See what our garden has to offer
By City of Vancouver
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Bring your binoculars and visit the Backyard Bird Garden
By City of Vancouver
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Let your kids try the new Junior Birder Challenge
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Spot and photograph local wildlife
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Enjoy a picnic beside one of our picturesque lakes
By City of Vancouver
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Find your way through the Elizabethan hedge maze
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Relax in a serene setting with inspiring architecture
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Discover over 7,500 plant species and varieties from around the world
By City of Vancouver
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Experience the 55-acre oasis in the heart of Vancouver
By City of Vancouver
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Look for sculptures
By City of Vancouver
VanDusen houses a significant sculpture collection, featuring artists such as Bill Reid, David Marshall, and Sebastian. The International Sculpture Symposium, held here in 1975, created 11 original works to begin the permanent collection.
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Browse the garden-themed gift shop
By City of Vancouver
VanDusen Botanical Garden spans 55 acres and contains over 7,500 plant species from around the world.
Unwind in a serene setting nestled in the heart of the city with picturesque lakes, a tranquil waterfall, inspiring architecture, beautiful sculptures, and 50 botanical collections.
There’s always something new blooming in the garden every couple of weeks. Check our bloom calendar to get an idea of what’s in bloom every month of the year.
Get a visitor guide and map at the Visitor Centre admissions desk or download the map PDF file (2 MB).
What to see and do
What's happeningGuardians of the Garden: Bee Strong Challenge
April 10, 11, 17, and 18
Help us build a kinder environment for our hardworking pollinators by becoming a VanDusen Guardian of the Garden. Due to popular demand, we have added additional dates for the Bee Strong Challenge!
Join us April 10, 11, 17, and 18 for the Bee Strong Challenge to learn more about our pollinator friends, and how we can do our part to protect them.
Participants will follow a typical bee adventure through the Garden as they forage for pollen and water (around 4,000 steps), learning about the pollinator friendly flowers at VanDusen Garden and facts about bees along the way. Capes and pollinator costumes are always encouraged! Share your photos with #VanDusenGOG
Learn more about the Guardians of the Garden program
Buy tickets External website, opens in new tab
Important note The Guardians of the Garden Bee Strong Challenge is an add-on activity. Both an admission ticket and the add-on ticket are required at point of entry to participate and collect a prize. Adults/guardians that are supervising only require a general admission ticket.
Shaughnessy Restaurant promotion
Present your Garden admission ticket at Shaughnessy Restaurant from March 12 to April 18 to access exclusive, garden-inspired menu items with ingredients straight from the garden.
Lemony Laurel cocktail or Pirate Bay
The Lemony Laurel is an elegant vodka-based cocktail with a touch of anise and vanilla scented Italian liqueur, and lemons roasted with bay laurel leaves. As a non-alcoholic option, try the Pirate Bay, crafted with pineapple and bay laurel simple syrup with ginger beer and soda. Enjoy either for $6.
Bay Laurel crème brûlée
Shaughnessy’s take on the classic French dessert made with rich custard, topped with caramelized sugar and infused with Bay Laurel essence. Enjoy for $5, or free with the purchase of any entrée!
All Guardians of the Garden Bee Strong participants can present their completed activity sheet for a free ice cream with the purchase of any regular menu item!
Information icon Limited 1 per ticket holder, offer ends April 18, 2021. VanDusen admission ticket must be presented to redeem.
Accessibility
The Visitor Centre, Administration Building, Floral Hall, Shaughnessy Restaurant, and most paved garden paths are fully accessible to wheelchairs, scooters, and walkers. Many of the pathways, both paved and unpaved, can be uneven. Care should be taken for those using walking aids. Some steps do not have handrails or handrails on both sides. Accessible washrooms are located in the Visitor Centre.
Guided cart tours
For guests with limited walking ability or mobility issues, we offer guided cart tours at 1pm, 2pm, and 3pm daily from April 1 to Canadian Thanksgiving.
Advance booking is only available for weekdays and is strongly recommended for those with mobility difficulties.
Tours on weekends and holidays are available on a first come, first served basis. Cart tours are not available during special events.
Bookings can be made in person from 10am to 4pm at the Information Desk inside the Visitor Centre or by phone at 604-257-8162. Do not leave a voicemail. A non-refundable administration booking fee of $10 per cart or group will be processed at the time of booking. Advance bookings can be made until 11am on the day of the tour. Ensure to arrive at the garden at least 15 minutes prior to your scheduled tour.
Pets are not permitted in the garden, except for clearly identified service dogs. All tours are weather permitting.
Dining
Visit Shaughnessy Restaurant or Truffles Cafe.
Guided walking tours
Guided tours are a great way to see and appreciate all that the garden offers.
From April 1 to Canadian Thanksgiving, tours are offered daily by trained volunteer guides from 1pm to 3pm and on Wednesday mornings at 10:30am.
In the winter months, from Canadian Thanksgiving to March 31, guided tours are offered on Sundays at 1pm.
All tours are weather permitting.
Pre-booked group walking tours
Group tours are available 7 days a week from April 1 to Thanksgiving for groups of 10 or more. Group tours with less than 20 people must be booked a minimum of two weeks in advance. Group tours with more than 20 people must be booked a minimum of four weeks in advance.
Group tours are not available in the winter months, on Canadian holidays, or during special events.
Bookings can be made from 10am to 4pm in person at the Information Desk inside the Visitor Centre or by phone at 604-257-8162. Do not leave a voicemail. A non-refundable administration booking fee of $2.50 per person for travel agencies and business groups, and $1 per person for garden clubs and seniors centres, will be processed at the time of booking. Advance bookings can be made until 11am on the day of the tour. Ensure to arrive at the garden at least 15 minutes prior to your scheduled tour.
All tours are weather permitting.
Self-guided tours
Inquire at the Membership Information Desk about seasonal self-guided tour pamphlets.
These highlight plants or plant families that are at their peak in any given month.
Maze
Find your way through the Elizabethan hedge maze made up of over 3,000 pyramidal cedars. Kids will love exploring the nearby veggie garden and climbing on the vintage tractor.
Visitor Centre
Our multi-award winning Visitor Centre was named Most Sustainable Building of the Year in 2014.
Featuring advanced technology, a green roof, and beautiful orchid-inspired design, the building achieved LEED Platinum status.
Wildlife
Spot and photograph local wildlife including hummingbirds, hawks, owls, Canada Geese, herons, eagles, ducks, butterflies, and turtles. Discover the honey bee hives near the maze.
See what our visitors are posting at the garden
Help preserve Vancouver parks
Connect with us
Activities and classes
The Vancouver Botanical Gardens Association (VBGA) offers courses and classes for adults and children at VanDusen Garden including, art, photography, gardening, botany and ecology. Summer camps and a nature school programs are offered for children.
Visit the Vancouver Botanical Gardens Association website External website, opens in new tab for more information on courses and activities.