - Oct to May, you can take a wonder boat ride by reservation between the two locations. Osprey location is 30 acres of a natural Florida landscape with vintage buildings.

My wife and I visited on the last day of their orchid special exhibit. The exhibit was wonderful. I have become an orchid aficionado after receiving several as gifts. The exhibit was fabulous as I got to see many unique varieties up close. Beautiful. We then continued about the grounds and were very impressed. I rate this exhibit close to the Edison winter home in Fort Myers for the botanical diversity. We also had lunch at the cafe, which was quite enjoyable.

As I continue traveling and discovering new places, two things I've learned: I truly enjoy a couple hours spent in a botanical garden, and each one I encounter is delightfully different. The Marie Selby Botanical Gardens are no exception and despite some heavier-than-expected crowds (it was a beautiful Sunday afternoon, so I wasn't shocked) it quickly became one of my favorites.

The waterfront retreat isn't very large so it's not overwhelming, but nonetheless feels larger than acreage suggests with main pathways featuring manicured exhibits and ones taking visitors off the main trail for a more natural, untamed experience. Currently on display in the greenhouse is a stunning orchid exhibition thanks to a partnership with the nearby Ringling- I would have spent more time with it but the tight confines of the greenhouse was where the crowd felt most heavy.

When in the area again I will definitely return.

This place (the downtown location) is a must visit. We spent two hours here and could have spent longer. The location is spectacular and the gardens are incredible. So, so beautiful. We really enjoyed the Patti Smith/Robert Maplethorpe exhibit. It was very well presented and fit well in the space. We had a lovely tea/coffee and muffin break at the cafe and were very impressed with their baked goods- flavourful, moist but not greasy. I can’t wait to return.

Selby Gardens must rank as one of our premier botanical gardens. Start with a spectacular location on the shores of beautiful Sarasota Harbor, add lush trees and foliage in charming arrangements throughout the campus, then top it off with creative exhibits and programs. All of this backed up by a very highly respected research program aimed at understanding and preserving the natural environment that flourishes in this mild climate.

Marie Selby Botanical Gardens - very nice and the Orchid Show was great! The weather was hot the Orchid Show was hotter but beautiful.

Loved visiting this botanical garden. It was very nice but we found many of the trails were showing more natural Florida flora vs. a highly landscaped version. Comparing this garden to Sunken Gardens in St. Pete which shows the native Florida plants but in a more landscaped and beautiful manner. Still happy to support this lovely tribute to Florida!

Beautiful botanical gardens! Four adults admission was $104 in February 2024.
Get there early before the crowd! Free and easy parking ramp attached to the complex.
A really nice, tranquil place to spend some time. Tons of different indoor and outdoor plant species. It boasts beautiful garden paths with lots of open spaces.
Highly recommended.

The gardens are pretty. Lots /of plants I don't normally see or if I do they are house plants. I am from Minnesota so we don't typically have these tropical plants all around us. It is a nice path to walk on and take in the plants as well as the Gulf which is about 10 feet from where you stand in some places. The trees are gorgeous as well The weather was sunny the day we were there and not too hot so a perfect day to stroll gardens. There is seating in various spots but it wouldn't hurt to have some more. Florida is full of old white people that need to sit a spell. My only real criticism is the price. $28 is a lot of money to get into a place like this.

Very beautiful gardens very large variety of types, flowers bushes Plants that are local, and from other areas well kept

Went to the orchids exhibit, truly worth the trip!!! Beautiful orchids I had never seen just to see the beauty of them!!
To walk the gardens and enjoy the scenery so beautiful!! Loved it all!

With an expansive, user friendly entrance and parking, Selby Gardens offers a new look at an historic garden from the first “ah hah” moment. We were impressed with Selby’s vision and status as the only net carbon positive botanic garden in the US. An urban garden, Selby is not vast -- -one can meander and spend an hour or so, or longer. We stayed for lunch in the Selby House Cafe and were pleasantly surprised by the varied menu of tasty choices: rice bowls, salads, soups and wraps. Dining space has the look and feel of an indoor garden with gallery, graced by B&W historic photos of Marie Selby -- inspiring. Roasted tomato and basil bisque with grilled cheese was especially tasty. Staff throughout the Gardens are knowledgeable, helpful and welcoming. We love to return again and again.

We always attend their Christmas holiday lights display and are never disappointed! The lights are just beautiful and the location on the water really adds to the whole experience.

Lovely location. Very nice and helpful staff. There's a lot of vegetation, but I love colorful flowers and I thought it was a little lacking. I really enjoyed the Roy Lichtenstein interpretation throughout.

Spent $25 each admission. In our opinion not worth it. Before I get in trouble with people, I realize it is a non-profit and that is fine. It just was not what we were anticipating. I was excited to take photos of different species of natural habitats, etc and did not find a lot that we have not seen before. For those individuals who do not know much about plants, flowers, habitats, etc., YES, it would be a great experience.

These gardens are magical, so amazingly beautiful, and breathtaking. I highly recommend planning an entire day to visit as we spent a couple of hours and wanted more time just to sit amidst the beauty and process it. We were in awe of the variety and quality of the plants, installation, and exhibits.

This year’s featured artist is Salvador Dali. Do not miss the eyes and eggs in the orchid greenhouse! There are also “fried” eggs outside the Selby House.....white impatiens are the egg whites!

Dec. 7 was the last day of an artist's exhibit that my wife wanted to see and she worked out itinerary to Florida's west coast to ensure we got here. Long strands, 18-20 ft. of various dried flowers hung from the ceiling of in an original building on the property. The orchid display in another area of the property was absolutely beautiful and color, there were volunteers to answer questions. The grounds and views were great to walk through and see. A small cafe and larger restaurant are on the grounds.

We were not going to go at first. But decided to try it out. It was one of the major highlights of our Sarasota trip--even though their conservatory building was closed. There are many benches to sit and enjoy the great variety of foliage. The cafe is about what you would expect in this place. The rest was excellent. The signs and guides were helpful in understanding the unique plants and trees you will see. I thought the "children's area" invited imagination to expand. Very highly recommend!

This is a lovely excursion. The gardens are impeccably maintained and diverse. The plants are well labeled and there are plenty of volunteers around to answer questions. It was a very peaceful experience.

Wonderful place to visit
Lots of amenities for guests on special event days. They offer food and beverages as well as free face painting and balloons on kids days and concerts. Plus the gardens are some of the most beautiful in the world. I especially love their “Lights in Bloom Event in December when the whole garden is lit for Christmas.

Wonderful find. Can't believe how beautiful and well laid out this garden is. A must see along the coast and near great downtown and shopping & restaurants.

A beautiful gem of sarasota. We attended the George Harrison garden exhibit and it was magical. Give yourself a few hours to really see everything. It's a lovely spot for a drink or a meal as well.

The entire Gardens are very Beautiful, however, seeing all of the detail and work that went into the Tropical Greenhouse at the front of the Gardens was amazing. You can easily spend an entire day in this small area and still not see all of the details that went into creating it. The Gardens are inspiring and give you the best ideas for what can grow in this part of Florida with a Beautiful Backdrop of the Bay. Perfect place to walk and enjoy Nature after a Big Brunch.

Really lovely walk through the gardens showcasing Florida landscape. Enjoyed the added bonus of Salvador Vali inspired art. The “tree house” was fun to explore. There is even a very tasty food truck in the garden. Excellent way to spend about 1-2 hours.

Outstanding presentation! This Botanical Garden is Amazing! The performance was amazing. The flowers and the setting are top notch

I first visited these glorious gardens not long after they opened in the '70s and was delighted and amazed to see how much had changed in a recent visit. Their fifteen acres are beautifully maintained to showcase their extensive variety of tropical plants. The orchid collection was mind-boggling, and the current exhibit displayed them inside picture frames as though they were works of art, which indeed they are! This is an ideal place to visit if you want to get away from the bustling beach crowds and wander the green paths or sit by the bay. Wonderful!

I visit botanic gardens when I travel, and I have been in dozens of them. This is one of my favorite, perhaps because of their focus on epiphytes including bromeliads. This year there was the added attraction of the Dali exhibit - combining art and plants. After entering, I usually start in the greenhouse, which is densely planted with all manner of tropical plants. Some of the Dali-esque designs with plants were interesting and attractive. I then visit the koi pond - which featured a piano filled with plants! Onto the desert garden with many interesting plants. And finally to the point of land on the waterfront. Coming back along the water, one can visit the butterfly enclosure, and continue onto the main bromeliad area. We visited the Dali exhibit in the Payne mansion - interesting but not my taste. Overall, a very good visit to a great collection in an attractive waterfront location right in the center of Sarasota. There is a cafe for a beverage or a light meal - sitting indoor or outdoor.

Shame on you people, I thought Botanical gardens preserve nature and not destroying it.
Looks like money first not nature.

Selby has always Ben a great stop for all ages, and now is even better. The new parking, entry and restaurant are all great additions. And the gardens themselves are still worth a visit. Beautiful grounds with views of the city of Sarasota. Banyan trees and a children’s area. The orchid exhibit is world class. There’s also usually a traveling exhibit with a theme that is apparent throughout the gardens

The grounds were impeccably kept and lots of beautiful flowers surrounded the grounds. The day was very hot, but there was plenty of shade and seats when the we needed them. The orchid flower exhibit was closed which kept me from giving the Botanical Gardens a 5.

Marie Selby Botanical Garden is one of the best public gardens in the US. I was really surprised by the amount and variety of plants and flowers. Plan on a 2-4 hour visit depending on your interest in the details.
Every year they do a theme garden based on a famous artist works. This year is Salvador Dali. It is not to be missed.

So pleasant environment. Innovative displays. Professional staff. Need improved parking. Had lunch there (Cuban sandwich) and pricey but tasty. Great place to relax and reinvigorate.

I love the Selby Gardens Orchid displays. This is a very serene experience. Take your time on a self guided tour and sit on a bench overlooking Sarasota Bay and tell yourself...how lucky you are!

We came here many years ago and thought we would visit again. We visited on Thanksgiving day as we knew they were open. Boy oh boy, do we wish we had chosen somewhere else to go. They have a huge new carpark and fancy entrance to the gardens but after this, things weren't so great. Over half of the gardens are fenced off while they build new structure. So you pay full price for half a garden!! If we knew that this was the case we would of postponed our visit until the work has been completed. In an ideal world, they should of signs up advertising the fact that half of the gardens were closed. A lot of the pathways were decorated with plastic plants and lights ready for Christmas which weren't attractive during day light hours. The orchid display was pretty and that was it.. A very poor visit.

Spent about an hour touring the gardens and the special exhibition. Beautiful, shady location on the water.

This place is awesome. We so enjoy seeing all the plants in the gardens. Makes me want to go home and try to grow more. What a great walk. Enjoy yourself but bring water.

Absolutely beaitiful experience. Do yourself a favor and do not miss. The sister gardens is further south...we went to both...terrific

This place is lovely. The setting on the water makes for total sensory experience. The special George Harrison was an unexpected surprise. New respect for him and his passion for the outdoors and gardening. There are a lot of spots for respite on benches along the path. We went early so the crowds had not yet gathered. very peaceful.

Great way to spend a Saturday afternoon. Start your day at the outdoor market in downtown Sarasota. Great place to grab a breakfast and search some pretty cool vendors. After go over to the gardens and take a nice walk. If you're there early enough, you can even participate in yoga.

What a beautiful place. So many different types of plants. A great place any time of the year but it’s truly magical around the holidays.

A lovely walk through different types of plants and trees from desert to rain forest. Beautiful presentation of gorgeous flowers frames as art and a lovely view of the water.

There are water features, huge multicolored carp, a few rope bridges, and lots of lovely paths to wander through.

Well worth the admission charge to see so many plantings and, for a limited time, an amazing Salvador Dali exhibit which is artistically integrated in the gardens as well as art work inside the mansion.

This is one of the most beautiful gardens we have visited.

This is the place to really enjoy the beauty of Sarasota. The walk through the gardens are amazing. They did a fantastic job of the Salvador Dali exhibit throughout the gardens.

We visited Spanish Point to see what Selby Gardens had done to reestablish the Butterfly House. We took the grandkids. It was amazing that with almost 100 tons of debris removed after Hurricane Ian that you would never know if by walking in the park. It was still lush with vegetation, clean and wonderful. The butterfly house was like it had never seen a hurricane and the kids loved it.

This is a great garden located right in the city on the bay front. The views are wonderful and the walk through the garden is so relaxing. Beautiful orchids and trees.

Marie Selby Botanical Gardens provides 45 acres of bayfront sanctuaries connecting people with air plants of the world, native nature, and the regional history. Established by forward thinking women of their time, Selby Gardens is composed of the 15-acre Downtown Sarasota campus and the 30-acre Historic Spanish Point campus in the Osprey area of Sarasota County, Florida. The Downtown Campus on Sarasota Bay is the only botanical garden in the world dedicated to the display and study of epiphytic orchids, bromeliads, gesneriads and ferns, and other tropical plants. There is a significant focus on botany, horticulture, education, historical preservation, and the environment. The Historic Spanish Point (HSP) Campus is located less than 10 miles south along Little Sarasota Bay. The HSP Campus, one of the largest preserves showcasing native Florida plants that is interpreted for and open to the public, celebrates an archaeological record that encompasses approximately 5,000 years of Florida history. While we visited and enjoyed the Downtown Campus, we ran out of time to visit the Spanish Point Campus...next time. There is a free parking.

I understand that large portions of the garden are closed due to the hurricanes but then they should say that in their website and upon entry. Also, completely underwhelmed by their orchid show. Probably choosing to display orchids all in one color (purple) was a poor artistic choice but even then the variety or lack thereof doomed the whole thing. Skip this attraction for the time being.

We go regularly and never tire of it. Beautiful exhibits and grounds. My grandchildren love feeding the koi and playing in the children's garden.

This was fun. We spent about 3 hours here. My son liked the treehouses. The food truck has good food also.

Well it was cold for Florida for even a New Yorker so we donned jeans, long sleeves and jackets and braved the outdoors. The place is amazing with different rooms of vegetation, bonsai, butterfly gardens, and the best was the outdoor whimsical sculpture additions of the Salvador Dali exhibit. Food truck looked awesome as did their restaurant. Volunteers were helpful. A nice hop and skip from Siesta Key.

Hello,
PROS----

My wife and I went to Selby Gardens in Sarasota on Nov.13,2025 to view the Orchid Show. FIRST---,the Parking Garage is very nice and the Handicapped parking spots are very wide and Nice. -SECOND----, the Place is very Clean ,and the Barhrooms are Spotless. THIRD-- there are PLENTY OF SEATS( BENCHES) to SIT
FiFTH---THE ORCHID

CONS---

FIRST---, PARKING IS $19 ( RIPOFF)--- I asked the Woman at the ticket windows if I can get a Reduced Ticket for $23 instead of the usual $28 since 3 GREENHOUSES are CLOSED. I told Her I read online that the Ticket price was reduced to $23. She replied NO, the Entrance ticket price is $28

SECOND---( BEWARE)---YOU CANNOT,,CANNOT TAKE PHOTOS IN MUSEUM OF
BOTANY & THE ARTS ( WHITE BUILDING) --AND YOU CANNOT BRING ANY DRINKS
WITH YOU -- AND ALL MUST KEEP YOUR BAG OR PURSE IN FRONT OF YOU,,,AND YOU CANNOT STOP CANNOT STOP AND VIEW THE ORCHIDS ,,THE STAFF KEEPS THE LINE MOVING AT ALL TIMES AND YOU CANNOT GO BACK TO LOOK ,,YOU MUST KEEP MOVING FORWARD---

THIRD-- There are NO FLOWERS IN BLOOM -- 3 GREENHOUSES ARE CLOSED

FOURTH --
THERE IS NOTHING REALLY TO SEE EXCEPT REPETIVE MANGROVES,,TREES,,WOODEN WALKWAYS AND SOME WATER VIEWS--- THATS IT

FIFTH-
FOR THE RIDICULOUS ADMISSION OF $28 ,,PARKING ($19) AND NOT BEING ALLOWED TO TAKE PHOTOS IN THE MUSUEM OF BOTANY( THERE IS NOTHING ON THE SELBY GARDENS WEBSITE THAT MENTIONS THIS ) , AND 3 GREENHOUSES BEING CLOSED,,NO FLOWERING SHRUBS THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE GARDENS---- ONLY MANGROVES,,TREES,,AND A FEW VIEWS OF THE WATER----I PERSONALLY CONSIDER THIS PLACE A RIPOFF FOR THE ADMISSION PRICE OF $28---A PRICE OF $15 MAX IS MORE REASOBABLE

SAVE YOUR MONEY--- TICKETS ARE VERY EXPENSIVE
PARKING ($19) AND ADMISSION ( $28 PER PERSON)

I WILL NOT EVER RETURN TO THIS VENUE

THIS IS AN HONEST AND TRUTHFUL REVIEW

My daughter was in town for the holiday and as a family enjoyed all that the Gardens can offer with the lights and beauty.

My second time at the Sunken Gardens and it is always a pleasure. A lovely walk among the variety of palms and exotic plants. My favorite was the rainbow eucalyptus. You can't miss it! The bougainvillea are extraordinary. At each turn you will find something beautiful to look at. Take your time and walk slowly so as not to miss the variety of flowers, ferns, and palms.
You can also see the resident Chilean flamingos, lovely kookaburra, macaws, and other birds who find refuge here.

What a beautiful botanic gardens! Not only were the gardens beautiful but it was located on the water so we sat numerous times just to look at the water. They close promptly at 5 and were rushing us towards the end so make sure you get there early enough so you don't have to rush. Great day! If you have a membership to another botanic gardens this will be free so ask about that.

This was not my 1st visit to Marie Selby Gardens. It was a delightful surprise to experience the Dahli displays & art. Whimsical, creative & fun. The gardens are easy to maneuver a wheel chair around, otherwise my friends & I would not have been able to attend. The other surprise was the lovely Butterfly house. Some landed on me or my hat. A huge batch had been delivered that morning, so we experienced a very special treat. I highly recommend this garden. It has a interesting history & is in a beautiful location in Sarasota.

Friends with whom we were visiting for several days recommended we tour these grounds. They know we are Master Gardeners and would enjoy the place. Even though we were there in mid-February, there was plenty of greenery to be had and enjoyed. We happened to be there during the Salvador Dali installations that even though were occasionally jarring, added greatly to the experience. What we most appreciated was the amount of plant labeling that is to be found on virtually every plant and tree. Most refreshing to find this. Many unique permanent installation pieces as well. Very well worth the $25.00 price of admission.

Even if you don't care for orchids there's tons of other plants and layouts to admire. Great walk for a hot day-plenty of shade.
The current exhibit: Robert Mapplethorpe and Patti Smith, for us was the most meh part, but we realize that Patti Smith is a lightning rod for extreme positive and negative views.
Many of the settings were imaginative and well executed. The only weak garden portion we saw was the butterfly garden; it was very small, sparse of plants really and plunked there appearing to be somewhat of an afterthought.
Now if you like orchids the gift shop if second to none-what a selection! And the gift shop we actually bought some cool stuff.

This place is really cool but really expensive. I would wait and get half-price reciprocal prices in November.

We enjoyed the gardens and grounds of the estate. Very well laid out and plants were well marked. So many beautiful spots to enjoy the scenery and the breezes coming off the Gulf. Plan to spend a few hours here and enjoy the natural beauty.

We were here for the Lichtenstein does Monet exhibit. It was lot of fun, interesting and colorful.
The foliage doesn't quit. Views of the bay and part of a mangrove forest. Banyan trees are amazing.

Horrible customer service!! I bought tickets for the Lights in Bloom event on 12/19/2021 and was very excited, as I have been to the gardens before, and it is beautiful. I knew going in that the tickets were nonrefundable/nontransferable, but I had bought them the week of, and nobody plans on unfortunate things happening to them. Well, the unfortunate thing happened to me. The morning of December 19, my father-in-law had to be emitted to the hospital and with very few other family members to lean on for help I was the only one available to stay with him. Desperately, trying to reach any one at Marie Selby Gardens, before it was too late, I called their main phone number and tried every extension. I never was able to reach any employee. Emailed every department to try and hear from somebody. Never got an email back until 12/21/21 when it was far too late to fix anything. I sent them a response back telling Marie Selby Gardens how disappointed I was, and I still have to wait another three days to get a second response back from them. $50 wasted and no resolution. Very disappointed.

Long story short, you have a family emergency on the day you're supposed to go to one of their events, they don't care. Your ticket is nonrefundable/nontransferable.

Absolutely amazing. The weather was perfect. The grounds so well kept. The staff was friendly and helpful.

It's hot and muggy all the time in Florida so starting off in the tropical conservatory was painful after leaving the AC but totally a room you don't want to miss. The rest of the gardens were amazing and the view of the water was beautiful
Definitely worth the stop. A little high in price since we walked everything in just over an hour but still glad we went

The gardens and the greenhouse are beautiful. It is located on Sarasota bay. Marie Shelby donated her home and gardens to the city in the 70’s. The orchid collection is wonderful. It currently has a special exhibit of Roy Lichtenstein art work. The outdoor area has trees that are massive, and a great playground for kids. If you have a membership to other botanical gardens, you may get in free.

We went for the George Harrison gardening exhibit. It was essentially a lovely addition to the gardens. There was music and photos and stories about his life as a gardener. The gardens are spectacular. It took us 2 to 3 hours to see everything. Lots of places to sit and relax and enjoy the surroundings.

I wouldn’t consider myself a botanical gardens type but The Selby had something for everyone. Fun kids section, beautiful plants, great view of the bay. The only criticism is the free audio guide was kind of glitchy.

Marie Selby Botanical Gardens are just beautiful, the staff does a wonderful job keeping the property Covid 19 clean and the plants in great condition. The visitors are a majority local, older, mixed about half male and female. I enjoyed the Bromeliad.

The Guide (Denise?) was very knowledgeable, did a nice job drawing in the group...Would be helpful if there were educational signs along the trails about the plants. Not all 'seniors' like to use/pay for audio tours (not sure if headsets were included in admission price...The Orchid Hs was UNDERwhelming though has a nice variety. I thought it would have more in blooms since yrly show upcoming...HUGE
disappointment = Michael's Selby GardensCafe -:) .... Arrived 12:15pm. My Chinese chicken salad looked to be at least 1-2 days old, saggy, more a noodle bowel w/ a good amount of chicken atop mushy greens. The plastic ware (I suppose is bio-degradable) was not sturdy enough to cut the chicken as the fork easily bent. Sorry..$2.25 for a tea(bag) is outrageous, despite what 'the market will bare.' I'm aware of damages from the last hurricane (would'a been nice to have seen pictures of The Gardens after the storm so visitors could recognize the cleanup achieved and for education.

BEAUTIFUL! We are not from the area and didn’t know what to expect. What a pleasant surprise. We spent 2 hours walking around and enjoying all the different areas of the grounds. With the turn of every corner there was something new to see. What a great thing to do even on a hot day. We loved this spot!!

This is a nice garden with things to do for every age. Kids will love the animal sculptures and cabanas in the trees. Adults will love the orchids hot house and the views on the bay.
We took advantage of the free entry on the first weekend of the month (if you have a BoA credit/debit card). At the moment they are fixing the garage so it's kind of hard to park, you have to use the valet parking.

Definitely A must see if you’re in the area, the gardens are in a great area with easy access, located near Sarasota bay !

On Sarasota bay, Marie Selby is a must see if one is sightseeing in the area. Allow a minimum of 2 hours. Currently they have have a special event with Salvador Dali as the main feature; this has made the gardens even more interesting. The food in their cafe and the food truck was very good. Taking a docent lead tour, although not required, made our visit more interesting and efficient. We loved it.

We bought tickets for the botanical gardens. I ended up in the hospital for a heart procedure just before Christmas, and we could not fly to Florida for the holiday. We called the Garden for a refund and someone called us back after 3 attempts. They informed us that they could not refund the money. We then inquired as to whether they could just issue us a credit for use at a later date, and they informed us they could not. This is a common practice used by airlines, hotels, etc. We informed them this was very disappointing and they should feel free to give the tickets to someone tomorrow who needs them. It is unbelievable that they would not issue a future credit for $77.00. Are they that cash strapped? We will take that into consideration for our next visit, but as a potential customer you should be aware they are not flexible at all.

We go her often as a family and it is just wonderful. Walk, talk and spending a joyful afternoon with our family is amazing here. A Jem to have in our community.

This is a special spot. Each family member, from 7 to 75, had a wonderful time.

The only negative was food service. We got a snack - 3 sodas, 1 orange juice, 2 cookies, and 3 Popsicles. For a total of $55!!!!

This botanic garden was by far the best part of my trip. The Tiffany Exhibit, with all the stained glass, was re-created throughout the gardens giving a one of a kind experience. A lightning storm required us to shelter in the cafe for about 90 minutes, but I was impressed with the diligence in keeping visitors and staff safe.

We went to see Purple Orchid show. It was amazing and beautiful, enjoyable walk with orchids in every shape and form, hanging, dangling and greeting us. The staff is most helpful and they are working hard to recover from countless hurricanes that hit our shores in SW FL. Part of the Marie Selby Gardens were not open due to the storms but the Orchid show was available. Whether you live here or not, consider a visit because they can really use the money collected now as they try to recover. We enjoyed our day. It was humid and hot, so loose attire is best and plenty of water. The parking, part of the Selby garden is easy to find and use. Overall it was a lovely couple of hours. The Purple Orchid is fabulous!

Who knew Beatle George Harrison was an avid gardener? Current exhibition at Selby, "George Harrison, A Gardner’s Life" on through June 29, traces 30 years of his TLC of the Friar Park estate, Henley -on-Thames, which he purchased when just 27, tending its 32 acres of grounds and mansion through the rest of his life. Inspiring garden exhibitions through Selby Gardens highlight Harrison’s journey, along with poetry by wife, Olivia. Worth the time.

we have been fortunate to have traveled the world and explore many botanical gardens in numerous places. this one is right there among the best. the variety of indigenous plants was amazing. the presentation was well thought out. the walks were beautiful and offered numerous benches for relaxing on to just soak up the calm and beauty of the place. this visit afforded us an opportunity to enjoy the planners mix of Dali art and style with the botanical exhibits. very nicely done and fun to explore.

Haven't been there in more than a year, so while the orchid display was on, we decided to take the opportunity to go. Wasn't toooo crowded, but we did have to wait. The staff is right on top of the number of visitors that are allowed in each section. We appreciated that. Plus EVERYONE we saw were wearing masks. Staying 6' apart wasn't a problem, unless you were passing someone who was taking a picture or was so fixed on a particular flower or presentation.
I hope (and expecting) that I can download some of the pictures. Each display was beautiful. The walk through the property reminded me of how living there must have felt those many years ago.
My "favorite" spot is the waterfall....oh how I wish I could have one just like it in my living room, den, cave....wherever!!
Staff was 100% volunteers and the questions was hoping to get answers to they, although very helpful, were unable to answer. Like evaluation of our orchid plants based on pictures....why are there no orange orchids in the display....hanging vs potted plants (not only orchids).
We won't be so long in between visits now.

This place is gorgeous. The theme right now is based on Salvadore Dali. Replicas of his art and personality are weaved throughout the exhibits. The one that got me was the grand piano in the middle of the pond with a waterfall in the background. Also Dali's famous eggs are seen everywhere along with many other exhibits, There is a butterfly House and a conservatory filled with orchids.

The reviews were great, but when we arrived we were still awestruck. Large egg shells and eyes everywhere amid orchids and hanging plants that looked like Salvadore Dali's famous mustache. Eggs hatching trees. And look a piano full of flowers floating in air! Then there is an 8 foot mustache--made of green plants. Now leave the orchid garden and walk to the oriental pond of coi fish---and there is another floating piano in full bloom. Along the way are 2 couches that look like 6 foot luscious red lips. Then come the bushes full of butterflies instead of full of leaves. On the way to the mansion full of Dali's work showing some of these fantastic mis appropriations if everyday objects, are a 7 foot butterfly and mustache of greenery to pose with for photographs. Fun for 7 year olds and 70 year olds alike.

This is a lovely place to spend a few hours. Mostly shaded to help temper the heat. Amazing flowers and trees. Loved it!

Went for a wedding. Had to go early because of traffic issues. Got to the gardens four hours before the wedding and almost didn’t make it to the wedding because it was so much to see and experience. In addition to massive Gardens and lovely settings there was an ongoing Salvador Dali exhibit complementing the flora. Go and spend lots of time and decompress.

We spent a lovely couple of hours in this enchanting place. We were told by locals to go early because it gets crowded, and arriving right at 10am when it opened worked out well--by the time we left around noon there were quite a few more folks piling in.

They provided an easy to follow map that had about 25 stops on it....some took just a few minutes to gaze at, but all were worth visiting. We happened to visit during the Dali exhibition, and they had re-designed several of their plantings based on his inspirations. It provided a bit of whimsey, and viewing several Dali prints was an unexpected treat.

For folks who love love plants, gardens, and beauty, this is worthwhile.

We read some reviews expressing disappointment at the high admission fee ($25 as of spring 2020). It seemed more than reasonable to us and we look forward to visiting again when we are back in the area.

Visited while the Dali exhibition was going on and enjoyed my visit very much. There is a lot to see here and it was very enjoyable. Beautiful plants and flowers + interesting information was provided about the things you were seeing.

We have been going to Selby for close to 20 years, and it keeps getting better! I felt safe in the middle of a pandemic! It was wonderful to be out and about and pretending that life was normal! Selby feeds the mind, body and soul. Education, exercise and the serenity of a tropical forest! Sarasota culture peeks through the mangroves! They were setting up for a wedding during our visit today! It is a world class setting for discerning and mindful brides. I took some pictures that captures the attention to detail that the Selby venue provides!

We visited the downtown campus. Due to construction, we parked at the overflow lot just a 5-minute walk away. the gardens are beautiful and the setting by the bay excellent. An hour and a half was sufficient time to walk the entire gardens at a leisurely pace. A nice stop after checking out of our hotel and before a 3-hour drive home .

This was definitely worth a stop. A lovely garden with a rich history, filled with a variety of beautiful flowers, plants and trees. Easy access to downtown Sarasota. Friendly staff. Wish I'd planned at least half a day! Look forward to returning.

We came to see the butterfly house with our two year old granddaughter, who dearly loves butterflies! The grounds were tended so lovingly and the positive vibes for visitors are palpable! Volunteers assisted us with a tram ride and we were grateful. Our little one was completely entranced with being able to see butterflies up close and kept saying “Wow!” and pointing to each new butterfly. Phenomenal experience. Thank you for all you do.

We went to the Botanical Gardens and had a very nice time walking through their collection. It is on the water so there are benches to sit on and enjoy the peace. Their gift shop is very cute and you also can buy plants there. It was decorated with Christmas lights and I wish we had gone at night - it looked like it would be beautiful. Maybe next time!

I realize that I am a dissenting voice, but we were deeply unimpressed by this botanical garden, and found the entry price dramatically in excess of the value afforded. As a passionate gardener, I go to botanical gardens to see fine specimens of plants presented in an aesthetically Elevated and natural environment. I was astonished to see many dozens of plastic plants, including plastic boxwood plants positioned on top of fake mushrooms, cardboard pink flamingos everywhere, and a limited selection of naturally beautiful plants to see. Interspersing these fake elements among the real plant material cheapened the whole look of the garden dramatically. This was not just in one spot of the garden, but distributed throughout in large and gaudy displays. The most beautiful part of the gardens were the few large,mature trees, which had breathtaking displays of roots in wonderful natural patterns. Unfortunately, this was the minority. I don’t go to a garden of this type to see fake butterflies, fake plants, cartoon cut outs of fake flowers and fake mushrooms. Perhaps this would appeal most strongly to a small child. If I could’ve asked for my money back, I would.

This botanical garden is truly a Gem, this visit there was a Dali theme; last time I visited it was Warhol. Charming old building housed original works by Dali.

Self guided or audio guided tour of the gardens. The gardens are beautiful. Wonderful displays inside and out. The Banyan tree was awesome. The gardens with the gulf view were so pretty. Great place to spend a few hours touring. Café was on site and a bit pricey. We shared a turkey wrap and it was very tasty. There was also a food truck to purchase food at. Menu looked good but we did not buy from the food truck. We stayed in downtown Sarasota and walked to the Botanical Garden.

Selby gardens in itself are breathtaking. the uniqueness of each garden area. Landscape, water scapes- from orchids, bonsais, the many varieties of tropical plants & flowers, to whimsical artistic renderings which r similar to the genius of Salvador Dali, I stayed almost all day- impressed & mesmerized. the piece de resistance- the Dali Art in the cottage , the photos of Gala& Federico Garcia Lorca - truly captures the energy & essence of Dali. I saw Warhol, I saw Gauguin - but this Dali Exhibit was the topper

Very nice parking garage and entrance is impressive, but gardens are repetitive with the overuse of Ficus, staghorn ferns, air plants, and bromliads. Large research building is only accessable by patrons for restrooms and amateurish video with little information about what research is accomplished in this massive "research" building. We have been to several Botanical Garden in the US and other countries, and this is definitely not one of the best. It is definitely no worth $26 entry fee.

We've been members recently and bring guests here for a great afternoon in this beautiful botanical garden. An amazing collection of tropical orchids in a delightful setting on the shores of Sarasota Bay. If you have not seen this world class collection of it's tropical beauty, you are missing a grand adventure.

Had a great time exploring the garden. The conservatory and house were closed as they prepare for their Tiffany exhibition so the admission price was discounted. Had a nice healthy lunch at their cafe. Fantastic banyan tree right by cafe and a fun children’s garden. Spent about 2 hours there in total. Also they’re building a new part garage, so had free valet parking. Very efficient and friendly service.

Great location on Sarasota Bay. Perhaps the best part of the visit is sitting in a chair watching the boats and scenery. We visit many gardens across the country. This particular one I felt is overused and under maintained. It does have a vast variety of plants for sure in a compact city environment and the kids seemed to like the children's area. But neatness counts and this garden doesn't have it. For the pricey admission here do yourself a favor and instead take in Bok Tower Gardens nearby.

This is another one of Sarasota’s gems in the middle of down town on Sarasota Bay. We visited during the week when the crowds were light. The gardens are a spectacular site to see. We were fortunate to be there during the Roy Lichtenstein exhibit of Monet’s Garden goes Pop. Lichtensteins’ interpretation and depiction of Monet’s gardens was whimsical and beautiful. The Gardens features the best scientifically-documented collection of orchids and bromeliads in the world. It also houses the most diverse living and preserved collections of air plants in the world. when you walk around, make sure to look up and down as the displays are everywhere. To really enjoy the gardens it will take 2-3 hours to tour. There is a small cafe on the grounds and restrooms scattered throughout.

We came here on a cool sunny morning in February upon a recommendation from a stranger while we were at Robinsons nature preserve. We so appreciated the recommendation. The grounds were absolutely stunning we saw the most amazing lush greenery trees mango crows beautiful flowers a desert section that featured cacti. There was a great rainforest section which was for children that we found to be so much fun and so beautiful. We happen to be there at the Patti Smith Robert Mapplethorpe exhibit which was quite unique and fascinating. Patty Smith’s poetry was quoted as you walk through and saw some of the most beautiful flowers and trees you’ll ever want to see. This place is a must if you’re down in Sarasota it’s one of the most beautiful botanical gardens we have ever been to.

My adult daughter and I had a wonderful time exploring Selby Gardens for the first time. Our favorite part was sitting under a beautiful, exotic tree overlooking Sarasota Bay. The wind, water, shade, and lush green surroundings felt almost magical! I’m looking forward to going back with my younger son and husband, as well as participating in some of their annual events offered.

Gorgeous gardens but expect the staff to have the mentality that they are there as a service for you not you as a customer of theirs! Its really mind blowing how rude and non-personable the staff is

My wife enjoyed our visit to the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens. The Dali exhibit was a plus. Wimsey permeated the gardens

This is a beautiful garden and the Tiffany exhibit makes it extra special. The colored panels throughout the garden add an extra level of beauty. The exhibit is very walkable (we had an individual in a wheelchair who could access just about everywhere). Unfortunately I do need to leave one negative remark, that does not necessarily reflect on the gardens and the lovely staff there, but did create a negative experience for us. The man running the food truck was down right rude. He was nasty to a customer before us, then not very kind to us. He kept yelling out to remember to tip your servers (him). If he wonders why he is not receiving tips, he needs to look in the mirror

I visited the main downtown location. Free parking in structure.
I'm not much of a plant person, but I appreciate looking at lovely botanical arrangements. Overall it wasn't my top experience at a botanical garden, but it was still a nice walk. I'd say it's a couple miles max for the entire walking path. It was much more "planty" than "flowery" but the kids area and cacti were fun. Nice views of the bridge.
There's not a ton of shade, so consider bringing an umbrella. It was horribly hot and no breeze the day I went and I was just dripping.
Apparently the other location is more "trail-y" and less expensive. Two separate entrance fees.

Nice gardens. Fun learning the history of the grounds. Beautiful views of the bay. Looking forward to their future expansion.

We were visiting the area and decided to visit the gardens. We went on a Tuesday so not very crowded. The orchards in the hot house were stunning. Gardens were very beautiful and we spent much more time than we planned. The estate is on the gulf so stunning views from gardens. Even a great place to take kids since there is an area with swinging bridges and towers which look over the mighty banyan trees. They are doing construction so offering free valet parking or optional nearby self parking. Highly recommend!

Most of the gardens are closed as well as the conservatory. The part that is open is under construction. It was $75 for 3 of us to go in and about a fourth of the gardens was open.

Beautiful gardens in a picturesque setting right on Sarasota Bay. Above average walking paths, many benches with shade to sit and ponder, a good variety of flowers, trees, and plants. I attended a special exhibit -Salvadore Dali "Gardens of the Mind" which was great with Dali inspired artworks throughout the gardens. Go early in the day as by mid-day it is more crowded and pretty hot! Your admission is valid all day so you could go early and then take a break and return later. They have good Covid preventions in place...masks must be worn in 3 of the indoor spaces, limited numbers in enclosed areas, 6 ft spacings on ground for lines, and hand sanitizer stations near enclosed exhibit space and conservatory.

This is a beautiful series of gardens. First you go through an inside garden with water features and orchids. Then outside paths take you through water ponds, bonsai trees, children gardens, walkways by the bay and large open area with big trees. We Also went in a house that displays different artist work. This time was Salvador Dali. His creations of eggs were displayed in different areas also. Refreshments available and gift shop. Nice large garens. Must see for nature lovers.

For the downtown location near Bayfront Drive —
We really enjoyed our visit. Helpful volunteers, gardens well kept, most plants and trees well marked. We enjoyed the garden tour; it was good to hear the history, their future plans, and of course we all had questions about various plants and trees.
There is another Marie Selby garden a few miles south that features native plants - the downtown garden is mostly non-natives.
There is one greenhouse open to the public, small but well done. Most of the rest is open air paths.
Best way to determine if this is for you is to check out the garden map online. This will highlight the main attractions and give a sense of the walking needed.
There is a parking deck at the entrance to the gardens, no charge, with the check-in/admin area adjacent. (There is an admission fee for the gardens of course, but not parking on top of that). The sit down restaurant is nearby. (This area was recently under construction, but it’s finished. Construction has moved to an area away from the entrance and main garden).
In addition to the new sit down restaurant, there is a grab and go place (salads and sandwiches) in the old Selby house (not open for touring otherwise). There is a patio with tables but we chose to find a shady bench and on the grounds and enjoy. So peaceful.
This is not another Ringling type place - it’s not trying to outdo big name tourist attractions. It’s actually an important plant research and preservation site, involved in projects around the world. (For you gardeners/botanists out there - their specialty is epiphytes!). We are just enjoying the public portion, which helps fund what the center is doing.

This place is beautiful! They did an excellent job with the gardens! We have been to a lot of botanical gardens across the country and this one stands out!

This was one of the best artistic interpretations I’ve seen in a long time. Dali was into eyes, eggs & music. Several of his sketches/paintings were exhibited as well. Definitely worth the effort to get there.

This is a great place to visit. They offer convenient free parking right on the property. There is a self guiding tour that takes you around all of the gardens and ends at a museum that contains artwork by the featured artist of the year. The floral exhibits very beautiful and contain many varieties of orchids.

Wife & I & friends visited this beautiful place. On a peninsula on the water in Sarasota. Many gorgeous plants, trees & flowers. A must-see when you are in the area.

This outstanding botanical garden, and its sister property at Historic Spanish Point, are immaculate, varied, and designed to immediately put you at one with nature. Both locations are superb. There are often transient exhibits making repeat trips a must. We always take our out-of-town guests!

As far as botanical gardens this one is very good. The fig and banyan trees were quite impressive. They had a section for Bonsai trees and they were excellent. I felt the garden was kid friendly and has some nice views of the Bay on the water.

My husband and I visited this garden and were very impressed. It is acres of beautiful botanical displays accompanied by the art work of Roy Lichtenstein’s interpretation of Monet. We spent several hours perusing the grounds and the displays, taking pictures, sitting to take in the beauty, etc. Out of all of the gardens we visited during this vacation in Florida this was our favorite!

very pleasant visit and loved the Tiffany exhibit valet parking a plus, great views of the city skyline

This is a 15 acre botanical garden full of beauty and awe. Following the paved path takes about 2 hours. Be sure to visit the green house to view more dazzling colors.
The Marie Selby website does a great job of hiding information about a special exhibit of Roy Lichtenstein, Monet's Garden. It shows his spin on Monet's painting in a unique way. Don't miss it, good luck finding information about it on the Selby website.

My husband were so happy to spend a few hours here. The gardens are beautiful. There's an amazing number of orchids. The Robert Mapplethorpe and Patti Smith exhibit was quite nice, especially with the horticultural displays throughout.

My husband and I have a membership to Marie Selby Botanical Gardens. We go every chance we get. Always, when family or friends are visiting, we go there. No one has ever been disappointed. They always want to go back when they return. It is so beautiful. A pleasant walk around the gardens is always relaxing. Each time it's something different, with different flowers and trees blossoming at different times. The highlight is always the orchid show in the fall! breath taking! There is also a great cafe' with a nice choice of healthy foods. A great place to spend a day!!

We visited Selby Gardens today and it was exquisite. The unique Gardens with tropical plants and trees allowed you to believe you were in a tropical rainforest. We had the additional treat of the Tiffany Glass Exhibition truly beautiful. I highly recommend this before the exhibit leaves in June. The staff and volunteers should be so proud of the wonderful work they do.
The new parking garage and upgrades currently under construction will be wonderful.

A must see in Sarasota. The trees are unbelievable. Beautiful flowers. Absolutely in love. My grandson loved the koi fish. The children’s area. The bridges. Amazing place

Hidden surprise -easy parking, cafe gift shop. Cool walk around the various gardens Lunch in cafe inexpensive- good sandwich.

We visited this garden on an extremely hot day, but there was still enough shade that we were able to enjoy all this garden had to offer. The Banyan trees are especially exquisite. The topiary garden was beautiful and had many sun dials. The artifacts in each specific garden were very interesting and appropriate for their surroundings. Hanging orchids beautified to check in space which made it visually pleasing on a hot day. The garden is centered in Sarasota and is easy to get to. Parking is also convenient. I would encourage anyone who visit Sarasota to make this a must see stop.

Received a gift of tickets for the light show 10 days ago and could not make the date. Three requests by email, (no response); two telephone calls (answering machine -left message -no response) and drive to Selby Gardens (nothing representative could do -send message to customer service); Detailed message to customer service (no response). Cannot comment on the light show as we can’t see it. Don’t ever give Selby Gardens as a gift. They have no customer service.

What a beautiful garden! We got there about noon. The garden was not packed at all. It was a beautiful day. They were setting up for their Christmas lights. Some areas still little damaged from hurricane but they are working on it. It was very peaceful and inviting. We ended up buying the membership so we can go back and enjoy more later!

Just had to visit since my maiden name was Selby....not to mention that my middle name is Marie. We were there is March of this year and it was beautiful. So much character in the gardens, the views were amazing and it was an all around fun day.

Beautiful gardens with artistic exhibits periodically. Caught the Lichtenstein exhibit..Gardens decorated with artwork similar to Lichtenstein..also versions of Monet!

Selby Gardens is simply beautiful! They have a wide variety of flowering plants and an amazing array of orchids grown in house by their botanists. The property is a historical landmark in addition to having a world class garden. Walking and exploring this beautiful property by Sarasota Bay is a great way to spend a morning or afternoon if you're in the neighborhood.

LOVE LOVE LOVE this garden. Absolutely fabulous plants, trees & flowers!!! Unfortunately the orchid conservatory was closed along with the house. But the rest is well worth seeing!!!

There is an area for kids, which we didn't have any, that has treehouses and waterfalls. and large painted toads. I especially love the huge Banyan tree and the Fig tree, with exposed roots that kids can walk through and play in.

Since we were here last year, they have a new parking structure, a new entrance and shop, which has beautiful plants for sale.

HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!

By becoming a member, you can visit all year long! Changing exhibits throughout the year designed and created by talented staff and volunteers. Your membership also gets you free admission to Historic Spanish Point.

We checked the information online about the Green Orchid Cafe. There was nothing saying that it was exclusive. We are not neophytes. We are well traveled and dine out frequently and have eaten in all the Sarasota museums. With both of us aided by canes we took the long walk from the handicapped parking area to the restaurant only to be informed that it is restricted to members and paying visitors to the Gardens. There is no excuse for not publicizing this policy.

We purchased a membership with Ford Edison Museum in Fort Meyers and 4 days later visited Marie Selby Gardens who is reciprocal with our membership according to the NARM website. We were told at the ticket counter that they just stopped accepting our membership and did not offer any option. We walked away and will never visit again or recommend a visit to their facility.

Even if gardens aren't "your thing", this is a beautiful and fun place to visit. The waterfront setting is spectacular - with lots of places to sit and relax. So much to see - all different types of gardens - desert, native Floridian, etc. Take 5 minutes and watch the intro video at the entrance - it will explain the history of the property, the different gardens and all the research happening. Lots to do for the kids as well - as was evidenced by student groups visiting - a little suspension bridge, kids' rainforest area, and a very cool butterfly house! Spend a few hours here - the sights and smells are wonderful.

Needed a walk after the long day of traveling and happened into the gardens. Paths are well-manicured and marked. The views are spectacular and the interactive exhibits well done. I especially liked the packing shed! A friend who accompanied us is a docent at the gardens -the place is rich in history and well worth a visit.

Huge concrete structures are quickly replacing trees , plants and wildlife at this once charming botanical garden. It looks more like a concrete jungle not the magical garden that was left to the people of Sarasota by Mrs. Selby . The misguided Selby leadership has even more plans to destroy trees , foliage and wildlife to make room for more construction in the future . The park has been ruined .
Best to visit and support other places in Sarasota that have exemplary leadership and stewardship who cares for properties gifted to the people of Sarasota. The Ringling Museum comes to mind
because the historical buildings located in a park like setting on the Bayfront are pristine and well cared for out of love and the commitment of the staff..

I live here. I have a membership there and I go there often. It is a place to walk all tireless off as I see the beautiful flowers and shrubs and trees not to mention special exhibits they often have. It is a place of peace and tranquility. I also call it my Labyrinth.

We were in Sarasota to spend the night before our flight home, we were looking for somewhere to go to take pictures and see butterflies. We found out after we paid the $28 each fee that the butterflies were only found on bushes around the gardens not actually a house of them.

The gardens were beautiful, well manicured, and they had a George Harrison "Gardener" exhibit going on with a lot of his musical sayings, and some beautiful arrangements of the flowers, ferns, and different plants.

Even though the butterflies weren't there, we had a nice day of walking around taking pictures and seeing everything they had to offer. The Desert plants was exquisite, with lots of different cactus, and desert plants and trees. They have a restaurant in the middle of the grounds that serves delicious food and snacks.

We talked to one of the many volunteers and we were telling him about looking for the butterflies and he told us they have a sister botanical gardens 20 minutes south that has a large collection of them. We didn't go to that one this time but maybe next time we are in the area.

The gardens were well worth the cost, it was a beautiful spring day of 85 degrees in Sarasota, FL.

A must see when in the Sarasota area!

I highly recommend this place. It’s an incredible way to spend a day. So many beautiful plants to see. Great place to get snacks on the property as well as a great gift shop & nursery. We will go back for sure.

The gardens remained open after hours for a special 4th of July fireworks event. The gardens are located next to Sarasota Bay, so we were able to watch spectacular fireworks with beautiful water reflections and boats bobbing up and down on the bay waters. Bring your lawn chair and pick out your favorite spot. While waiting for the fireworks, grab a bite from the food truck vendors brought in for the 4th of July, or just dine at the Selby Gardens cafe. Wander through the shaded gardens and see the beauty of nature until it's time for the fireworks to begin. We had a great time! Tickets for the event were only $25/person.

Went to Selby Gardens on a busy Saturday, but luckily found parking and got there for a guided tour that wasn’t too crowded. We had been there previously, but learned much more by taking the tour. Liked the Dali theme because we had been to the Dali museums in St. Petersburg and in Figueres, as well as to Cadaques and Port Lligat. That in turn made the small exhibit of Dali prints a little less exciting. Still a really worthwhile visit to a beautiful place with stunning views.

Incredible place for all ages. Our group was 3mths-75yrs. Our 3yr old granddaughter loved the children’s area. Lunch at the Orchid was a bit chaotic. Long wait for our order. Lovely gift shop. Walked more after lunch and had tea, cookies & icecream at the cafe (not the Orchid). A A+ way to spend the day with family.

This botanical garden is so beautiful. We spent a few hours wandering around and wanted to go a second time pretty soon afterward. It is on the higher end for pricing but it is worth it in my opinion.

My wife and I enjoyed many hours touring the Selby Botanical Gardens in Sarasota,Florida. The self-guided walking tour was very interesting and easy to navigate due to the simple map we received when purchasing our tickets for entry. The first stop was the greenhouse containing orchids from several countries. The setting was an excellent presentation of these beautiful flowers. The walk around the grounds was easy and well marked. We took a rest on a bench that faced Sarasota Bay. The view was beautiful and relaxing. We will go back on our next visit to the area.

We are relatively new residents to the area and decided to join the Gardens on our first visit. We were charmed by the beautiful gardens. So much color and beauty - plus I enjoyed the water overlooks. We spent 1.5 hours exploring the entire garden.
We are looking forward to many new adventures at the Selby Gardens.

Better each time we visit. Easy parking and entry. Everyone wore masks. Glass orchid house was cramped but all else was open. Visiting the house is fun - now they have a Lichtenstein art exhibit which is very good. It was hot in May but a good coastal breeze helped.

Sure, the price of admission is a little steep. But when you see how much effort and care has gone into the displays, and the knowledge of the painstaking work to achieve these results, it is money well spent. There is a very nice gift shop, and all the staff and volunteers make you feel welcome.

Everything’s coming up Patti Smith and Robert Mapplethorpe at this beloved attraction. If, like us, you have fond memories of the Selby, it’s worth coming back for a closer look at the intertwined legacies of two American masters. Orchids exquisitely set and lit, pay homage to Mapplethorpe’s photography. Passages from Smith’s writing appear along leafy paths (you can hear her read at least one of the passages). Dangling from a branch, a neon sign channels the Chelsea Hotel, where the couple made art together. It’s easy to miss the little white building where you’ll find the exhibition’s heart: gorgeous prints of Mapplethorpe’s orchids and photos of the pair in their bohemian glory.

What a beautiful place to visit. My whole family loved it. So peaceful., children’s garden is fabulous.

Absolute love it here. It’s so peaceful and there are many places to sit and just enjoy the beauty of these gardens. The view onto Sarasota Bay is lovely. Bring a book, you won’t want to leave.

My two separate attempts to get in here have resulted in frustration, confusion and futility. The front entrance roadway is completely roped-off - there is no signage, and zero parking to be seen. There also appears to be no alternate entrance nor informational kiosk to greet the confused visitor that arrives on the busy street area in front of the construction tape. In short, this is unmitigated chaos and a shameful mess.

We were pleasantly surprised with the wonderful grounds. A beautiful display of tropical flowers and trees, nicely kept. Great views of the bay.

Wonderful collection of orchids and other tropical plants. Amazing visitor center with a delightful gift shop including jewelry and plants to take home.

Wonderful Gardens that we enjoyed. Spent about 3 hours walking around at a leisurely pace. Lots in bloom in March and nice water views of city as well as gardens. We enjoyed our time. They are doing some construction at parking lot. The only con is it's a pricey for what itis at 25 a person.

A winning way to spend an afternoon. Beautiful, thoughtfully curated exhibitions(Tiffany currently on view) incorporate fine arts design elements with flora and fauna in the most imaginative ways. Wear comfortable shoes and sunscreen. Many paths wind around the extraordinary banyan trees, along the waterfront and into cooling secret gardens with koi ponds and waterfalls. Many benches along the way to stop and take it in. Wonderful playground for the kiddos. Great gift shop(which can be entered without purchasing admission).Food and beverage on site. Check web site for admission prices.
Undergoing a major expansion as of Feb 2023, parking is free valet but limited availability (exceptions for those with handicap pass). When full, you'll be directed to one of 3 lots within a 10 minute walk.

We loved this. We did not expect to find this oasis behind a concrete car park in the middle of downtown. Was greeted by a very friendly Glynis at the ticket office who had moved from Yorkshire 28 years ago but still had that great northern accent! We spend a good couple of hours looking at some fantastic plants. Do watch the video as it really helps to understand the important job that the Gardens does. Plenty of rest rooms dotted about, as well as somewhere to grab a drink and snack. I was bitten by something in the tropical area, so you want to put on some spray ahead of visiting.

There are a lot of fish in Sarasota, Florida, as you might expect, but there are a lot of flowers, too. As life-long Chicagoans, and Lincoln Park residents for the last 40 years, my wife and I have made several visits to the Lincoln Park Conservatory, the oldest public gardens in Chicago. So it figures that we have made more than a few visits to the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens during our vacations in Sarasota. Located at 1534 Mound Street, overlooking Sarasota Bay, the gardens feature more than 20,000 living plants, including 5,500 orchids, 3,500 bromeliads and 1,600 other plants. A signature collection is the world's second largest spirit collection consisting of vials of mostly orchid flowers in preservative fluids. The gardens maintain banyans, bamboo, live oaks, palms, mangroves, succulents, wildflowers, cycads, bromeliads, a butterfly garden, a fragrance garden, an edible garden and a koi garden. More than 150 expeditions to the tropics and subtropics have contributed to these collections and Selby Gardens botanists have discovered or described more than 2,000 plant species previously unknown to science. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1998, the 15-acre site features such major divisions as the Mulford B. Foster Bromeliad Identification Center that maintains taxonomic files for over 2,800 species; Greenhouses that contain over 10,000 accessions in more than 600 genera representing 92 plant families; Gardens that contain about 2,300 recorded tropical and subtropical plantings; the Herbarium that contains about 106,000 specimens of tropical flora; the Orchid Identification Center that studies and curates wild collected and conservatory grown orchids; the Christy Payne House that is home to the Museum of Botany and the Arts; the Research Library that houses about 124,000 volumes dealing primarily with tropical plants; and the prized Spirit Collection.

An absolutely beautiful garden right on the water. The grounds are well maintained, the home is beautiful, the playground is fun for all ages, and the all the staff are so knowledgeable and friendly. Free parking.

Yes, the gardens are quite beautiful and meticulously maintained. Parking is in an adjacent, multi-story parking garage. We ate lunch there and the food quality was top notch. There are several walking trails and a great view of the bay and the City of Sarasota. The price of admission ( $20+) kept me from giving it a 5-star rating. It's not that big and the price of admission seemed high IMO. Otherwise, I would recommend it to anyone. They are in the process of opening a 2nd, more formal, food venue which should be a big hit. I would encourage visitors to give it a try.

I was concerned about wandering around outside in the sun but most of the grounds is shaded and beautifully peaceful. We loved seeing the variety of plants. Take time to sit and have a snack at the cafe, it's in a wonderful, scenic spot under the trees. Great place for a break.

Our adult daughter was with us for our 5th visit. She was mesmerized by the lushness and lulled by the tranquility. She meandered, caught a quick lunch at the cafe. Then we hit the gift shop. Perfect afternoon.

This property focuses more on the area’s history than the plants. That’s fine as long as you aware of this before visiting. In June there is little in bloom and it is steamy. There are volunteers to cart you around between the sites which was very much welcome during our visit. Lots of active butterflies in the butterfly house.

Sadly noticed today that Selby Botanical Garden cut down the second healthy mango tree on their property. Probably not the good direction to go.

Beautiful garden with different sections for different ecosystems. At this time their greenhouse was closed as they are setting up a large annual exhibit. I want to come back for the greenhouse.

Went to see the Dali exhibit interspersed throughout the gardens. Absolutely lovely and would definitely go again. The butterfly building and the view of Sarasota Bay is especially beautiful.

As of March 2020 Selby Gardens in included in the Bank of America program which allows for free admission on the first full weekend of the month when you show a BOA credit/debit card - totally worth it!

The Marie Selby Botanical Gardens are a wonderful, creative, and imaginative collaboration of plants, flowers, and tropical trees that turn this pastoral setting into a collection of living art. The current Salvador Dali exhibit is whimsical and fun. This is a regional treasure to be enjoyed by visitors of all ages. The children’s section of the garden is fun and engaging for the entire family. A must see if you are visiting Sarasota,

A beautiful place, well worth a visit, as other reviewers have said.

The cafe, with both indoor and outdoor spaces, is well done, better than most museum's overpriced offerings. We had delicious chicken sandwiches and oriental grain bowls. It's run by Micheal's, a well regarded restaurant in Sarasota.

We enjoyed our visit very much- especially the koi ponds, waterfalls, and rainforest bridges. We dropped our wallet and were so grateful that someone returned it to the main desk. Good people are everywhere!

The Selby Gardens cover acres located right on the Bay. There is a lot to see and to photograph - well worth a few hours of your time.

Gardens quite nice, we were there in the afternoon and it was quiet and peaceful. Very little labelled though. Some areas looked well curated and some seemed not as well maintained. Mangroves obviously trimmed or you'd have no view of the bay. The parking garage was very handy. Don't feel its worth $28 though, but it was a nice get away for a cpuple of hours.

Absolutely love Selby Gardens. Went today to the Tiffany exhibit and it was so amazing and interesting. Visually stunning and historically significant. Once again the folks at Selby really know how to make a visit there memorable. Highly recommend the Tiffany exhibit but hurry. It’s only there through June 25th.

Glad I live here and can get a membership. Visiting the Gardens is always good for what ails you. And the special events, whether concerts, garden shows, etc., are well worth the investment.

We visited these gardens and had a nice time but liked the Roy Lichtenstein exhibit that had last year better than the exhibit they had this year. Overall they are well kept and a nice place to enjoy nature..

We drove a long way to get here. Wish their website had mentioned that their garden was about 80% closed (due to Hurricane Milton). Not knowing that, we assumed all was ok. There is really nothing special to see. Yet, they still charged the usual full price. Felt like we got ripped off.

Visited Christmas of 2019 it was a very enjoyable afternoon right on the water, specular orchid / cymbidium displays

Whether you want to look at the flowers and plants, relax and look at the bay, or even just enjoy the quietness - This place is an oasis in the middle of downtown Sarasota.

Enjoyed a self-guided walk through the gardens and conservatory. The orchids were beautiful. The cafe had tasty muffins and coffee which we savored at an outdoor table.

While visiting family we learned of the Salvador Dali Gardens of the Mind exhibiting at Marie Selby and ventured out on a beautiful Sunday morning to enjoy the gardens and Dali inspired plantings. The gardens are calming and make for an enjoyable day learning about Florida's native landscaping in addition to the specific exhibits such as the butterfly house, succulents, the tropical conservatory and the home itself. I could have spent all day on the grounds taking more time to review the plant varieties and gaining inspiration for my own gardens and display inspiration.

Great place to get away from the crowds. Great variety of orchids, epiphytes and other plants. Current show (through June 2022) of photos by Robert Maplethorpe and writing by Patti Smith juxtaposed with the live plants was very interesting.

A wonderful and peaceful spot to stroll around. The orchids are displayed in very creative ways....some I've never seen before.
Very nice staff...can get crowded so get there early in AM!

The walk through the gardens is a wonderful experience. Each area is detailed in expert display and beautiful flowers. It is an excellent place to bring visiting guests for a relaxing time with visual appeal.

Beautiful gardens beside the waterfront. A wonderful way to spend a few hours marveling at the plants and flowers. A photographer's delight!

This is truly a Sarasota gem and I hope they don't change it. The variety of plants and flowers is wonderful and the way they include art exhibits in the garden areas makes it even more interesting to visit. They offer classes and tours too. Its a good place to visit for locals and tourists, kids and grown-ups. The gift shop isn't overpriced and they have some unique items.

We visited the gardens with the many beautiful flowers, greenery, and trees. It's quite extensive and backs up to beautiful Sarasota Bay. There is currently a Dali influence throughout the grounds which lends a quirky feel many times and an appreciation for the man! It's $25 to get in ... a little pricey if you're not an avid garden lover.

A large portion of this was closed at the time I was there (they call it Phase two), so this was mostly just a pleasant walk on an attractive path with only limited displays of exotic plants. The orchid exhibition, however, made it worth the price of admission.

The floral exibit featuring Salvador Dalhi is a must to see and experience. The guide was very knowledgeable.

Unbelievable beauty and very educational for knowledge of the plants and flowers. Orchids are just amazing.

I hadn't been there for a couple of years but recently took visitors there and we all liked the gardens, ponds, and plants. Tranquil right in the heart of Sarasota. An annual membership well worth the price. One could go there anytime to relax and enjoy these fantastic gardens.

I took the liberty to spend one of my vacation days at Selby gardens, I was blown away! The elaborate mix of tropical plants was astonishing. As soon as I pulled onto the premises I knew it was going to be great after seeing the cobblestone Drive down to the entrance. The outside perimeter area was so welcoming, clean, and kept. I enjoyed strolling around the entire grounds as Beauty is around every corner. I really liked the kids rainforest garden, it made me feel young again up in the treehouse under the massive banyan canopy. Everyone needs to visit Selby gardens at least once in their lifetime. It’s a true Sarasota gem.

Admission is $20 per adult. We were able to get in free because of a reciprocity plan in effect between gardens in various states. It was well worth the admission price. Lots of Bromeliads, bonsais, Banyan trees, desert scales, etc. We spent over an hour and a half in these very well-maintained gardens. We did enjoy a piece of walnut apricot date nut bread in the Shelby cafe.

I went to the gardens on the last day of the orchid show and there were almost no orchids. There were more orchids in the gift shop. I thought the circus theme was pathetic, unless of course a child came up with it, and an embarrassment to Selby Gardens. They need to get somebody in there who is actually creative.

OMG :-)) from the parking lot with the flowers strung along the walls, everything is beautiful. You walk in the middle of a amazing nature, beautiful and magical trees. Flowers, birds, cactus, orchids, palms, bonsai…
The majestic banyan trees are amazing.
The atmosphere is so quiet.
You have scenic view of Sarasota Bay.
Morning or late afternoon activity is a good idea because of the heat 90° (May 7th)

The Selby Gardens are spectacular.
Be sure to purchase your lunch from their cafe and enjoy eating in the decorated yards ...the food is excellent; delicious
choices for lunchtime and/or snacks.

The orchid exhibit was A+.

Just watch the parking situation at the moment. The Garden entrance is hard to find, and there is min available on the weekends while construction is next door. Can't be helped; however, the car parkers all were great. (It is comp....but basically, you'll want to give them a tip).

An exceptional garden in the middle of Sarasota. The serenity as we walked the paths was a welcome respite to the news of the virus. Easy to keep socially distant, the flowers and the walkways were a joy. We will return as this is a must do for each visit to Sarasota!

It is a pleasant place, but the entrance fee is very high and most of the plants are not labeled. There is not all that much to see. My favorite was a couple spots in the shade with bay breezes—cool. Lunch was good but very expensive for eating outside out of a food truck. Being asked to tip on top of the price seemed excessive.

We visited the Shelby Gardens over the Christmas Holidays to see their Holiday Light Show. It was a great evening. Several acres of lit trees and bushes. No words to describe. Great for the entire family. We had a great time and will do it again.

Very pretty grounds and walkways take you through beautiful gardens. The view of downtown Sarasota from the gardens is amazing.

Tucked away on the bay, Marie Selby Gardens is a hidden gem. My wife's grandmother volunteered for years and left them a little money in her will so we decided to stop in while in Tampa for business. My wife had not been since she was a child and I had never been. We spent an hour or two walking around and seeing the sites. My favorite was the Grand Lawn, the Orchids and the Mangroves. It was all very beautiful and a good way to get off the very busy roadways for a bit and destress. Highly recommended.

I love Selby Gardens. It is right on the bay so its nice to have the bay breeze. Plenty of plants to take pictures of. Nice walking paths. Decent shop with live plants to purchase.

Far exceeded expectations. I am always getting dragged around to gardens, nurseries, plant shops, etc by my garden loving husband and his siblings. This one hit it out of the park with very creative installations of art, Monet inspired plantings, a jungle exhibit and a koi pond. The garden is located along the shores of Sarasota Bay so there was a lovely sea breeze coming across the paths as well as lovely views of sailboats bouncing along. The paths have quite a bit of shade, we were afraid of broiling in the sun, but this was not the case at all. Plenty of garden benches to sit and admire the flowers and the bay, did not feel crowded at all. They have a nice gift shop (of course) and a little cafe. They also host weddings and events, so wouldn't that be a nice treat!

At 25.00 per person..a bit expensive but truly beautiful and worth visiting..lovely personnel throughout the grounds

Highly recommend a visit to these botanical gardens if you are near Sarasota. Beautiful, peaceful, relaxing stroll through the most beautiful gardens I have visited.

The gardens were nice and well maintained. This property retains the charm of a private residence, this does though limit the space for the amount of plants and exhibits. The part that we enjoyed most was the current rotating exhibit of carved wooden masks from Mexico and Central America. In addition to viewing the exhibit the masks could also be purchased and bid on. This was being used a source of revenue for the gardens.

Beautiful small botanical garden. Great atrium with many orchids. Short walking trail with lots of interesting plants. Visit every year we are in Florida. Great views of water. Tiffany glass was special exhibit this year. A great take in beautiful Sarasota

We enjoyed the gardens and would rate them on the high side of average. My wife and I have visited botanical gardens in about 20 different states and a few other countries and this was nice and well maintained, but a bit less well signed or staffed than others I have visited. I suppose it is nice not to be bothered by staff, but I could not locate anyone to answer some questions about some of the native trees they had on display. The display of wooden painted masks they had on display from Mexico and Central America were the stars of the show.

Went here last week it was amazing the greenhouse with all the orchids and ferns was spectacular! Walked the entire grounds the tidal pool was very cool too.
The cafe is very small with some tables inside and some outside. I read the rules on their website on food to be brought in but did see some folks that brought some snacks with them. Definitely worth $20.

Just okay. Something to do with the family in town, but for the ticket price
($34-$44, price based on time of entry), this is overated. On site parking is additional $19. Minimal amount of animation, mostly just lights. No comparison to the Asian Lantern Festival at the Central Florida Zoo which is quite spectacular and only $24.99

Our family went to visit the gardens. We were not disappointed. My favorites were the butterfly garden, cactus collection, koi pond and mangrove walkway. We saw 4 Manatees of the in the bay.
Make sure you buy your koi food when you get your tickets. Ring the Bell !
I have been there for the Christmas lights display. Must see !
We spent two hours because of your schedule. I suggest you plan a 4 hour visit.
We had lunch at Marina Jack !
Great place to rest and watch the boats on the bay.

Beautiful gardens with an interesting and broad collection of tropical plants. Lovely and shady, with water-born breezes flowing throughout the gardens. A wonderful place to go and sit and enjoy nature. Incredible view of downtown Sarasota. One of my top five gardens that I've visited in the United States. Ask about membership, and all the reciprocating gardens across America. Well worth my time and money. A place I will return to when I'm in the area.

Selby Gardens is a wonderful experience. OK, its not Longwood Gardens but what these 9 acres provide is a visually entertaining and soothing time in our city

If you appreciate exotic flora and a tranquil day in a park like setting then this is an afternoon you will cherish

Very nice place to go to as a couple or with kids. It will take you a out 2-3 hrs to see everything and then just find a bench and enjoy the nature for few minutes...

This place exceeded everyone’s expectations. I have a 2, 5 and 17 year old. All of them enjoyed the gardens. There are main trails and then numerous side paths twisting across the 15 acre water front property. The kids loved exploring. The plants are labeled at least once but repeat plants may not be. There were numerous volunteer staff who were very competent and able to answer my questions. Easy to keep children engaged for at least two hours here. We will definitely visit again!

Didn't realize there are two Marie Selby Botanical Gardens in Sarasota. We visited the downtown branch, which was just lovely.
Gorgeous entry structures. Unique, beautiful gardens. Bonsai trees. Some Gulf of Mexico views.

The gardens are fabulous. The Tiffany displays are amazing. However, the parking attendant and the Manage of Visitation (Ross Johnston) were rather rude. We were a bus load of seniors from Ft Myers. Unknown to us, they prefer reservations. Nevertheless, we were already there. They wanted us to get back on our bus and leave. We refused after traveling an hour and a half to get there. Disappointed in the customer service aspect of our trip.

Don't miss the orchids...they are awesome. Lots of neat specimens to see and wonderful to stroll around the paths. Lovely location right on Sarasota Bay....very peaceful.

We recently spent a long weekend in the area and visited Marie Selby Botanical Gardens for one afternoon. Immediately upon entering you feel like you are in a garden oasis, away from the city. It is a beautiful garden, with dense vegetation, well-maintained, and nicely laid out. The banyan grove is amazing - we loved it. They had a beautiful exhibit on the suffrage movement with orchids, and that was lovely. We felt that they were doing everything appropriately to encourage social distancing and mask wearing, which made us feel comfortable.

We visited the Marie Selby Gardens at Historic Spanish Point. What an excellent experience. Nice trails, great information, and beautiful vegetation. Very peaceful.

Even though it was 88 degrees on the afternoon of our visit, we could have stayed all day! The collection of orchids is top notch. Roaming the grounds and seeing the bamboo, mangroves and lakes was fascinating.

Have passed by the Selby Gardens a few times in the past and decided to visit today. Cost is $25 for adults unless you
have a membership or an affiliation with another similar type of place. We thought it was worth the price based on how
much there was to see and how unique most of the flowers and trees were. You should allow at least 2 hrs to walk through
the gardens at a leisurely pace and see everything. Many types of bamboo, banyan trees, orchids, tropical flowers and
mangroves are in abundance to see. There is a small butterfly room and many areas in walk up ramps and across rope
bridges ( very easy to navigate) to see the gardens from higher elevation. A small cafe and restrooms are available on the
grounds. Saw many families as well as seniors on our visit. Parking is free across from the entrance.

What a great visit. A lot of care goes into the gardens. Seem many very interesting flowers, and plants. The guides that were walking around, were helpful, sure knew their stuff!. The location was ideal for us.

Selby does a wonderful tribute to the friendship and collaborative artistic creations of Robert Mapplethorpe and Patty Smith with clever floral installations that become photographic portraits, accompanied by Smith’s recorded songs as well as a gallery of portraits of each other in the main house. Worth the time and meandering through the garden, which is not huge, Show runs through end June.

Don't miss it if you like orchids! The orchids were flying on trapezes. The setup was very cute and the orchids were beautiful.

A beautiful place marred by an absolutely horrible staff. The staff was completely unhelpful and condescending. Nice place but I can’t say the gardens make up for the way they treat guests.

Wish the place was larger because it was such a calming place to be. Beautiful orchids and landscaping.

Much larger than it looks from the outside- make sure to wander all around. Many different plants and trees to see. GREAT mask display in the mansion- honestly, we thought we would zip through this part but the workmanship was amazing.

Wonderful visit with something interesting everywhere you look. Lots of opportunities for great photos. Great for all ages.

A great collection of plants in a stunning location. Plan to spend the day and soak up the beauty in this great botanical garden. You can’t beat this garden on the Sarasota waterfront.

Fantastic gardens, wonderful selection of gorgeous flowers and trees, plus a beautiful view of the bay. Lots of nice sitting areas and a fun children’s rainforest area. Seeing the curated Patti Smith - Mapplethorpe exhibit was a real bonus. Nice gift shop. The only disappointment was eating at the overpriced Cafe - bring your own food if you have that as an option. Great place to spend many hours - Will return.

Beautiful gardens. Total cost to get in for 2 adults and 1 child was $50. The museum/Payne House was closed, but we were not told that until we were already in the park. The admission price should have been reduced for that reason or there should have been a sign or some indication that parts of the park were closed. Overall it was nice, but felt ripped off. There are other botanical gardens in the area that are free and just as nice. At least parking was free.

Beautiful flowers, excellent depiction of Monet's gardens and home. The orchids in the conservatory were beautiful. The cafe salad was delicious. Always a wonderful day at Selby.

Peaceful and many shaded paths. Very nice children's area. If you are really into plants then $26 for admission may be well worth it. Bring your water.

See other reviews from this trip:
Sarasota, FL: The John and Mabel Ringling Mansion ("Ca'd'Zan”), The Ringling Circus Museum.
Venice, FL: Crow’s Nest, Sharky’s on the Pier
Key West, FL: The Hogfish Grill (on next-door Stock Island), Ernest Hemingway House, Harry Truman’s Little White House, Trolley Tour, Key West First Legal Rum Distillery, The Lobster Shack, Hot Tin Roof, Santa Maria Suites
Key Largo, FL: Holiday Inn, Skipper’s Dockside Restaurant, Key Largo Princess II Glass Bottom Boat Tour
Ft. Myers, FL: Edison/Ford Winter Estates
Punta Gorda: Laishley’s Crab House

Lovely way walk through the gardens. Not the best blooming time of year. We were impressed with their research and dedication to the flora of the area. It’s only a four, because it’s no Butchart Gardens. It’s well worth the trip, however. It’s a great garden for an urban area and we applaud Marie Selby for being so forward looking as for the need for urban green space.

On Dec 30, 2019 I took a friend for an evening of lights and magic. It was a lovely evening with mild temperatures and plenty of lights! See attached photo for a glimpse of the event.

Bright and fresh again with excellent collection of plants and great views. Tranquil. Indoor exhibits currently closed.

We went for the Xmas light show. It was amazing stroll around the water. they had really nice Christmas light everywhere They had a very small food area hot coffee donuts burger. It was very nice to take people too

Beautiful place for a relaxing and informative walk through rainforest garden setting. It was especially fun to be guided by a snowy egret who was stalking lizards!

An absolutely must see! We had a lovely day wandering the gardens. The staff/volunteers couldn’t have been more helpful and knowledgeable. We were there for the George Harrison garden exhibition and learned so much! Great way to spend a few hours!

Very disappointed w/the Garden (even overlooking the incredibly cheap & tacky Christmas decorations which completely overwhelmed the place during our visit). If you're much of a gardner, you'd recognize that a very large percentage of the plants in bloom right now can be purchased throughout the year at your local Home Depot, from Zone 7 south. (The only exception - the handful of orchids that were available for purchase in their gift shop). I'd expect something more from a botanical garden. Naples has this one beat by miles. Perhaps they just have no $$$? Didn't see anything that indicated there was a lot of hurricane damage to the property..... Not worth a return visit IMO.

This is such a beautiful place. I visited with my family. My Dad has difficulty walking far and there were several places to stop and just sit and look at the flowers. It is set out so well that it is family friendly as well as friendly for any abilities and ages. Highly recommend a visit!

My wife and I visited this place during a recent stay in the Sarasota area. There is ample, free off-street parking in their parking structure and all of the staff we interacted with were very friendly and helpful. They had sustained damage due to the hurricanes of last fall so they had just reopened prior to our visit. The staff were actively working on the various exhibits trying to trim and replant what needed attention however, there was still a great deal for us to view and learn about during our visit. It can get hot during your visit so I recommend you bring an umbrella and water. They also have an area for kids where there is a waterfall, a viewing platform and play area where they get rid of any excess energy they may have. My wife rates this place as 'excellent', where I would rate it as 'very good'. In any case, if you like viewing and learning about flora and fauna, I would recommend you pay this place a visit.

This is an experience you should really see. the orchids are fabulous and rarely will you get the opportunity to see so many species in one place. The variety of trees and plants is exceptional and the grounds are so picturesque. the view of the Sarasota Bay from the grounds is worth the time for a photograph. Check this out when in Sarasota.

Selby is always spectacular, the Dali exhibit just makes it even better!! The orchids are always favorites and so good to see the mansion open with great displays...

The Botanical Gardens are amazing! It was even more special because there was a Tiffany exhibit there. The exhibit was in the hardens, the orchid house and in another house! Truly spectacular @

Amazing day at Selby! Be sure to get there early (at least on the weekend). We drove down from Tampa/Brandon on first Sunday in March. Weather was spectacular. We arrive just before noon. We purchased our tickets online before arriving. There was just two people ahead of us to check in. But two hours later, the line was out the door!

The orchids were spectacular. They have added so much to the gardens since we last visited it 20 years ago! We spent about 2 1/2 hours there, and loved every minute of it.

This is one of the best gardens I have visited in my entire life. There were so many beautiful plants.

I appreciated the soothing atmosphere of the Selby Gardens and its beautiful trees and flowers.I relished its creative eggs,eggshells,and butterflies amidst its splendid trees.I liked the splendid views of Sarasota Bay.My favorite trees were its Banyon Trees,its very fragnant Singapore Plumeria Tree,and its Wax Apple Tree.I also liked the"Sunnyside Egg"Creation near the Selby House Snack Bar.The wise sayings by Salvador Dali added to the Selby Gardens charm,as well as two charming Night Herons by a Buttonwood Tree..The Tropical House and a mansion were closed due to Covid 19.However,I am glad I visited this soothing botanical garden.

Great visit and stroll through the beautiful gardens and grounds. Can’t image why they would spoil it with cheap accessories created Roy Lichtenstein? Certainly not a Dale Chihuly artistic exhibit.
So look past that and enjoy the natural beauty provided by the gardens.

The new parking garage slash restaurant is beautiful. The new entry pavilion is functional. The George Harrison exhibit was delightful.

We visited Selby Gardens and saw the Tiffany exhibit. It was just lovely. Our trip was negatively affected by Red Tide. It is one thing to consider if you are sensitive. We all started coughing as soon as we left the car and we coughed intermittently through our whole stay. The Gardens are right along the water front so it was definitely a problem. We were able to enjoy the gardens but if you had any airway sensitivity it could be a problem.

The Selby is magic any time of year, but around the holidays, when they dress her up, wow, does she shine. The beautiful botanicals as well as the old architecture... just wonderful!

It was an amazing experience to walk through the gardens. The beautiful plants were well taken care of and healthy. The varieties were extraordinary

We had a few hours before our flight home and spent some time here exploring. Absolutely stunning gardens that are easily accessible via a parking garage. The variety of plants & trees is so impressive! We loved the banyan trees and if you have small children who love to climb & explore, they would enjoy the children's play area. Take time to stop in the cafe & sit outside to soak in all of the beauty.

Regular visitors to this wonderful oasis. This is a beautiful botanical garden that is full of little nooks and private places to sit and relax. Take a break and meditate or read a book. The physical facilities are new, and the architecture is incredible. It is definitely worth a visit or a membership if you are interested in visiting frequently.

A wonderful afternoon activity. Entry fee steep and no senior discount! The layout is spectacular and the plant variety is astounding. The children’s rainforest exhibit is great for kids. The Dali touches are fun and well planned. There is a whimsy which is worth seeing. The butterfly house is very fun. Food is available but the food truck which has the interesting menu closes early. Be there before 2 PM. It is a great way to spend some quality family time. However the entry fee may be a deterrent. Membership makes a difference but not an option for an itinerant tourist.

I’m an avid tree enthusiast and heard there were some great Banyans here. They didn’t disappoint. Staff were helpful and friendly. Rebecca Louise Law installation is a must-see.

An all round good, no very good garden. Lots of different areas, easy to walk around and changing exhibitions, would definately return if in area again

Lovely gardens and a Dali expedition. Lots of eye balls and egg shells. Be sure to go to the mansion

The Marie Selby Botanical Gardens are a lovely place to explore different eco-systems in a lovely, walkable setting. The buildings and grounds are well maintained (though the actual gardens were a bit smaller than I expected. The views of Sarasota from the gardens is exceptional. There is a small cafe that is quite reasonable and offers healthy food choices. There is also a lovely small gift shop.

We visited the Selby Gardens at night for the holiday "Lights in Bloom" event. Very beautiful... all the trees and so on were lit up.
Lots of fun with food and drink. Very appealing location right on the water. Worth a visit.

Beautifully maintained with a very rich variety of plant species and habitat types. Many epiphytes. When we went there was a special art exhibit which was great, all over the gounds.

Really enjoyable and so much to see. Gardens are a manageable size to get round even in the heat. Plenty of places to stop, sit and enjoy the view.

We are so lucky to have this treasure in Sarasota. I have been several time including for the holiday lights. Amazing place with so much to see and learn.

Enchantment at the beginning of January - holiday lights still up, temperatures absolutely perfect, crowds at a minimum - I feel I hit the jackpot.

A Welcoming Botanical Adventure! We love the beauty of these gardens, the great volunteers, the ease of parking and walking on paths. The Greenhouse has closed for its upcoming renovation but everything else is open. The paths are decorated with lights so I'm sure it's bright at night! The restaurant is open and the food is delicious! I recommend the honey wheat loaf! The parking is free. Welcoming staff will help you if you need directions or have any questions. The cafe is open in the center also. This is a reciprocal garden. We had a lovely day and we recommend this Botanical Garden to everyone! Enjoy!

We went to the botanical gardens to look at all the beautiful plants and flowers. They have the Salvatore Dali Gardens of the Mind exhibits displayed all throughout the gardens and a small art exhibit in a small room at the mansion. It was an awesome weather day and lots to see including views of the bridge to St Armand key, etc. and the Sarasota Bay. We thoroughly enjoyed our day and all the beauty that these botanical gardens have to offer. They also have a small gift shop and a wide variety of plants for sale too.

We were a little hesitant to pay $25 per person to tour these gardens, and were truly delighted to find that it was worth the expense. We've been to numerous botanical gardens around the country and this is by far one of the best if not the very best. A wonderful variety of plants with interesting and varied areas, plenty of places to sit and enjoy the scenery. This is definitely a must-see. It's pricey, but totally with it.

Always beautiful and pleasant to visit and enjoy the beauty and change of seasons.
We are annual members.

The night show of lights is fun for every age. 8 to 80 you will find this fun. We parked off site and took the shuttle.

Each year when I visit Sarasota I always set time aside to visit these truly beautiful and amazing gardens. This year I decided to expand my knowledge of plants and enroll in the Botany for Everyone class taught by Abby Artemisia. The class was held in the coach house, which was very comfortable and for signing up for the class we had full access of the gardens, which was an added bonus. I feel like I learned so much about plant identification and the parts of the plants. I consider myself a bit of a gardener, but now realize I knew very little and have a lot more to learn. Abby was very patient and made learning about botany fun and enjoyable. The class was five hours, with a break at noon for lunch, which allowed us to check out the food truck on site or eat at the café. I choose the Chinese ginger and chicken noodle salad at the café which was really good. After returning to the class room we wrapped up our inside work and headed into the garden for hands on training on plant identification. Joining a class like this is also a great way to meet wonderful people with similar interests. It was a wonderful day and I will definitely try more classes and activities on my next visit.

We took a guided tour to learn about the plants and the rich history of the gardens. I highly recommend a tour to get the most out of your experience. The views were spectacular of the the bay and the gardens . I took a ton of pictures! The gardens were getting ready for their upcoming Tiffany show. So we saw a few artists working on their exhibits. The koi pond was absolutely beautiful with it's lush greenery and waterfall. The fish were huge and obviously well fed. The water is dyed black to keep the koi safe from the birds of prey. All I could think of is how to improve my garden at home. I certainly got lots of ideas. It is a perfect place to escape the everyday and experience the beauty of nature. Give yourself a couple of hours so you can sit on one of the many benches and enjoy the scenery.

Definitely OVERPRICED for what you see. Beautiful but not that much to see for the price of $28 per person being charged. Best Botanical gardens that I have been to is the Kanapaha Botanical Gardens in Gainesville, FL.

1. This is under complete renovation and parking is offsite in a garage with free valet service. This results is a fairly long walk to the entrance.
2. The entrance fee is quite high. Over 20 bucks per person - and be prepared for a complete lack of discounts for residents, veterans, etc.
3. After getting price-gouged, it becomes quickly apparent that this is largely designed as a children’s activity camp/school field trip locale. There are large cheesy childlike plywood stand-up decorations along with lights strung-up EVERYWHERE marring the natural beauty of these gardens and pathways. I felt like I was in some sort of child’s amusement park like legoland or sesame place.
4. The cafe is so cramped and congested, that it becomes hopelessly clogged with people. When we were there, it was a real zoo.
5. The orchid house and the cacti section were distinctive. There are some magnificent banyon trees. Some areas lack identification markings. There almost seemed to be an illogical layout to this entire place. I want to re-emphasize that along these pathways, there will be giant plywood children statues, colored paper twisted into the tree etc, and lights everywhere marring the potential natural beauty of this place.

What a great experience touring the site. All native vegetation and history. Easy walking trails and the Clyde Butcher nature photos were a plus. So peaceful.

My husband and I made a good decision to visit the Gardens while vacationing on Siesta Key. Let me say how many wonderful and informed workers and volunteers they had available to guide and share knowledge! The orchids were gorgeous and displayed beautifully. The walking paths around the property led to various areas that highlighted so many trees and plants. We saw lots of lighting hung, so I imagine it would all be wonderful at night as well as during the day. We spent a very enjoyable 1 1/2hr at Selby Gardens.

Beautiful Gardens. I would definitely return. I went during the orchid show, and it was exquisite. Lovely place.

A very safe place (Covid) to visit and enjoy the beautiful sights and sounds of nature and the bay area. We spent four hours and leisurely made our way through the gardens. Highly recommend this as a must stop on your visit.

This park is drop dead gorgeous. The feature floral displays themed for artists, a different one each year. This year was pop art. In addition the floral displays, there is a small house where actual actual artwork is displayed. There is a great gift shop also.

The gardens are beautiful and well-kept. The current exhibition which features Lichtenstein's interpretations of Monet's gardens at Giverny is entertaining and a treat for the eye. The gardens feature many lovely vistas of the Hudson Bayou and of Sarasota Bay. The trees, shrubs and flowers are lovely.

I’ve been a member of Selby Gardens for years, and despite the new facility, I will not renew my membership. It’s a lovely garden, impressive resource, and facilities are perfectly adequate (although the restaurants are lame) - but the volunteers who work there are so miserable and rude, I just can’t take it. For years, every time I’ve visited, I feel like I’m a trespasser (even though I’m a member). I’m ignored, interrogated for multiple forms of ID, then man-splained the gardens (again, I’m a member! I don’t need to be told where to enter!).

Worse, I live in the area. I was walking my dog around the block and paused outside the entrance to admire the wall garden, as I often do — it’s lovely! A volunteer from the entry desk came outside, where I was standing on the sidewalk with absolutely no intention of going into the garden - because my dog was with me and they’re not allowed - when the volunteer came out of the building to scream at me that YOU AND YOUR DOG CANNOT COME IN! NO DOGS! YOU CANNOT COME IN! YOU NEED TO GO!!!!!

I explained I was a member and knew dogs can’t go in, I was just pausing outside. She told me to move along & by then another sneering volunteer had come out & echoed her. Again, I live in the area, I’m not a vagrant - and honestly, I don’t think vagrants deserve such treatment, let alone members!

I was still on the fence about whether to renew my membership or not and decided to give the Garden the benefit of the doubt. I called to ask a question - but it’s impossible to reach a human. I left messages. And did it again. And again. And again. Finally got a call back - to voicemail - by a volunteer who said they could t answer my question, and to call back.

No thanks, Selby. Wish you well - but frankly, you made me feel like an unwanted loser instead of a valued visitor & local, let alone a member.

Not a gardener or flower lover but came here with my wife and really enjoyed the visit. We just hit it perfectly as the George Harrison gardening exhibit opened. Even his widow was visiting the gardens that day. Very informative and beautiful. Staff very helpful with information on exhibits. Enjoyed the hedge maze and topiary gardens. Amazing how they put this together

The gardens are wonderful in every size scope. The relaxing walk about was a great Saturday morning. The garden refreshment station was very nice from Michael’s.

There are so many different exhibits at the gardens. We took advantage of the latest exhibit "Aerlists from the Tree Top to the Big Top" which is a clever way to show case their orchids. It pays homage to Sarasota being the winter home of Ringling Brothers, Barnum and Bailey circus back in the day. But there are so many other exhibits to experience and a fun area for kids.

It made for a nice walk. The trees provided plenty of shade and the breeze from the water kept it decent. The art concepts all around made for an interesting walk. There’s some instruments around the grounds to play around with. The tree house thing provided a great view from the top! It was even wheelchair friendly :) some beautiful butterflies were glimpsed flying around but there was also a butterfly room. It closes earlier than the museum tho. Good views of the water and some really cool mansions on the opposite side.

We enjoyed the blooming orchids in the conservatory. The kou pond had a floating piano filled with succulents. Many varieties of palm, fig, mangrove, bamboo, a banyan grove, ferns and so much more. The Dali additions throughout the gardens and painting display in the museum were remarkable.

Our first time here and it was an interesting garden tour of Florida palms. Ferns, trees, orchids etc. I am always interested in how such Foundations were started and was pleased to see both the Selby and Payne estates came from the Oil industry. Very cool. We all continue to benefit from their success.

Web site made it seem like the July 4th event was a well oiled machine. Very disorganized. Employees had no info on where to go or where to watch the fireworks. Parking and trolley service was a nightmare.. Twi trolleys running with 600 people. Gardens and firework show were unimpressive.

disappointed - poor customer service. We have been to the selby dozens of times. Mostly because it's beautiful and I have a national AHS membership. This membership provides discounts to all places hort. On this visit the employee not only chastised me for asking for the discount, but then after we entered, she caught us in the gardens to 'prove' to us that the Selby's web page notes that they do not honor the AHS for locals. Exceptionally Poor experience. Short sighted on Selby's part - when members of AHS get the discount, they are obviously garden lovers. And, it was embarrassing and unpleasant to have staff raise her voice at me both when ceding that I'd still enter the garden despite lack of discount, then having her chase me into the gardens to loudly tell me the web page notes that SHE WAS RIGHT there are NO DISCOUNTS for locals with AHS membership. As noted above, I've been granted a discount dozens of times before. There's inconsistent application and short sightedness of policy. Staff needs training. Good news for us is that there is so much to do in SW FLA, and so many gardens that honor AHS, we can entertain without going to the Selby. There is a recession, families are struggling. supporting AHS is valuable, and we are very grateful to the many resources which recognize the AHS. At some point I am sure to go back to the Selby, but not in the near term.

Last year it was Mapplethorpe and Patti Smith, this year: Tiffany. Beautiful art, beautifully displayed. Much of the rest of the grounds were treated to a 'Tiffany' treatment. with interesting floral and crushed glass landscaping, rotating butterfly effects, etc. One caution, if you pause on the wooden benches near the food truck, bring something to sit on - our pants were stained by berries (delivered via bird, if you get my meaning). The new garage/welcome center are under construction - due to open this fall. For now, enter off 41 for valet parking or drive up to the W side of 7th and Orange for free parking.

I'm not usually interested in these types of botanical experiences, but given that it was a famous local attraction and my wife wanted to go, I tagged along. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed it. The grounds are beautiful, the guides are friendly, and I learned a lot along the way.

Selby has a very unique location on Sarasota Bay. The Orchids are always a delight, the outdoor loop to the point and back has some spectacular Botanical plants and the views of Sarasota Bay are beautiful. The Mansion usually has an interesting exhibit going on. This month it is the Florida Highwaymen, painters of old Florida landscapes, an old Florida that doesn't exist anymore.

Lovely, small botanical garden with a lot to see. Well maintained. We had a great trip and would recommend.