University of Warsaw Botanic Garden

The University of Warsaw Botanic Garden on Aleje Ujazdowskie is the third-oldest botanic garden in Poland and a green enclave in the centre of the capital, right next to the Royal Łazienki. On about 5 hectares grow some 5,000 plant species and cultivars, with greenhouses including a palm house, a rose garden, a rock garden and a historic observatory. It makes a calm stop while exploring the Royal Route.

History: beside Łazienki since 1818

The first university garden was founded in 1811 at the Kazimierzowski Palace for the Warsaw School of Medicine. From 1816 it was run by Professor Michał Szubert, who found the site too cramped and pushed for a move. The present garden dates its founding to 15 December 1818, when permission was granted to move it to land beside the Belweder and the upper part of Łazienki. At first it covered 22.5 ha, and its 1824 catalogue listed more than 10,000 species.

After the November Uprising and the closure of the university in 1834, a large part of the grounds, including the greenhouses, was annexed to Łazienki Park, and the garden shrank to about 5.16 ha. In August 1942 the occupiers removed the scientific staff, and in the Warsaw Uprising of 1944 every building and greenhouse was reduced to rubble. Rebuilding began as early as 1945.

What to see

• The Astronomical Observatory from 1820–1825, built on the site of a former orangery.
• The foundation stone of the Temple of Divine Providence, laid on 3 May 1792 by King Stanisław August Poniatowski – the garden was the original site planned for this church.
• The systematic section arranged according to Adolf Engler's system, the rose garden, the rock garden and a section of lowland Polish flora with about 250 species.
• An arboretum with 23 trees and shrubs protected as natural monuments, including a dawn redwood and a ginkgo.
• Greenhouses and a palm house opened on 29 June 2005, with about 40 palms. In June 2021 a titan arum flowered here for the first time in Poland.

Tripto tips

In October the garden is open daily 10:00–17:00, with ticket desks open until 16:00. The greenhouses are open Tuesday to Sunday, last entry 16:20, and the orangery is closed until further notice; from November to February the greenhouses are closed. A standard ticket costs PLN 24, reduced PLN 12, and on Mondays from March to October PLN 12. A family ticket costs PLN 60 and a year pass PLN 240 (reduced PLN 120).

Allow 1.5–2 hours for an unhurried walk through the garden and greenhouses. It is most colourful in spring and in June, when the roses bloom, while autumn brings changing leaves. The garden is at Al. Ujazdowskie 4, a few minutes' walk from plac Na Rozdrożu; parking nearby is difficult, so public transport is the better option. Afterwards, walk on to the Royal Łazienki or take a look at the Belweder.