Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden

A beautiful hidden gem in Staten Island. Peaceful, well-maintained, and rich in culture. Perfect for a relaxing walk, photos, and enjoying nature. Highly recommend visiting!

If you are visiting New York City, you can take the FREE ferry ride to Staten Island and visit thus beautiful park and botanical garden.<br><br>I was impressed with the flowers they planted everywhere and on the road sides in this park. Unfortunately, the Green House was not open when I was there.<br><br>If you go, Don't forget the Chinese Scholars Garden. The park is free; but It will cost you $5.00 admission fee to enter the Scholars Garden.<br><br>Sometimes the locals will just come here and lay down on the grass for an afternoon. You will see many families with their kids here.<br><br>Staten Island Children's Museum is also located at this park. If you have kids, you will love it here.<br><br>There are also many buildings and cultural activities in this park. It just happened there was a free art gallery event when I was there. I enjoyed my walk and viewing the art exhibition.<br><br>There are 4-5 parking areas in the park. All of them are very small and are usually full. But if you wait a little, there are always people leaving the lot, then you will get a parking space. I saw a few cars just creating their own parking area along the road side. None of them got a ticket. (see one of my pictures).

What a surprise this was! We decided to take the Staten Island Ferry from Battery Park just for the experience when I decided to do a quick search of things to do in Staten Island. Snug Harbor showed up. We took the bus to the first stop - North gate and entered there. We stopped at the Staten Island Museum and did a quick visit - their main historical exhibit was under renovation. We then walked to the Gazebo lawn and pond and then tried with some difficulty to find the NY Scholar’s Garden (we got the map in the photo AFTER we struggled to locate it). There was a lot more to see than we had time for. Lots of beautiful gardens. They also have planned activities. Check their calendar before going. You could easily spend 2-4 hours here.

Everybody there is extremely professional, respectful, and welcoming. From the moment you walk in, you can tell they genuinely care about the people they help. Chrissy, who runs the place, is truly exceptional. The way she treats everyone with kindness, patience, and respect really makes a difference and creates such a comfortable atmosphere. It’s rare to come across someone who is so dedicated and compassionate. You can tell she takes pride in what she does, and it shows in the way the entire place is run. Highly recommend to anyone looking for a place where people are treated with genuine care and professionalism.

We had a damp visit to Snug Harbor this weekend, but it was no less peaceful. The pitter of rain in the ponds and watching rainwater gather on petals was wonderful despite the chill. We took the fairy in from Manhattan and just enjoyed the break in nature. The woods surrounding the park were vibrant and called you in to sit and relax.

Lovely hidden gem on Staten Island! Snug Harbor's botanical gardens are stunning — the Chinese Scholar's Garden is serene and photogenic, rose garden and herb garden were blooming beautifully. Grounds are peaceful for walking, with great art exhibits and events. Visited on a weekday with only 10-30 min wait to enter. Staff friendly, place well-maintained. Minor thing: some paths a bit uneven, but overall relaxing and worth the trip. 4.5 stars — perfect day out!

Snug Harbor is such a beautiful and relaxing spot - perfect for a weekend visit. The atmosphere is peaceful with plenty of open space, gardens, and historic charm. The brewery here is a must-visit - great local vibe, friendly staff, and an awesome beer selection. Definitely grab a flight so you can try a few different brews - they're all crafted with care and full of flavor. Whether you're here for the scenery, the culture, or the beer, Snug Harbor never disappoints.

The park is certainly a lesser known gem in NYC. Once you get off the ferry, you can take several buses to get there (but definitely should check the schedules) or a quick uber lift to the entrance. There are plenty of grounds to walk through though my destination was the Chinese Gardens located at Cottage E. Once inside, you pay a $5 entrance fee and have full access to the Chinese gardens. While not the best kept nor the largest, at that price to be transported to a reminiscent Suzhou house and grounds, it was worth it and still a good setting for pictures. There is also a nice display that gives you information as you walk through. Would recommend a stop in, especially on a beautiful day!

Pretty cool. Spent most of my time here at the Chinese garden. Had to pay extra to get in but worth it. Not every ring was open and running but still a nice place to visit and check out. Got a lot of steps in. Food looked good but I don’t try it. Wasn’t hungry.

Highly recommended! The Chinese Scholar Garden is incredibly beautiful 🥰, and the homemade ice cream sold nearby was delicious too!

Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden is truly a hidden gem on Staten Island. The grounds are expansive, peaceful, and filled with so many beautiful corners to explore from lush gardens to fascinating cultural spaces. We spent the day wandering through most of the attractions, and each spot had its own charm. Unfortunately, we didn’t get to see the Chinese Scholar’s Garden this time, but that just gives us the perfect reason to come back because it’s at the top of our list for the next visit!<br><br>To make the day even more magical, there happened to be a gorgeous wedding taking place while we were there, which added such a romantic and joyful atmosphere to the gardens. Between the greenery, the architecture, and the sense of history, Snug Harbor is one of those places where you can slow down, soak it all in, and truly enjoy yourself. Highly recommended, and we can’t wait to return.

Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden is a popular and famous tourist attraction in Staten Island. With three museums, two art galleries, fourteen botanical gardens, six NYC landmarks, and a two-acre Urban farm, this place has over two centuries of history for you to learn about.<br><br>At the Staten Island Museum, Noble Maritime Collection, and Children's Museum, you can learn about the deep history of Staten Island. Not only that, but also regarding natural sciences and art. Further historical art experiences and history can be learned at the two art galleries.<br><br>While the museums and art galleries are fun, the main star of Snug Harbor are the botanical gardens. Specifically, the New York Chinese Scholar's Garden! This is one of two authentic classical outdoor Chinese gardens built in the United States. What makes it authentic is the fact that it is a compilation of different gardens in China that is based on the Ming Dynasty gardens (1368-1644 AD).<br><br>It is worth the trip here, but I highly suggest coming early! There are limited parking and it is a first-come-first-serve basis. Feel free to bring some snacks/food along, but you can also buy lunch here too! My last piece of advice: check the official websites for hours of operations. Some of the buildings/gardens are only open during certain times of the year or at certain times of the day. You can come during the Winter, but I highly recommend coming in the Summer. Just make sure you stay cool and don't overheat!

It's a really nice place to spend the day. I went only to the botanical garden and visited none of the buildings but I am planning to go back. Spring is probably a better time to go to admire the flowers better. I wish I lived closer so I could just spend my free evenings there.

First time visiting the Children’s museum in YEARS. We had the absolute best time with our family! From the moment we walked in, the staff was very welcoming. The museum was so well kept. Every exhibit was hands on, educational, and perfectly tailored for kids of all ages. My children were completely engaged from start to finish. I love they provide an area for you to park your stroller, set your kids book bag or personal belongings to the side so you can truly enjoy the entire experience.

Snug Harbor is a wonderful place to visit. If it were in Manhattan, it would be absolutely filled with visitors. The National Register of Historic Places said that it was the most important collection of Greek revival buildings in the country. It’s beautiful, and you can have some restorative alone time there. My top three picks would be the Staten Island Museum, the Noble Maritime Collection and the Chinese Scholars Garden. If you haven’t been, do yourself a favor and walk around and enjoy the culture and nature.