Philadelphia's Magic Gardens
Philadelphia, PA · 1 hour 20 minutes from Reading · Under $20 a person
Plan the day
Philadelphia's Magic Gardens is a mosaic art environment on South Street in Philadelphia, PA, created by artist Isaiah Zagar, with an outdoor sculpture garden and two indoor galleries.
Zagar, who began mosaicking South Street buildings in the late 1960s, turned a rowhome and a sculptural wall into an outdoor labyrinth and indoor galleries of mosaic, and the self-guided visit takes at least 30 minutes with no limit until closing. Timed tickets frequently sell out, so book online up to a month ahead. Leashed dogs are welcome, kids get a scavenger hunt, and Twilight in the Gardens opens the site after dark on October 23.
Before you go
Buy timed tickets online ahead (released a month out); they sell out on weekends. No parking on site: metered street spots, a garage at 11th and South, or SpotHero. Rain or shine, no umbrellas. The garden has stairs and narrow passages, so fold the stroller. Some artworks show the nude figure.
Coming up
October Twilight in the Gardens opens the site after dark on October 23, 7 to 10 p.m. A Day of the Dead ofrenda is on view October 28 to November 8, and the exhibition Living Through Death: Works by Ivette Chaires runs through November 8.
Checked October 8, 2026 on the official site. Hours, prices and seasons change, so confirm there before a long drive. Philadelphia's Magic Gardens also has a listing on BerksConnect.
