The Botanical Garden of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, situated in Sofia between the neighborhoods of Dragalevtsi and Boyana south of the Ring Road, is a distinguished botanical institution with a rich history. Established in 1882 as the Prince’s Botanical Garden, it originally occupied a central location in the city, where the Monument to the Soviet Army stands today.
In 1947, the garden became part of the Institute of Botany and underwent subsequent transformations, eventually becoming an independent division within the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (BAS). Since 1947, the Botanical Garden has been an integral part of the BAS, inheriting the legacy of the Royal Botanical Garden founded over a century ago in the city center. The garden relocated to its present site at the base of Vitosha Mountain in 1968.
The primary mission of the Botanical Garden is to create and maintain scientifically organized and documented collections of living plants. These collections serve the purposes of botanical research, biodiversity conservation, and education in the natural sciences and conservation. The garden collaborates with state and public institutions, providing consultations and engaging in material exchanges for scientific research and horticultural purposes with 450 botanical gardens worldwide.
The extensive collections of the Botanical Garden encompass around 4,000 species of higher plants, representing over 1% of the world’s plant diversity. Notably, the garden boasts the richest collections of both tropical and subtropical plants on the Balkan Peninsula. This botanical treasure trove contributes significantly to global plant conservation efforts and enhances the scientific knowledge and horticultural practices in Bulgaria and beyond.
Prices:
Disadvantaged persons (upon presentation of: BGN 1.00
BAS employees (upon presentation of a document): BGN 2.00.
Organized groups of students, children: BGN 1.00.
Students, pensioners (upon presentation of a document): BGN 2.00.
Adults (without preferences): BGN 4.00.
Work time:
March – October: Tuesday – Saturday: 10:00 – 17:00; November – February: Tuesday – Saturday: 10:00 – 16:00
