Merian Garten

Name: Merian Garten
Address: Vorder Brueglingen 5, Basel, 4052, Basel, 4052, CH
Telephone: +41 61 319 97 80

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Parks ·Basel ·Closed

4.72.4K

#23things to do in BaselTravelers' Choice

Visit: 2–3 hours
Not step-free
Good on a rainy day

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About

Merian Garten is an 18-hectare botanical garden in Münchenstein, south of Basel, with plant collections, ornamental beds, vegetable gardens, a historic English garden and nature reserves.

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Merian Garten — Garden restaurant terrace beneath a broad upper-floor window

Merian Garten — Pächterhaus facade framed by mature leafy trees

Merian Garten — Weathered stone fountain sculpture among garden paths and trees

Merian Garten — Rear view of the stone fountain sculpture in the garden

Merian Garten — Side view of the stone fountain sculpture beside a path

Why go

One of Europe’s largest bearded iris collections.
A 2.6-hectare meadow declared a national reserve in 1992.
Garden-grown vegetables, fruit, eggs, honey and seasonal specialties sold by students in the PONTE vocational preparation program.

Opening hours

TodayClosedShow all

MondayClosed

TuesdayClosed

WednesdayClosed

Thursday08:00 – 20:00

FridayClosed

SaturdayClosed

SundayClosed

Don't miss

Villa Merian’s English gardenExplore the historic English garden around Villa Merian.Around Villa Merian
Brüglingen millLook for the 16th-century mill, one of the garden’s oldest buildings.Brüglingen
Berri-Scheune playgroundA playground stop for children.At the Berri-Scheune

Photo spots

Sculptures from the 1984 exhibitionPhotograph the surviving sculptures from Ernst Beyeler’s garden exhibition.

Shorts

History

Christoph Merian cultivated plants from around the world and built an orangery on the estate. The modern botanical gardens began after plans to expand the University Library of Basel prompted a proposal for a replacement garden.

1824Christoph Merian and Margaret Burckhardt received the estate as a wedding gift.
1969The Christoph Merian Stiftung contracted a company to build, manage and cultivate the gardens. Botanist Helen Gräfin von Zeppelin donated about 1,500 bearded iris species.
1972Iris expert Milan Blazek began collaborating with the gardens.
1978A rhododendron collection from Robert von Hirsch arrived.
1980Queen Elizabeth II attended the Grün 80 exhibition and planted a beech.

Show all

1984Basel city gardeners opened a branch in the gardens.
2006The gardens had been known as Merian Park until this year.
2012The Brüglinger Hof vegetable gardens and botanical gardens merged. ProSpeciaRara established its headquarters below Villa Merian.

How to get there

5 minTramTake tram 10 to Neue Welt; the south entrance is a five-minute walk from the stop.
5 minTramTake tram 14 or bus 36 to St. Jakob; the entrance is a five-minute walk from the stop.
2 minCarFrom the A2/A3 Basel-Süd/St. Jakob exit, park at St. Jakobshalle car park and walk two minutes to the entrance. The gardens are a pedestrian zone with no public parking.

Accessibility

Paths Many paths are wheelchair accessible; some have cobblestones or natural surfaces.
Toilets Wheelchair-accessible toilets are at Vorder Brüglingen and Brüglingerhof.
Parking Accessible parking spaces are at the St. Jakob parking lot.
Animals Dogs and other animals are excluded to protect collections, planted beds, food crops and wild herbs. Guide dogs are welcome.

Sources: Merian Gardens - Wikipedia · Merian Gärten - Home · Merian Gärten - Besuch · Merian Gärten - Praktische Infos · Merian Gärten - Wikipedia · checked 28 Sep 2026

Where

Vorder Brueglingen 5, Basel, 4052

Website: meriangaerten.ch/
Phone: +41 61 319 97 80

Plan from here: Evening walk →

Questions and answers

Are dogs allowed at Merian Garten?

Dogs and other animals are excluded to protect the collections, planted beds, food crops and wild herbs. Guide dogs are welcome.

Can I take photographs at Merian Garten?

Private-use photography and posts on personal social media are allowed.

Do professional shoots at Merian Garten need permission?

Published or commercial photo and film shoots require a paid permit.

Can we take wedding portraits at Merian Garten?

Yes. Wedding portraits are allowed even if you are not celebrating at the gardens.

Can I fly a drone at Merian Garten?

No. Drones are not permitted in the gardens.

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