Nature is a great escape in the middle of a bustling metropolitan city, so what better way to “get away” from it all then by visiting some of the best botanical gardens in Los Angeles? Some times you want to just stay within the city but still have access to nature and peaceful gardens, it’s really good for the soul. Nature Therapy relaxes the frantic city energy and helps to calm the everyday hustle of daily work.
I’ve created a quick list below of the best botanical gardens in the Los Angeles area that are FREE to visit and also a few that charge an entrance fee. All of them are great places to visit with your family and children. During my research, I was surprised by how many Japanese themed gardens there were in the area. It just goes to show that the Japanese are experts at intertwining nature & tranquility.
Resist the Mundane was named a top Los Angeles local expert by Redfin. Check out the article we were featured in: A Journey Through LA’s Green Spaces: 9 Gardens in Los Angeles to Add to Your List | Redfin
Best FREE Gardens & Parks to Visit
Stroll the Garden Estate of the Getty Villa
If you’re looking for a beautiful property that mimics the aesthetics of an Italian Estate, then the Getty Villa will be your favorite destination. Located about 20-minutes away from the city center of Los Angeles, depending on traffic, the Getty Villa is situated in the hills of Pacific Palisades. The property is gorgeous and manicured with stunning gardens decorated with sculptures and fountains. It is also less crowded unless they are hosting a special event. It’s an art museum that houses a collection of art from sculptures, paintings to ancient artifacts. Make sure to visit their website to reserve Free Tickets for your visit.
Enjoy the Day at Gardens of the World
The lovely Gardens of the World is located in Thousand Oaks, California. We stumbled across it while looking for places to visit after a weekend wedding we attended and we had a free Sunday. It was quiet and hardly anyone was there. But it was perfectly manicured with beautiful water fountains and blooming blossoms. Located right off of a main street and easily accessible to the public, it is 100% Free to visit. It is basically a public park but with a grand and elegant facade. You can stroll through the grounds with your dog, or find a quiet spot to read a book or study.
Meditate at the Self-Realization Fellowship Lake Shrine
I only discovered the Self Realization Fellowship centers when my husband and I first started dating over 15 years ago. He took me to the Encinitas location for a date but eventually we came here to the Lake Shrine location as well. There are multiple temple locations throughout the Southern California area but I only know of two locations that have a public garden and park.
The Lake Shrine temple is located in the Pacific Palisades. Don’t let the term “temple” turn you away because the location is completely public and open to anyone of any faith. It is considered a spiritual organization that was originally founded in the early 1900s by a Yogi named Paramahansa Yoganandya. The grounds have a lovely and serene lake with swans, and is dotted with Buddhist shrines, fauna and blooming flowers. It’s truly a haven of meditation in the midst of a bustling city.
Enjoy a Book at Cal Poly Pomona Japanese Garden
Cal Poly Pomona is a private University located in Southern California. They established a small Japanese Garden on their campus several years ago that is completely open to the public. You do not have to be a student at the university in order to visit the garden. It features a Koi fish pond that is frequented by ducks and perfectly manicured foliage mimicking the famous gardens of Japan. It is a small park location on a very large campus. It’s a serene and lovely spot for the students and faculty on campus to enjoy
USC Trojan’s Exposition Park Rose Garden
Little Tokyo’s James Irvine Japanese Garden
Go Back in Time at the Virginia Robinson Gardens
Additional List of Freebies in Los Angeles!
For an additional list of FREE THINGS to do around the Los Angeles area, check out my guide for How to Visit FREE Hidden Gems in Los Angeles!
Los Angeles is full of secret places that quite unique and interesting. Tour the city like a local and find all the hidden spots.
Best Botanical Gardens in Los Angeles – With Entrance Fee
The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens
The Huntington Library is world-famous and one of the best botanical gardens in the Los Angeles area. Established over 100 years ago, its spacious 120 acres of incredible landscape will take you hours to walk though. The property is most well known for their specialized botanical landscaped gardens, which includes the “Japanese Garden”, the “Desert Garden”, and the “Chinese Garden”. The Huntington Library is voted as the #1 garden in the state of California, at least in my book. They also host the most delectable tea parties in their perfect English rose garden. Which requires a separate reservation.
Admission tickets cost around $30 per person, but I personally think it is worth it, especially if you visit around Spring time when everything is in bloom. If you have a membership of their special Huntington Library Organization, you can get discounts for the admission.
Peacocks at the Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden
The Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanical Gardens was one of my favorite gardens to visit when I was growing up. It is located in my home town and right across from a large shopping mall. As kids, we would go shopping often and also visit this huge property. It has the most beautiful free-roaming peacocks on the property as well.
The expansive 127 acres of land has a long history that dates all the way back to the mid 1850s, but it didn’t officially open to the public until almost a hundred years later in 1956. A visit during Spring time will reward you with an abundant array of blooming colors all over the park. As well as baby peacock hatch-lings. The peacocks are definitely my favorite part of the botanical garden. You are suppose to leave them alone because they are quite feisty, but they are gorgeous to see from afar. Cost of entry costs half of what the Huntington Library charges, at only $15 per person.
Hike the Trails at Descanso Gardens
Another expansive garden park that we visit frequently is Descanso Garden. Situated on 150 acres of land, it is located in the city of La Canada Flintridge which is a suburb of Los Angeles County. The land is also rich in history. It’s a beautiful property that houses a variety of incredible gardens such as their famous Camillia Collection and Oak Tree Forest. The park is abundant with hiking trails that meander its way all over the property.
Entrance Fee for an adult is $15.
Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden
Storrier Stearns Japanese Garden
The Storrier Sterns is a very small property with a beautiful lotus pond, Koi fish and Japanese Tea House. It is a great quiet spot to sit and enjoy the day while listening to the bubbling brook meander its way among the Japanese maple trees. Located in the quiet neighborhood of South Pasadena, admission fee is $7 per person. For that price, and the size of the garden and its amenities, I would probably pass on this location. However, if you don’t mind the splurge, it’s a cute little spot to visit if you are close by.
SuihoEn Japanese Garden
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Thanks for sharing best botanical gardens in los angeles. i like your post.
I really want to go to Los Angeles, and this looks like such a great place to visit!!
Wow! All of these look so beautiful and like amazing places to connect with nature. I’d like to visit them all, but I think the top of my list would be the Park Rose Garden – how lovely!
The Huntington Library looks gorgeous and I would love walking through all the different sections. I love hiking though so Descanso would be right up my alley as well!
I’m a huge fan of botanical gardens…I could wander around for hours. And LA certainly has some beautiful gardens! Stunning photos…I can’t decide which I like the best so I guess I will have visit all of them. Pinning for when I visit the area again.
These gardens look beautiful!!! I’m such a sucker for botanical gardens and these look outstanding! Your photos are beautiful as well 🌸
Nature is the best escape! <3 I've never had a chance to visit the botanical gardens in LA other than the Rose Garden in USC, but it'd be awesome to check out the rest someday! :]
P.S. The Tree Tribe masks are so cute! I love that they plant a tree for every purchased mask!
I can see why Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden was your favorite. Looking at all the botanical gardens it became mine too. The bright pinks captured my eye. I was supposed to visit LA in March, but cancelled for obvious reasons. Pinning for when I reschedule I can visit these gardens. Thanks for sharing.
All of these gardens are absolutely stunning, a great way to enjoy the outdoors!
Great list as all of these are such gorgeous gardens! I love how many there are and how most of them are free. I’ve gone to the Encinitas temple a bunch but will have to check out the one in LA!
Wow! I didn’t know there is a botanical garden in LA and that too so gorgeous with many different gardens! I need to visit next time!
Wow!! There are so many beautiful gardens to see in LA 🥰🥰 My favourite is the Los Angeles Arboretum & Storrier Sterns! I haven’t been to LA yet but when I visited I’ll definitely have to see some of these beauties!!! Thanks for sharing!
I love that there are so many free gardens to visit! I especially like the Japanese garden at the university.
I can’t believe I didn’t know that LA had so many beautiful botanical gardens. I’ve been to the Getty Villa before, it was lovely. Really, it was like being in Europe. I love the colors especially of the Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden though, the pinks are gorgeous
I have never to LA, but I would love to visit it. I didn’t know they had amazing botanical gardens like these. I love visiting gardens wherever I go, so I am saving your blog for the future 🙂 Also, I love your beautiful pictures.
Thank you so much for this incredibly thorough guide! I’ve never been to any botanical garden but LA sounds like a good place to start. These places all look so dreamy, I’ll have to visit — especially the peacocks at the arboretum!
I can’t believe LA has so many gorgeous botanical gardens, and for FREE TOO! What a great list of places to spend a weekend 🙂
These are stunning! The Huntington Library is one of my faves (especially the Japanese garden there) but I definitely need to check out more of the others!
I love botanical gardens and these are absolutely stunning!
These gardens are beeeeeautiful! I never think of myself as someone who likes botanical gardens (I normally just visit them with my mum). But I’ve found that when I visit them with her, I love them.
I really like that there seems to be so many influences from Asia in these. Japanese gardens are lovely, so I love to see how people interpret them around the world.