Philadelphia's Magic Gardens
4.6(5,141)4.6 out of 5 stars, 5141 reviews Philadelphia, PA
About Philadelphia's Magic Gardens
A highly immersive, eclectic, and colorful outdoor and indoor mosaic art environment that offers a unique, meditative experience filled with playful details and abundant photo opportunities.
What parents should know
Summarized from real visitor reviews.
Best for: Families seeking a quick, highly visual, and memorable art experienceVisitors already in or near Center City (a safe 20-minute walk away)Art-curious children and teenagers who can appreciate playful, 'weird', and highly detailed visual environments
Why families love it
- Stunning and intricate outdoor and indoor mosaic installations made of recycled pieces
- Abundant and unique photo opportunities throughout the entire space
- Art-filled restrooms that extend the creative experience
- Beautiful surrounding neighborhood features, including mosaic walls on a nearby church and across the street
- Intricate mosaic-covered floors and walls
- Guided tours that unlock restricted basement areas
Insider tips
- Purchase timed-entry tickets online in advance
- Check the weather before going, as most of the exhibits are outdoors
- Plan for about an hour-long visit to fully appreciate all the small details
- Book a specific guided tour if you want to explore the basement via stairs/ladder
- Do not plan a visit for Tuesday as the museum is closed
Good to know before you go
- Visiting on Tuesdays when the venue is closed
- Visiting during rainy or poor weather since most of the space is outdoors
- Traveling a very long distance solely for this short experience
- The venue is relatively small, making it less suitable for a long-distance trip on its own
- Closed on Tuesdays
- Crowds
- Crowds are managed through timed-entry ticketing booked online in advance
- Value
- Tickets must be purchased in advance online for specific times. While exact pricing is not specified, reviewers consider it a highly memorable and worthwhile experience, though its small size suggests pairing it with other nearby activities.
- Food
- No food or drink policies are mentioned in the reviews
- Accessibility
- The basement area is restricted and requires using stairs or a ladder, which may not be accessible for all visitors
- Safety
- Located in an area noted as a safe 20-minute walk from Center City
What parents say
"It was pretty weird but also really cool. The figures and paintings inside are super unique and really show part of the area’s culture. You’ll get what I mean when you see it. But it’s really small, so I wouldn’t recommend traveling super far just for this. If you’re nearby or really into art, definitely check it out. Unfortunately, I didn’t get to see everything, but if you book a guided tour, you can take stairs or a ladder underneath to see even more cool pieces restricted when solo touring."
a month ago
"Philadelphia's Magic Gardens is a truly magical place. Although there is chaos in the garden, that chaos somehow turns into something very meditative and peaceful as you mindfully gaze upon the details that are surrounding you. It is such a unique space, it feels like you are inside of the artist's mind. It's colorful, fun, and filled with so many strange but wonderfully playful details. I highly recommend visiting the Magic Gardens if you're looking for a memorable experience - if you really take a look at all the small things floating everywhere, you could easily spend an hour here. I purch"
a month ago
"Fun and eclectic experience where you are immersed within mosaic and so much creativity! There are indoor exhibits and most of the mosaic is outdoor, so good weather is important to enjoy and appreciate this space. Tickets are available online for specific entry times. While we stayed in Center City, we were able to walk safely here within about 20 minutes."
a month ago
Reviews sourced from public Google data.
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