What a simply stunning display of what beauty nature has to offer us. Highly recommend a walk throughout this magnificent garden. It’s perfect place to reset, ponder, explore stunning botany. Great care went into creating a peaceful sanctuary with masterful orchids, waterfalls, romantic walkways and bridges, also a stunning view of the harbor at the edge of the property with benches to relax and unwind. Perfect first date location or walk in solitude to appreciate the simply things in life. Fill your world with beautiful color, the $20 admittance fee to support the upkeep of this extraordinary place is worth its weight in gold. The Banyans are magical. Enjoy! - Jo

Went for the orchid show. Beautiful! Beautiful! Beautiful! Gardens are outstanding. Social distancing was enforced (important for me given Florida doesnt require it). Got delicious coffee and cakes at cafe. Staff very helpful and informative. Felt very safe and nice to do something fun without worrying.

Beautiful little gardens.We visited during an orchid show which was really special. It’s well catered to nature lovers and kids alike with plenty to see and do.Relaxing atmosphere and friendly staff. Must visit stop while in or passing through Sarasota

On a recent trip to Sarasota, I visited Marie Selby Botanical Garden to see the 45th Anniversary Orchid Show. It was not only a tropical wonderland but also an illuminating learning opportunity. I learned about the contributions of adventurous female botanists who braved the elements to discover rare orchids from around the world which can be seen at this garden. In addition to the extensive orchid collection, there are also jaw-dropping bonsai plants, such as a Willow Leaf Fig that’s been in training since 1975! I was very impressed by the amount of staff available and excited to answer questions along the way. It’s definitely worth a visit- you’ll likely leave with your senses heightened and a feeling of gratitude for the educational opportunity.

Incredible gardens, views, and storied past! Educational, aesthetically pleasing, good for the soul, and a nonprofit all at once!A must see if youre in the Sarasota area as it provides valuable insight into one of the citys most influential residents throughout the years, Marie Selby. Also available for weddings and other events - happy 45th anniversary to The Gardens!

The variety of plants is amazing, and everything is so well tended. You know that theyre carefully attended to, but it feels like a stroll through a lovely wooded garden.

I want to give this place a higher rating, but unfortunately, I cant. This place is simply too expensive for the amount of things there are to actually see in the Botanical Gardens.It costs $20, and even at a leisurely pace, it shouldnt take you more than an hour and a half to see everything. I always take a long time when looking around places like this, but it was just so small that when I left, I ended up being extremely disappointed in the experience. I have been to Botanical Gardens across the US and the world, and this one is one of the smallest ones Ive ever been to. If money is not an object, then youll have a good time, but if youre looking for some bang for your buck, youre better off looking elsewhere.However, I will praise the childrens area. Even for adults, it is a lot of fun, and there are a lot of cool pathways to explore.Overall, I would pass on coming here again. There are better things in the area to see at cheaper or similar prices.

Always a relaxing, tranquil visit. We opted for the annual pass a few years back and love bringing friends and family here. Great place for kids. Plenty of spots to just sit and gaze or read a book. Be sure to explore as it can be easy to miss the smallest of details!

Incredible orchid exhibit..so much to see..butterflies and banyan trees everywhere..great little lunch cafe!! Beautiful day, 5 stars for sure!

Beautiful place. The diversity of plants is wonderful and so beautifully arranged. Worth the price of admission. Will be back.

I just love going to Selby gardens, it cleanses the spirit. It relaxes your soul.We havent been able to go back since the coronavirus started and today it was so lovely to get out.They have socially distance and you wear masks however, you can put them down when youre able to socially distance.Which is nice in this Florida heat. Although I did choose to wear my mask the entire time just to see if I could handle a place like Disney world and it wasnt so bad.

As a fan of all things nature, this was a cool spot to visit during a quick weekend trip to Sarasota. Such a variety to see! While we were there, there was a glass art exhibit as well, which added to the beauty of the foliage! I quite enjoyed the childrens area as well with treehouses and bridges that cross through the trees. I bet it is even prettier in spring! I guess we have to go back!

Amazing botanical garden, have even taken their Annual membership in the past - it comes with reciprocal membership across many Florida gardens. Visit them during the orchid festival and experienced the beautiful orchid bloom. Would love to see them expand and introduce new themed garden like Japanese zen garden, Thai style, and other styles. Nonetheless amazing place to visit and enjoy in the greater Tampa Bay Area.

So beautiful to walk the pathways. Very calming and relaxing. It would be nice to take a glass of wine in your book and just sit in there and read for an hour. A little slice of heaven on Earth.

Selby Botanical Gardens was quite nice good for couples and children to walk around and see some exotic tropical plants, flowers and trees. There were a few trees to climb and we even ate a coconut with some effort. The rainforest area kids love and the xylophone there was really beautiful sounding even you cannot play... Great for little kids but especially everyone else. My favorite spot was the koi pond architecture and much needed soulful spiritual relaxation. We would go back!

The gardens are nice, you can see most of it in about an hour. Personally I feel like the $20 entry fee is a little steep, but it surely takes a lot of money to maintain it. We got to see a special Orchid display that was nifty. They have a desert plants section and a florida natural section among other things. It is really close to St Armonds Circle. Most of it is outdoors and they enforce mask wearing while indoors so it felt like a safe thing to do in 2020.

If you ever have the opportunity to go...do it! It is one of the most magical places. Highly recommend a day spent here!!

We visited the downtown location during the week of the election. It was not too crowded, which made it very easy to social distance. The volunteers were wonderful with my two kids, offering to show them lesser known plants and giving them free fish food for the Koi. We had a wonderful time there and walked through every outdoor exhibit in less than 2 hours.

Such a beautiful place. It was unfortunate that we couldnt go inside the Mansion because they were taking everything down from the Dali Museum exhibit... But I spent two and a half hours there with my mother and we have so many photos

Fun place with beautiful gardens and an excellent walking trail.

Great atmosphere and vibe. Fun for kids and adults. Cool bay views. Gift shop was on par with normal gift shop prices.

The Glass in the Gardens exhibit is excellent. So many beautiful pieces in the Payne Mansion, orchid room and gardens. Lunch in the Selby Cafe by Michaels in East was delicious.

The best orchid exhibit I have ever seen! (until Nov. 29 2020) Check out their website.Look forward to seeing the gardens again, when they light it up for Christmas.

Nice afternoon, took about an hour and a half at a leisurely pace. Liked the added funkiness of the Dali touches during our visit. Thought it was a little pricier than necessary, but glad we were able to see it.

I see myself visiting here again in the future and taking visitors to enjoy this everchanging gem in Sarasota. The orchid exhibit is exquisite and the grounds are magnificent. I throughly enjoyed my experience.

What a lovely place! Enjoyed all the gardens - especially the orchid exhibit. The volunteers are incredibly helpful, the grounds very accessible. The childrens area is very well done.

The gardens are exquisite with gravel paths leading past various specimens, theme gardens areas and the historic home. Awesome views of the Sunshine Skyway and perfect for your event or wedding. The staff is attentive and professional. Highly recommend.

I love flowers, so this a magic place. Part of the garden was close due the pandemic. The outdoor visit was fabulous!! Love it.

Spent 3 hours here and it was fabulous. The gardens were full of blooms and beautiful views!

My family and I absolutely loved this place. For a great value, we were able to spend 3 hours here. I went to another venue and spent more and only kept the family entertained for half that time, so I was pleased. They take great care of the place in terms of cleanliness. The views are nice, and the staff is friendly.

Beautiful displays. Wonderful pathways. Many are shaded and offer lots of diversity.

Went with my girlfriend who wanted to take all the plants home with her. Fun exhibits and plenty to see on expansive grounds. Easy parking, bit pricey admission $25 but hidden treasures abound with Salvador Dali exhibits and influences woven into floral designs. Nice little snack bar with surprisingly good food. Try the soup.

One of the most enjoyable ways to spend the day. A world class botanical garden in the center of city of Sarasota. The foremost collection of air plants in the world. Amazing orchid & tropical plants & trees. Although i live 60 miles away bought a membership (inexpensive) which is reciprocal in over 300 facilities. STRONGLY RECOMMEND GOING!We went during Salvador Dali exhibit.

A bit over priced for what you can see. A lot of the plants you can see by just exploring the local area. The conservatory is cool and has a few exotic plants that are cool to look at.

Honestly, words cant describe how beautiful the gardens are. Soany different style gardens sustained in one place. ABSOLUTELY beautiful, must see it, it was the best money Ive spent in a long time.

Love this place my kids had a blast the food and beer on site for us dads is a plus

I really enjoyed walking around the Botanical Gardens. The day we visited the conservatory was closed but the mansion was open and there was a really great exhibit of Amazonian carved masks. There was a large childrens area featuring a tree house and some huts. The banyan trees were really spectacular. Spent a few hours here one afternoon.

On the edge of Sarasota Bay is this extraordinary collection of tropical plants including flowering shrubs, exotic tree species, bonsai, orchids, bromeliads, bamboo groves, sprawling banyan and ficus, a small vegetable, herb and fruiting tree garden and a walk through coastal mangrove varietals. The visit is enhanced by a splendid children’s adventure area with rope bridges, chimes and drums, and a delightful cafe serving affordable and healthy food in the recently restored Selby House. The gardens are a lasting tribute to Marie Selby’s love of global flora.Themed presentations featuring artists like Gauguin and Dali enhanced by evening entertainment will keep you returning on a regular basis.

This place is awesome. The indoor garden is the best I’ve ever seen! I loved sitting and looking out at the bay.

This was a fantastic visit at the gardens. Everything was beautiful. I loved the water views of the bay.

Beautiful Garden! The orchid show is always awesome. Kids area is really fute and clever.

Nice quiet oasis, thats easy to walk around. Can be done pretty quickly or at a leisurely pace stopping to see the surrounding views of the bay.

A beautiful place to spend an afternoon. Plenty of the exotic plants trees shrubs Etc and a butterfly enclosure. Guided tours were available every hour during the afternoon of our visit. It would be nice if they had some Hydration Stations throughout the complex especially on the very hot days that exist in this area. The $25 admission price per person seems a bit steep especially for those on a limited income.

This botanical gardens was so pretty! Very well worth the trip.

Many reviews criticize the $ 20 admission fee per person! As a gardener, I didnt find it that way and think that people who are interested in flora and nature will get their moneys worth! The medium-sized garden offers a good insight into subtropical plants. It is well structured, well maintained and invites you to marvel. Marie Shelby Botanicel Gardens is a legacy to everyone and is still looked after and cherished by many hands today. And to ensure this, the admission price is justified! We were deeply impressed and satisfied that we went home!

My husband took me here when we first started dating, we went around Christmas time for my birthday, it was a ton of fun it was set up so beautiful with a ton of light all over the place. They had drinks and snacks at different concession areas throughout the place as well. We definitely loved the bonsai garden and thought that was really special. The prices were a little bit high in our opinion I think they were $30 a ticket per adult. But we had a lot of fun.

We go every year for the lights in bloom. We loved the wishing tree last year. They didnt do it this year. The balloon guy is amazing! Always a fun time at the life size board game section. We love love love this place. Not to mention the famous garden and green house of the most amazing orchids youll ever see

The gardens were exceptionally enchanting and I certainly recommend taking a stroll through this botanical beauty while visiting Sarasota!!! Such a treasure!

If your looking for very exotic plants, they have it.most amazing experience I have ever had looking at plants, and Im a young guy. They have kid friendly places to play and a tropical green room that was so good a have no words to explain. If your in the area please go there even if you think you dont like plants, because you WILL like this.

My favorite place in Sarasota. If youre a local, the two-person membership is the way to go. The gardens are always beautiful, no matter the season, and the exhibits are sure to impress. If you are here during December, be sure to check out their Christmas lights.

I love this place. This was like a secret garden hidden in the city full of magic. Must visit if you are a plant lover.

Arrived just as the 1:30 tour was leaving. The tour guide was very friendly & knowledgeable and provided tips for touring the rest of the gardens. Love the orchids, bay views, and FL exhibit. Skip the mansion tours tho.

Beautiful botanical gardens! Spent two hours here until it closed at 5, but wished I had went earlier. You can definitely spend more than a few hours here, walking around, taking in the sights, and sitting in the gardens. The variety of flora was amazing! The Dalí exhibit was very cool as well. Was able to see photolithographs of his inside the mansion there and the gardens were filled with eyeballs, eggs, mustaches, and lips like in his paintings. This is a must see!

Great gardens. Excellent play place for kids

Amazing gardens and beautiful epiphyte collection!

Not a big art fan so the 5 stars are not for that portion! The gardens and scenery is amazing! My children love it here!

Beautiful, calming soul searching place of peace. Calming after an hour and a half drive. Perfect to teach children! They have their own garden!

Beautiful! The docents are quite knowledgable. Ruth was enthusiastic to inform.

Great botanical grounds on the bay. Lots of shade but bring a hat and where your walking shoes.

We really enjoyed.our time here. It is interesting how they can have so many different ecosystems in one area. The desert area is especially interesting given it is Florida.When we paid they stated it would take about 1.5-2 hours. I think it could, but it took us more like 45 minutes and we checked out all of the areas and walked quickly.It is pretty much all outdoor, so go when the weather is nice.

Great place. Quiet & relaxing short trails highlighting different kinds of plants, flowers & trees. There was a string quartet that was very good.. ..didnt have to sit & watch as you can hear them as you walked in the gardens.

The orchid displays were phenomenal !

Stunning botanical gardens! They change up the layout all the time to attract visitors. They also have the largest orchid collection in the US.

This botanical garden is a wonderful place in Sarasota. One specialty here are orchids, with a great variety on display. Despite the weather being too blustery for the orchids to winter outside (“Florida cold,” as our joke is since coming here from up north), there is a large enclosure where we viewed literally dozens of orchids just last week. However, there are more than just orchids, we also saw various other flowers, plants, and trees. There was also a small cafe here with sandwiches, snacks, and cold drinks. We have not yet seen everything yet, as we were with our elderly guests who, while enjoying the visit, found the grounds too large to see it all in one trip. But the ground was level and easy for them too walk, it was simply that there was more to see in one day than they could handle. But as we bought a membership, we will see the rest of it with our next guests. And as the membership is reciprocated at many other gardens, we will also have the benefit of putting this cost toward seeing other gardens as well!

The Orchid Show is a must-see. The work and talent that goes into making that space is mind blowing.

Ive inherited the green thumb from my family so Im familiar with beautiful plants. This garden is gorgeous though, from the trees to the cacti and everything in between. Awesome setting as well, cool enough for the kids too!

Enjoyed the Gardens, wish the mansion was open. Nice show!

Better than we thought. Cant edit to go again.. spectacular views floats trees and gardens. Loved it!!

Wow! Just a magical experience. Theres no way you can take in everything in just one visit. Amazing combination of art and botany. A must do if you are visiting Sarasota!

We greatly enjoyed browsing these gardens. It took about 2.5 hours to walk through.. including stopping to take pics quite often. We saw some wildlife including lizards and birds. It was beautifully decorated for Christmas. The employees were all very kind and helpful. We look forward to returning.

Fun place, good exhibits . I went during a show. Very little parking then. Definitely need to expand on that...otherwise great!

The gardens are fantastic! If you didnt notice from the map, they sit right on the water which lends for a lovely view. The green house is spectacular and well worth a visit as it houses some spectacular orchids, pitcher plants, and more!Things to consider: Parking can be tight however, they do have workers who help guide you to open spaces. Although they do have a cafe, we suggest you pack a snack as the prices are a little high. Bring some extra cash for the plant shop - its hard not to go home with a little buddy.

Beautiful gardens with great food in their cafe. Its a blast taking pictures of their orchids.

I love coming here whenever Im in Sarasota. Its so peaceful and beautiful here and I can wander around for hours. The diversity of tree and plant life is amazing (check out the thorned tree and the large Banyan tree). I admit to wandering around the childrens tree top playground (its fun) and I love the zen section of the gardens with their small waterfall and chime bell. There are a lot of events and for Christmas they light up the gardens with decorations. Highly recommend.

Very nice and colorful, orchids are awesome. Only negative point is its $20 per person and my personal feeling is it’s worthy of maximum $12. So it’s a bit expensive but very nice and just beside the backwater so views are awesome.

The holiday lights in bloom are magical! It is like walking through a mystical forest of lights that magically illuminate at dusk- spectacular!! Santa was there, food vendors, cash bar, and great music. So fun!! It was worth the trip

We visited here on our recent trip to Florida. Honestly, although it is a nice place to walk around and has nice flowers, etc., I felt it was quite overpriced. At $25 person, I just did not feel my money was well spent. My friend across the street has a better orchid collection.

The perfect escape! You can feel the stress melt away as you meander through this peaceful bay front paradise. Perfect for a leisurely stroll with your camera. Every turn reveals a perfect photo op. This gorgeous historical garden paradise may tempt you to return often. Luckily, the yearly passes are very reasonable and you can bring a friend for free.

Great botanical garden. Variety of plants, unique, many places to take beautiful photos. Definitely visit here and try one of their cookies!

What a beautiful botanical garden with a cheery helpful staff and volunteers. It’s small by compared to other botanical gardens but it has beautiful display gardens and it’s collection of Epiphytic plants is amazing and as good as any of the numerous gardens I have visited. A great way to pass an afternoon and get gardening ideas.

Awesome place to visit! Beautiful botanicals, plants, foliage. The banyan trees are beautiful. They have a fun Childrens section. Such a awesome spot to site see! Our entire family loved it, so much!

Nice fauna attraction, examples of amazing trees and other plants an flowers in a beautiful setting overlooking Sarasota Bay.The Gauguin art exhibit was disappointing. Expected botanical or at least colorful Gauguin pieces, however I found only rather sad, almost monochromatic representative pieces displayed in a small room, with some history of Gauguin.How great would it be to walk away with a beautiful colorful print of a Gauguin exhibit, Sarasota 2019. Seems like a missed opportunity.I did buy a couple (non-Gauguin) gifts from the gift shop.

A bit pricey, but we were there for about 3 hours. It was nice to see plants that are local and plants from all over the world! I lived in Honduras for 2 years, it was nice to see some plants that I lived near and grew myself. I was also in Africa and I enjoyed to see those plants. Then there were plants that I had never seen before! My wife and I had a great time.Lizards are everywhere. If you have never been to Florida, you will see little lizards everywhere.

A wonderful day trip! Totally gorgeous and peaceful. My daughter absolutely loved the kids corner... I couldnt get her out of there! I need a yearly Membership for sure!

The most beautiful orchids in a natural tropical environment. Beautiful grounds with so much to see. Loved the banyan trees and their root structures. Stayed 1.5 hours and could hv been longer with a tour. Highlight of our trip to Saratoga.

A must see, very beautiful and well taken care of.

Wonderful music provided by the Hermitage and a beautiful sunset provided by God.

I love Selby Botanical Gardens! It is my joy and peace. I think the staff and volunteers are very friendly and willing to help.The gardens design is so thought out and well kept, plenty of paths to walk through by yourself or with company, great view of the Sarasota Bay with plenty of places to sit and rest if the sun is getting too hot.

An interesting place, the guide we had was very well versed on the plants and was great at explaining the different types. We spent quite awhile just wandering around looking at the wide variety of plants. Not a lot traditional flowering plants if thats what youre looking for.

What a luscious place! There is so much to see here. The area is quite large and right next to the water. Dozens of unique plants and foliage and especially the rain forest section is one of a kind. The grounds are very well kept. This is also the only attraction in Sarasota that is under the Museums on us from Bank of America which saves you 25 bucks for an adult ticket. There is a section for kids too. Definitely a must-see.

If you come expecting to be blown away, then your standards are already too high. If you love the beautiful simplicity of nature and enjoy peaceful environments, you will love it. A little pricey, but worth it. Don’t eat here, the food is expensive and not that great. Save your money. The orchid greenhouse and coy pond are the best part. So beautiful and serene. If you go during the holiday season, the garden comes alive at night with strings of lights and holiday decor. Very cute for a date night or families with small children.

Very friendly staff, beautiful gardens, excellent cafe and gift shop. Its always a pleasure, membership is totally worth it.

Our family absolutely loves Selby! We have a membership (great deal for locals) and we go about once a month! There are always new and beautiful things to see and every time you go there are different flowers in bloom. The new banquet facilities are beautiful end it is a wonderful place for weddings and special events. “Lights in bloom” during the holidays is a not to miss event in Sarasota. it’s a great place to go for a walk, and sit and enjoy the baby. There are beautiful Views of the bridge and the bayfront.

Wonderful way to spend the day. We were lucky to visit during a special glass exhibit.

Security Guard Steve attitude horrible at best. I am a 37 years old, he spoke to me, belittled and nit picked me as if I were a 5 year old causing havoc. Why you may ask? It was myself, him and my friend in a room alone. (first) I failed to see a suggested path on the floor for a flow of the room. (2nd) I pulled my mask below my nose, keeping my mouth covered...He was more than 10 feet from me...he raced up to me, less than 6 feet demanding I pull my mask over my nose. Mind you, it was just us 3 in the room. Sir, take your power trip elsewhere. Selby should take note how you approach guests on what you feel are infractions.

This is a really beautiful botanical garden, must see in my opinion!

What an absolutely beautiful place. I had a wonderful time helping my kindergarten students make memories. They were amazed by everything they saw and the tour guide was amazing with them. I am looking forward to a return trip on my own to see so much more.

The most beautiful garden! I loved the children’s garden the most—definitely recommend checking it out even if you don’t have kids. The gift shop is very cute and you can shop for plants even without paying for admission to the garden. They have GREAT student discounts! College students, check it out!

We were pleasantly surprised by this place! Its much bigger than we thought and there are so many things to look at. I was sad that the restaurant was closed for remodeling, but there was still a small Cafe with handmade sandwiches, wraps, salads and drinks. All in all I would definitely suggest that you go and take a look around.

We went here with some friends and really enjoyed it. It is s beautiful botanical garden right near the shore. Quiet, peaceful, love walking the grounds. The flowers are beautiful. A must see.