Niagara Parks Butterfly Conservatory

Niagara Parks Butterfly Conservatory is often visited as part of day tours to the Niagara region. It is commonly combined with other Niagara Falls attractions, such as Hornblower or Maid of the Mist cruises, Niagara's Fury (a 4-D show telling the story of the falls), an airplane tour over the falls, or even a visit to a Niagara winery.

Visits to the conservatory begin with a video presentation. After this, visitors embark on a self-guided tour of the conservatory, during which you can observe the butterflies perch on flowers, eat at fruit-filled feeding stations, and depending on your timing, see butterflies emerging from their chrysalises.

• Niagara Parks Butterfly Conservatory is a must for nature-lovers and families.

• It is the perfect alternative attraction for visitors who have already seen the falls.

• The Niagara Parks Butterfly Conservatory is wheelchair-friendly.

• Wear layers. The conservatory is heated so you’ll want to take off warmer, outer garments.

The Niagara Parks Butterfly Conservatory is located within the Botanical Gardens on the Ontario side of the falls, less than 4 miles (6 kilometers) from the Whirlpool Aero Car. The WEGO green bus line travels along Niagara Parkway and stops at the conservatory.

The Butterfly Conservatory is open year-round. It is perhaps best in colder months, when the toasty tropical interior temperature makes a welcome contrast to Canada’s freezing winter weather.

After the Niagara Parks Butterfly Conservatory, you may want to stroll around the 99-acre (40-hectare) Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens to get some fresh air. Here, you’ll find landscaped gardens planted with herbs, vegetables, plants, flowers, and a rose garden with more than 2,400 blooms. Also nearby is the Stanley Thompson-designed Whirlpool Golf Course. South of that sits the Whirlpool Aero Car, a vintage gondola that travels out over the swirling rapids of the Niagara River.