A wholly original and beautiful little spot with an incredible story behind it. Really cool to see how one man's vision endured against long odds and now has left a great space for other artists to share their work too. The gift shop also has great, unique stuff. Worth making a little trip here and strolling the neighborhood to see the vendors and Isaiah's other work nearby. Pro tip: Get your ticket in the gift shop and don't worry about timed entry! read more

Philadelphia's Magic Gardens - Art Galleries Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

We love quirky places like this. There are a number of these "weird" art installations in our home state of Wisconsin so we knew we had to visit this when in Philadelphia. We bought timed ticks online a couple of weeks in advance - with our reciprocal museum membership we got free admission. The history of this place and the artist who created it is fascinating. There is so much to see in each area and around each corner. It's easy to miss stuff. Don't forget to walk around the block to see the exteriors of nearby buildings. They have all been given the "mosaic" treatment! We were here a bit under one hour. Definitely worth a stop! read more

Such a beautiful spot, right in the middle of the city..!! Staff are very friendly and helpful. I had to reschedule my ticket and was able to do so without any hassle. I did visit during a weekday, so the place wasn't too crowded and I was able to get some really good photos. I guess it might be more tricky during weekends. Definitely worth a visit..! read more

See all

Really interesting and meaningful work of art! This is for sure an installation that has much soul and heart in it. Walls filled with many different pieces of handmade artwork collected from different countries. Definitely unique and worth checking out if you want to experience a lot of interesting history and culture and take many cool photos from all sorts of angles! Read about the history! It is quite beautiful and wholesome! read more

See all

Beautiful place, from the outside it doesn't look very big but upon entering, it's so much to see. The years of dedication it took to curate such a creative space!! I'm so glad I was able to see it with my daughter because the magic gardens is truly a unique experience. read more

See all

I knew this place was gonna be great, but you MUST do the docent lead tour!! Otherwise, you will miss so much about the artist and his works. The tour took us through the museum as well as the basement, which is only open for tour participants. The tour also took us outside of the gates, along adjoining streets where we saw/discussed the works on adjacent buildings. Surprisingly, taking a tour only cost $5 more than a museum ticket. It's a bargain! read more

See all

Absolutely gem. Didnt expect it to be that great. If you are but artsy and a bit fun this is a place to get lost. Not only the museum itself but couple of blocks around it are all covered in mosaics. And crazy mosaics using anything and everything from bottles and plates to sculptures etc. You need a timed entry ticket, be sure to arrive in time. They are pretty strict on that. There is no parking anywhere around, the only place is right tin front and its $17 for yo to 2h. read more

See all

We really enjoyed our visit- would recommend that you do the morning tour so you can get a guided tour and walk around for the first hour before they open on the weekends, it was great to learn more about the artist and get some insight into the history of his work and the space. Very unique and not like any other museum we've ever been to- definitely worth a visit read more

See all

i had the best time with my mom here! i love everything about this place and can't stop wishing i was back already! incredibly well done, i love the balance between the founder's work and the gallery space. good gift shop too. read more

Truly a must visit. You won't see any immersive art like it. If you missed a ticketed time and need to kill time, you can even walk around the building and see some awesome art. But do get the tickets and go inside as well as outside. You'll keep seeing interesting little nooks and pieces the more you retrace your steps. Neat for children and adults (but no touching!). read more

Philadelphia's Magic Gardens - Art Galleries Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

See all

Such a magical whimsical place to visit! Magic Gardens located in South Street is an amazing mosaic art museum you don't want to miss while in Philly. Magic Gardens is the work of art of mosaic artists Isaiah and Julia Zagar. This Magic Gardens are 3,000 square feet of mosaicked space. The ceilings, walls and sculptures are all from recycle materials. The space is not huge but so worth visiting. Just a beautiful colorful place. Makes you wonder how much time and effort the artists put into creating such beautiful place for people to enjoy. I enjoyed all the Mexican inspired cultured art and how colorful everything is. The entrance is only $15 so not bad. Really worth visiting. There is also a small gift shop and gallery. I purchased a few post cards as souvenirs. The weather was perfect. Just a perfect day in Philly. read more

See all

I took the 45-minute "Morning Magic Tour" on a Wednesday in late May and enjoyed the informative talk our guide gave along the way. An extra benefit of this tour is it gives you entry to Magic Gardens an hour before it opens to the public for a truly peaceful experience. As for the site itself, it's a delightfully quirky monument to the artist's love of color, texture, shape, and feeling. Every inch of the outdoor garden and interior buildings is covered with vibrant mosaic patterns, images, and poetic phrases that invite you to linger, study and interpret (but don't touch!). It's an inspiring and contemplative art space that will stay in you memory a long time. read more

See all

This place has been on my list for years, but thanks to my friend, I finally made it happen on my birthday this year. 10 out of 10 experience! I got reallyyyyyyyy into the scavenger hunt as they have an inside and outside version. Some of the mosaics took us a really long time to find, but we were determined lol we even helped out some other people that were there as well. There was a tour present during our visit, and I tried to listen in, but I was too distracted with the scavenger hunt. I'll absolutely have to come back again and actually learn more about the history! read more

Philadelphia's Magic Gardens - Inside scavenger hunt - Art Galleries Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

See all

What a beautiful exhibit. Plenty of photo opportunities. So many details in the art and mosaics. Very inexpensive tourism spot. Dreamy Jewel within the city. Gift shop has local artists' work. An instant favorite for a beautiful day. read more

See all

Philly's Magic Gardens is an immersive art installation located on South Street in Philadelphia. Created by artist Isaiah Zagar, this space is a sprawling mosaic wonderland that is both indoor and outdoor. Every inch is covered in colorful tiles, mirrors, recycled objects, and other materials, creating a kaleidoscope of colors and textures. Every direction you look is a new discovery. The Magic Gardens trace their origins back to the 1960s when Zagar and his wife, Julia, moved to the South Street neighborhood. At the time, the area was struggling economically, and many buildings faced demolition. The Zagars played an integral role in revitalizing the neighborhood. In the 1990s, Zagar began transforming a vacant lot near their home into what would become the Magic Gardens. In the early 2000s, bump in the road, the property's owner decided to sell, and the community went nuts to preserve Zagar's creation. Thanks to the public support, the site was saved, and in 2008, it officially became a non-profit organization and public art space. Yay!! Pro tip: Be sure to check out South Street while you're there--it's a stretch full of quirky shops, and local eating spots! read more

Philadelphia's Magic Gardens - Art Galleries Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

See all

Was grateful to visit Philadelphia's Magic Gardens in 2024, after having it bookmarked for years. Mazes of mosaics and an indoor gallery and more mosaic wonder, it's worth a visit or three! Our visit was late afternoon, and I liked the sun's natural light at that time, enough for the mirror pieces to sparkle, but muted to not be a distraction. Loved the embedded shout outs to outside artists like Marie Nohl from my native Milwaukee. The indoor gallery show was a feature on a British artist, and the bathrooms themselves are part of the experience. Terse person working the Entrance could use an iPad Square reader instead of telling people to traverse a QR code on their own. Paying cash or card inside the gift shop for entry is also an option we were not told about. Gift shop workers were incredibly helpful at the end of our visit. Five stars, would visit often if I lived in Philly! read more

Philadelphia's Magic Gardens - Art Galleries Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Great atmosphere, beautiful place. Parking kind of hard to get but nice place to go and enjoy the scenery. There was some sketchy things going on around that area but overall would be back for sure read more

PHILADELPHIA, PA: Our dream of visiting Philadelphia's Magic Gardens has come true and it is an otherworldly attraction that is dog friendly! Leashed and friendly dogs are allowed to explore the outdoor and indoor art by Isaiah Zagar featuring mosaic displays. You may even see some of this art throughout the city and it is absolutely gorgeous, quirky, and fun! Take a self-guided tour throughout the space and use caution throughout the narrow passageways and staircases and sometimes minorly uneven flooring. Make sure to buy tickets in advance and online because this place is popular and there may be a wait to get in. read more

Philadelphia's Magic Gardens - Art Galleries Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

I'm so happy I visited Philadelphia's Magic Gardens during my recent trip to Philadelphia. It is a really cool space, and you really could wander for so long examining all of the art! The endless mosaics... Wow! I don't even know how you put it into words! Building this space meant building something special. When I was visiting, there was also a fantastic exhibit on display; it was so vibrant and right up my alley. There is also a great gift shop space. What a visual experience! read more

Philadelphia's Magic Gardens - Exhibition - Art Galleries Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

What happens when your brain takes a turn and you need a physical release? The creativity gene releases a project on mosaic proportions. Working on projects for decades, this artists has created mosaics in the museum area, outside of the museum area and in the surrounding neighborhood. For just a few dollars more, you can get a walking tour of some of the public areas displaying the art. The artist even covered the basement and smaller rooms that are used for restrooms. It bother me a little that this work was able to occur in a historically black neighborhood but I've gotten over it as the entire neighborhood has changed. The artist recognized that by creating building-high images of people from the area. Different and inspiring - Incredible backstory with potential to influence future artisans. read more

What a cool spot in the middle of the city! What once was a dilapidated neighborhood is now home to one of the coolest art installations in the City of Brotherly Love. My boyfriend actually came across this gem while doing some research on what to do in Philly and I'm so glad he did. You buy timed tickets beforehand and show up at your designated time. You're able to walk through the property, which is comprised of different things plastered to the wall, including artistic tiles, bottles, pottery and so much more. Everywhere you look, you'll find something new to discover. After you wander outside, you can step inside to learn more about the person who spearheaded the artistic movement for the neighborhood. There are also restrooms and a gift shop that sells artistic items. It's a great spot in Philly that deserves a visit! read more

See all

Visionaries turned rubble-strewn, rodent infested lots into an artists' mecca. (For those from Georgia, there are elements reminiscent of Howard Finster's Paradise Garden in Summerville.) This nonprofit offers tours, hands-on workshops and rotating exhibits. And if you have a doggo who appreciates the finer things in life, bring him! You can purchase tickets on line with a designated timeslot. We showed up a half hour early, and since it wasn't busy we were welcomed in. As you walk through the neighborhood getting closer to the Garden, you'll notice decorated walls -- a taste of what's inside! It doesn't take long to go through Magic Gardens. You're encouraged to take photos but advised not to touch. And btw, if you live locally, see if your library offers free passes. read more

See all

Love this place so much. It's a small place but covered floor to sky in mosaic art. Definitely unique and one of a kind. A need to see in Philly for sure. read more

See all

Such an interesting place! We came on a gorgeous sunny day which was perfect since this is a half indoor/half outdoor art exhibit in Philly. The awe factor definitely comes from the feeling of thinking "wow there's really nothing quite like this." I've never been to anything similar to this before. There's mosaic everywhere -- from the floor, to the walls, to the ceiling, to the stairs, on the outside walls so even walking by on the streets of Philly you can get a look at this, etc. They had scavenger hunt pamphlets to play a real life version of iSpy if you will. We only managed to find one item! That was a fun addition to the experience. They also have a small gift shop with jewelry and other small items and the staff is friendly and knowledgeable on the artist and his story. Super cool spot and I recommend checking it out if you're looking to see something new and different! read more

See all

This was a fun and unique garden to check out. We got our tickets ($15 per adult) through a QR code. This place is pet friendly which was a huge plus since I had my dog! I really enjoyed walking through the outdoor mosaic garden. There's also some interesting indoor art and a gift shop which was fun. Being inside was also a great way to cool off some from the hot July heat. We spent a little under an hour here but it was really cool to see all the unique art! read more

See all

This place is very interesting with all walls inside and out covered with art using mosaics and a variety of things. They have a scavenger hunt where you try to find certain shapes which was challenging and fun. You can just go through or there is a tour. It was very different and interesting to see read more

See all

As part of my Philly itinerary ,i added this beautiful garden. It was filled with multiple stones surrounding you as you walk through. The cost was $15 and you had to reserve a 30 minute time slot. I realized I was going to arrive late so I called to see if I can push my reservation. They were able to switch it with no issues! I did not do the guided tour and if I were honest don't think it was necessary. My walk through in the garden was shorter than expected. Took some great pictures. It was a nice one time experience. read more

See all

I would recommend coming to the Philadelphia's Magic Gardens mostly because it is unlike any place I have seen anywhere else I've been. Even if you don't have the time or budget to go inside, the outside is still quite artistic to get an eyeful of. Tickets must be purchased online. A bit cumbersome I can't just pay there. It was $15/adult. You meet them at the front of the gate before your reserved time and they go over some rules before letting you in. They have tours but we opted for the self-exploration. It was a rainy day during my visit and I was walking slowly and carefully not to slip. Good thing I wore my weather proof boots. I can see some of my other footwear just slipping in this place. So what I gather from this garden is turning day to day things into art. Things that may have been broken household appliances can have meaning. They call it folk art, and folk art became a key part of Isaiah Zagar's theme for the Philadelphia's Magic Gardens. I kind of laughed when I overheard the tour guide said the artist would welcome anyone to help place pieces, it was just his overall vision. I'm like ohh wow free labor. That's nice. And I guess people would leave broken items as donations to add to the art. And I guess the mosaic can help for mental health in the form of art therapy too. One thing that was annoying is when we finished our outdoor exploration, we headed inside. Where they had these sheets of paper that were scavenger hunts for the outside and inside. Umm why didn't you put this AT THE ENTRANCE?!?! That would have been more useful. I hope the business takes my feedback into consideration and make improvements. After all we paid for this attraction. For future visitors, go find those scavenger hunt sheets before exploring to get the most out of your time here. read more

See all

I've visited Isaiah Zagar's Magic Gardens on two occasions. Once in 2014 for a Twilight in the Gardens special event date and once again this summer for a regular tour. Prices, like everywhere else, have gone up, but $15 for admission still seems reasonable considering the masterpiece that Zagar has created. The whole space is intricate and impressive. You really have to see it for yourself. read more

See all

A friend took us here and although it seems small, the space inside is intricate and deep. It's a nice place to take a break and fun for family and very interactive space that allows you to go down and look all around in the tunnels as well as up above. You can't touch the art, but the space itself is great for photos. read more

See all

The weather finally cleared enough for us to visit Philadelphia's Magic Gardens while we were in town. The pricing was a bit high for the experience ($15 for adults, $12 for students) but it's a an adorable art installation that's cute, slightly raunchy, beautiful, and deeply silly. We were able to buy tickets upon walk in and overall enjoyed our experience. All in all expect to set aside 30 minutes max for the adventure. read more

Definitely a really cool experience. There's many unique pieces of art. The Magic Garden has may great photo opportunities. The staff is friendly. You will definitely want to buy tickets in advance as they are pretty busy. The outdoor experience is relatively short. There was an additional fee for the indoor tour, which we opted not to do since we already paid to get in. I had a good time exploring the magic garden and would recommend it for a one-time visit. read more

See all

I am in awe every time I come here! It's such a wonderful sport to explore and such a special place in Philly! Great for people of all ages! I booked tickets online before going which I would recommend since it can get pretty busy! I also did the scavenger hunt for the first time which was super fun (you can grab one on the shelf right inside the door)! It's a great place to go if you are visiting, or live here and have people visiting. It also makes a great date activity or day out with friends! Just a heads up there are lots of narrow paths and steps, so keep that in mind if those things are a challenge. Last time I was there it had also just rained and was a bit slippery but still had a great time! Make sure to take in all of the little details and don't rush though - it's spectacular. read more

See all

Very interesting place; we went here on a Saturday afternoon. I would recommend getting your tickets in advance. I would definitely recommend it to anyone that loves art:) read more

See all

Great hour through the Magic Gardens! They're pretty firm about timing -- they won't let you in before your stated ticket time. So if you end up like us, head to Whole Foods and get a cheap beer or two (no nearby bars were open when we had to kill about 39 minutes) to kill time. My favorite part of the gardens was the folk art they included here. Be sure to read about the history, as it's really fascinating. read more

See all

I love taking family here when they visit on a sunny day, and i also love that its a dog friendly activity. Its definitely a good instagram spot but a fun local activity as well. read more

Philadelphia's Magic Gardens - Mosaic at the entrance - Art Galleries Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

See all

What a beautiful space! Here's a helpful tip: if you see something that looks like a face, part of a face, or a body part, look around and scan the area. You might find the rest of the face or body. I spent an hour and a half there and didn't even go to the upstairs part of the museum. I was just so excited and inspired by all the art around me. read more

I visited Philadelphia's Magic Gardens (PMG) with my mom and husband last week after wanting to visit for a while! PMG is an immersive art museum/experience - a garden and building covered in mosaics (inside and outside and everywhere you can imagine). PMG's creator Isaiah Zagar used a variety of found materials (bike wheels, plates, bottles, mirrors, etc.) along with tiles over years to create this special place. Tickets sell out. Often. So buy your tickets online in advance (especially if you're going on a weekend day like us - we visited on a Saturday)! We got there early and asked if we could enter before the admission time on our ticket but were told that that wasn't possible because they're always full/at capacity! It's a quirky, kitschy, artsy place - my eyes didn't even know where to look - something on every wall, on the floor, on the ceilings, ...! There's also a gallery area where other artists' works are displayed (the exhibit there when we was visited was interesting - works by Chloe Luisa Pinero)! Creative and interesting and unique - definitely worth a visit. read more

See all

Really cool place to check out, learn about, and take photos in. Lots of history and cool Mexican folk art. Also in a great location in the heart of south Philly. Definitely worth a visit read more

I don't know how I spent so many years without having visited Philadelphia's Magic Gardens! Really enjoyed that this art has permeated throughout the area: glass peeking out through cement driveways and buildings. The outdoor exhibit alone is a place of many curios and ephemera (see picture). The garden feels more like a forest than anything: seemingly homogeneous from far away, but close-up you can really see how many unique diversions there are. I was surprised to find that the bottom of the garden, which I assume is below the water table, is about 20 degrees colder than the top. Lots of cool pictures and spaces to have around these parts. The inside is also really neat. It seems to be a showcase for underrepresented artists that still fit the energy of the gardens themselves. I enjoyed learning about the history of PMG and couldn't believe it took me this long to visit! read more

Philadelphia's Magic Gardens - How long did this take to do?? - Art Galleries Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania