The University Botanical Garden is an important research center as well as a natural escape within the city.
This was the first botanical garden in Hungary, built in 1847 on the former site of a family estate. Connected to the major university of Budapest, ELTE, the garden was used for medical and biological research from the start. Now, with more than 7,000 species of plants, it is an important research and conservation center as well as a fantastic place to visit for a bit of nature in the heart of a busy city. Although the grounds have been encroached on by the surrounding city, there is now a glass house as well, which is home to many tropical plants. Among the highlights to be seen here are the 150 year-old gingko trees, beautiful orchids, 800 species of cactuses and succulents, and the enormous tropical Amazonian White Waterlily. In addition to being a great collection of flora, the garden is also the setting of Ferenc Molnár’s famous novel Pál Street Boys.
Address: 1083 Budapest, Illés utca 25
Opening hours: Everyday: 9:00am – 5:00pm