The Lincoln Park Conservatory is a small botanical garden filled with plants from all over the world and fun for the family! The horticulture collection consists of three houses (Palm, Fern, & Orchid) a Show room, and a Conifer garden along the parkway. The walkways inside are wide, but not wheelchair accessible from the main Palm House, unless there is an entrance I could not see. The courtyard has tons of benches and open grass to lounge on, the Bates fountain, and Schiller and Shakespeare monuments. It's also $free$ read more

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EXCELLENT conservatory in the heart of Lincoln Park. I've lived in Chicago for 4 years and have passed the conservatory all the time on my runs and have never thought to stop by. They have a flower show until May 12th and I highly recommend it. It's free to go and an easy way to entertain an out of town guest or just go by yourself. I spent about 25 minutes in there looking at the different plants and flowers, came on a Friday during my lunch hour, it was nice because it wasn't as crowded as what I would imagine a weekend would be. Highly recommend. read more

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Totally free to everyone:) I didn't even need to show my Illinois ID. I came here on a weekday and was able to find some solitude. It was just me, a handful of tourists, and very fancy old ladies. Best Monday ever! read more

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Having grown up in Chicago's north side I never had been to the conservatory until recently. It is an amazing treasure of history, Chicago culture and botanical prowess that should be required viewing for any Lincoln Park Zoo go-ers or Nature Museum patrons. The greenhouse itself takes twenty-thirty minutes top to make your way through. If you stop and admire the smells and unique plants, there's no shortage of volunteer docents or gardeners who will stop to point out something you wouldn't have noticed. I love the succulent room, but the fern room is a sight to see- wow, it's like your transported millions of years ago and you'd expect to see a dinosaur munching on the leaves. If you haven't visited yet, this is a must see institution! read more

Lincoln Park Conservatory - A Venus fly trap! Much smaller than I expected! - Parks Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Free admicion All donation are welcome Flowers All over Trees Orchids Koi fish Too look around My son loves the garden the section w/ dinasours on it read more

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We visited the Conservatory today during an extensive visit to Lincoln Park and it was a real highlight. Not only is the Conservatory quite lovely, but admission is *free*. It's beautifully-maintained, too. read more

The Lincoln Park Conservatory is extremely beautiful and, of course, free, but it simply does not live up to the Garfield Park Conservatory, hence the three-star review. Maybe I was spoiled by the other Conservatory, but Lincoln Park's did not seem as well-kept. And, of course, it's much, much smaller. It's a nice place to sit down and relax and read a book, but I wouldn't suggest coming here just for the Conservatory - if you're going out of your way, you might as well go to Garfield Park. Instead, come for the Zoo (right next door) and just pop into the Conservatory before or afterward. It's a very quick walk around, even if you stop to look at the plants. read more

Beautiful! This place is really well maintained and much bigger than I thought it would be. They have tons of flowers, trees, etc. that are all nicely labeled. Just don't forget about the humidity -- I came out a frizz ball. read more

Pretty spot in the city for a quick garden tour. Palm and fern rooms per the norm. The orchid room was pretty cool but not a ton in bloom this week. IMO I was expecting more for how fancy their website is. Especially compared to Garfield Conservatory outside the city. Took about 30 minutes for a meandering and that was it. I guess I was expecting more species? Everything was clean and well maintained with friendly volunteers. read more

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It has nice walk through all the lovely flowers and plants that can't actually grow well in Chicago. Their orchid section is very pretty and you can smell the flowers. It's a great place to take engagement photos or wedding photos too. I really like I wish I could've purchased some of the orchids. read more

Pretty, and the hummingbird sculptures were beautiful. Not too humid like most conservatories and a large, lush variety of plants. However, a few large chunks of dirt were empty, left untended. Definitely should've been filled to round out the vegetation. read more

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We stopped in the conservatory as part of our trip to the Lincoln Park Zoo (its an easy walk). The staff were doing some maintenance at the time, so we didn't get to see all the rooms, but from what we could see, they seem to have done a great job creating a miniature tropical environment for a lot of plant life (none of which lives anywhere near Illinois :) ) to survive. I'm not sure what it'd feel like in the summer, but on a chilly morning in Chicago, the warmth of the greenhouse was a pleasant change of pace! read more

WOW! We were at the zoo, and I told my wife(from the Philippines) that we were also going to take a quick trip to the conservatory...since she loves flowers so much. It was hard getting her out of there! She was so excited with all of the fruit trees and flowers shat she grew up with on her grandfathers lot. She was just like a little girl smelling all of the flowers, telling me all about the exotic plants, and wanting her picture taken, over and over again. I so highly recommend this place, I found it........Eden like. read more

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This is such a cute area to visit if your a nature lover! It's located by the zoo so if you have kids you can head over there. This is perfect to sit and observe the beautiful flowers or even a picnic! Once you go inside the conservatory it's a little hot i there so might not be in there long but it's perfect for pictures as well read more

Lincoln Park Conservatory - Parks Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Love this conservatory! Great location-just north of downtown. Beautiful plants and nice surrounding park for walking around. read more

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Really lovely place worth the visit, and best part is it's FREE (the best word in the English dictionary....), open every day of the year, and right next to the zoo (also free)- so you can make a full day out of both of these places. Stop by here and (literally) smell the roses and take in all the colors, fauna, and greenery this beautiful place has to offer. It's a peaceful oasis in the bustling Chicago city. I love strolling through here and taking my time through each section. It's not just random flowers and plants here and there- each plant and each flower was specifically put where they were for a reason, whether it's for temperature reasons, growing reasons, space, and even aesthetics. And that's exactly what this place is- aesthetically pleasing to the eyes, nose, and even ears when you get a break from all the noise and find yourself in this place surrounded by life's quieter things. read more

Got one of those stuffed up, snotty noses that comes with a miserable cold that nyquil gives you no relief for other than feeling like the walking dead when you finally do wake up? Lincoln Park Conservatory to the rescue! Yes, I'm totally serious. With all the greenery, it's a 3,000 square foot humidifier. Plus all the green gives you some great feel good vibes. Why take prozac when you got the conservatory? read more

I stumbled in here by serendipitous accident. I was on my way to the zoo, saw a beautiful garden on my left, a movie set beyond, then a gorgeous glass building. The sky was pretty dark, and the air was coastal humid, so I headed towards the glass building, umbrellaless. By the time I was even with the movie set, the humidity had turned to rain, and by the time I made it inside, the actors and crew of the set were in the atrium of the Conservatory with me. It was a pretty surreal experience. Movie set, old plants, falling sky. Are Mondays always this magical? I wandered without reading any plaques. Sometimes it's best to see for yourself without being told what it is you're seeing. This was one of those times. Well, the second time around (I was determined to wait out the rain), I read a few plaques and noticed that I was looking at tropical plants from all over the world. All growing together. There was a room of tall palms, rubber plants, tropical trees I'd never heard of or seen. A pathway cutting through them; a high ceiling; and old pulleys, wheels, knobs, chains, and ropes. I was more interested in the hardware - I kept wondering, "how old is this place?" (Need I remind you I didn't read any placards upon entering, nor did I research before visiting/descending.) I went on into a room of all ferns, some with roots hanging from the ceiling, others with plastic dinosaurs wandering through their area. This led to an orchid and bromeliad room, then a "show room" that was full of plants such as Magnolias, Angel Trumpets, and more recognizable parlor and garden plants. I'm from Subtropical Plant Hardiness Zone 9, so I thought of this as more of a Houston fancy plant room. At the end of my second tour, I finally allowed my questions to be answered. Question, rather, and a few others I didn't know I had. The Conservancy was built in the late 1800s, during the height of the horticultural craze. I was instructed not to pick any of the flowers or fruit. Oh, and Chicago is in Plant Hardiness Zone 5, so subtropical and tropical plants are all the more exotic. read more

This place is great for a day when you don't know what to do. There is a lot to look and and walk through in the conservatory and guess what, it's free! It is also right by the zoo so you can also go there if you want. I definitely think this is a really fun thing to do on a bad day or even a fall day when you don't want to be outside for the whole day. read more

Wow. The Conservatory is one of the most beautiful, serene, and awe-inspiring places I have been to in recent memory. Maybe I was just in one of those moods, but I found it positively meditative. The plants are so unbelievably lush and bountiful; it lent a real sense of surreality to the place, particularly in contrast to the city. One minute, urban reality, the next, oxygen-rich heaven. I was there by myself, and really enjoyed walking quietly and leisurely, reading about a whole world of plants I would doubtfully ever get to see in their native habitat. They also have a really neat art installation in the Fern Room at the moment, written by, I believe, a professor at the Art Institute; it's a track of insect sounds, subtly coming together, crescendoing, and falling away in cycles. It's subtle and perfectly suited for the atmosphere. If you're having a bad day, worn out by gray Chicago weather, or simply want a chance to experience something out of the ordinary, go to the Conservatory, take a deep breath, and feel renewed. read more

Overall, We have pleasing to the eye city. One of the things Daley has done to the city's benefit is make it appealing to the eye in many places. But you know what? it is still a sprawling city, concrete, asphalt, and steel and cars and noise stretching for miles. Even with all of the parks in the city, it can can be difficult to just get away from it all. I have found my mental getaway right there. It is the place to go in the winter as it is is about 80 degrees with an 80% humidity! The conservatory is really put together beautifully. I am sure there are many plant species they don't have here but I would be hard pressed to name one. The atmosphere here is something else as it completely relaxes me. read more

Upon entering the building, you will probably notice the wonderfully humid and warm conditions, and the first sight that greets you is the palm room, bedecked with a gorgeous koi pond. Wander around this room for a few moments, looking up at the reaches of eight foot palm trees and various other tropical trees (all neatly labeled with scientific names and brief descriptions.) From the palm room, head into the fern room, which is reminiscent of a scene from Jurassic Park. They even went as far to include fake, piped in dinosaur noises! (A little over the top, but neat, nonetheless!) And step out of here and into the show room. I happened to be there during the spring show of flowers. I had a Dorthy and Toto moment. The colors were dazzlingly bright, well displayed, and I kept waiting for a couple of Munchkins to peep out from this technicolor wonderland. And once again, fountains and a beautiful koi pond made this area and display my favorite. All in all, a very nice way to kill some time, and not to mention it's free. read more

Rain, rain, go away! You know, there are worse things than fowl weather on your mini vacation. But you can always find an alternate plan. We opted for a visit to Lincoln Park Conservatory. It's inside, right? A good way to avoid the rain. Not. It's so funny, because this building leaks. A lot. The plants and flowers here are very well kept. And being a conservatory type of girl, I am happy to say that they have plants here that I have never seen before. They have a sausage tree. Seersucker plants. Beehive ginger. Baby's tears. Lots of lovely varieties of ferns. Yellow dancing girl. Lady of the night. Glory flower. Just to name a few. Our time here was worthwhile. Another big plus, no admission. Free parking on the street. I love this place. If you love green things, you too will love Lincoln Park Conservatory. read more

A chilly Spring day, but the sun was out. It was obvious that the Notebeart Nature Museum would be packed since it was a morning for school groups. But in front was available street parking (at meters). A short walk took us past the old "rookery" of the zoo and around the bend (and small hill) to the Conservatory. What a gem! And it's free admission. The Chicago Flower Show was still on, but the "permanent" plants were a joy to experience on the way to see those special guests. See giant versions of plants you may have at home and learn their real names. There was a banana tree in flower and fruiting! The ferns room was a joy of tranquility. The koi in their pond are very happy here. There were some big amaryllis in the flower show room. On the way out, it was amazing to see the flowering palms and the curious sausage tree. read more

When I'm buckling under the winter grays, I head off to the Lincoln Park Conservatory for the greens of summer and the flowers of spring. I like to look for fruit on the trees in the Palm House, and imagine escaping to a tropical paradise. The Fern Room takes me back in time, to 1993, where Laura Dern has taken a break from more experimental movies to make some real money in Jurassic Park. The Orchid House brings me back further, to the wrist corsage I should have received at prom. And the Show House takes me back to when my grandfather was alive, and he brought us to see the lilies every spring. Everywhere you go there is something different to see, smell and touch. The soft warm air caresses you. The ferns remind you how different a room full of green things can be. The orchids remind you why people buy perfume in the first place. And trying to figure out which drips are water, and which are "soundscapes" by local artists can distract me from any troubles. It's a romantic place to be and dream. read more

One of my favorite places in Chicago, it's only a 120 yrs older than I am. The indoor portion is like a hideaway from all the traffic, pollution and noise. The outdoor portion is just as beautiful and peaceful "botanical garden". It's nice that it's free and right next to Lincoln Park Zoo. So you can spend time at both locations in the same day. I suggest you park on Stockton for free! People are always in an out so it shouldn't be too difficult to find. read more

I have been resident in the neighborhood for two years and though I am not a nature type of person, my curiosity got the better of me. One fine Saturday morning, I decided to take the kids out for a walk and we opted for the Lincoln Park Conservatory. Wow! Nature at its finest. All the tropical plants or should I just say vegetation? We learnt that this joint had been around since 1800 which means that a number of plants may have been decades old or even more. The kids loved it too and it turned out to be an educational tour as well with all the variety of flowers, trees including the tropical warmth that enveloped the area. You don't have to save for God knows how many years to take a trip to Asia or Africa for a real tropical experience. Its well maintained and would be nice of you to give a donation for maintenance because all this is for free! read more

I love that there are so many free attractions in Lincoln Park, the Conservatory being one of them! The LP Conservatory offers several rooms of plants, from ferns to orchids to other tropical varieties of plants. Far too many to name, and of course the names don't do justice to the beauty of the plants. It might take you a little over an hour to see everything if you were taking your time, but it's also a great option if you only have a few spare minutes and just want to pop in. Parking isn't free, but I think that's fair considering that the Conservatory itself is...plus, you can walk or take the bus! It is a perfect addition to a weekend afternoon enjoying the rest of the park and the zoo right next door. read more

Great urban escape. Beautifully landscaped, peaceful and simple to navigate. Spent two hours here and didn't want to leave. If you're driving, I would suggest you arrive early. If you're unable to arrive early, and you're planning for a weekend trip, decent and inexpensive parking nearby. Safe environment with plenty of food options. read more

Lincoln Park Conservatory - Lawn of the Lincoln Park Conservatory - Parks Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I used to run away to the Lincoln Park Conservatory during the nasty Chicago winters to hide and think thoughts of spring. This is a great mini-vacation if you are seriously suffering from cabin fever and just can't take the wind and snow. I love the orchids! I could spend hours wandering around and examining each delicate blossom. The warmth and expanse of green inside will make you feel that you have just stepped off a plane into a tropical paradise! If you haven't been to the Lincoln Park Conservatory you should go right now! Make it a cheap date and have lunch at Emilio's (tapas) or The Pasta Bowl (ultra-casual). I guarantee you won't regret it! read more

Why did I take so long to go here? I didn't realize it was free, but it's worth a trip even if you put five bucks in the donation box. It's not as big as Garfield Park conservatory, and doesn't have birds like at Oak Park conservatory, but they have sculptures integrated in the gardens, and even plant-inspired music softly playing. Plus I love a fern room. A great place for kids, especially on a chilly day. read more

I love this place, I really do; but they need to update on plants, I see most of the same plants every year. Or maybe I should come less often? But... :/ Also, they didn't have soap in bathroom, so I told one of the workers there, an elder woman. She replies with, "there's another dispenser there. Did you see?" Me: there is no other dispenser Her: there is *goes to check, and sees nothing. Oh ok, it's not there. *goes out and back inside the conservatory and resumes back to walking around, waiting for plant inquiries from visitors. Are you kidding me?!!! Ok twerp breathes, calm down-- just remember, the conservatory is a beautiful sanctuary, regardless of incompetent workers. read more

This is one of the coolest places in the city (not temperature wise of course, it is quite hot on the inside)! The flowers and plants are really cool to look at and so unique and interesting. The orchid room is spectacular and it is just a nice, relaxing, fun get-away that's free...what more can you ask for? read more

I would put this in the category of really neat places that make Chicago a great place to live. Unless you love conservatories, this is probably not a destination, but it is located right next to Lincoln Park Zoo (it could easily be considered part of the zoo as its front door is probably 50 feet outside an entrance to the zoo). If you are at the zoo or for some other reason in the neighborhood, this is worth checking out. You can't beat the price (free). The place is meticulously maintained (at least as viewed through the eyes of somebody who doesn't have a lot of experience with conservatories.) My boy (1 and 1/2 years old) can probably spend a good hour in the place walking around and not get bored and being engaged by the diverse plants. Same issues with parking for this place as the zoo. read more

This is pretty much my favorite place in Chicago. The flora is simply amazing, and it is a great place to duck in from the rain, or escape the winter blues. The orchid room is amazing, and is responsible for me buying my first vanilla vine after seeing a vanilla vine growing here and I thought it was a great idea to grow my own vanilla at home. No vanilla pods yet, but I'm sure any day now... Also, who knew chocolate grew on trees? Awesome. read more

One of my go-to spots to take friends from out of town because it has a variety of well-maintained rooms dedicated various plants including tropical, ferns and orchids...And it's all free! Here are a few favs from each room: *Tropical greenhouse: Gotta feel up those Sensitive Plants - The leaves seem to magically recoil when you run your finger along them. *Ferns: It's so lush dinosaurs would love roaming through it - Look carefully and you'll see plastic figurines of these creatures hiding among the brush. *Orchids: All are absolutely breathtaking with vivid colors of purple, pink and yellow. Love the Lady Slipper that ends up holding water. And on a contrasting note, the enclosed carnivorous plants are intriguing yet creepy. read more

Free, beautifully maintained. Very clean and featured many varieties of plants, ferns, exotic interior trees. Labeled well. Benches to sit on. Separate fern house that is to die for! Cycads, sago palms, mosses galore. read more

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Beautiful place to speed all day long. Im definitely im come back Planta of all continent. All color i can imagine. read more

A great place to come year-round but especially in the winter. When I walk in the winter, I often walk through the Conservatory and the zoo for a quick warmup. It's a great place to feel the heat and the views of summer in winter. If you're next door at the Lincoln Park Zoo, make sure you stop in for a picturesque (and free) treat. read more

Great little oasis of beauty, a nice thing to bundle with a Lincoln Park zoo visit. They do a great job of labeling the plants, and there are educational placards, so you may just learn something while you are there. Nice place to come in the winter, when you need to see something lush and green, and can't afford to fly to the tropics. Parking is a pain in this area (Lincoln you can't Park) so they get only 4 stars, but a wonderful place that I highly recommend for any city visitor, or long term city dweller. read more