St. Petersburg's historic botanical garden on 4th Street North: shaded paths, some steep, with flamingos, tropical birds, turtles and koi, open every day except Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Admission is paid in person on the day.
Know before you go. Sunken Gardens doesn't list sensory hours, a quiet room or sensory kits. Here's what it does say about the paths, the shade, the animals, the rules and event-day crowds.
Hours
Monday to Saturday, 10 am to 4:30 pm; Sunday, 12 to 4:30 pm. The last admission is sold at 4 pm daily. Open every day except Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. The Gardens may close due to inclement weather. Phone: 727-551-3102.
“Some paths have a steep incline, but there are alternate ways to access all areas.”
“Limited seating is located throughout the Gardens.”
“Mature foliage provides ample shade with open, sunny areas located throughout.”
“Wheelchairs/walkers are allowed, but not provided.”
“Please respect these incredible animals by observing them from a safe distance.”
“Picnic lunches are permitted within the Gardens.”
“Parking is extremely limited due to our shared parking lot.”
The garden map marks the restrooms with the Gift Shop. It also marks the flamingos, the koi pond by the Arched Bridge, the waterfall and the Low Pond, and notes that not all areas are ADA accessible. For accessibility questions before you visit, the Gardens ask you to call 727-551-3102.
The resident animals are flamingos (near the History Center and Orchid Arbor), macaws, cockatoos, parrots, a toucan and a kookaburra, turtles (between the Amphitheater and Coconut Grove), and koi (in the pond by the Arched Bridge). Koi food is often available for purchase.
Tickets are sold only in person, on the day you visit; last admission 4 pm.
Some paths are steep, with other ways to reach every area; limited seating, lots of shade with sunny spots.
Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day; may close in bad weather.
Admission: adults $18; seniors (62+) $15; children (2 to 12) $8. With valid credentials, $1 off per person for AAA, $1 off for the person with a military ID, and $1 off for the person whose birthday it is, with ID. Memberships are $50 individual and $100 family, bought at the admissions desk (about 15 minutes), and new memberships may not be processed or redeemed on special event days. Active Tampa Bay Watch members may get free admission for up to two named adult members and up to three children 17 and under; call ahead to confirm reciprocal benefits on the day you plan to go.
Parking: nearly 200 free spaces on site, shared with Great Explorations and Carrabba's. Overflow parking is at Crescent Lake Park; use the crosswalk.
Not allowed: balloons, candles or open flame, alcoholic beverages, weapons of any kind, smoking or vaping, climbing or hanging from trees, bushes, rocks, ponds, waterfalls, animal enclosures or other garden elements, leaving the paved or mulched paths, and carving into or defacing any plant or surface. Only ADA service-trained dogs are allowed, harnessed or leashed and under full control; pets and emotional support animals are not. Guests with service animals are encouraged to check with Guest Relations on the day about any restricted areas. Wheelchairs and walkers are allowed but not provided.
Flamingo Experience: a 30-minute visit in the flamingo habitat, $40 per person plus admission, for up to 4 guests a day, at 11:30 am Monday to Saturday and 1:30 pm Sunday. Tickets are sold only in person at the admissions desk that day, first come, first served, until 11:15 am (1:15 pm Sunday). Guests must be at least 5; children 5 to 12 (5 to 13 at the Flamingo Festival) must come with a paid, participating adult. Guests may not touch the flamingos, feeding depends on the birds, it is not recommended for anyone allergic to shellfish or feathers, guests must be able to walk 15 feet on uneven sod and sand to a chair and stay seated for the visit, there is no access for service animals in the flamingo habitat, and everyone signs a waiver (a parent or legal guardian signs for guests 5 to 17). It may not run on a given day because of severe weather or staff decisions, and availability on the day of your visit can't be confirmed in advance.
Breakfast with Santa, 9 am to 12 pm Nov 29 2026: $65 per person, including all-day Gardens admission, outside in the Oak Pavilion, with exclusive access to the Gardens from 9 am to 12 pm. Tickets must be bought in advance by filling out an interest form; staff reply in the order received, an interest form does not guarantee a spot, and there are no refunds for no-shows. Children must be with an adult; there is no professional photographer, and you can bring your own camera.
Flamingo Festival, 12 to 4:30 pm Dec 6 2026 (last admission 4 pm): free with Gardens admission or membership, $1 off admission if you wear pink, live music, and face painting and a hat patch bar for an extra fee. No new memberships that day. Parking is extremely limited; the Gardens encourage carpooling, ride share, biking or walking, with more parking at Crescent Lake Park, 22nd Avenue and 5th Street N.
