Athens Diomidous Botanical Garden

Location: Haidari

The Diomidous Botanical Garden is located in the western suburbs of Athens. A huge area at the end of Iera Odos Street, the garden is located in the neighborhood of Haidari, 8 km from Omonia Square.
The garden lies adjacent to the other main attraction of this district, the Monastery of Daphni.

DISCOVER THE BEST TOURS IN ATHENS!
Discover the best tours in Athens and book the one that meets your interests the most!

Covering an area of 1,860 sq.m., the Botanical Garden is home to over 2,500 different kinds of plants from all over the world. It is the largest botanical garden in Greece and in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Some species are often referred to in Greek mythology and history. Three examples are Ferula communis (the giant fennel; Prometheus allegedly hid the fire inside the plant's hollow stalk in order to offer it to mortals), Conium maculatum (commonly called hemlock, the highly poisonous flowering plant that Socrates consumed and died), and Lilium candidum (known as Madonna Lilly, depicted on frescoes created during the era of the Minoan civilization).

The tour begins from the historical plants section, on the left side of the main entrance. Anthonas, the next section, includes 15 flower beds and 25 lakes.
A bamboo forest is situated a bit further. The plants that grow there are used in different industrial sectors and more importantly in the treatment of infectious diseases.
Coming back to the main entrance, a section that includes trees from different continents, like Oceania, Asia, and Africa as well as North and Central America is located on the right side.

The Diomidous Botanical Garden was named after Alexandros and Julia Diomidous, the instigators and founders of this remarkable site. It was designed by H. Hammerbacher, a professor at the University of Berlin, and opened to the public in 1975.
Nowadays, undergraduate courses at the Agricultural University of Athens and the Biology Department of the National Kapodistrian University of Greece take place there.

The garden boasts great paths, seats, and recreation areas for countryside meetings and most of all an extraordinary ecosystem. It is an ideal place for nature lovers and families. There is also a cafeteria, restaurant and a playground for the children to play safely.

Visitors must book an e-ticket (priced at 0€) from the Botanical Garden's official website in advance in order to get into the area.
Please note that bikes, pets and domestic animals are not allowed.

The photo is taken from www.diomedes-bg.uoa.gr.

Official website: diomedes-bg.gr

How to get there

There are many ways to reach the Botanical Garden from any location in Athens.

Private transfers: We recommend using an online pre-booked transfer service, which provides transfer by taxi, minibus, or private VIP car and arranging a pickup directly from the port, airport, or your hotel. Alternatively, there’s the option of arranging a pickup by a local driver directly at the following numbers: (0030) 18288, (0030) 18222, (0030) 18180. You can also book your taxi online.

Car rental: There is the option of renting a car and picking it up directly from the airport, port, or your hotel. Using a rental car allows visitors to discover the Botanical Garden and many other places of interest in Athens at their own pace.

By bus/trolleybus: The closest bus stop is “Diomideios”. Check the routes and the official timetables on OASA Telematics.