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Botanischen Garten der Universität Basel

Parks ·Basel ·Vorstädte ·Open now
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#16things to do in BaselTravelers' Choice
  • Visit: 3–9 hours
  • Step-free access
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About

Basel’s University Botanical Garden stands beside Spalentor at the old town’s edge, combining research, teaching and plant conservation with public recreation.

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Botanischen Garten der Universität Basel

Botanischen Garten der Universität BaselBotanischen Garten der Universität BaselBotanischen Garten der Universität BaselBotanischen Garten der Universität BaselBotanischen Garten der Universität Basel

Why go

  • Europe’s only Cloud Forest Greenhouse.
  • The historic Viktoriahaus, built for giant water lilies.
  • An arboretum containing 300 woody plant species.

Opening hours

Today09:00 – 17:00Show all
Monday09:00 – 17:00
Tuesday09:00 – 17:00
Wednesday09:00 – 17:00
Thursday09:00 – 17:00
Friday09:00 – 17:00
Saturday09:00 – 17:00
Sunday09:00 – 17:00

Don't miss

  • AlpinumFollow mountain plants from the Alps and other high ranges through their elevation zones.Alpinum
  • Plant-family sectionFollow paths marking boundaries between plant families, arranged using the Cronquist system.Systematic section
  • Tropical HouseLook for cocoa, vanilla and titan arum among humid-tropics plants.Tropical House
  • Hanging beechFind the arboretum’s beech planted in 1898.Arboretum
  • Lachenal bustLook for Heinrich Ruf’s 1870 bust of botanist Werner de Lachenal.Near the east entrance

Facilities

  • Toilets Near the tropical greenhouse, a few metres past the entrance on the right.
  • Picnics Visitors may bring food and picnic in the garden.

Shorts

History

It opened at its current site beside Spalentor on 12 July 1898. The garden’s first printed seed catalogue contained more than 600 species, a historical count. A titan arum flowering later drew 25,000 visitors.

  1. 1589Caspar Bauhin founded the garden at the university’s Unteres Kollegium on Rheinsprung. He was the first professor of the combined anatomy and botany chair.
  2. 1692The garden moved to a former monastery garden beside Predigerkirche.
  3. 1776Werner de Lachenal took over the anatomy and botany chair and improved the garden’s facilities and funding.
  4. 1822The anatomy and botany chair separated.
  5. 1836The garden moved to the Aeschentor site when Markgräflerhof became a city hospital.
Show all
  1. 12 July 1898The garden opened beside Spalentor on the former Spalengottesacker grounds, its fourth location.
  2. 1996The Viktoriahaus was restored to its original design.
  3. 2019–2022The old tropical greenhouse was rebuilt because it no longer met modern needs.
  4. 26 May 2023The replacement tropical greenhouse opened.

Best time to visit

  • On Sundays, the garden association runs an information stall beside the pond, with snacks, drinks and ice cream.

How to get there

  • BusAddress: Spalengraben 8, 4051 Basel. The main entrance is on Spalengraben beside Spalentor; another entrance is on the east side of Petersplatz.
  • BusFrom Basel SBB or Basel SNCF, take bus 30 toward Badischer Bahnhof and get off at Spalentor. The garden entrance is across the street from the stop.

Accessibility

  • Wheelchair-accessible entrance by Schönbeinstrasse 6 By the Institute building.
  • Wheelchair-accessible entrance by Spalentor Opposite the Spalentor stop for tram 3.
  • Greenhouses Some greenhouses are not wheelchair-accessible.
  • Paths Some paths are uneven and narrow.

Sources: Botanischer Garten der Universität Basel - Wiki… · Home | Botanical Garden | University of Basel · Visitors | Botanical Garden | University of Bas… · History | Botanical Garden | University of Basel · checked 28 Sep 2026

Where
Spalengraben 8, Basel, 4051

Plan from here: Evening walk →

Questions and answers

Can I join a guided tour at the University Botanical Garden of Basel?

The garden association regularly arranges tours in German. Registration is not required.

Can I book an English tour at the University Botanical Garden of Basel?

Private guided tours in English can be booked by contacting the garden at +41 61 207 35 19.

Can I bring a dog to the University Botanical Garden of Basel?

Dogs are not allowed, except assistance and companion dogs.

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