Seven hectares of botanical gardens in Palermo, designed by French-Argentine landscape architect Carlos Thays in 1898. Over 5,000 plant species, greenhouses, sculptures, and dozens of stray cats that have colonized the grounds. Quiet, overgrown, and a welcome escape from the city.
Location
Map
Insider Intel
Wander without a map. The gardens are divided into sections (Argentine flora, Asian garden, French garden, Roman garden), but the charm is in the overgrown pathways and unexpected corners. The greenhouse complex near the entrance is worth exploring. Bring a book and sit under a tree.
Spring (September–November) for flowering trees and mild weather. Weekday mornings for solitude. The gardens are open daily, free entry. Closes at 6pm in winter, 7pm in summer.
Carlos Thays was the most important landscape architect in Argentine history — he designed this garden, Parque Tres de Febrero, and dozens of plazas across Buenos Aires. The botanical garden was inaugurated in 1898 and has been maintained (loosely) ever since. The cats are descendants of strays that moved in decades ago — they are semi-feral and fed by volunteers. The gardens feel neglected in the best way, like a secret that has been forgotten. Free entry. Occasionally used for outdoor yoga and cultural events.