Bucharest Botanical Garden, Bucharest

Nestled in the verdant Cotroceni neighborhood on the western bank of the Dambovita River, the Bucharest Botanical Garden, officially named “Dimitrie Brandza,” spans approximately 18.2 hectares and features over 10,000 plant species, including about 4,000 taxa in its greenhouses. It invites visitors into a lush sanctuary rich in plant diversity, historic architecture, and scientific discovery.

Originally founded in 1860 near the medical faculty by Carol Davila and later embraced by the University of Bucharest, the garden relocated to its current site in 1884 thanks to botanist Dimitrie Brandza and Belgian landscape architect Louis Fuchs, opening its doors in 1891. The garden’s storied past endured challenges-serving as a military site during WWI and suffering bombardment in WWII-but was revitalized post-war, with notable additions like the Institute (1960) and Botanical Museum (1978).

Visitors begin their journey in the Decorative Sector, home to nearly 500 ornamental species thriving year-round. Architectural gems include the historic Old Greenhouse (1889–1891), modelled after Liege’s structure, and the charming Grandma’s Garden, which recreates a traditional Romanian cottage garden filled with vegetables, aromatic herbs, and fruit trees.

Educational and recreational opportunities abound across 11 outdoor sectors-such as the Italian Garden, Dobrogea-themed flora areas, iridarium, rosarium, and medicinal plant zones-as well as indoor greenhouses showcasing palm trees, orchids, cacti, bromeliads, and tropical aquatic plants. The Botanical Museum, set in an elegant Brancovenesc-style building near the entrance, houses over 5,000 mounted and preserved specimens, including around 1,000 exotic species.

Open year-round, this tranquil oasis offers a perfect escape, combining relaxation with cultural and botanical exploration.