The New York Botanical Garden and Bronx Zoo: A Day in the Bronx

Two of New York’s greatest attractions sit next to each other in the Bronx: the New York Botanical Garden (NYBG), founded in 1891 on about 250 acres, and the Bronx Zoo, opened in 1899 and one of the largest metropolitan zoos in the United States. Together they make an ideal family day. The garden’s seasonal highlights — the Orchid Show in spring and the Holiday Train Show in winter — draw visitors from across the region.

At a glance

New York Botanical Garden

The Enid A. Haupt Conservatory, a Victorian-style glasshouse, is the centerpiece. The garden also protects a stretch of old-growth forest along the Bronx River. Seasonal events include the Orchid Show and the Holiday Train Show, where model trains run past replicas of New York landmarks made from natural materials.

Bronx Zoo

The zoo pioneered naturalistic habitats and is run by the Wildlife Conservation Society. Plan your route around the exhibits you most want to see — it’s large.

Doing both in one day

It’s possible but tiring. Choose the garden’s highlights and a few zoo exhibits, or split them across two days.

Getting there

Metro-North’s Harlem Line stops at Botanical Garden station. By car, both have parking, but traffic on the Bronx River Parkway and Cross Bronx Expressway can be heavy. A chauffeur can drop you at one entrance and pick you up at the other. See our Bronx car service.

Seasonal highlights

• Spring: the Orchid Show and flowering trees.
• Summer: gardens in full bloom; the zoo’s outdoor habitats.
• Fall: foliage in the old-growth forest.
• Winter: the Holiday Train Show and the zoo’s holiday lights events.

Tips for families

Bring strollers, plan snack breaks and pick a few must-see exhibits. Both attractions are large, so a car drop-off near the entrance saves little legs.