Visiting Selby Gardens
By Carson B. · Updated November 6, 2026
Marie Selby Botanical Gardens' downtown campus at 1534 Mound St. is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Daytime admission covers the outdoor gardens, the Tropical Conservatory, and the Museum of Botany and the Arts. It's the only botanical garden dedicated to epiphytes, the orchids and air plants that grow on other plants.
The downtown campus
Selby sits right on Sarasota Bay. Your day ticket covers the outdoor gardens, the Tropical Conservatory, the Museum of Botany and the Arts, and the Garden Shop. Holiday hours are shorter, and it closes on Christmas Day.
Parking
Selby's site has described complimentary parking in its garage, and reports during construction have mentioned valet and off-site lots. Check selby.org for the current setup before you drive down.
Lights in Bloom
For the holidays, the gardens stay open after dark for Lights in Bloom, running Dec. 5, 2026 through Jan. 2, 2027. Tickets are timed, so book ahead. See our holiday lights guide.
Historic Spanish Point
Selby's second campus is in Osprey: thousands of years of local history on 30 bayfront acres, blending archaeology and gardens. A Selby membership covers both campuses, but check tickets separately for a single visit.
Thousands of years of Sarasota history on 30 bayfront acres in Osprey
Questions
How long do you need at Selby Gardens?
It's a the kind of place you can see in a morning or an afternoon. Allow longer if you stop at the museum and shop.
What is Selby Gardens known for?
Epiphytes: orchids, air plants, and others that grow on other plants.
Are Selby Gardens and Historic Spanish Point the same?
They're two campuses of the same organization, one downtown and one in Osprey.