Things to do in Coral Gables, Florida: the quarry pool, the big garden and a walkable downtown
The Venetian Pool, Fairchild, free museum nights and the free trolley: what to do in Coral Gables, with hours and prices checked in October 2026.
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- Do first: Venetian Pool, 2701 De Soto Blvd: closed Mondays, $23 for non-resident adults.
- Big garden: Fairchild, 10901 Old Cutler Rd: daily 10 am to 5 pm, from $24.95 online.
- Free: Lowe Art Museum, and Gallery Night at the Coral Gables Museum on first Fridays.
- Get around: Free trolley on Ponce de Leon Blvd, Mon to Sat, 6:30 am to 10 pm.
- Swim in the bay: Matheson Hammock atoll pool; parking $7 weekdays, $10 weekends, plus tax.
Spend the morning at the Venetian Pool or Fairchild, not both, then walk downtown Coral Gables: the pool and the garden each fill a half day, and everything else in the Gables fits around them.
Pick by the day you want
| A hot afternoon with kids over 3 | The Venetian Pool; children must be at least 3 and 38 inches tall |
| A slow morning outdoors | Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, with its free narrated tram |
| A free evening | Gallery Night at the Coral Gables Museum, first Fridays 6 to 10 pm |
| Art without a ticket | The Lowe Art Museum on the University of Miami campus, free entry |
| Open water and palms | The atoll pool at Matheson Hammock on Old Cutler Road |
| A rainy weekend | Merrick House tours at 1, 2 and 3 pm, plus Books & Books on Aragon Avenue |
Coral Gables sights: hours and admission
| Place | Address | Hours | Admission |
|---|---|---|---|
| Venetian Pool | 2701 De Soto Blvd | Tue to Fri 11 am to 5:30 pm; Sat and Sun 10 am to 4:30 pm; closed Mondays | Non-residents $23 adults (13+), $18 children 3 to 12 |
| Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden | 10901 Old Cutler Rd | Daily 10 am to 5 pm | Adults $24.95 weekday online, $32.95 weekend at the gate; children 3 to 11 from $11.95 |
| Coral Gables Museum | 285 Aragon Ave | Tue to Fri and Sun 11 am to 5 pm; Sat 10 am to 6 pm; closed Mondays | $15 adults, $10 students and seniors, $8 ages 7 to 12, free 6 and under |
| Lowe Art Museum | 1301 Stanford Dr | Wed to Sat 10 am to 4 pm | Free; a timed ticket is encouraged |
| Merrick House | 907 Coral Way | Tours Sat and Sun at 1, 2 and 3 pm | $5 adults, $3 seniors, military and students over 12; cash only |
| Matheson Hammock Park | Old Cutler Rd | Atoll pool in winter: weekdays 9 am to 4:30 pm, weekends 9 am to 5:30 pm | Parking $7 weekdays, $10 weekends and holidays, plus tax |
Fairchild charges $5 more at the gate than online. The Merrick House is closed November 1, 2026 and reopens Saturday, November 7. Prices are subject to change on every page above.
City of Coral Gables, fairchildgarden.org, coralgablesmuseum.org, miamidade.gov; Lowe hours from the University of Miami page as returned by search; checked October 2026
The Venetian Pool: what to know before you drive over
The Venetian Pool is the reason most visitors come to Coral Gables. It is a public pool run by the city at 2701 De Soto Boulevard, and it books out on hot weekends. Ticket sales stop for the day once the pool reaches capacity, so buy online through the city's page instead of turning up at the gate.
The rules are strict and the staff check them. Children must be at least 3 years old and 38 inches tall, and you need proof of age at the door. There are no rainchecks or refunds, and you cannot re-enter without your receipt. Non-residents pay $23 for adults and $18 for children 3 to 12; Coral Gables residents pay far less with proof of address.
The pool is closed on Mondays, except Labor Day. It opens at 11 am on weekdays and at 10 am on weekends. The city's page does not list a winter closure for 2026, but it also does not promise one won't happen, so check the page the week you go.
Fairchild is open every day from 10 am to 5 pm, and parking is free. A free narrated tram tour loops the garden; the schedule changes by day, so ask at the shop when you arrive.
Buying online or at the kiosks saves $5 a ticket: an adult pays $24.95 on a weekday online and $32.95 at the gate on a weekend. Children under 3 and members are free. A Flex Ticket costs $5 more and stays valid for a year, which helps if the forecast looks bad.
Matheson Hammock Park & Marina
Matheson Hammock is a county park with a man-made atoll pool on Biscayne Bay. The lagoon is open seven days a week; lifeguards work weekends and holidays only.
Parking is $7 plus tax on weekdays and $10 plus tax on weekends and holidays, paid by app or at the office. Floats are not allowed on the beach, and neither are tents, grills or open flames in the beach area.
Downtown Coral Gables on foot
The walkable part of Coral Gables is the grid around Miracle Mile and Aragon Avenue. Park once and walk: the Coral Gables Museum sits at 285 Aragon Avenue, and Books & Books, the independent bookstore with a cafe, is a few doors away at 265 Aragon. The bookstore still runs evening readings; it hosted an open mic on October 19, 2026.
Gallery Night at the museum is free on the first Friday of the month, from 6 to 10 pm, which makes November 6 the next one. Family Day falls on third Saturdays, 10 am to 6 pm.
The Merrick House at 907 Coral Way is a city-run historic house. Guided tours run on weekends at 1, 2 and 3 pm with no booking, and parking behind the house is free. Bring cash. Strollers, food and open drinks stay outside.
The Biltmore Hotel at 1200 Anastasia Avenue is the landmark you will see from everywhere. Non-guests can book its Sunday brunch through OpenTable, and the hotel lists a Bourbon & Beef dinner on November 18 and a New Year's Eve dessert party with fireworks on December 31.
Getting around without a car
The city trolley is free. It runs Monday to Saturday, 6:30 am to 10 pm, on two routes: Ponce de Leon Boulevard from Douglas Road Metrorail station to Flagler Street, and Grand Avenue from the same station. It does not run on Sundays, July 4, Thanksgiving or Christmas. A Southern Loop pilot added service west to Red Road in November 2025; the city has not posted its hours or whether it will continue past its first year.
The Coral Gables farmers market in front of City Hall at 405 Biltmore Way ran on Saturdays from January 17 to March 28, 2026. The city has not announced the 2027 season, so check its events calendar in December.
Havana Harry's
After the pool or the garden, Havana Harry's is the easy family dinner: Cuban classics and local fish in big portions, a short drive south of downtown on Le Jeune Road.
It is the kind of place where a table of six with kids does not need a reservation plan. Check its current hours on its Google listing before you drive over.
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What is Coral Gables best known for?
The Venetian Pool, a city-run pool at 2701 De Soto Boulevard, the Biltmore Hotel, and a walkable downtown around Miracle Mile. Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden on Old Cutler Road is the other big draw.
How much is the Venetian Pool?
For non-residents, $23 for adults 13 and over and $18 for children 3 to 12, per the City of Coral Gables in October 2026. Children under 3 or under 38 inches cannot enter.
Is the Venetian Pool open on Mondays?
No. The city lists it as closed on Mondays, except Labor Day. It opens Tuesday to Friday 11 am to 5:30 pm and weekends 10 am to 4:30 pm.
What is free to do in Coral Gables?
The Lowe Art Museum (Wednesday to Saturday), Gallery Night at the Coral Gables Museum on first Fridays from 6 to 10 pm, the free trolley, and walking Miracle Mile.
How much does Fairchild Garden cost?
Adults pay $24.95 online on weekdays and up to $32.95 at the gate on weekends. Children 3 to 11 start at $11.95, and parking is free.
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