The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens - San Marino, California

Sarah Y.

I've been to gardens. I've been to museums. I've been to art galleries. I've never been to all three in one location. The Huntington is AMAZING. Don't miss the 10-minute video at the beginning on the right as you walk in that explains the family and how the venue was established. The Cafe has amazing food that is reasonably priced. End with the Japanese and Chinese gardens; they're so beautiful that everything else will seem less impressive if you start there. The best museum gift shop ever! (Sorry to The Building Museum's shop in DC, which has been moved to second place.) We arrived at 10am and left at 4:15pm and still didn't see all the gardens, but six hours of walking and standing was about our physical max. GO THERE! Best thing I've done in LA so far, and this was my fourth visit.

Elizabeth C.

Beautiful gardens and art galleries! Friendly docents and volunteers who are passionate about sharing knowledge. Food options available at 1919 Cafe and Red Car Coffee Shop. The Chinese Garden is particularly well-designed and a must-see. They have various events throughout the year that are fun as well.

Caleb B. (.

This was the coolest place I have ever been to in my life the architecture and history is truly amazing as a minor I still happen to have a lot of fun exploring and looking at all the places, my favorite place was the Japanese and Chinese gardens (seen in photos below) they were amazing and I got tricked into thinking I was actually in china or Japan. Absolutely love the place and look forward to coming back someday in the near future

Steve C.

A gorgeous, huge, relaxing, and widely-varied botanical garden surrounding an impressive library and museum. The excellent ticketing system only permits so many visitors at a time, so there's never an overwhelming crowd to disrupt the calming sensation this place can create.

Again, the entire property is extremely large, so taking a self-walking tour can become confusing without a map or GPS. I'd also suggest good walking shoes and relatively strong legs and stamina. There are benches everywhere, but after a couple of hours those uphill stretches of paths can get exhausting. Take your time, grab some photos, and breathe.

There are many options for food, drinks, and souvenir shopping but the pricing can be steep. Personally, I go just for the peacefulness and the interesting history of the items in the museum sections, but they do stock interesting and creative goodies in the gift shop.

My choice for the best section is Japanese gardens, but if you go in the late Spring the rose garden can be mind-blowingly beautiful, too. If you want to escape the hustle-bustle of life in LA, this is a great way to spend a few hours.

Mckinsey G.

This place is huge! Be prepared to walk a majority of the day and be on your feet. The plants are amazing and art is amazing. We obky got to explore half the park and that's with 6 hours of us being there. Would come back again

Hsin-Yi K.

After living in SoCal for 20 years, I finally made my first visit to The Huntington Library, and it was absolutely worth it! Just like everyone says, the place is massive—there’s no way to see everything in one day, and trust me, your feet will protest.

Since we had an afternoon reservation for Rose Garden Tea Room, we booked morning admission tickets to make the most of our visit. Right at the entrance, we noticed they offer a free guided tour (about 60 minutes), which gives a great overview of the different sections. Our tour guide shared many interesting historical facts, and I highly recommend it for first-time visitors!

My personal favorites were the Japanese & Chinese Gardens—absolutely stunning! The landscaping, architecture, and serene atmosphere make it feel like stepping into another world. I’ll definitely be back to explore more!

Pro Tip: Wear comfortable shoes and plan ahead because there’s SO much to see!

May E.

This place is amazing. So many areas to explore including art galleries to check out. The place is so huge you can find your own little spot to enjoy nature and tranquility (at least on the weekdays). FYI, you must reserve a time slot and the price is $29 per person.

Indie

Huntington Gardens is absolutely beautiful and so much fun! The combination of stunning landscapes, vibrant flowers, and peaceful walkways creates such a serene and magical experience. Whether you’re exploring the Japanese Garden, the Desert Garden, or just taking in the incredible variety of plants, there’s always something breathtaking to see. It’s the perfect spot to relax, take photos, and enjoy nature. Highly recommend visiting—it’s truly a gem!