The Best Indoor Gardens In Chicago

Chicago is home to 570 parks and gardens. Due to the cold, however, many of the outdoor gardens are not active during the winter months. The following indoor gardens located throughout the city allow you to enjoy the beauty of plants, trees, and flowers throughout the year, come rain, snow or shine.

Lincoln Park Conservatory

Located right next to the Lincoln Park Zoo, the Lincoln Park Conservatory features tropical plants, ferns and palms, all showcased in four display houses. Each season, the conservatory also has rotating exhibits such as the spring flower show. The conservatory is open daily from 9am-5pm, and best of all, it’s free. Lincoln Park Conservatory, 2391 N Stockton Dr, Chicago, IL, USA, +1 312 742 7736

Along with the Shakespeare Theater, Children’s Museum, and the iconic Ferris wheel, Navy Pier also features an indoor garden. The Crystal Gardens is one acre of plants, palm trees and leaping fountains. Since the garden is made from glass top to bottom, visitors are able to take in the stunning views of the lake, city as well as the Ferris wheel. The Crystal Gardens at Navy Pier, Navy Pier, 700 E Grand Ave, Chicago, IL, USA, +1 312 595 5434

Garfield Park Conservatory

Garfield Park Conservatory is located on the West Side of Chicago and is over 100 years old. Along with eight rooms that house thousands of plant species, the conservatory also offers a wide range of instructional classes and demonstrations from beekeeping to Bonsai tree care classes. Admission is free with a suggested donation at the door. Garfield Park Conservatory, 300 N Central Park Ave, Chicago, IL, USA, +1 312 746 5100

Chicago Botanic Garden

One of Chicago’s biggest gardens, the Chicago Botanic Garden offers 385 acres full of different varieties of plants, including Alice — the garden’s 4.5-foot-tall corpse flower. Admission to the garden is free, however, many of their events are not. The Chicago Botanic Garden is open every day of the year, however, their hours change depending on the season so make sure to check their website before visiting. Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Rd, Glencoe, IL, USA, +1 847 835 5440

Kilbourn Park Organic Greenhouse

The Kilbourn Park Organic Greenhouse is a part of Kilbourn Park located in Irving Park. The greenhouse is primarily used for teaching and is open to the public every Tuesday to Saturday. Each spring, the greenhouse hosts a plant sale, and in the fall, the greenhouse holds a harvest festival that includes crafts as well as cooking and gardening demonstrations. Kilbourn Park Organic Greenhouse, 3501 N Kilbourn Ave, Chicago, IL, USA, +1 773 685 3351
By Benita Gingerella

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.