Ghent University Botanical Garden

The basics

The gardens feature a mix of indoor and outdoor spaces, including tropical and subtropical greenhouses, a special succulent house, vegetable gardens, a pond, and a rock garden. Although many visitors explore on their own, you can book guided group tours of the gardens directly through the university up to four weeks in advance. Tours are themed, covering topics ranging from plant medicine to how plants have inspired many of Europe's most celebrated artists.

Things to know before you go

• The Ghent University Botanical Garden is a must-visit for fans of nature and the natural sciences.

• Admission to the botanical garden is free, but tours cost extra.

• The garden and most of its greenhouses are wheelchair accessible.

How to get there

The Ghent University Botanical Garden is located south of the historic old city, about a 15-minute walk from the Gent-Sint-Pieters train station. The gardens are well connected to the rest of the city by bus, and lines 9, 27, 28, 34–36, 55, 57, 58, 70–72, 76, 77, 94, and 95 all stop close by.

When to get there

The botanical garden is open throughout the year, but spring and summer are the best months to visit if you want to see flowers in bloom. While most of the greenhouses are open during regular garden hours, the succulent house is only open on Sunday mornings for around an hour. Note that the Ghent University Museum is closed on Wednesdays, but has extended hours on weekends and school and public holidays.

The Ghent University Museum

On the grounds of the garden, the Ghent University Museum (GUM) is a must-visit for science fans. Here you can learn all about the world around you through carefully curated exhibits on topics ranging from psychology to biology. The museum also has a couple of interactive games to keep kids engaged and entertained while they learn: Professor DOUBT (for ages 4–8) and the reSEARCHtour (for kids 9 and older). GUM is open Thursday–Tuesday, and tickets can be reserved online.