Botanical Gardens

Hamburg’s Botanical Gardens are a real feast for the senses; stroll around the 25-hectare site to soak in the aromas and dazzling colours of the many differently themed gardens. The original Alter Botanischer Garten was founded in 1821, while the current setup opened in 1979, and is operated by the University of Hamburg.Environmental enthusiasts will adore the huge range of plants on display here, and you can learn about specimens from many different countries and continents during your visit. The gardens are equally attractive for people who just want to chill out away from the strains of urban life, and are very popular with locals for exactly this reason.The space is divided into three distinct sections. The Geographical garden explores the globe using many different varieties of flora from South America, East Asia, Europe and North America, as well as featuring rare Alpine plants and an ornate Japanese garden.The Systematic garden, meanwhile, arranges its varieties of plant life by their evolutionary relationship to one another – this is a fascinating exploration of the development and incredible capacity for adaptation of the specimens on show.There are five differently themed areas in the Plant and Man section, ranging from crops and Biblical plants to a pharmacy garden and poisonous flora. Check out the contemporary Loki Schmidt building, which is home to edible and medicinal plants, and enjoy the Glass Pyramids full of desert vegetation, a gift from the United Arab Emirates.If you need to rest your feet after a day of walking, you can relax with a coffee in the on-site café.The Botanical Gardens are west of the city centre, and are best reached by taking the S-bahn train to nearby Klein Flottbek station. Entry is free of charge, and the gardens are open until 30 minutes before sunset.