One of the most touristic cities in Spain is undoubtedly Barcelona. And it’s not surprising, because it offers all kinds of entertainment: beach, mountain, architecture, museums, history, art, culture, parties and much more. Even plant lovers are not left out, because in addition to the many beautiful parks and spectacular nature routes in the surrounding area, The Catalan capital also has the Barcelona Botanical Garden.
So that you can get an idea of what this impressive place is, we are going to talk a bit about it and the different collections it houses. In addition, so that you already have all the necessary information, We will also comment on the schedule and entry prices. So now you know: if you like botany and you are in Barcelona, a mandatory stop is its magnificent botanical garden. I hope this information is useful for you!
Contents
What is the Botanical Garden of Barcelona?
When we talk about the Botanical Garden of Barcelona, or JBB for short, we are referring to a magnificent fourteen-hectare park located in Barcelona, the capital of Catalonia. Inside this enclosure is the IBB-CSIC (Botanical Institute of Barcelona). It is a mixed center which belongs to the Barcelona City Council and the Superior Council for Scientific Research (CSIC). The Botanical Garden of Barcelona was inaugurated in 1999, more precisely on April 18. It is located in the Montjuic Park and is easily accessible by public transport and by car.
Inside the JBB we can find various collections that focus on vegetables from around the world from the Mediterranean regions. Basically, they are plants that need the typical climate of these regions to live. This involves long, dry summers, rainy fall and spring, and fairly mild winters.
It must be said that only 5% of the land surface of the entire planet meets these environmental conditions. There are a total of five regions in the world where plants have undergone a very specific evolution to adapt to Mediterranean environments, creating landscapes that are quite similar but different at the same time. At the Barcelona Botanical Garden, the plants are grouped according to these Mediterranean regions.
Collections
When visiting the JBB, we can access the different areas through paths. At the entrance are the Canary Islands, from which we can access the Western Mediterranean, where the Botanical Institute is located. As far as the northern hemisphere is concerned, the most remarkable collection is the Mediterranean basin. From there, following the route of the road, you will reach the Californian coasts with a Mediterranean climate. As for the southern hemisphere, one can walk in the Mediterranean regions representative of southern Africa, Chile and the two Mediterranean regions of southern Australia. Let’s see what type of vegetables we can find in each collection:
- Canary Islands: Here we can not only enjoy spectacular palm trees, but also plants belonging to the genera Echium and Euphorbia.
- Australia: This area is represented by an ancient forest in which eucalyptus, grevillae and banksias predominate. It should be noted that JBB is well known in this sector for having a specimen of Wollemia. It is a living fossil, of which very few remain today.
- South Africa: In this collection there are trees like erythrinas and acacias, as well as beautiful bright flowers like gazanias and succulents.
- North Africa: The most remarkable plants in this area are the cedars and the argan trees.
- California: Here we can find forest formations of various varieties, such as oaks, cypresses, American pines and redwoods. In semi-arid areas there are beautiful agaves and yuccas.
- Chili: This area is populated by dry coastal shore plants, especially cacti and San Pedro puyas.
- The Western Mediterranean: In this collection, the Chaparral stands out, which has various lip, compound and aromatic plants.
- The Eastern Mediterranean: A space where steppes and broom forests and various composite plants predominate.
Botanical Garden of Barcelona: Prices and opening hours
If you are thinking of going to visit this beautiful space located in the Catalan capital, it is important that you take into account his schedule. Let’s see how it is:
- Every day of November, December and January: From 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- Every day of February and March: From 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
- Every day of April, May, September and October: From 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
- Every day of June, July and August: From 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
It is important to note that entry is not permitted half an hour before the park closes. In addition, on January 1, May 1, June 24 and December 25, the Botanical Garden of Barcelona it’s closed.
Prices
It should also be noted that you have to pay to enter this beautiful green space. However, there are specific days when it’s completely free. Below we will list the prices and free entry days:
- Normal entrance to the garden, including the temporary exhibition: €5
- Reduced entrance to the garden, including the temporary exhibition: €2.50
- Normal combined ticket Museum of Natural Sciences with the Botanical Garden: €10
- Reduced combined ticket Museum of Natural Sciences with the Botanical Garden: €3.50
- Combined ticket for Montjuic Castle with Botanical Garden: €7
To visit the Botanical Garden of Barcelona for free only, we can go every first Sunday of the month all day or every Sunday of the year, but from 3:00 p.m. Plus, on some holidays, admission is also free. They are:
- Festivities of Santa Eulalia: February 12 and 13
- International Museum Days: May 18
- La Mercè: September 24
You now have all the information you need to visit this magnificent park in the Catalan capital. If you live there or if you are on vacation, I recommend that you dedicate a day to the Botanical Garden of Barcelona. It is a worthwhile visit, at least for plant and nature lovers.