What a beautiful place. The turn of the century greenhouses take you back to the day. I can only imagine the staff required to properly maintain the expanse of gardens, buildings and hard scapes throughout the property. Very unique styles in the hard scapes and buildings, not expected for sure. Set at least half a day aside if not a full day to take it all in. Will definitely be going back. $15 admission for adults, reduced rates for kids, seniors and military.

A piece of history that should be seen. Spend a few hours exploring. The amount of time, resources used during this time period of the gilded age is amazing. Please visit and support this piece of history.

Went yesterday with my fiance. We had so much fun walking around, exploring everything! Its so beautiful here! The gardens and the green house was so beautiful! So much to see in the green house! Loved all the pretty flowers and different cactus. Yeah there were some things that needed work and being renovated but this place is strictly ran on admissions and donations, etc. So cut them some slack! Rock garden was one of my favorites. Definitely give yourself a good 3 hours to explore. The mansion was nice inside, wasnt able to go upstairs though. Would highly recommend coming here! Especially if youre looking to take some beautiful photography.

During the Covid- 19 pandemic admission is decreased to $5 per person. I love the gardens and truly wish there was more appropriate funding for such a large scale garden and grounds. It has so much potential but is in need of serious help.

Lovely gardens and walkways provided us a lovely afternoon. The water features were being renovated. We can only imagine how beautiful they will be when the work is finished. We didnt tour the inside exhibits because we didnt want to risk standing in line. If you want to enjoy a peaceful afternoon walking through gardens, Sonnenberg should be on your list.

Had a great time exploring the Sonnenberg Mansion, its a close drive if youre in the Rochester area and theres so much to see. The staff is nice and the estate is kept well manicured. I recommend getting there early, we unfortunately got there later than expected so we missed the wine tasting and a few other green house areas. It was great to learn some history as well, worth checking out.-Johnny Rose

So beautiful, a must-see! The grounds and mansion are currently open (COVID, july 2020). Lots of outside walking, greenhouses and the mansion were all open, as well. Masks required inside buildings.

Was here today and couldn’t help but notice how run down this place is. The greenhouses were gorgeous and I could tell that someone really puts the time into them. The mansion however needs a lot of cosmetic work on the outside. The paint is chipping and pieces of the building are starting to fall apart. No water in any of the fountains and the gardens around the house were filled with Weeds! The pool was falling apart and also filled with weeds.My tour guide on the other hand was awesome and I could tell that she was truly dedicated to her job and loved what she does. Would like to have seen more of the house. The admission seemed to be a lot for looking at weeds. Would not want to have a wedding they’re anytime soon. Sad that the state isn’t putting money into this place like they do with the castles around the thousand islands. My suggestion is to wait a few years if interested in coming here because they’re isn’t much to see but weeds.

What an amazing public garden!!Admission was good, the walk is comfortable and not too lengthy. The sculptures, the mansion, and conservatory are absolutely worth seeing over and over.My wife and I did the trip today, and we will definitely be buying a family membership

I and my 2 sisters came here to see the beautiful gardens I had seen several years ago. As there is quite a bit of walking to get to the main gardens, we assumed that the tram(s) would be running for those who have disabilities or just trouble being able to walk longer distances. We were wrong. The trams were not running ( we were told because of COVID, they had to layoff the person or persons that would normally operate the tram). Then we asked about a wheelchair and originally told that they didnt have one, then told that they did and it would be up front where we paid our admission. I walked up to the front admission booth and inquired about it. I was told they do not have one and that I should consider how many moving parts are on a wheelchair and it would be too hard to sanitize all those parts every time a wheelchair was used. I was really floored with that insensitive and crazy response. As was already noted, the part of the gardens, grounds and greenhouses that wedid see were in terrible condition. I did request our money back since we could not all go through the gardens together and we decided to just leave. We did receive a refund. Sonnenberg Gardens should not be open if only able people can go through it and disabled people are not.

I was involved with a wedding here. The grounds are stunning and beautiful and very well maintained. Staff was very helpful however we noticed some tension among 2 of the staff serving and coordinating the event. Not only are the gardens amazing but the houses located on the property are fascinating as well.

The history and architecture are wonderful. Zen garden is absolutely beautiful but sad in the deteriorating structures. I have looked forward to visiting for a few years. The design is very lovely, but I was hoping for much more botanical identification and description. This historical place needs funding and manpower.

It was a really nice visit. It must be really something great when everything is at full speed. I would have loved to have seen more of the mansion and the water exhibits filled. It must have been magnificent in its heyday! Even without full access it was worth the ride from Buffalo.

Have been going here for years. It is a stunning place full of lush gardens and beautiful pathways. It is the perfect place for taking photos for special occasions. My daughter took her senior pictures here and they were stunning. No shortage of places to take pictures in front of. The fountains made of marble, beautiful gardens, or stone pathways. The house is beautiful. Restored and decorated as it would have been when the original owners lived there. With many photos and plaques with its history. If you get tired or would like a guided tour of the grounds take the tram. There is a small cafe if you get hungry. To fully enjoy it and take in everything it takes about 3 hours.We went when they decorated for Christmas. It was amazing. I wish they would bring it back.

This place is weird. Its both stunning and sort of melancholy. Some of it is breathtakingly beautiful. Some of it is run down and makes you think of a horror movie. That sounds bad, but its not. It works. It makes the place more interesting. Definitely a cool place to visit. The Japanese gardens are..... Well..... I wish I had them in my backyard. Check this place out. Its definitely worth the entry fee.

One of the places I most enjoyed visiting around Rochester, so many spots to see. My favorite was the Japanese garden. Can’t wait to visit the inside of the mansion (it was closed).

History is interesting. Architecture influences from around the world. Would recommend going when gardens are at peak.

Shame on you Sonnenberg Gardens for not being handicapped accessible. Specifically asked on my way in if everything and I was accessible and told “absolutely “. There was no access to the main house for anyone in a wheelchair and the pathways up to the main house were rocky and not safe for a wheelchair. The only accessible access to a portion of the house was blocked off. That being said, I will share a few pictures of flowers from today. The gardens were overgrown not mowed and none of the fountains or ponds had water. YET- They charge full admission knowing all of this!

Absolutely beautiful! The staff were very friendly and knowledgeable. Make sure you visit the cafe. Delicious and unique menu options. It would be a beautiful place for a wedding or portrait sessions. We will definately be visiting again.

I rented the Belvedere almost a year ago for a remembrance/celebration of life for my mother. The gardens were a great representation of my mother as she loved gardening and flowers of any kind not to mention how beautiful it is here. There are so many volenteers who work tirelessly to keep the place in tiptop shape. They were all so kind and accommodating. I couldnt have asked for a better place. I would highly recommend spending the day walking around as there is so much to see. They also have a huge wedding/party tent they rent out if your looking for a larger scale event or wedding.

It was very beautiful! Wish we could have walked through more of the house. They only had the downstairs opened. But other than that it was very beautiful!!!

While I enjoyed the grounds, I was disappointed by the upkeep of the outside of the mansion. In addition,I found the largest garden, the Italian garden, to be underwhelming to say the least. The structures were in good shape but the plants were small and didnt fill the space appropriately. I was surprised by the presence of weeds within some of the plants. I expected to be blown away and I was not.

I loved this place! Gorgeous gardens, an impressive house, and wine tastings - what more can you ask for? The volunteers were nice and friendly. If you like gardens and historical homes. I highly recommend this place. It was a highlight of my trip in the area.

We visited here twice this summer and because we were members of the botanical gardens in Phoenix, AZ we have free membership here too for this year, which is nice! Very historical, the mansion is a must see to believe, and the grounds are really beautiful. You can easily spend a day exploring it.

Covid closed the second and third floors of the home... somewhat disappointing, gift shop was also closed. Will visit again. Beautiful property.

Costs 15$ to get it has a beautiful walking trail with tons of little gardens to go through and see that are influenced from different parts of the world

Very diverse grounds and gardens. Very cool. Easily accessible with many attractions in the area

I love the gardens, to walk and sketch and relax. It is a true treasure of Rochester. Become a member and help support the preservation of a beautiful amenity in or region.

Our tour of this magnificent was part of our vacation through upstate New York and New England. We enjoy visiting so many historic homes of the past and Gilded Age. This one is no exception. Although some of the architecture needs some upkeep and maintenance the overall expanse of this huge property makes one wonder how they can manage such an undertaking. Obviously management should be commended. So neat to slip back into time and let your mind wander as you walk the grounds and tour the mansion. We were blessed with a had a picture perfect day. There are gift shops, wine shop, greenhouses, fish ponds and much more to enjoy. Please like my post if you find it coupled with my detailed photos helpful.

A classic spot to visit once the weather actually gets nice in Rochester. The rose garden is absolutely worth another visit in early to mid July; so many beautiful roses to see and smell! I proposed to my wife here, so I will say the Old Fashioned Garden will always be a special place for me. I love the green houses as well as the koi pond. The koi and other fishes swam right up towards us (probably wanting us to feed them!) but it was pretty fun to see all the massive koi fish, blue gills, catfishes and a random turtle all come to hang out.

So exciting to see work being done to restore fountains. The mansion is beautiful and I can’t wait to come back and see again.

Beautiful gardens and extremely friendly staff!

Very peaceful gardens. Absolutely beautiful.Since it is the end of the season we didnt see many flowers but what we did get to see was gorgeous.I took over 150 images here but Ive only uploaded a few.The massions history is amazing worth a walk through too.

I was so happy to see that this place was open! After everything that weve gone through for the first half of the year to be able to walk and see the garden take photos it was such a treat! I will definitely be back!

GREAT place to visit. The gardens and mansion are very nice. The non-profit that runs this (and pays all the bills) has done a wonderful job bringing it back from neglect by the state. The gardens are terrific and the mansion was an unexpected bonus. The gentlemen that drive the golf carts are really nice and very knowledgeable about Sonnenberg. Everyone working were volunteers. Wonderful experience at a fair price.

A collection of botanical gardens, formal gardens, historical ruins, historic mansion, and orchid greenhouses make Sonnenberg a nice place to spend an afternoon strolling and sightseeing.

We went when it first opened during the Covid epidemic SO normal grounds maintenance had not been done. It was quite run down and some of the main features were in disrepair. We were disappointed, but hope once life gets back to normal they can get it back to beautiful.

Amazing similarities to the Gilded Age country estate (Maymont) here in Richmond, VA. Beautiful gardens, lovely house. Enjoyed my golf cart ride with a friendly guide.

I love Sonnenberg Gardens but it was really run down. Missing a lot of statue tops in Japanese garden. No water anywhere except the pond & 1 small lillypad pond. No fountains, no waterfalls! It was a shame.

Cant wait to go when no pandemic! Was really cool!

Gardens were nice, seems like they need more TLC. Guessing funds are limited so doing the best they can, still a great place to visit.

Lovely place...a lot of history behind the Mansion. Dont miss the Japanese park and the Buddha statute. You can find some beautiful colorful fishes at the entrance pond near the visitors entrance

This place must have been absolutely beautiful before the state let it go. The mansion was beautiful and grounds nice.

Good walk with lots of gardens and history

Beautiful gardens nice walk like to go there every spring summer and winter

An innovative & uniquely beautiful estate with enormous trees and knowledgeable staff. Needs much love, but well worth the entry fee. The second story is not wheelchair or stroller accessible nor are some of the grounds. The parking lot is rough with some gravel and a tiny area of shade. Prepare to spend 3 - 6 hours. Very romantic for couples. Fairytale sections may be fun for kids.

Wonderful walk through the gilded age of history on these expansive grounds. The greenhouses and gardens are amazing and beautiful. Great place for a wedding venue as well.

Stunningly beautiful inside and out.A great mix of history, nature and wonderfully manicured gardens, Sonnenberg will give you hours worth of sights to see and just take in. There’s a lot of variance to the outdoor areas — rock gardens, rose gardens, Asian zen gardens, old Roman baths, every section has something new.

Its a miracle that this 1890s mansion survived and is open to the public for tours. The house has been restored and furnished with items from its time period. The docents and volunteers are knowledgeable and show their love for the story of the home. The gardens could use more attention, but are still impressive. I hope more donors support this treasure. If you are in this area, you must see Sonnenberg Gardens.

Wonderful experience! Lovely gardens and property. House is interesting, as well. Mary Thompson supported the Suffrigists!

Absolutely wonderful historical place that highly recommended, huge thanks to our great tour guide Pat

Recently did the MS walk. Beautiful place. The Japanese garden is so tranquil. If you want to get your meditation on. This is the place.

Amazing manor house and grounds! A splendid place to take a stroll and enjoy the propertys majesty and grandeur!

I was here for a wedding in September. and had a chance to walk the grounds. Its in such disrepair. Things are over grown, dead or falling apart. I was excited to see the Japanese garden, but the water in the pond stunk to high hell and was murky. Save your money . Also please disregard the snarky and unprofessional response that Sonnenberg gave below. I was here September. Im not going to ask a staff member why the place is a wreck. I have a duty as a guide to write an honest review with the information I had. I hope the renovations go well and things improve in the future.

We just stopped by to fill time and Im glad we did. Worth the small fee. The mansion is beautiful. Gardens could be kept up a little better but still very beautiful.

Wow! What a place with history and landscapes that are breathtaking! One could easily spend hours here wandering though the gardens and historic buildings. Theres also wine tasting available featuring New York State wines along with an impressive gift shop. Everyone we encountered was more than willing to answer any questions we had and also in very good spirits. We look forward to our next visit!

Really nice place to visit. The Mansion was really amazing to see. The view was incredible. I really enjoyed visiting.

Amazing. Much better than what I have in buffalo.

Interesting place , could use a little more money poured in to upkeep of gardens.

We had a wonderful visit. The grounds and mansion were beautiful and the staff - volunteers were very helpful.

Very relaxing walk. A glimpse back into history. Many different gardens to enjoy. They have a gift shop and several green houses full of plants. You can tour the mansion as part of the admission fee. They also have programs during certain times of the year that cost extra but are very enjoyable. Halloween walk is very fun and kid friendly. This is a great place to support.

We try to get to tour the gardens at least once each summer ! Love it!

Very cool place to take a tour and wander the grounds. Some areas are a little run down but others are just gorgeous. The mansion was very interesting to go through and some of garden areas were amazing. The Japanese garden with the ponds and different kind of pine trees was beautiful. I thoroughly enjoyed our day there.

Even though late in the season, it is beautiful! Definitely woth the drive out for some peace and quiet!

Fill up on beauty, so needed. And the chicken curry

Was there today, Friday, September 25, 2020...my first visit and it was a huge disappointment. Lots of weeds and untrimmed bushes. It was so obvious this place hadn’t been taken care of in a long time and we were so surprised that we were charged full price to see much of nothing and only the first floor of the mansion.

Beautiful design and idea, love balcony in every bedroom. Well put design. Lively pond with friendly ducks and Koi fishes

Always a great time. Art show is enjoyable everytime

Great place. Sadly under-funded & under-maintained

Fantastic docent lead tour of the Mansion lots of grrrrrr8 fall color in trees

This is a seriously cool place to visit near Rochester. The grounds are expansive and full of architecture and gardens inspired by different cultures and points in history, like the Roman style public bathhouse. The manor itself is incredible and full of a huge collection of art and antiques, and you are able to take guided tours through grounds and manor.

Saw a wonderful Rochester Metropolitan Jazz Band concert and toured house and waslked gardens. Beautigul music and wonderful Historic Site.

Looks like no one bothered to maintain this place in years, very sad.

Beautiful and scenic. Worth the stop.

Its a nice place to sample some wine and then walk around. The mansion is fun to tour. The grounds are a bit run down but some areas are beautiful like the Japanese garden. We also enjoyed the rock garden. I do think the admission price of $15 per person is really steep so for that reason I probably wouldnt go back, but it was a nice afternoon anyway. If I could give 3 1/2 stars I think that would be more accurate.

Soo beautiful! And such fantastic people there. We had a whole day if beautiful gardens ~ wish we couldve started, but we were there 4 hours and thoroughly enjoyed it! The house is like a stop back to the says before income tax !It was a wonderful adventure I highly recommend if you love history and beautiful gardens.

Absolutely beautiful home and grounds. The volunteers are knowledgeable and the preservation and restoration efforts are worth saving this treasure

The buildings are in disrepair but the grounds are still pretty.

We had an enjoyable time here. The gardens and mansion were magnificent and well maintained. The mansion in particular has that wow factor with its many ornate and tastefully decorated rooms. Unlike other grand homes where a lot of areas are off-limits or cordoned off, this one has very few physical barriers and they let you see the furnishings up close. They also let you self-guide but there are docents on hand to answer questions.The entire place is huge so a lot of walking is involved. Wear comfortable shoes and allow at least 1.5 hours to see everything at a leisurely pace. Also, prepare for the weather. It was raining when we arrived so we had to change shoes and take umbrellas with us. There is a wine and gift shop on site.

Wonderful place with amazing views, stories, and overall history.

This is a very beautiful spot to visit. Every time in the past when I visited I would say what pretty flowers and move on to the next pretty flower. This time while on a bus tour we enjoyed the yed a guided tour. The tour was full of insights about the property and was worth every minute. I therefore highly suggest taking a guided tour.

A CNY treasure! A favorite day trip is to arrive in morning, tour the gardens and cap off the day with a consistently excellent later lunch @ the High Noon Cafe right on the grounds, then hit the gift shop on the way out. Best to do seasonally (spring, summer and autumn) to fully appreciate the variety of gardens, and the way the light sifts through the mansion in each season. Im a patron member and try to introduce Sonnenberg to as many people as I can ... and they are NEVER disappointed! Big shout out to all the tremendous volunteers there: to a person theyve always been quite knowledgeable, courteous and helpful.

Gardens and mansion are nice to walk through. Cafe was really very good! Surprisingly good. Sonnenberg salad was fresh and very tasty! Highly recommend it.

We dropped by on a rainy Sunday. It was actually really peaceful walking through the gardens . Rain cleared up so we could enjoy the flowers. Took time to walk through the mansion. So beautiful. Able to enjoy it all in 3 hrs.

Very pleasant. Only one restroom and thats at the entrance. Halfway through the gardens and long walk back.

Very interesting place. Didnt get to see all the blooms, definitely go when it has been warmer. Will go back to see the gardens. Mansion was cool, one of the volunteers was very friendly and knowledgeable about the property. She took the time to talk to us and was very good with our young children.

Wonderfully restored gardens and mansion from the late 19th/early 20th century. Its not huge so you can walk the whole place in an hour or two. Inside the mansion are several volunteer guides who give great tours. The cafe has delicious homemade soups. Theres a really cool peacock garden with peacocks. A new addition is a tasting bar and shop with numerous New York State wines. Very much worth the trip. In the summer, on Fridays, they have moonlight garden walks. On summer Sundays they do a very nice high tea.

The evening was absolutely splendid! The concert in the backdrop of the lit up grounds and mansion were just magical. Refreshments were just right and all the staff were very welcoming and accommodating. Treat yourself to the experience of a summer evening concert!

Its very beautiful and peaceful here. What a wonderful walk through the gardens. The mansion is amazing. The gift shop is filled with little treasures. I look forward to going back.

Beautiful place to visit and take pictures. Lots of history there also.

Very interesting place

A place everyone should see in June when the flowers are in their peak high blossom.

Great historical and architectural spot -- they have a nice collection of taxidermy and lots of old clothing luggage items ! Greenhouse is wonderful and the gift shop has wine tasting

I visited with my family this past Sunday. This was my second time visiting . My first visit being well worth the drive and entry fee of $40.00 is what made us return the second time so my kid could have a great experience. However, Once we excitedly arrived at the mansion we noticed every door was closed and locked. The lights were on inside and there were a few people inside. We stayed around for a bit to see if the doors would open but they didnt and there wasnt any staff around to ask about entering. I should have really stopped by the entrance and told the person working there about receiving a refund because I dont feel like it is fair to pay around $40.00 to visit there when almost every pond,water feature is not in service and photographers or groups of other VIP can warden off the mansion and prohibit paying customers from having a full experience. Upon leaving, there was a couple paying at the entrance and the woman at the gate was informing them that the mansion closed at 3:00 so they should consider visiting there first.. At that comment I was sort of puzzled because we had arrived at the mansion around 2:00 and it was closed. With all that said, I also think that the later months of fall they really should consider offering a lower entry price seeing as though there arent any flowers or gardens in bloom and there was barely any staff on the grounds anyway.

Simply stunning! Great place to visit during the Christmas season! We cant wait to go back in the summer!

Beautifully maintained gardens and very helpful staff.

Needs help! Site has great potential and wonderful history.The trees on the site are amazing plants look great green houses and rock garden are very nice. Residence and landscape features are in extreme disrepair. For the amount you pay to get in you would expect there may be more investment.

Beautiful mansion and gardens. The kids enjoyed feeding the fish and wandering through the grounds. It is a shame the public cant see the third floor or other parts of the house; the kitchen, if authentic, would be especially interesting. Overall, a really nice place to visit.

Nice but very worn.

Falling apart. Sad to see such a nice garden not being kept up.