IllustrationCome to Kiel’s university botanical garden to move between mountain plants, northern wetlands and tropical glasshouses in one unhurried outing.
Come to Kiel’s university botanical garden to move between mountain plants, northern wetlands and tropical glasshouses in one unhurried outing. Start at the main gate on the campus: its wrought-iron trees hint at the remarkable African “butter trees” growing inside the collection. The yellow paved path leads towards a central square, a useful place to choose your next direction. This is the current garden at Am Botanischen Garten, separate from the Alter Botanischer Garten beside the fjord.
Let children help decide what to explore. Turn towards America for trees and the play area, follow the European section past its small habitat displays, or head for the glasshouses. The outdoor collection makes comparisons easy: a dune, heath and wet woodland show how plants cope with very different conditions. In the central “System der Pflanzen”, the beds and paving form a family tree of flowering plants. Pick two neighbouring labels and see whether you can find a resemblance.
The Alpinum adds a little height and a change of scale. Small mountain plants grow among substantial rocks, and the artificial hill rises about 10 metres above the surrounding garden. Enjoy it from the paths and do not climb on the rocks, which can shift. Beyond the outdoor collections, the glasshouses bring a noticeable change of temperature and humidity. Choose a few contrasting rooms rather than rushing through every plant label.
There is a satisfying amount to do without turning the visit into a checklist. A younger child may remember the sand and sound installations more than a rare plant. An older one might be fascinated by a leaf that stores water, a plant growing on another plant, or the difference between a giant water lily and a lotus. Photographs and drawings make good souvenirs; leave flowers, cones and seeds where they belong. Eager to name that creature? Identify any animal you find during your visit using the Snappit app.
The university’s botanical garden began in 1669 as a medicinal garden created by Johann Daniel Major, four years after the university was founded. It moved several times as Kiel and the university developed. The present campus garden, its fifth location, opened to the public in 1985. The previous site at Schwanenweg survives as the Alter Botanischer Garten beside the fjord.
For a short visit, follow the yellow path from the main gate to the Lotus- und Gondwanahaus, look through its windows, then return along that path with a detour to the play area before leaving through the main gate. Allow about 45–60 minutes.
For more outdoor variety, go from the main gate through America to Europe, continue to the base of the Alpinum, then return via the medicinal garden and central plant-family beds to the yellow path and main gate. Allow 90–120 minutes, with the hilltop optional. For a garden-and-glasshouse visit, allow 2–3 hours and return from the showhouses by the medicinal garden and central square to the same main gate. These are suggested visits, not waymarked circuits. No complete circuit distance is published; the garden’s approximately 10 km figure describes its whole path network.
The garden normally opens daily and ordinary admission is free; some special events charge. In October, outdoor hours are 09:00–17:00 and glasshouse hours 09:30–16:30. April–September hours are 09:00–18:00 and 09:30–17:30 respectively. November–January closes much earlier: 15:00 outdoors and 14:45 in the glasshouses. February and March have intermediate schedules. Check the official seasonal table and notices before travelling, and leave time to reach your exit.
The entrance approach includes a yellow paved main path. That does not make every garden path or glasshouse route equally accessible: the Alpinum climbs, and the bamboo section has narrow winding side paths. The Westring entrance approach crosses a bridge with a sloping ramp and no steps. Ask the garden about a suitable wheelchair or pushchair route and toilet access before setting out; detailed gradients, widths and thresholds are not published. Only main paths are gritted in winter.
The Alpinum’s mountain plants and optional hilltop view
A living family tree in the System der Pflanzen beds
Contrasting rainforest, cloud-forest and dry-climate glasshouses
A children’s play area with sand, a mound and musical installations
Start at the main gate. Follow the yellow paved path to the Lotus- und Gondwanahaus and view it from outside. Retrace the yellow path towards the entrance, take the signed side path to the play area, then return to the entrance path and leave through the same main gate.
Paving is not an access guarantee for the play area. Confirm your needs with staff; no gradient or width survey is available.
From the main gate, take the left-hand path by the play area into America. Use the connecting garden paths towards Europe and its habitat displays, then continue to the base of the Alpinum. If suitable, add the hilltop paths and return to the base. Continue towards the medicinal garden, take the paths beside the System der Pflanzen beds back to the central square, and follow the yellow main path out through the original main gate.
Use the base-of-hill version if the climb is unsuitable, but check the remaining surfaces with staff. This is not a certified step-free circuit.
Start at the main gate and follow the yellow path to the central square. Continue beside the plant-family beds towards the medicinal garden, then use the connecting paths to the showhouse complex. Choose several open rooms and the courtyard displays. Leave the complex and retrace your outdoor approach past the medicinal garden and central square, then follow the yellow path to the same main gate.
Ask which glasshouse route suits your wheelchair or pushchair. This plan includes an outdoor walk even when rain makes the houses the main attraction.
Choose three photographs: a fan-shaped leaf in the Subtropenhaus, a fleshy jade-plant leaf, and the hanging strands in the Nebelwaldhaus. Let each person explain which shape they would recognise again. Keep plants and labels untouched.
In Europe, pause at two contrasting habitat displays, such as heath and wet woodland. Ask children what looks different about the plants and the ground. Treat it as an observation game; there is no need to identify everything.
Make the Nebelwaldhaus and a dry-climate house your focus, with a drawing stop or a few careful photographs. If any room is closed, choose another open display. Finish in time for the outdoor return walk to your entrance.
Look for the labelled sugar maple in America. The garden identifies it as an early starter for autumn colour, sometimes from early to mid-September. Photograph the leaves on the tree rather than picking them.
This is the giant sequoia, Sequoiadendron giganteum, in the America collection. Look at the contrast between its bark and evergreen foliage. The California-sized giants described in books are not a promise about the size of Kiel’s tree.
Use the plant label to distinguish dawn redwood from the giant sequoia. Its soft-looking needles are shed for winter. The university’s plant sheet marks specimens in this campus garden; the famous tree planted in 1948 belongs to the separate old garden.
In the cloud-forest house, look for the hanging grey-green strands of Tillandsia usneoides. Make a close photograph from the path and compare its growth form with the nearby ferns.
Look for the labelled Chamaerops humilis in the subtropical house. Its fan-shaped leaves make a simple drawing challenge: start with the overall outline, then add the narrow divisions.
Look for Crassula ovata and its thick, rounded leaves. These store water, a useful clue when comparing plants from dry conditions with rainforest plants. Ask staff where the jade plant is currently displayed.
In summer, look through the Lotus- und Gondwanahaus windows for lotus leaves and possible flowers. The plants overwinter below water, so a winter visit will not show the same display.
Look for the great floating leaves in the Victoriahaus. Check the label for the plant on display: the garden cultivates different Victoria water lilies, and the leaf display changes as plants develop.
Use the official plan for WC locations. The America pavilion offers a place to pause, and the play area gives children a break from quiet looking. Do not rely on a café or refreshments as part of this plan.
The main gate is convenient for the Botanischer Garten bus stop. If you arrive via Neufeldtstraße, cross the bridge to Eingang Richtung Westring and remember that gate for your return. The bridge has a sloping, step-free ramp. Check KVG’s live journey information: construction diversions can affect the approach and the return trip.
Tell staff whether your priorities are the play area, Alpinum or particular glasshouses. The visitor plan is useful for orientation but does not record accessible toilet specifications, path widths, gradients or every doorway. The garden can be contacted on +49 431 880-4275 or +49 431 880-4276.
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Choose the right garden
Use Am Botanischen Garten 1–9, 24118 Kiel. The fjord-side Alter Botanischer Garten is another destination.
Arrive by bus
Botanischer Garten stop is beside the main gate. Check KVG for lines 50, 81 and X60; service depends on the day, and X60 has university-term arrangements. Check current diversions too.
Parking needs thought
Campus access around Leibnizstraße is restricted during university working hours. Neufeldtstraße offers an alternative approach over the sloping bridge. Visitors with walking disabilities can ask at the barrier intercom for access.
Plan a toilet stop
The garden map marks WCs by the play area, side entrance and showhouse complex. Ask about current availability and accessible facilities.
Give children room to play
Use the designated play area. Children under 14 need an accompanying adult; supervise closely around open water and the Alpinum.
Leave plants untouched
Stay on paths, do not collect plant material and do not taste anything in the medicinal or useful-plant beds.
Pack lightly
Large bags must stay outside under the visitor rules. Check arrangements before bringing bulky luggage.
Leave wheels at the entrance
Bicycles and scooters are not admitted. Dogs are excluded except assistance dogs; cycle stands are outside the entrances.
Recent snaps will appear here as new observations are added.
Maryland, US
You might spot White-Tailed Deer and Eastern Gray Squirrel.
View guide →
District of Columbia, US
You might spot Eastern Gray Squirrel, Duck, and House Sparrow.
View guide →
Illinois, US
You might spot American Robin, Canada Goose, and House Sparrow.
View guide →
Virginia, US
You might spot Spotted Lanternfly and Northern Cardinal.
View guide →
Take the discovery with you
Identify the wildlife you spot, learn as you go, and keep a collection of the adventure.
