Botanical Garden (University of Zurich) Tours

The Botanical Garden (Botanischer Garten) is one of two botanical gardens in Zurich, both of which are operated by the University of Zurich. This nearly 15-acre (6-hectare) natural space sits on the outskirts of the city and is home to 9,000 species of plants from all over the world. 

The Botanical Garden was developed in the mid-20th century and has been operated by the university since 1976. The garden serves as a research facility for the Department of Systematic Botany, but is also open to the public all year round. Visit the garden to stroll through the grounds, relax on the wide lawns, and explore the three domed greenhouses filled with tropical plants (which are especially especially attractive on a cold day). 

You can reach the Botanical Garden from many parts of Zurich via public transit: The 2 and 9 light rail lines; S10, S16, S19, S2, and S4 trains; and 165, 200, 31, 66, and 916 buses all stop near the garden.

The garden is open 7 days a week, but opening times vary by day and by season. The gardens are attractive all year round, but spring, when the flowers bloom, is the most popular time to visit. In winter, the domed greenhouses are the primary attraction.

If you want to spend more time enjoying Zurich’s gardens, head to the Chinese Garden. The manicured space was a gift to the city from Kunming, Yunnan—Zurich’s sister city in China—and is located beside the lake, near Zürichhorn. The garden boasts Chinese-style pavilions, a pond with a small island, and a variety of trees and plants.