Attraction of the Week: Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens
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Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens is one of the best places in Pittsburgh to enjoy nature, anytime of the year. I especially love strolling around the tropical gardens during the cold winter months. The winter season can drag on for a long time here, so it’s nice to have a lot of indoor attractions (check out more of my favorites) to keep you busy despite the gloomy skies and brisk temps. It’s 80 degrees all year inside the conservatory, so a nice cozy escape after ice skating or doing anything else out in the cold.
It’s located in the busy Oakland neighborhood, so definitely an oasis in a congested urban area. There are a lot of great attractions in this region including several great museums, a seasonal ice rink, and numerous local restaurants, but it can get busy and overwhelming at times.
We explored most of the city’s most popular attractions during our time living here. This is a great one to put on your rainy/snowy/gloomy/cold day bucket list.
History of Phipps
The 15 acre space includes 23 diverse gardens, as well as a 14 room glasshouse. This conservatory is well known for its’ sustainable practices, seasonal events, flower shows, and beautiful bonsai and orchid collections. If you are visiting the ‘Burgh and need a break from the hustle and bustle, I recommend escaping here for an hour or so. Conveniently, Phipps is located in beautiful Schenley Park, just 10 minutes from downtown.
It opened back in 1893, and has continued on serving as the primary green space in the city for over 125 years. The space was a gift from philanthropist Henry W. Phipps. At the time, the lush grounds were a great natural escape for steel workers exposed to heavy pollution.
When it first opened, the conservatory housed 6000 plants. Over the years, the space expanded to include many new gardens. Most notably, the garden has carried on a tradition of year-round seasonal flower shows.
You can learn more about the history on the conservatory website
Glass art in the gardens: Featuring the talent of Dale Chihuly
One of the highlights for me is the beautiful collection of Chihuly artwork. Artist Dale Chihuly is renowned for his amazing glass blown art pieces. If you ever find yourself in the Tampa metro, I recommend visiting the wonderful, but pricey Chihuly Collection in St. Petersburg.
Since premiering Gardens and Glass in 2017, the conservatory decided to keep a few glass sculptures as a permanent display. This was a great idea as I really love his work. You can find the glass sculptures amongst the various gardens. As they are very colorful and eye catching, you can’t miss them!
A few of the more stunning pieces:
The gardens
This conservatory has received much praise for its’ wonderful orchid and bonsai collections. In 2018, two slipper orchids received honorary awards by the National Capital Orchid Society.
The bonsai collection is also quite impressive. I have always loved bonsai – this is my favorite part about visiting any arboretum/botanical garden.
Other impressive plant collections include: palms, ferns, fruits and spices, desert plants, and plants native to the region. Unlike other conservatories, the collection is easy to explore and well organized as there is only one way to go.
You will follow a one way pathway around the grounds. It can get busy, and thus, it’s best to visit on a weekday morning if you would like to explore in peace. Plan on about an hour to take it all in. As the majority of the gardens are indoors, this is a great rainy day/winter activity.
Here are a few more pics I took throughout the various gardens:
Special events
You can look forward to a number of interesting events throughout the year including seasonal flower shows and a popular Holiday Magic festival. This festive event features colorful poinsettias, holiday lights, and Christmas trees.
One of my favorite events was the 2022 flower show: Monet in Bloom. This was a really beautiful exhibit which featured displays based on artist Claude Monet’s impressionist paintings. He is one of my favorite artists so I really enjoyed this show. If you like his work too, definitely plan on visiting The Carnegie Museum of Art (also in Oakland).
Location, pricing, and parking
Address: Schenley Park at: 1 Schenley Drive.
Parking: Free in the center aisle. Also, metered parking (free on Sundays) is available if spots are full.
Admission: Pricing is $23 per adult, $21 per senior and student, $14 per child. Pricing current as of 2026 and subject to change. Timed tickets recommended during the busy season.
Notes: No reentry. No outdoor food (except a reusable water bottle and snacks for medical needs).
Accessibility: All rooms except the Stove room. Manual wheelchairs are available free on a first come basis. Sensory bags available at the front desk.
Dining: Cafe Phipps, rated one of the best museum restaurants by Forbes, is located on-site. Additionally, there are lots of local restaurants in the Oakland area. The Porch at Schenley is a nice brunch destination. I love the quiche and the beautiful outdoor seating area. It’s one of the best alfresco dining experiences in the city.
Note: There are many gorgeous botanical gardens throughout the US that are worth traveling for. If you are up for a drive or flight, here are a few other enchanting gardens I recommend adding to your bucket list. I’ve included the wonderful Longwood Gardens in Philly (it’s an easy roadtrip to one of the best in the country).
What else to do in Oakland?
Hike at Schenley Park. It’s a nice wooded area with many trails available in varying distances and difficulty. We have seen a lot of deer in the early morning hours.
See the dinosaurs at The Carnegie Museum of Natural History. This is an awesome museum that we visited frequently. They have a holotype of a T Rex which is pretty cool and an amazing Hall of Gems and Minerals. Check out my guide for full details.
View artistic masterpieces at The Carnegie Museum of Art. I’ve visited a lot of wonderful art institutions throughout the US and this is one of my favorites. The Hall of Sculpture is an incredible place for anyone into architecture. You can browse through my guide where I highlight the collection.
