Relax in the Buenos Aires Botanical Garden and discover different styles of gardens, from French to Persian, and Roman to Japanese. Admire beautiful sculptures, pack a picnic to enjoy by the lake or explore the rotating art exhibitions in the 19th-century mansion.
Wander through 7 hectares (17.3 acres) of geographically themed gardens to see plants from America, Asia, Africa and Oceania, as well as native Argentinian species. The garden was designed in the 1890s by a French-Argentine landscaper, Carlos Thays. He once lived in the English-style mansion built a few years earlier by Polish-born architect Jordan Wysocky. Inside the mansion you’ll find a botanic museum and rotating art exhibitions featuring local talent, as well as regular live music events.
The garden features more than 5,000 tree and plant species and five impressive greenhouses filled with tropical flora. Explore diverse landscaping techniques, including the symmetrical French garden layout popular during the 17th and 18th centuries. Walk through the Roman garden featuring cypress and laurel trees. Latin and local names are provided on the plants’ labels for botanists and avid gardeners.
See if you can find all 30 sculptures located in the grounds. Take a picture with the bust of General José de San Martín, who helped Argentina and other South American countries to gain independence. Admire the craftsmanship of works by Italian sculptor Ernesto Biondi and Argentine Lola Mora.
Animal lovers will delight in the company of the free-roaming cats who live and are cared for by volunteers in the gardens. A short walk away at the Buenos Aires Zoo, you can visit the big cats of the jungle and other exotic creatures.
You’ll find the Buenos Aires Botanical Garden in the heart of the Palermo district. Get there by a 15-minute taxi ride or an easy ride on the railway or metro from the city centre. You can explore the garden for free every day of the week, except some public holidays. Sign up for a free tour, conducted in English, of the garden and greenhouses. Check the official website for opening hours and information about the tours.
