FAQs & Visit Info

This Garden-wide exhibition transforms our 250 acres like never before. Step into a botanical experience that grows curiouser and curiouser as you set off on your immersive journey. Choose your own adventure with mind-bending horticultural displays fit for a queen, unusual and outsized art installations, fantastical tea parties, and all of the wonderfully weird beauty of Alice’s world of imagination, made real with thousands of technicolor flowers.

The exhibition opens to the public beginning Saturday, May 18 and ends on Sunday, October 27.

Unless otherwise noted, Garden hours are Tuesday–Sunday (and holiday Mondays), 10 a.m.–6 p.m.

From the Conservatory, to the galleries in the Mertz Library Building, to the art installations across the grounds, there is so much of Wonderland to discover. You can spend several hours viewing the exhibition, but can certainly spend less time if you are in a hurry. Feel free to explore as long as you like.

The Wonderland experience begins as soon as you arrive at the Garden. There are special horticultural displays in the Haupt Conservatory and on the Conservatory Lawn, gallery exhibits in the Mertz Library Building, and contemporary art installations throughout the Garden grounds. You may find all of these locations on the Garden handout you’ll be given when you arrive.

If you purchased an All-Garden Pass, you are welcome to explore the exhibition at your own pace and in any order. Choose your own adventure!

Wonderland: Curious Nature is for everyone! The traditional and fantastical horticultural displays, along with contemporary art installations throughout the grounds, will appeal to visitors of all ages. Older kids and adults will also appreciate galleries in the Mertz Library Building that illuminate the cultural and scientific atmosphere in which Lewis Carroll wrote, mixed in with contemporary art that infuses the galleries with wonder.

Every day is a great day to visit the exhibition! If you wish to minimize crowds, plan your visit in the afternoon during a weekday.

On weekends and holiday Mondays, 12–3 p.m., you can meet the characters of Wonderland at select locations. Learn more about the amazing cast of actors portraying the characters of Wonderland, and where to find them during your visit.

Wonderland Nights are a great way to view Wonderland: Curious Nature after hours. Beginning at 7 p.m. on select evenings, visitors 21 and older can view Wonderland: Curious Nature inside the Haupt Conservatory until 10 p.m.

Separate ticket required.

Oversized bags are prohibited, and NYBG does not offer bag or coat-check facilities. All bags will be searched upon entering the Mertz Library Building, and backpacks must be worn front-facing in indoor exhibition areas such as the Haupt Conservatory and in the Mertz Library Building galleries.

Yes! You’re welcome to take photos of exhibits and artwork for your personal use. Please remember that flash photography is prohibited in the art galleries. Tripods, monopods, easels, and selfie sticks are not permitted in the Haupt Conservatory, Mertz Library Building, and Ross Hall.

There’s plenty to see and do! And it’s all in the Garden handout you’ll receive when you arrive. The handout shows the additional highlights to enjoy, including:

• 50 unique garden collections to explore across our 250 acres
• A ride on the narrated Garden Tram Tour
• Hands-on activities for families at the Edible Academy and Everett Children’s Adventure Garden Pop-up
• A meal or snack at any of our dining venues
• Shopping at NYBG Shop

Enhance your visit with tools including the Bloomberg Connects app, Plant Tracker, and audio tours across the garden grounds. The Garden handout also lists all public programs.

An All-Garden Pass is required to see the special exhibition. This ticket gives you access to the Haupt Conservatory, Mertz Library Building, the Tram Tour, and all outdoor gardens and collections. All-Garden Passes are free for Members.

Tickets for active Members, Patrons, and Corporate Partners are free!

Paid tickets are:

• $35 for adults
• $31 for students and seniors
• $15 for children (2–12)
• Free for kids under 2

• Online: nybg.org/visit/admission
• Phone: Call 718.817.8716 for Ticketing Hotline
• Onsite: At any ticket window during normal Garden hours

Yes, to enter the Garden, visitors must present their printed or mobile tickets to staff. To ensure all guests have the best possible experience, you will be asked to present your ticket for scanning at various locations throughout your visit.

No. If you purchased your tickets online, you can access your mobile tickets on any smartphone or mobile device through your order confirmation email. We recommend taking a screenshot or adding the tickets to your phone’s wallet for easy access. We can scan your tickets directly from your phone. Everyone must present a valid ticket for entry. If you are issued a will-call ticket, you must provide the reservation number at any ticket window to retrieve your ticket.

A Grounds Access Pass includes admission to the outdoor gardens and collections. It excludes the Haupt Conservatory, the Mertz Library Building, and the Tram Tour. A Grounds Access Pass is available to NYC residents only. Proof of residency is required and tickets can only be purchased onsite. Bronx residents receive complimentary grounds access every day. The All-Garden Pass includes access to the Haupt Conservatory, the Mertz Library Building, and the Tram Tour—which includes all of the displays in Wonderland: Curious Nature.

The Conservatory Lawn and outdoor art installations across the grounds may be enjoyed by all Garden visitors regardless of ticket type. Access to the exhibition areas inside the Haupt Conservatory and in the Mertz Library Building, as well as the Tram Tour and any special ticketed programming, is not included in the Grounds Access Pass.

No. Wonderland Nights are a separate ticketed event. You must purchase a Wonderland Nights ticket in order to attend.

The ticket price for Wonderland Nights is:

• $39 per adult
• $29 for each Member

There are no ticket refunds or exchanges. Unless the Garden closes due to extreme weather, the Garden is open rain or shine.

Yes, all children, regardless of age, must have a ticket for entry to the Garden. Tickets for children ages 2–12 are $15, and tickets for children under the age of 2 are free.

In addition to the fantastical horticultural displays and art installations throughout the grounds, there are kid-centered activities that will make their experience even more engaging. Highlights include the Everett Children’s Adventure Garden Pop-Up across from the Native Plant Garden and roaming character encounters across the Garden on weekends. Children are also invited to roll up their sleeves and help tend the gardens at NYBG’s state-of-the-art Edible Academy.

Strollers are encouraged on the Garden grounds, but are not permitted in the Haupt Conservatory, the Mertz Library Building, and Ross Gallery. Stroller parking is available at each of these locations. Baby carriers are allowed for transporting little ones through the Haupt Conservatory. Visitors using a stroller as an accessibility device are permitted to take the stroller anywhere in the Garden, as long as it’s safe to do so in the stroller-restricted area. Lifts are located in the Haupt Conservatory and at the entrance to the Mertz Library Building.

The family-friendly menu at the Pine Tree Café includes sandwiches and panini, Neapolitan-style pizza, and sweet treats and snacks. A kid’s menu is also available upon request at the Hudson Garden Grill.

Tea is available at all of our dining venues and pop-ups! Here are just a few of the special offerings you’ll find around the Garden:

• Hudson Garden Grill – sit down for lunch and a spot of tea! Scones, petit fours, and other classic tea-time desserts are available.
• Pine Tree Café – featuring iced and hot lavender lattes, plus a full tea and coffee menu, and scones, cookies, and pastries.
• Tea Party Parties at Hudson Garden Grill – this afternoon tea extravaganza takes place Thursdays beginning May 23. Advance reservations required.
• The Looking Glass and Unbirthday Truck – featuring tea-to-go packages for two to enjoy al fresco. Packages include sandwiches, fruit, snack mix, scones, and sweets—plus a reusable tumbler with your selection of hot or iced tea. Kid-friendly packages are also available.
• The Rose Court – featuring a selection of iced teas, sweet treats, and frosé.

Grab a quick lunch or a barista-crafted coffee at the Pine Tree Café, take a seat for an elegant meal at the Hudson Garden Grill, or pick up a refreshing drink and snack at our outdoor pop-ups. Learn more.

Your Wonderland: Curious Nature experience continues at all of our dining locations and pop-ups! Exhibition-inspired entrées, snacks and sweets will be available at all dining locations and pop-ups. Have a seat over a thematic prix-fixe lunch menu at Hudson Garden Grill, or grab an afternoon tea-to-go package to enjoy al fresco at The Looking Glass and Unbirthday Food Truck.

On Thursday afternoons, the Hudson Garden Grill will host a tea party extravaganza! The experience includes a bubbly welcome drink, individual pots of tea, delectable hors d’oeuvres, tea sandwiches, and an array of scones and sweets—plus a special takeaway gift and photo op. Elevate your experience with a creative handcrafted cocktail, and dress up to join the story! Advance reservations required.

You will need a reservation, which can be made online up until two hours before each Tea Party Party event. A small number of walk-ins may be accommodated, but seating is not guaranteed!

You may picnic at the Clay Family Picnic Pavilions, on Daffodil Hill, and at the Solar Pavilions near the Mosholu Entrance. No alcohol may be brought on premises.