Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens – Wonderland of Mosaics and Art | Pennsylvania
Philly’s Magic Gardens could not be more perfectly named. They certainly are an extremely magical place. In my opinion the best hidden gem of Philly, no trip is complete without stopping by to see the beauty.
Visiting the Magic Gardens
A small wonderland of beauty and art, a maze of endless bright and colorful mosaics, I’ve visited the Magic Gardens twice. This amazing place is constructed out of bicycle pieces, glass bottles, ceramic shards, and other recycled materials.
In the 1960s artist Isaiah Zagar (South Philly native) began tiling South Street in Philly and he hasn’t stopped since! You can see some of his artwork just walking down and around South Street itself, but the museum is stunning beyond compare with its almost overwhelming compilation of colors, textures, and designs.
The museum itself consists of an indoor and an outdoor area. Although it is quite small, there are endless little nooks to explore and interesting tidbits to discover. Since most of the artwork is mosaic style, it’s so fun to look at the pieces in detail, read what is written, and try to interpret it.
Cost
The cost per person per visit is $15. Advance tickets are required due to corona and can be purchased on the museum’s website here.
When to Go
Although it is not extremely popular and many people have not heard of it, the museum is rather small, so there will probably be a decent amount of people there when you visit. If you’re looking to take nice photos, consider going in the morning. There will be less people and also the lighting is softer (the mirrors in the artwork reflect the sunlight a lot)
Opening Hours
Philly’s Magic Gardens are open every day from 11am-6pm except for Tuesday on which they are completely closed!
Tips for Visiting Philly’s Magic Gardens
- Parking-Parking is usually pretty simple in Philly (we’re not New York) and street parking is usually easy to find. Of course there are parking garages as well, but street parking is usually safe and simple. On normal occasions, South Street in particular has plenty street parking options right near the museum
- Safety– Philly overall is a pretty safe city, especially for tourists that won’t be traveling to the more dangerous neighborhoods. As in all cities, always be careful of theft, lock your car doors, keep an eye on your belongings, and be extra cautious at night. South Street, where this museum is located is a generally safe area as well, specifically during the day.
- Traditional Philadelphia– Philly has some pretty famous landmarks- The Liberty Bell, the Philadelphia Art Museum, the Rocky Steps, and more! If you’re looking for travel tips for visiting the typical places check out this site!
- Food– If you’ve never been to Philly before, you should definitely try some traditional Philadelphia foods. The most famous are Philly Cheesesteak and Soft Pretzels. I promise you won’t be disappointed!
Things to Do in the Area
Located on South Street, Philly’s Magic Gardens are in a great place with many fun things to do right nearby. The street itself is one of Philly’s most famous streets. Music lovers, artists, hipsters, lawyers, and ruffians combine to make this incredibly unique place with an unmatched vibe.
South Street
Spend some time exploring this famous street! Whether you’re looking for the perfect Philly cheesesteak or a hipster café, there are countless options of fun places to eat. Vinyl stores and eccentric music shops line the roads. Street artists offer their goods. Eclectic styles and risque fashion shops are endless. There is certainly no end of interesting places to explore in the area.
And stay on the lookout for bits of the Magic Gardens that linger beyond just the museum!
Retrospect Vintage
One of my favorite places in all of Philly is located on South Street, just a few minutes’ walk from the Magic Gardens. Retrospect vintage is a storehouse of adorable and one of a kind vintage pieces. Specializing in the 1940s to the 1980s there are so many goodies to be found here. Shoes, hats, jackets, sweaters, dresses, accessories, and so much more.
Looking for more fun things to do in Philadelphia? Check out our post HIDDEN GEMS OF PHILADELPHIA – DAY TRIP TO THE CITY OF BROTHERLY LOVE for more fun ideas and places to see.
If you have extra time traveling in Pennsylvania, we certainly have a list of amazing places to visit. Check out our USA-Pennsylvania page here!
Lots of Love and Safe Travels,
Danielle and Brooke, Colorful Sisters
60 Comments
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Cindy Georgakas
January 15, 2021 at 1:02 pmbeautiful!!!
Colorful Sisters
January 15, 2021 at 1:03 pmSuch an amazing place!!
Cindy Georgakas
January 15, 2021 at 1:03 pmi see that!!! 😎
Hidden Gems of Philadelphia - Day Trip to the City of Brotherly Love
January 15, 2021 at 1:02 pm[…] View the full post: PHILADELPHIA’S MAGIC GARDENS – WONDERLAND OF MOSAICS AND ART | PENNSYLVANIA […]
trumstravels
January 15, 2021 at 1:07 pmGood things to know, we were supposed to go there last year. Hopefully we’ll get there!
Colorful Sisters
January 15, 2021 at 2:22 pmYess hopefully you’ll make it there one day!! Truly a special place 🙂
Nagendra
January 15, 2021 at 1:09 pmWow great information and colourful photos. Real feast to my eyes, as if I saw the place.
Colorful Sisters
January 15, 2021 at 2:22 pmOh wow thank you so much! Happy you enjoyed 🙂
jbcowgill
January 15, 2021 at 1:28 pmBeen to this city many times, but I had never visited this place. It is on my ‘must see’ list.
Colorful Sisters
January 15, 2021 at 2:23 pmYess hope you manage to stop by on your next visit!
newpoplit
January 15, 2021 at 1:51 pmI lived in Philly for 12+ years. A beautiful city with many hidden gems like this one. Good job!
Colorful Sisters
January 15, 2021 at 2:23 pmVery very true! We grew up about 45 minutes outside of the city, but visited often 🙂
photofinlandrantasalot.wordpress.com
January 15, 2021 at 2:42 pmWhat an amazing place! I have never heard of this place before. Thank you for sharing this.
Colorful Sisters
January 17, 2021 at 1:53 pmYess it’s really so unique!! Such a hidden gem 🙂
Offshorewriter
January 15, 2021 at 3:33 pmColorful pics. You both look gorgeous 💕💕
Colorful Sisters
January 17, 2021 at 1:53 pmThank you so much!!!
G-LO
January 15, 2021 at 3:57 pmAlways loved that block of 10th Street between South Street and Bainbridge!
Colorful Sisters
January 17, 2021 at 3:46 pmYesss it is such a fun and special area!!
G-LO
January 17, 2021 at 4:29 pmUsed to walk past it every day on my commute home from work when I lived in South Philly.
Colorful Sisters
January 17, 2021 at 9:24 pmOhh how lovely!! What a wonderful thing to see on the walk home 🙂
vaniheart
January 15, 2021 at 4:12 pmBeautiful pics💟💟
Colorful Sisters
January 17, 2021 at 3:47 pmThank you so much!!!
kingkang911
January 15, 2021 at 10:14 pmyou make such a nice model.
Colorful Sisters
January 17, 2021 at 3:47 pmThat’s so sweet! Thank you 🙂
kingkang911
January 15, 2021 at 10:15 pmgreat cheorograpghy
Colorful Sisters
January 17, 2021 at 3:47 pmThanks so much!!
Lace Pearls & Little Girls
January 15, 2021 at 10:45 pmLove this!! We’re close to Philly and I can’t believe I’ve never heard of it!
Beautiful, thanks for sharing!!
Colorful Sisters
January 17, 2021 at 3:48 pmOoo yess they really keep it hidden hahaha. I hope you get to visit sometime!!
Greg Dennison
January 16, 2021 at 4:01 amThat looks cool! I’ve been to Philadelphia once one day to see the historical stuff and have a cheesesteak sandwich, but I haven’t seen this place.
Colorful Sisters
January 17, 2021 at 3:49 pmYess the traditional things and the cheesecake are also great. Hopefully you’ll be able to visit sometime again!
Greg Dennison
January 17, 2021 at 3:50 pmI will, someday!
-Eugenia
January 16, 2021 at 2:22 pmI haven’t been to Philly in years! Thanks for bringing back its sparkle.
Colorful Sisters
January 17, 2021 at 3:49 pmWonderfully put! It reallly does have a special sparkle 🙂
themysteryreviewnetwork
January 17, 2021 at 8:59 amThe city looks so beautiful!
Colorful Sisters
January 17, 2021 at 3:51 pmIt really has its wonderful areas for sure!! So many beautiful nooks 🙂
Jasbir Chatterjee
January 17, 2021 at 9:51 amAmazing art indeed!
Colorful Sisters
January 17, 2021 at 3:51 pmVery spectacular!
joyfulstephanie
January 17, 2021 at 12:35 pmHello!! You’ve such colorful, beautiful photos! I’ve nominated you for the 10 Day Travel Photo Challenge!
https://joyfulstephanie.me/2021/01/17/10-day-travel-photo-challenge-day-6/
It’s for fun, no pressure to participate! Here is to our love of travel! 🇨🇦
bernlag
January 17, 2021 at 1:00 pmBeautiful blog post about Philadelphia. I love in the burbs and love our brotherly love city.
Colorful Sisters
January 17, 2021 at 3:52 pmOo amazing! We grew up in the suburbs of Philly as well, it was always a pleasure to visit the city 🙂
Paul Arthur Collins
January 17, 2021 at 7:10 pmGreat photos ladies. Very colourful pictures showing the character of the places you’re visiting. It seems like you pop up in a different country every other week almost, how are you finding that with the current crisis? It seems you’re both still managing to find places welcoming tourism. Keep it up and all the best.
Colorful Sisters
January 17, 2021 at 9:26 pmWe have managed to travel quite a bit this year surprisingly…mostly because my boyfriend and I (Danielle) are long distance, so we always need to find an open country where we can meet! So very grateful to Turkey, Zanzibar, and Kenya for being open to tourism. The visit to the states was to our hometown to see our parents 🙂
Paul Arthur Collins
January 19, 2021 at 7:24 amAh right, well I’m glad it’s working out for you guys. You sure do seem to explore some less frequented areas, so thanks to you both for shedding your light on those otherwise less celebrated spots. All the best to you!
Colorful Sisters
January 19, 2021 at 9:28 amYess we always try to find the hidden gems and less traveled roads 🙂 You can find the most beauty on those paths. I’m very happy that you enjoy and hope that maybe you can visit some of them one day! 🙂
viewfromoverthehill
January 17, 2021 at 7:37 pmThanks for taking me there! Have visited Philly but probably before this wonderful garden. Beautiful.
Colorful Sisters
January 17, 2021 at 9:24 pmSo happy that you enjoyed 🙂
Baluka Hannah Stacey
January 19, 2021 at 11:54 amHello colourfulsisters. I would like to get to no you more
Outosego
January 20, 2021 at 3:11 amBeautiful. Liked & Shared. Thank you.
Colorful Sisters
January 20, 2021 at 8:55 amThank you so much! 😍
Outosego
January 20, 2021 at 3:13 amhttps://twitter.com/outosego/status/1351729368192741376
Anna
January 21, 2021 at 9:15 amWow, the Magic Garden looks great! How creative and I love all those colours. Thanks for sharing.
chloe.calendula
January 27, 2021 at 1:44 pmJust beautiful!!
Colorful Sisters
January 27, 2021 at 8:28 pmSuch a lovely place 🙂
Sovely Matters
February 3, 2021 at 3:46 pmvery beautiful, thanks for sharing. Lots of love from Germany. Yours, Sovely
Colorful Sisters
February 3, 2021 at 8:22 pmThank you so much! Happy you enjoyed 🙂
Sovely Matters
February 3, 2021 at 8:41 pm❤️
Tardy Millennial
March 25, 2021 at 11:17 amI really enjoyed reading this blog post. The Magic garden’s art work reminds of NYC Subway mosaics when I used to live out there. Now i’m living in Pittsburgh, PA and I can’t wait to take that four hour drive to check out the magic garden in Philly
Colorful Sisters
April 5, 2021 at 7:12 amAmazing!!! I hope you make it out there….it’s really such a fun experience!
Roy Cameron
August 31, 2021 at 5:24 pmVery good, as always. A very worthwhile place to visit. I grew up in Philadelphia and went to a school founded by William Penn. About as “Philly” as you can get, yet, I didn’t know about this place. So, once again, thanks.
Colorful Sisters
September 5, 2021 at 11:45 amWow amazing!! Hope you get to visit this new discovery of a location sometime soon!!