A very pleasant and surprising Athens Park
This is one of the most unusual things to do in Athens, as even most locals haven’t made their way out here to explore, but the Athens' Botanical Gardens, one of the major Athens park really do deserve a top place in any Athens guide.
Diomides Botanic Garden is located in the neighborhood of Haidari, on the road to Eleusis and covers an expanse of 1.86 hectares with more than 3.500 different species of plants from all over the world.
It includes the oldest natural pine woods of Attica and in the medicinal plants section there are many herbs, well known for their pharmaceutical properties: thyme, luisa, passiflora, lavender just to mention a few.
The Garden, which is the largest of its kind in Greece, contains multiple sections of great interest and beauty, like the historical plants, many of which are mentioned in ancient Greek mythology: Aphrodite's sacred myrtle, olive tree -the symbol of Athens-, acanthus from which the Corinthian style columns are inspired, a bamboo forest, trees from various continents.
The Botanic Garden is an institute of public benefit and endowment of the University of Athens. It's used by the Agricultural University of Athens and Biological section of the University of Athens for studying plants. Ideal for a walk among nature for nature loving people.
Beyond the organized sections of the Botanical Garden, you have the opportunity to explore the sprawling park. Recommended as a romantic promenade, you can also make it a great day trip from Athens by organizing a picnic!
Booking of free entry tickets is mandatory. Online booking page (in Greek) at https://diomedes-bg.gr/booking/ (click here for google assisted english translation).
ATK - tips & Ideas
Very close to the Diomides Botanic Garden (1km, 0.8m) is located the famous byzantine Dafni Manastery dating from the 11th century of our era and included in the Unesco World Record of Cultural Heritage.
A good idea is to combine your visit to this monument of Christianity with a visit to the Botanic Garden.
Diomides Botanic Garden
403 Iera Odos Str.,
124 61 Haidari, Greece
Telephone: +30 210-6634725 & 210-6634724.
website: https://diomedes-bg.gr/
Email: uoabotgd@otenet.gr
OPENING HOURS
Our Park operates daily from 9:00 am until sunset.
Diomides Botanic Garden on map
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