Kiel Botanical Garden

A green research institution of the university

The New Botanical Garden belongs to Kiel University and serves primarily research and teaching. On around eight hectares in the Ravensberg district, plants from all over the world grow, which students and scientists use for their work. Despite this academic function, the garden is open to the public free of charge and is therefore a rare gift in the middle of the city. The carefully planned layout reflects botanical knowledge and arranges the plants by origin and relationship. The garden thus combines scientific aspiration with the experience of a varied, living plant world.

Tropical houses and open-air grounds

In the show greenhouses, tropical and subtropical plants thrive, including orchids, palms, cacti and carnivorous plants, which spread an exotic flair even on cool Kiel days. Outside, the open-air grounds display plant communities of distant regions as well as native species. Particularly appealing are the medicinal, scent and touch gardens, which make plants experienceable with all the senses and are also designed for people with visual impairments. Between greenhouse climate and open garden, an astonishing botanical diversity can be discovered over a short distance — a worthwhile destination in any season.

An oasis of calm in Ravensberg

With its quiet paths, shady spots and flowering beds, the Botanical Garden is a green oasis away from the bustle. It lies on Westring in Ravensberg, easily reached from the city centre by bus or bike. Spring and summer offer the most abundant outdoor bloom, while the greenhouses are worthwhile all year — an ideal retreat on rainy days. Benches invite you to linger and read. Anyone seeking a quiet morning away from the maritime hotspots will find here a relaxing contrast to the fjord shore and the lively Kiel city centre.