Be the first to hear about updates!
Walk through this immersive exhibit in a safe, family friendly environment with hundreds of live butterflies from all over the world. Get up close and personal with these amazing creatures and see their incredible colors and patterns – a few might even land on you!
The Butterfly House supports rainforest conservation projects around the world, and your support will help us achieve this for generations to come. Come visit us in beautiful Chicago, Illinois at Navy Pier and see this amazing exhibit in person!
Last admission to The Butterfly House is at 7:00PM
Weather notice: if it’s raining, we close temporarily until the rain passes. If you purchased a ticket online in advance, please wait until the rain passes to visit, your ticket will still be valid.
Large groups; planning a school field trip or other large group visit? Please email ahead so we can be sure to accommodate your needs! Learn More
Save money, buy at the door: Prices above are for tickets purchased in-person.
*$1 Navy Pier Facility fee is added to each ticket. A service charge of 3% will be applied to credit card purchases.
OR skip the lines, and buy your tickets online in advance!
*Online tickets include processing fees.
No, due to space concerns we cannot accommodate strollers inside The Butterfly House, but we have a monitored space for stroller parking at the entrance!
Many family pets and service animals are treated with flea & tick products (e.g. Frontline, Nexguard, etc.), and exposure to these treatments can be fatal to our butterflies.
Most people spend about 30–60 minutes inside The Butterfly House, though photography lovers and families with kids often stay longer.
Yes, it’s very family-friendly and popular with children because butterflies fly freely around visitors and often land nearby or right ON the guests!
Yes, it is! The Butterfly House has at a flat entry point, with mulch covered pathways.
The best time to visit is usually late morning through early afternoon, when butterflies are most active and flying around. Butterflies tend to be slower and less visible early in the morning because they need warmth and sunlight to become active.
The habitat is warm and humid to support tropical butterflies, so light and comfortable clothing is recommended.
EXCELLENT Based on 105 reviews Posted on Google Kathy KinderTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. My daughter and I chose to experience the butterfly house on a whim while visiting Navy Pier. There is a tiny gift shop outside the main attraction. This is where we purchased our tickets and swab (the swab is dipped in sugar water and used to "hold" the butterfly and feed it). Also outside the attraction is a pupa house. This is where you see the different stages of the butterflies. Once inside there is a guide who'll answer any questions and explain how to get the most of your experience. There are over 50 different species of butterflies in the house. We thought it was well worth the price and hope to come again.Posted on Google Violeta PopaTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. This was an unforgettable experience for my family. The place radiates a unique and powerful positive energy, creating a sense of peace and harmony that is hard to describe. You can truly feel it with all your senses. The carefully chosen music complemented the atmosphere beautifully and added to the magical feeling of being there. It was also truly fascinating to be surrounded by so many butterflies, watching them up close, gently touching them, and even attracting them with the sweet nectar sticks. Being able to interact with these beautiful creatures in such a natural and peaceful environment made the experience even more special and memorable.Posted on Google Angela ScharberTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Was so much fun and for the price, one of the best calm, fun and non-rushed experiences. It’s particularly lovely when the misting sprayers turn on during a warm day.Posted on Google TamarlinTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Absolutely amazing! The butterflies will come to land on you and there are so many beautiful colors. They also have a very nice gift shop!Posted on Google finnthefoxTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I'm autistic and my special interest is insects. I've been to many butterfly gardens before, but I have to say this is THE MOST fun I have had at one. I went with my mom, and we both had so many butterflies landing on us! And this is the first garden I've been to that offered feeding sticks. You just dip them in a bowl of sugar water that's in the exhibit, and you can gently coax a butterfly onto it. It's a safe and fun way to hold them and I really enjoyed doing it. They even had some luna moths in the exhibit when I went, and I always really enjoy seeing those giant silkmoth species. In general there was a big diversity of butterfly species and I had so much fun doing my photography and just observing them. All the staff we talked to as well were super sweet and fun! I highly recommend coming here!Posted on Google Troy BishopTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. This place is amazing, beautiful and relaxing. Highly recommend stopping by.Posted on Google victoria dTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. awesome place!Posted on Google The Honest ReviewTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. My mum and I visited the Butterfly House at Navy Pier yesterday, and it was absolutely delightful. We’re locals and were looking for something fun and relaxing to do before Navy Pier gets too busy for the summer, and honestly, the Butterfly House is what sold us on making the trip down there. One thing that was especially nice is that they open earlier than some of the other attractions, so it gave us a lovely start to the day. The space itself is beautiful — filled with gorgeous plants, butterflies everywhere, and peaceful little spots to sit and simply enjoy the atmosphere. There’s even a sweet little tea table setup for children. One of our favorite parts was the feeding sticks. Guests can dip the tip into sugar water, and sometimes the butterflies will come over to feed. You can also gently guide a butterfly onto the feeding stick from underneath where they feed, which made the experience feel really interactive and special. The staff were incredibly kind, welcoming, and friendly, which made the visit even better. You could tell they genuinely cared about creating a positive experience for guests. I also loved learning that it’s family owned and operated. Supporting a local family-run business made the experience feel even more special. The gift shop deserves a mention too because it was very thoughtfully curated. It wasn’t filled with cheap touristy items — everything felt well chosen, and the prices were very reasonable for a fun day out. Whether you’re local like us, visiting with family, love butterflies, or just want a peaceful experience in the city, I would absolutely recommend visiting. Even if you’re not planning a full Navy Pier day, the Butterfly House alone is worth the trip.
Supporting both butterfly operations and the families dedicated to rainforest conservation is crucial for preserving wild rainforests and their native species. The butterflies you’ll see flying in our house come from families around the world who raise butterflies, and send us chrysalises or pupae that are timed to hatch within a few days of arrival. These families also help conserve rainforest environments where they are located, preventing deforestation and providing good jobs to local community members; initiatives that are very important to us. For more information, watch their videos below!
For the past 30 yrs, El Bosque Nuevo has used 100% of their profits to purchase old-growth rainforest habitat around their operation for conservation.
They currently own and protect over 1,000 acres of some of the most important and bio-diverse rainforest habitat in Central America. Watch to hear their story below.
Alas de Colombia is a woman-owned business in Colombia that exists soly to help other women, and small struggling families in rural Colombia earn a livable wage through conservation and the propagation of butterflies. Watch their story here:
Please email us at: info@butterflyhousechicago.com with your resume!
We will be giving out a number of Butterfly House tickets to underprivilaged youth, free of charge, this summer. If you can help us connect with the right people to give these away please contact us at: info@butterflyhousechicago.com
Want to join our team? Email your resume today!