Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory
Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory
Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory
4.5
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
Walk among hundreds of living butterflies and colorful birds! Take a stroll through a tropical paradise… walk through an exotic and inviting environment filled with hundreds of the most beautiful winged creatures in nature –butterflies. During your breathtaking journey, you will experience an impressive collection of flowering plants, cascading waterfalls and trees that set the stage for the “flowers of the sky.” Witness some 50 to 60 different species from around the world, as well as varieties of colorful birds, all under a climate-controlled, glass-enclosed habitat.
Duration: < 1 hour
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See what travellers are saying
- KB231blue271 contributionsLovely SurpriseI loved our visit to this small conservatory. There was a small variety of butterflies in the conservatory but I loved the tropical birds so much more. The birds were so colorful and I had never seen any like them before. The flamingos (Rhet and Scarlet) were also entertaining as Rhet was courting Scarlet with lots of talking and feather waving displays.Visited February 2024Travelled with familyWritten February 14, 2024
- Gare R29 contributionsA MustVisited twice now. Just gets better. So many butterflies it's amazing. At the very south end of Duval street. Recommended this place to a friend whom loved it. Great gift shop. Even some birds in the green house. Very busy.Visited February 2024Travelled soloWritten February 26, 2024
- Karen C20 contributionsA Calm & Quiet BreakOn Duval Street, between United St and South St, is the Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory. It is a calm, quiet oasis after all the crowds and busy-ness on the streets. On the way in I thought the admission was a little pricy, but it was so worth it! Walking through the double air-lock doors was like going into another world. Butterflies were flitting everywhere! They share the space with several species of tropical birds and even some turtles. Relax and enjoy.Visited March 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten March 3, 2024
- 46oceangirlWestford, Massachusetts1,810 contributionsIt's a must!This place was so cool. Butterflies and birds, and a pair of flamingos as well. Beautiful butterflies. They have a video informative section before you enter and when you leave they make sure no butterflies are on you as one stuck to my husbands shirt. The gift shop is where you exit. Worth the stop in the keys. Just a reminder its hot in there along with the keys weather outside but still a great stop.Visited March 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten March 17, 2024
- Suzy BMinneapolis, Minnesota56 contributionsAmazing experience!!!I can't say enough nice things about this place! We all had an amazing time here! It was so beautiful and magical. The butterflies are stunning! Beautiful gift shop and the associates working there are all very nice. I wish I had seen this the 1st day we were down as you can visit it all day. Our hotel was across the street at the Southernmost which is walking distance.Visited November 2023Travelled with familyWritten April 2, 2024
- Tom RCarlsbad, California74 contributionsPrepare to be AmazedWhat neat experience. Plan on at least a full hour to go through the exhibits and the butterfly area. We have a butterfly farm near us in Encinitas - but nothing like this place. A must stop when in Key WestVisited April 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten May 5, 2024
- TianxingzhePhoenixville, Pennsylvania25 contributionsa must do when in Key WestIt was a wonderful experience visiting this place. The Conservatory not only has many different species of butterflies, but also has many local flowers, plants, two flamingos, turtles, and many beautiful birds. The staff there are very friendly and knowledgeable, answering any question you may have. It does get crowded, so go there early. I bought my ticket online, which came with two dollar discount.Visited April 2024Travelled soloWritten May 5, 2024
- J R LDavis, California52 contributionsa must see!a must visit. You enter a room with lots of mounted butterflies & an excellent movie on butterfly growth & feeding. You then enter a tall glassed room at 80 degrees & 80% humidity. It is filled with over 100 various butterflies flying around you & often landing on you. They are feeding on plates of fruit, watermelon, banana, etc. There are also small birds & two pink pelicians. The room is filled with lots of plants 7 flowers. There is limited seating but you might sit or just stand to take it all in for 1/2 hour or more. It is an amazing experience.Visited April 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten May 5, 2024
- NJJayhawkerPalm Coast, Florida256 contributionsBeautiful experienceA beautiful experience. The conservatory is small and doesn't take much time to walk through. Very nicely layed out pathway to follow. Birds, fauna and of course the butterflies!!! Very interesting "lab" windows to watch the emerging new butterflies.Visited May 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten May 20, 2024
- Deborah SPalm Bay, Florida100 contributionsHighly recommend, one of the best I have been to!Highly recommend this beautiful and peaceful place while in Key West. This is one of the best exhibits I have been to in years, and we have visited a few. The multitude of different species of both butterflies, moths, species of birds, plants, and flora were fantastic. We enjoyed the coolness inside, which was just right after being in the heat. The employees were all very kind and helpful and were very informative. Thank you for the great service! The gift shop also offers a wide range of many gifts and memorable things!Visited October 2023Travelled with friendsWritten May 24, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
13,130 reviews
Excellent
10,247
Very good
2,329
Average
452
Poor
65
Terrible
37
Savvy Mama
Palm Bay, FL120 contributions
Nov 2023 • Friends
Ahhh finally I have made it to this beautiful Key West butterfly garden! After many trips that the timing just didn't work out, I had it as our first stop this time. I see some people in the reviews commenting that it is small or not worth the cost. I will say that it is an outdoor but enclosed garden, and the entire path which winds three times is short, but it is highly concentrated. Come and watch the butterflies living their best life, feasting on fruit plates and flying all over.
When you are here you can feel the delicate but intricately designed wings of all the butterflies and at any time there are up to 1500 butterflies in the garden. We were also quite amazed by some birds who were building a nest inside of a bird house. The flamingos are cool, they seem to hang out in the stream. Beautiful species everywhere you look, and great exotic plants.
Your ticket allows for multiple entries that day and we raced through the information gallery into the garden area. I suggest a return to that first room to digest it all and gain some insight, then another walk into the garden. Don't pass by the nursery, which shows where all of the chrysalises are. The garden hours are 9 - 4:30 and while it is beautiful there is so much to do here in this area and when visiting with the kids can really keep it moving!
While I find the price is fair, I do wish they had a teacher discount or a family discount. Also in the area we visited the Hemmingway House and the Southern Most Point. I have a travel blog where I give itinerary suggestions and share planning details freely. Link is in my bio.
When you are here you can feel the delicate but intricately designed wings of all the butterflies and at any time there are up to 1500 butterflies in the garden. We were also quite amazed by some birds who were building a nest inside of a bird house. The flamingos are cool, they seem to hang out in the stream. Beautiful species everywhere you look, and great exotic plants.
Your ticket allows for multiple entries that day and we raced through the information gallery into the garden area. I suggest a return to that first room to digest it all and gain some insight, then another walk into the garden. Don't pass by the nursery, which shows where all of the chrysalises are. The garden hours are 9 - 4:30 and while it is beautiful there is so much to do here in this area and when visiting with the kids can really keep it moving!
While I find the price is fair, I do wish they had a teacher discount or a family discount. Also in the area we visited the Hemmingway House and the Southern Most Point. I have a travel blog where I give itinerary suggestions and share planning details freely. Link is in my bio.
Written November 7, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
abcjjl
Easley, SC1,521 contributions
Nov 2023 • Family
The Butterfly and Nature Conservatory was recommended to us by a friend of my wife. So glad we did it. Price is reasonable. Experience was outstanding. The butterflies and birds were beautiful. We toured fairly early on Saturday morning in early November. The place was not overly crowded at the time of our visit which made it even more enjoyable. What we experienced was such a relaxing experience. I found myself feeling so at peace just standing quietly watching the creatures. The colors are just mind blowing. If I returned to the area I would do the tour again. Lovely gift shop was a fun walk though, also.
Written December 8, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tanya T.
Illinois1,713 contributions
Dec 2024 • Friends
The Key West Butterfly & Nature Conservatory is a delightful attraction that's perfect for all ages. We easily reached it by taking the free Duval Loop bus from our vacation rental. Though there was a brief 5-minute wait at the entrance due to its popularity, it was well worth it.
Inside, hundreds of butterflies float freely through the air, often passing right by you in a mesmerizing display. We were pleasantly surprised to find exotic birds, including flamingos and colorful finches, sharing the space with the butterflies. The artistic elements throughout the conservatory, from sculptures to water features, add to the enchanting atmosphere. Don't miss the photo opportunities near the flamingo.
The temperature-controlled environment makes this an ideal activity for both sunny and rainy days. The gift shop offers an extensive selection of butterfly-themed merchandise and educational items, though it's easy to get carried away with purchases!
Inside, hundreds of butterflies float freely through the air, often passing right by you in a mesmerizing display. We were pleasantly surprised to find exotic birds, including flamingos and colorful finches, sharing the space with the butterflies. The artistic elements throughout the conservatory, from sculptures to water features, add to the enchanting atmosphere. Don't miss the photo opportunities near the flamingo.
The temperature-controlled environment makes this an ideal activity for both sunny and rainy days. The gift shop offers an extensive selection of butterfly-themed merchandise and educational items, though it's easy to get carried away with purchases!
Written January 3, 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Becky E
Uniontown, OH20 contributions
Jun 2024 • Couples
This was a really pretty place to visit! Tons of beautiful butterflies, birds and flowers. We really enjoyed our visit.
I did give it 4/5 because I think admission was a little pricey. We probably only spent 30-45 min. There may be coupons or discounts available somewhere but I didn’t plan ahead. I would recommend looking.
However, I would recommend visiting, especially on a cloudy day. We went early in the morning and it wasn’t busy.
I did give it 4/5 because I think admission was a little pricey. We probably only spent 30-45 min. There may be coupons or discounts available somewhere but I didn’t plan ahead. I would recommend looking.
However, I would recommend visiting, especially on a cloudy day. We went early in the morning and it wasn’t busy.
Written June 11, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ann Hicks M
Winter Park, FL641 contributions
Nov 2024 • Friends
Best butterfly garden I've been to...more special than grand ones in big cities. A wonderful variety of butterflies and flowering plants keep your camera busy (and impress your friends later). I appreciated having a butterfly guide available ($1) so I could identify all the stars in my pictures. You can return again the same day with your ticket, and I loved taking advantage of that, noticing different butterflies and birds the second time.
Written November 22, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mixa's Travels
Oldsmar, FL4,136 contributions
Mar 2023 • Couples
Be ready to see LOTS of butterflies. The first room has an awesome display of a huge variety of butterflies. Great to see them individually. On our visit it was packed so the crowd determined the pace for walking thru and the butterflies are flittering everywhere. The crowd may cause this but not sure. A cruise ship was in for the AM high created the extra crowded conditions. Probably better to go in afternoon after cruise ship left. We enjoyed seeing the beautiful butterflies, birds, and flamingos. A lot of educational material too.
Written March 14, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Travelerfromtexas1
The Woodlands, TX180 contributions
Jun 2022 • Solo
I finally got to check this off my bucket list and it was worth the wait. It is a beautiful peaceful environment and very well maintained for the butterflies and birds. It is a rather small place, so take your time going through, as there is so much to take in. They did say once you purchase your ticket you can return later in the day to visit again. The gift shop is awesome and filled with amazing treasures. I tried make reservations to do the Flamingle with the flamingos, but even three months in advance it was sold out during the week I was there, so if that is something you are looking forward to you should make reservations far in advance. If I’m ever in Key West again I will go for another visit for sure. 🦋🦩💕 One piece of advice is to go early in the day before it gets too hot. They have fans blowing but it is a very hot and humid environment. Enjoy!
Written June 10, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jpete02
Lansing, MI993 contributions
Jan 2022 • Family
You have to be careful in Key West because almost all the attractions are expensive and only some of them are worth it. Have been to many butterfly attractions and this is definitely one of the better ones.
Admission is a pricey $15/adult, $12 for seniors, and $11 for kids that even a dedicated butterfly lover would not spend more than an hour in. You can save $2 off adult admission by finding a coupon in the Key West brochure.
However, the butterfly house is absolutely flooded with butterflies that include lots of different species. In addition, there are some beautiful birds and even two flamingos you can get close to.
Parking is fairly convenient as there is a city lot next to the butterfly house that you can park in for $5. Combine a visit here with the Southernmost point marker (about two blocks away)
Admission is a pricey $15/adult, $12 for seniors, and $11 for kids that even a dedicated butterfly lover would not spend more than an hour in. You can save $2 off adult admission by finding a coupon in the Key West brochure.
However, the butterfly house is absolutely flooded with butterflies that include lots of different species. In addition, there are some beautiful birds and even two flamingos you can get close to.
Parking is fairly convenient as there is a city lot next to the butterfly house that you can park in for $5. Combine a visit here with the Southernmost point marker (about two blocks away)
Written January 22, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jo K
Pleasant View, TN63 contributions
May 2024 • Family
After purchasing entrance you come to a room that has different information and examples of butterflies through their life cycle. Then you go through double doors to the butterfly inclosure. There were butterflies fluttering everywhere and landing on different plant species. Along the winding path were a couple of places to sit down but for the most part people moved forward in a line. The walk through was worth the cost and we had a lot of fun trying to spot the different butterfly and birds living in the habitat.
Written May 25, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Margie B
253 contributions
Apr 2023 • Couples
Take the whole family or go by yourself to enjoy the wonder of nature. You enter a different and wonderful world as soon as you enter the butterfly conservatory. Buy a beautiful identifying poster for around $3.00 at the ticket office so you can identify butterflies and birds you are watching fly around. Take your time and just stand still and observe (if still a butterfly might land on you!). Look in the windows before you leave to see all the chrysalis hanging and watch some hatch out while you watch. This was a favorite stop for my husband and I. Very nice gift shop too.
Written April 22, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Agree No. it’s small in there really hot humid too. Unless service dog check w the facility. There were no pets in there at all. There are flamingos birds etc. highly unlikely dogs allowed.
Written May 15, 2024
Is there parking at the Butterfly Conservatory?
Written October 11, 2023
Hi There:
They do have a small parking lot in the back of their building. This parking lot is first come first serve. There is also street parking for a fee. Hope this helps.
Written October 12, 2023
What is the least busy time of day to visit?
Written January 24, 2023
I went right when they opened at 9 and after speaking with an employee there I was told that's when the birds and butterflies are most active.
Written January 26, 2023
Posted prices were $12 adults $9 military (there are nearby military bases). Plus you can get $2 off coupons in the free tourist guides near the piers and major attractions.
Also I noticed online there are some ticket packages that bundle the Butterfly Conservatory with either the conch train or the streetcar, but Key West also has the free “Duvall shuttle” bus that runs on a loop and has a stop close to the Conservatory.
Written November 9, 2019
How long does one usually stay & visit?
Thx for your time and opinions! Much appreciated!
Written October 18, 2019
The area is very small but there is much to take in and admire. I spent about 1/2 hr looking at the many butterflies flying around, butterflies hatching, plans, birds, and the resident flamingoes. It was not at all crowded the day I went, so the path through it was open and I did not feel rushed. But you could actually walk straight through it in a couple of minutes.
Written October 18, 2019
Dear friends, any recomendation for 1 night in Key West? Reasonable....1 double room. Parking for the bigger motocycle needed. November 2019. Thank you!
Written October 7, 2019
Southernmost point guest house has big rooms and free parking
Written November 20, 2019
We are going to Miami; Key West in November of this year. Has anyone been to the Butterfly Exhibit during this time? Wondering if the butterflies are out during this season.
Written June 11, 2019
They release butterflies everyday that have come out of the cocoon stage. Flowers and plants are beautiful year round. There are also birds and other little creatures there. The flamingos are great to watch and have unique personalities
Written June 12, 2019
Has anyone done the meeting greet with the flamingos
Written April 6, 2019
The meet and greet is absolutely amazing. You have to make reservations because only 6 people a day can participate.
Written April 24, 2019
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