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    Butterfly Pavilion

    4.4 (302 reviews)
    Open 9:00 am - 5:00 pm

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    David K.

    Went here on 6/19/26. First time here. Got here right when they opened. It did get very busy while we were there. A couple of day camps had come through. My kids were terrified of the butterflies haha. (4 and 1). But they loved the bug room. Staff was very friendly and attentive. The butterflies were so beautiful. Lots of good information. Thank you!

    Jill C.

    We drove up from Colorado Springs and it was worth the drive! We loved the wings of the tropics! My daughter loved the spiders and hermit, crabs, and beetles! The gift shop is fantastic! The outdoor gardens were pretty, especially the pond. Very educational and entertaining.

    On the ground...
    Jeannie D.

    We really enjoyed this experience. You can't hold the tarantula anymore, but the butterflies are SO worth it. There are other interactive things and this would be awesome for kids of all ages. Please WATCH your step!! The butterflies do land on the ground!!!

    Yvonne J.

    The Butterfly Pavilion was such a delight even for two adults! It was self guided and we easily spent an hour just wandering around even though the space wasn't that large. There were SO MANY butterflies of different colors and shapes flying around you. Such a cool experience. Near the entrance of the greenhouse there are chrysalises and we got to witness a partial emergence! The staff were also so cheerful and chockfull of knowledge. I had some great conversations with a staff member that really elevated my experience. Don't forget the gift shop! It had a lot of unique and beautiful gifts. Tip: wear light, colorful colors to increase the chances of the butterflies landing on you.

    Barb N.

    Great place for kids and adults. A weekday morning in October wasn't crowded. Enjoyed the insect and coral aquariums, butterflies and spiders and bright flowers and lush vegetation.

    Fish
    Bonni R.

    It's always fun to take the littles to the Butterfly Pavilion and this was no exception. I like that they change some of the exhibits but keep the most popular where they are. The free flying butterfly area is always a favorite but it does get pretty hot in there as the day goes on. Fortunately we went in fist thing before the heat and crowds and we all really enjoyed it. As usual, the staff was friendly and informative. There's plenty of parking and the gift shop is fun. The garden trail around the outside of the building is a great place to wander and relax. What a fun morning!

    Holding Goldie the tarantula.
    Phillip B.

    We had a nice visit to at the Butterfly Pavilion today. The employees were very pleasant and helpful and seemed like they really enjoyed their jobs. There is also a very nice playroom for the kids and an outside xeriscape. It was smaller than I had expected as I had this huge menagerie in mind. Nonetheless it was pleasant in its small form. *** They accepted EBT cards for a substantial discount so it made the trip worthwhile.

    Butterfly
    Michelle H.

    Lovely experience for all ages! Went with a group of coworkers on a summer Monday afternoon. The parking lot was almost completely full as this seems a popular spot for kids and families during the summer. The front desk staff was polite. We waited in line to hold Goldie, a tarantula, and pet some horseshoe crabs as well! The staff assisting with creature holding and petting were friendly and knowledgeable. And then the actual Butterfly Pavilion part was just delightful. 1500+ butterflies inside. There were a number of benches to enjoy sitting while inside. Next time, I'll be sure to bring my water bottle with me because the heat and humidity in there was pretty intense after a while, and it's easy to spend a lot of time looking at all the butterflies (and plants)! There is a kids play area that we did not visit, but looked fun. And then the shop had lots of fun gifts including some locally made items. One critique is that I did not see any gender-neutral restrooms, which was a bummer especially since they did have a Pride Progress sticker on the door outside. If there is one and I missed it, I'm happy to give a full, five-star rating.

    Vish E.

    Oct 2024 Incredible ! Walking around with butterflies whizzing past you :) The colors, the beauty, the collection is mesmerizing The spider collection is fascinating Wish we could spend more time with the butterflies

    Butterfly
    Cassandra T.

    What a fun place! Kids loved holding the spider and the indoor play area was a hit. Even with the chilly day kids loved the outdoor trail too. Will go again! Staff were great

    Jessica O.

    A great place to bring littles! (I brought my 2 year old son and he loved it.) I have been to two other butterfly pavilions and this one is my favorite! The actual butterfly pavilion has so many butterflies inside of it. Not to mention a wide variety of different species! Besides the butterflies I enjoyed the plant life growing inside of the pavilion. This is the first time that I have seen angels trumpets! They are so cool and the flower hangs upside-down! Make sure to check out the chrysalises and cocoons near the exit and entrance of the pavilion. You may get to see a butterfly emerge for the first time! Besides butterfly when you first come in they have a section just for other insects. Here you can hold a tarantella if you dare and as long as you are over 3 years old. They have many other spiders and even multiple species of tarantellas. There are beetles too and even a hive of bees. One thing I thought was nice about this section is that they have a special platform so that shorter kids could go up steps and be able to see into all the glass tanks the bugs are kept. They have an aquatic section with a touch tank and coral. They also have an indoor playground that is great for kids of all ages. Here they even have a play section for those under the age of three and they have a very nice nursing room. Equipped with a very comfy reclining chair. Lastly they have an outdoor garden area that is pretty peaceful to walk through. Tips: -If you bring food they have a cover area near the entrance with picnic tables. -Come later in the day if you can. It is pretty packed in the early morning with children and the morning timeframe is when all the field trips come here. -Anyone under 2 years old is free. -I was able to get a pass free through my local library!

    Rosie
    Abby T.

    Visiting Colorado, definitely make a stop here! It's a wonderful indoor activity for all ages! I haven't been here since I was a kid, and im so happy to see it hasn't changed! You can hold Rosie, when I was a kid, I was too scared, so it was fun finally getting to hold her! She was much lighter than expected. The butterfly room is so beautiful and I was in awe the whole time! Be dressed for humidity because that room is hot and humid but breathtaking! There were so many different types of butterflies and moths. Basically, keeping your head on a swivel, you can see them all. There were plenty of benches to rest and take in the beauty. We spent just about two hours here. They have a very basic bag policy and do allow outside food and drink so bring some water because it's hot.

    This is not a brooch!
    Neva G.

    First visit, three adults, and we enjoyed the experience a lot. One of us even held Rosie the tarantula. We loved seeing the interpreter release new butterflies, and he was very informative. The garden is as entrancing as the butterflies - so many tropical flowers! Mornings are when groups of children take over, so consider your entry time accordingly.

    Aquariums were thriving.

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    11 months ago

    Awesome experience every time I come here. From holding Rosie, to seeing different stages of butterfly life, I have so much fun every visit!

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    I love the butterfly pavilion! It is an amazing space to learn and enjoy the beautiful nature!

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    Ask the Community - Butterfly Pavilion

    Review Highlights - Butterfly Pavilion

    If you have a couple of hours to spare in Denver and want to relax seeing beautiful butterflies and more, come here.

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    Butterfly Pavilion - museums - Updated August 2026

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