Updated in September 2026, this VanDusen Botanical Garden guide covers ticket prices, opening hours, parking, accessibility and what to see.
VanDusen Botanical Garden is a 55-acre garden in Vancouver’s Shaughnessy neighbourhood. Adult admission for a September visit is $15.81, well above the $8 to $12 many general listings still quote, since those figures reflect the off-season winter rate rather than the current peak-season price. This guide was updated in September 2026 to reflect the correct seasonal rate. You can book in advance through Viator before your visit.
Quick facts about VanDusen Botanical Garden
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | 5151 Oak Street, Vancouver, British Columbia V6M 4H1 |
| Opening hours (8 Sept–31 Oct) | 9am–5pm daily |
| Adult admission (Apr–Oct) | $15.81 |
| Senior admission (Apr–Oct) | $12.65 |
| Youth admission (13–18, Apr–Oct) | $11.05 |
| Child admission (5–12, Apr–Oct) | $7.90 |
| Preschooler (4 & under) | Free |
| Typical visit duration | 2–3 hours |
Why book VanDusen Botanical Garden tickets?
- 🏛️ A 55-acre oasis: Explore over 7,500 plant species and varieties from around the world, right in the heart of Vancouver.
- 🎟️ Get lost in the maze: The Elizabethan hedge maze is made from 3,000 pyramidal cedars planted in 1981.
- 🌿 A garden for every season: From spring rhododendrons to the winter Festival of Lights, there’s always something in bloom.
- 📜 Free for Indigenous visitors: Self-identifying Indigenous Peoples receive free general admission in person.
- 💰 Save $1 online: Booking your ticket in advance takes a dollar off the adult admission price.
Opening hours at VanDusen Botanical Garden
VanDusen Botanical Garden’s hours change through the year: 10am to 2pm in January and February; 10am to 5pm in March; 9am to 5pm in April; 9am to 6pm in May; 9am to 7pm from June to Labour Day (7 September this year); 9am to 5pm from 8 September to 31 October; and 10am to 2pm in November and December. Last entry is 30 minutes before closing, and the Garden closes on 25 December.
5 great Vancouver experiences worth booking
- 🐋 See whales, seals and eagles from a heated catamaran on a whale-watching cruise.
- 🍴 On a Gastown food and history walking tour, combine tastings and stories.
- 🏔️ Combine Whistler and the Sea to Sky Gondola on a mountain day tour.
- ✈️ Take a Vancouver seaplane tour, and fly above the surrounding coastline.
- 🌉 See the Capilano Suspension Bridge and Vancouver Lookout on a Vancouver highlights tour.
Ticket prices for VanDusen Botanical Garden
| Age | January–March | April–October | November–December |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adult (19–64) | $11.19 | $15.81 | $11.19 |
| Senior (65+) | $8.95 | $12.65 | $8.95 |
| Youth (13–18) | $7.85 | $11.05 | $7.85 |
| Child (5–12) | $5.60 | $7.90 | $5.60 |
| Preschooler (0–4) | Free | Free | Free |
Prices don’t include GST, and a 3% Amenity Improvement Fee is added to help fund upkeep of the Garden and Conservatory. Booking online saves $1 on the adult ticket. Groups of 10 or more receive a 10% discount. Special event pricing applies during the Festival of Lights and other ticketed events. Prices are current as of September 2026 and may change without notice. You can book through Viator to secure your preferred date.
How to get to VanDusen Botanical Garden
By car, the Garden is at the corner of Oak Street and West 37th Avenue, in the Shaughnessy neighbourhood.
By bus, route 17 connects downtown Vancouver with the Garden; get off at West 37th Avenue for the entrance.
Parking at VanDusen Botanical Garden
Paid parking is available on site. Bicycles should be locked up outside the Visitor Centre rather than brought into the Garden.
How long to spend at VanDusen Botanical Garden
Most visitors spend two to three hours exploring the Garden’s collections, maze and lakes.
Accessibility at VanDusen Botanical Garden
The Visitor Centre, Administration Building, Floral Hall and many paved garden paths are wheelchair accessible. Strollers and wheelchairs are welcome; rollerblades, skateboards and tricycles aren’t.
What to see at VanDusen Botanical Garden
The Elizabethan Maze. Made from 3,000 pyramidal cedars planted in 1981, with an observation terrace for anyone who’d rather watch than wander in.
The Sino-Himalayan Garden. Covering around eight acres, this collection holds species rhododendrons and other plants native to the Himalayan region.
The Stone Garden. Volcanic rock outcrops, built on the roof of a former reservoir, mark the second-highest point in Vancouver.
Sculptures and totem poles. Works by Bill Reid and David Marshall sit alongside Gitxsan totem poles and a Korean Pavilion.
The Visitor Centre. An orchid-inspired, LEED Platinum building named Most Sustainable Building of the Year in 2014, home to the gift shop and Truffles Garden Cafe.
Practical tips for visiting VanDusen Botanical Garden
| Tip | Detail |
|---|---|
| Book online to save | A $1 discount applies to adult tickets bought in advance. |
| Visit in May for rhododendrons | The Garden’s nearly 1,000 rhododendron varieties peak this month. |
| Bring a picnic | Lawn chairs and coolers are welcome on the Great Lawn. |
| Check the seasonal hours before you go | Opening times shift several times a year. |
| Book tickets in advance | Advance booking is recommended, especially at weekends, and you can book through Viator. |
Frequently asked questions about VanDusen Botanical Garden
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| How much does admission cost right now? | Adult admission from April to October is $15.81; many general listings still quote lower off-season prices. |
| What’s the current address? | 5151 Oak Street; some booking sites still list the older 5251 Oak Street. |
| Is the Garden wheelchair accessible? | Yes, the Visitor Centre and many paved paths are accessible. |
| Are pets allowed? | No, except working guide and service dogs. |
| Should I book in advance? | Yes, particularly at weekends. You can book in advance through Viator. |
Things to do near VanDusen Botanical Garden
Queen Elizabeth Park offers sunken quarry gardens and city views, a short drive from the Garden.
Oakridge Park shopping centre has shops, restaurants and a cinema, a few minutes away.
Kerrisdale Village offers boutique shopping and cafés in a leafy neighbourhood setting.
The Arbutus Greenway is a walking and cycling trail running close to the Garden’s edge.
Shaughnessy’s historic mansions line the streets around the Garden, many dating to the early 20th century.
Alternative attractions to VanDusen Botanical Garden
Bloedel Conservatory, in Queen Elizabeth Park, houses tropical birds and plants beneath a geodesic dome, a short drive away.
The Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden, in Chinatown, is a Ming Dynasty-style garden built by artisans from Suzhou, China.
UBC Botanical Garden covers 110 acres of themed plant collections on the University of British Columbia campus.
Nitobe Memorial Garden, also at UBC, is regarded as one of the most authentic Japanese gardens outside Japan.
Queen Elizabeth Park’s Quarry Gardens transform two former rock quarries into sunken, terraced gardens.
More Vancouver travel
Other Vancouver travel guides on Planet Whitley include:
- Plan a visit to the Beaty Biodiversity Museum in Vancouver.
- Where to see Digital Orca in Vancouver.
- Plan your visit to the Museum of Vancouver.
- Horse-drawn tour vs bike tour: What is the best way to explore Stanley Park? Romance vs practicality is the trade-off when visiting Vancouver’s world class park.
- Dare you take on the sway at Capilano Suspension Bridge Park?
