Visitor’s Guide to Sunken Gardens in St. Petersburg, FL
Sunken Gardens is a little piece of paradise in St. Petersburg, Florida. If you are looking for the perfect day date, solo adventure, or girls’ day look no further! Botanical gardens are a great year round activity, but they are especially popular during the spring time. Continue reading for everything you need to know before you visit.
What are the Sunken Gardens?
The Sunken Gardens are a 4-acre botanical garden with paved pathways that are partially ADA accessible. Get lost strolling through the gardens amongst the tall trees towering over the walkways and seeing how many different animals you can find.
Where is it located?
This long-standing Florida road-side attraction is located right off 4th street in St. Petersburg, Florida.
Where do I park?
There is ample paved parking outside of the Sunken Gardens. Additionally, overflow parking is available at Crescent Lake Park. The walk from Crescent Lake is approximately 0.3 miles and will take around 10 minutes.
How much does it cost to visit?
Tickets for Sunken Gardens are $15 for adults with a $3 discount for seniors (62 years or older), and $6 for children (age 2-12). Sunken Gardens is open Monday through Saturday 10 AM to 4:30 PM and Sunday 12 PM to 4:30 PM. The last admission is sold at 4 PM. I recommend going earlier to have more time to explore the gardens.
How long does it take to visit?
I recommend between 1 to 2 hours to visit the gardens. This should give you adequate time to enjoy the gardens at a relaxed pace and not rush through it. Because there is so much to see, you may even want to walk the paved pathway more than once to make sure you can take it all in.
When is the best time to visit the Sunken Gardens?
The Sunken Gardens can be visited year-round, but I recommend the spring to really see the flowers in bloom. The pathway does have a lot of shade, but during the summer months it can still be very hot. Consider visiting during a weekday to avoid the crowds.
What animals can I see at the Sunken Gardens?
There are animal exhibits throughout the gardens, but the most popular is the flamingos! I also saw a variety of birds including laughing kookaburras, umbrella cockatoo, and macaws. There was also a pond with koi fish (ornamental carp).
Are outside food and beverages allowed?
Yes, food and beverages can be brought into the gardens (no alcohol). Consider making an afternoon of your visit and packing a picnic lunch. There are various picnic tables or benches throughout the gardens or bring a blanket and find a shaded spot on the lawn to enjoy your lunch!
Sunken Gardens Recommended Route
I recommend picking up a map when purchasing your tickets and following the route outlined on the map to ensure you don’t miss anything! There are 24 points of interest included on the map. A few of my favorite displays include the exotic birds, flamingos, wedding lawn, arched bridge + koi pond, and the succulent garden!
Is the Sunken Gardens worth visiting?
Absolutely, the Sunken Gardens are worth visiting! This is one my favorite botanical gardens to visit. It is a beautiful garden and there is enough to see that makes it worth your time and money.
Looking for other botanical gardens to visit?
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I would love to visit these gardens one day! (Do you know why they’re “sunken” gardens? Just curious.). Love Florida and love your blog!
Thank you!! I hope you are able to visit them sometime! That’s a great question, I think because the area was originally a sink hole. The land was purchased by someone who was an avid gardener and he eventually drained the sinkhole which left a rich soil that was ideal for gardening. The sunken garden website has even more details, but that’s the short version. 🙂