Copenhagen Botanical Garden

The Copenhagen Botanical Garden is at Gothersgade 128 in the Indre By district of Copenhagen, Denmark, close to Nørreport Station, Rosenborg Castle and the King's Garden. It is Denmark's national botanical collection and is run by the University of Copenhagen. The garden was established on its present site in the 1870s, on part of the old city ramparts, and it covers about ten hectares with roughly 10,000 plant species. Visitors can walk through themed areas including a rock garden with alpine plants, a pond with water lilies, a collection of roses, a medicinal plant garden and the Danish flora section, alongside well-kept lawns and mature trees. The best-known building is the Palm House, a cast-iron and glass structure from 1874 that is among the oldest in Europe and holds tall tropical palms, with a spiral staircase leading to a gallery near the roof. Other glasshouses contain cacti, orchids, ferns and carnivorous plants, and a tropical house with a cooler section shows plants from different climates. Entry to the garden is free, and the glasshouses are also open without charge at set times. A typical visit lasts one to one and a half hours, and plant lovers can spend longer. The garden is peaceful on weekday mornings and busiest on warm weekend afternoons, when locals picnic on the lawns. The best photographic views are of the Palm House reflected in the pond and the rock garden with its small waterfalls. A cafe in the garden serves light meals and drinks. Opening hours are longer in summer and shorter in winter, and the glasshouses close earlier than the gardens. Nearby attractions include Rosenborg Castle, Torvehallerne market and the Round Tower.