Ice Storm Update (2/10/2023):

  • Significant work has been done to remove hazardous broken branches near or over trails. Great thanks to our Parks Forestry Team for their help in keeping guests as well as our staff safe!

  • Work will continue on interior areas, as there are still many broken branches and needed tree work further away from paths.

  • Visitors should anticipate some path or garden closures on an intermittent basis while staff continue to work on needed tree maintenance. However, closures will be limited to single trails/areas. Most of the Garden is open.

    • (To help manage expectations, guests will still see significant damage with downed trees and branches. Work thus far has been to clear/open paths and remove hazardous overhead hanging branches. Much remains to be done off the trails and within wooded areas.)

  • Please stay on paths and observe/respect cautions and closed trail signs.
  • The Garden may schedule additional closure days on typically lower visitation days during the week. These will be scheduled and posted in advance; please check the website before visiting.

Zilker Botanical Garden — located on 28 acres nestled within Zilker Metropolitan Park in the heart of downtown Austin, Texas, Zilker Botanical Garden is often called “the jewel in the heart of Austin”. Theme gardens such as the Taniguchi Japanese Garden, Riparian Streambed, and Rose Garden are interconnected with streams, waterfalls and Koi-filled ponds, while the Hartman Prehistoric Garden recreates a Cretaceous habitat filled with plants from the time of the dinosaurs. Featuring heritage live oaks set into a hillside, the Garden offers a lush, shady respite perfect for an urban get-away stroll.

Tickets & Admission

Tickets must be purchased in advance, and entries are limited each hour to ensure ability for social distancing. Please visit www.zilkergarden.org to purchase tickets. Conservancy members receiving free admission must reserve a time.

Members – Free

Children (ages 2 & Under) – Free

Youth – (ages 3 & 17)

  • Austin Resident $3
  • Non Austin Resident $4

Adults – (ages 18 - 61)

  • Austin Resident $6
  • Non Austin Resident $8

Seniors – (ages 62 & Over)

  • Austin Resident $5
  • Non-Austin Resident $7

Photography Session fee - $50

  • Photography sessions are allowed. No advance scheduling is required; please pay the photography permit when you purchase your tickets.
  • No space is available for use as a dressing room, and restrooms may not be used for this purpose.
  • Filming permits are required for commercial filming.

The Garden invites all families with Electronic Benefits Transfer cards, WIC cards, STAR cards, CHIP cards, Medicaid cards, and MAP identification cards to show their card(s) to receive FREE General Admission tickets for up to 4 individuals per card – just show your card and a photo ID (Special programs and events excluded).

Hours & Location

Open 9am-6pm, Seven Days a Week

The garden is open to the public 7 days a week, year-round. The garden is closed for major holidays and (typically during Austin City Limits Fest.) The garden opens at 9 am daily and closes at 5 pm, with final entry 30 minutes prior to closing.

Zilker Botanical Garden will be closed on New Year’s Day, The Fourth of July, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day.

2022 Holiday Hours:  Zilker Botanical Garden is CLOSED Saturday and Sunday (December 24 & 25),  OPEN Friday and Monday (December 23 & 26).

Physical Address:

Zilker Botanical Garden

2220 Barton Springs Rd.

Austin, TX 78746

Rentals & Reservations

Interested in renting a space at the Garden? Please review the Rental Guidebook for answers to frequently asked questions and a list of rental locations and rates. 

E-mail ZBGrentals@austintexas.gov to inquire about availability of specific dates and event details as requested. Please be as specific as possible, and note that reservations can only be made up to six months in advance.

Due to garden public usage and garden club meetings, there is limited rental availability.  Most common rental opportunities are Saturday/Sunday for indoor spaces.  For outdoor spaces availabity are only offered during daytime hours due to lighting.

The Rose Garden South Lawn The Hartman Pavilion
Tea House Greene Room Auditorium
Oak Grove     
About Us

Zilker Botanical Garden — located on 28 acres nestled within Zilker Metropolitan Park in the heart of downtown Austin, Texas, Zilker Botanical Garden is often called “the jewel in the heart of Austin”. Theme gardens such as the Taniguchi Japanese Garden, Riparian Streambed, and Rose Garden are interconnected with streams, waterfalls and Koi-filled ponds, while the Hartman Prehistoric Garden recreates a Cretaceous habitat filled with plants from the time of the dinosaurs. Featuring heritage live oaks set into a hillside, the Garden offers a lush, shady respite perfect for an urban get-away stroll.

 

Zilker Botanical Garden is a public-private partnership between The City of Austin Parks & Recreation Department (PARD) and The Zilker Botanical Garden Conservancy (ZGBC), which manages over 30 garden clubs through the Austin Area Garden Council (AAGC). The garden is open to the public most days year-round and is enjoyed by over 125,000 visitors each year, including thousands of school children from Austin and the surrounding communities.

Virtual Tour

Participate in an innovative Virtual Tour of the Zilker Botanical Gardens for use on phones, tablets, and computers which is available in both English and Spanish. Click on either version for a guided tour of our featured gardens:

English Virtual Tour link for Zilker Botanical GardensSpanish Virtual Tour link for Zilker Botanical Gardens

This is a large download, you may experience delays. Please let us know your experience and we will work to make this exciting new educational guide to our gardens more user friendly. We also would like to know how the information was helpful to you as well as what information you would like in future.

Email Us: info@zilkergarden.org

Safety in the Garden

Please enjoy your visit while observing safe practices:

Tickets must be purchased in advance, and entries are limited each hour to ensure ability for social distancing. Please visit www.zilkergarden.org to purchase tickets. Conservancy members receiving free admission must reserve a time. Masks are required, and a one-way route through the Garden—especially on narrow trails—is strongly encouraged. Social distancing remains important.

We look forward to welcoming you at the Zilker Botanical Garden!

  • While the outdoor Garden is open, the Garden Center building remains closed except for restroom access and water bottle filling (water fountain nozzle for direct drinking is closed off, but water bottle filler can still be used.)
  • The Garden is not accepting reservations for rentals, meetings, or special events at this time.
  • Photography sessions are allowed. No advance scheduling is required; please pay the photography permit when you purchase your tickets. No space is available for use as a dressing room, and restrooms may not be used for this purpose.
  • Filming permits are required for commercial filming.

Resources

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