The Botanical Garden Bucharest - Your Visiting Guide

Last Updated on October 28, 2020

Located in the Cotroceni neighborhood, very close to Cotroceni Palace (the official residence of Romania’s President), the Botanical Garden is one of the most beautiful parks of Bucharest. This is a good place to learn about different plant species and to take close-up photos of wonderful flowers. Visiting this park is one of the best things to do in Bucharest all year round.

The Botanical Garden belongs to the University of Bucharest and it is home to a wide range of plants. It was founded in 1860. Some of the trees in this garden are between 100 and 150 years old. There’s even one ‘Pinus Jeffrey’ tree, originating from North America and planted by the end of the 19th century.

According to their official website, Grădina Botanică Dimitrie Brândză counts more than 3.500 different species of living plants. The Museum (currently closed to the public) hosts several collections of dried plants

The Botanical Garden of Bucharest bears the name of the Romanian botanist who founded it, Dimitrie Brândză. You don’t need to remember this name to ask for guidance for finding this garden while visiting Bucharest. There’s only one botanical garden in the city.

If you need a quiet spot in the middle of nature but you don’t want to get out of Bucharest, choose the Botanical Garden to relax and to breathe in some fresh air. Don’t forget your camera, you’ll need it.

While here, you can hug a tree (or five).

How To Visit the Bucharest Botanical Garden?

The Botanical Garden can be the perfect stop on your way to visiting some shopping malls, the Cotroceni neighborhood and Palace, or some peripheral neighborhoods of Bucharest. Also, you can come here to relax, to take photos of Romanian flora or to watch squirrels and ducks.

How To Get There – Transport Options

You can get to the Bucharest Botanical Garden by bus (from Universitate, bus no 61, 62, 69, 90, 91, 93, 96, 136, 236, 336) or by Metro (M3, Politehnica stop, then walk downhill for about 5 minutes).

A taxi or a Uber from the city center shouldn’t cost you more than 2-3 USD.

If you drive, keep in mind that there’s no parking in the area. You’ll have to find a parking spot on one of the little streets around the botanical garden (which isn’t an impossible mission).

How To Dress for the Visit & When To Go

Wear comfortable clothes and good walking shoes. Have some drinking water with you, just in case the small shop inside the garden is closed.

To avoid crowds, choose a week day for your visit. During weekends, pick the first part of the day, as afternoons are usually busy.

Bucharest Botanical Garden Opening Hours

Outdoor spaces:

From March 14th to October 16th: 8:00 am – 8:00 pm
From October 17th to March 15th: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm

Greenhouse & Tropical Forest Section:

Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
Saturday & Sunday: 9:00 am – 1:00 pm

Main Sections of the Bucharest Botanical Garden

The garden has a modular structure with multiple sections. Plants from different regions of the world are grouped together. However, if you aren’t a botanist, you won’t probably care about this structure.

From the point of view of the average visitor, two sections are indeed noticeable; the Rosarium and the Iridarium. If you love roses and irises, you’ll share my view. The Carpathian mountains section is also one of my big time favorites for the hot summer days. It looks and feels just like a mountain trail among tall pine trees.

My advice is to simply walk around and ensure you visit the entire area. Try to name the plants to see how much botanical knowledge you have. Read the labels to find out the names of all these trees and flowers.

The Best Time of Year To Visit the Gardens:

Every season has its special charm. Since I live in Bucharest, I visit the botanical gardens several times per year.

The winter can be a bit boring, particularly if there’s no snow. Also, early spring can be dull. Mid-spring to late fall, the garden is blooming with colors, so this is the best time to visit.

Here are a few photos I took in the Botanical Gardens of Bucharest in different seasons.

Photos Taken in Spring

Early spring is all about the fragile snowdrops and violets. Later on, the daffodils and the irises rise and shine. Also, by late spring, you’ll find magnolia, cherry trees and many other plants in blossom. Tulips are also present. Ducks and ducklings take over the small lake. You can’t but love these tiny chicks and their mothers.