The 180-year-old Botanical Garden in Vácrátót is a natural preserve and the richest scientific plant collection of Hungary. The 27-hectare park is home to many plants from all over the world including species from Russian steppes, Central-Asian mountains, trees and shrubs from the Far East, and unique collection of cactuses.
As a landscape-designed garden it has many ponds (inhabited by 22 fish species), streams with a water mill, all possible types of mosses and ferns, and over 62 nesting bird species whose nests visitors can see in the little tree museum by the entrance.
It is a great place to learn and relax while enjoying the true sounds and smells of nature. With its huge and diverse collection this botanical garden is a pleasure to visit in all four seasons.
The Botanical Garden in Vácrátót located about one hour drive from Budapest can be reached by car, bus or train from Nyugati Station to Vácrátót, and the directions are given on the Garden’s website. The train schedule can be found on MAV website.
Botanical Garden is open to visitors from 8:00 to 18:00 from April 1 to October 31, and to 16:00 from November 1 to March 31. The entrance ticket is 760 forints for adults.
There is a restaurant not far from the garden, but we recommend that you also have sandwiches and water with you not to be distracted by hunger or thirst when wandering in this vast park.
More one-day trips from Budapest:
Szentendre
Medveotthon, the Bear Farm
Gödöllő
Visegrád and Esztergom
Vác
Győr
