Botanical Garden
Botanical Garden
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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4.0
116 reviews
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30
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56
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23
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4
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Steviefull
Kidderminster, UK2,040 contributions
Jul 2021
Having just arrived in Iceland early we grabbed a spot of lunch and had some time before our hotel room was ready so went for a little walk about and ended up here. It's a well maintained (in fact there were many people working on the gardens when we visited) area with the highlights being the wet areas with the birdlife and bridges crossing them.
In July when we went it was a nice casual dry day so that made it a relaxing experience after a tiring morning of travelling.
Don't go out of your way to visit, but if you are nearby its a pleasing diversion.
In July when we went it was a nice casual dry day so that made it a relaxing experience after a tiring morning of travelling.
Don't go out of your way to visit, but if you are nearby its a pleasing diversion.
Written 22 August 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JC K
Rotterdam, The Netherlands424 contributions
Aug 2023 • Friends
We visited the botanical garden on a Sunday, and we found almost no tourists, but many Icelandic families who came to walk along the paths and enjoy the park and the excellent restaurant.
It is a 45-minute walk from the center. You walk all the way down Laugavegur, you pass the Hilton (right) and then you will see sports facilities, football fields, a stadium on your left. Cross the main road. There are signs there for walkers and cyclists to the botanical garden, which has its entrance right next to that of the zoo, so good parking for the car and easy to find for the walker.
The park is well and clearly laid out. It's not huge, but it's certainly not small either. You can easily walk around there for a few hours, if you also want to read the signs. At the restaurant you can take a paper map in two languages with you, so that you know which part you are in. If you take some time, you will learn a lot about what grows and blooms in these Arctic conditions, and you will see those plants and trees again and again during your journey. Birds hop in front of you, such as the Redwing, the Arctic Redwing. You walk past rocks, waters, bridges and benches where you can quietly take in your surroundings. It is quiet and everyone walks around relaxed and interested.
The restaurant is highly recommended. We enjoyed coffee and cake on a chair in the garden (excellent) and later a delicious lunch in the large greenhouse, because then it became a bit too cold for outside. The tomato soup was delicious, and so was the toasted sourdough bread. And there is also plenty to see in the greenhouse: grapes, passion flowers, a pond with goldfish, great fun.
It is a 45-minute walk from the center. You walk all the way down Laugavegur, you pass the Hilton (right) and then you will see sports facilities, football fields, a stadium on your left. Cross the main road. There are signs there for walkers and cyclists to the botanical garden, which has its entrance right next to that of the zoo, so good parking for the car and easy to find for the walker.
The park is well and clearly laid out. It's not huge, but it's certainly not small either. You can easily walk around there for a few hours, if you also want to read the signs. At the restaurant you can take a paper map in two languages with you, so that you know which part you are in. If you take some time, you will learn a lot about what grows and blooms in these Arctic conditions, and you will see those plants and trees again and again during your journey. Birds hop in front of you, such as the Redwing, the Arctic Redwing. You walk past rocks, waters, bridges and benches where you can quietly take in your surroundings. It is quiet and everyone walks around relaxed and interested.
The restaurant is highly recommended. We enjoyed coffee and cake on a chair in the garden (excellent) and later a delicious lunch in the large greenhouse, because then it became a bit too cold for outside. The tomato soup was delicious, and so was the toasted sourdough bread. And there is also plenty to see in the greenhouse: grapes, passion flowers, a pond with goldfish, great fun.
Written 6 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Desma P
Strahan, Australia106 contributions
Jun 2024 • Couples
We had a few hours to spare waiting for our hotel check in time. We walked to the gardens which wasn’t far from where we were staying. The gardens are free and a beautiful place to walk around on a summer’s day. The extensive selection of plants and trees are labelled. There were many that I hadn’t seen before. I was amazed at how they were able to grow so much from around the world in Iceland’s harsh environment (cold/wind). It got up to about 17-18 deg c on the day we were there which was perfect. There’s a lovely cafe which was inside a type of greenhouse with lovely plants and vines such as grapes (with fruit), clematis and bougainvillea growing about. The food was good too. There’s a little zoo next door which is great for children to visit with mainly domestic farm animals.
Written 17 June 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JTS
High Wycombe, UK11 contributions
Jul 2022
We had some time before we embarked on our cruise round Iceland and this garden was within walking distance of our hotel (but not near the centre of Reykjavik).
It was better and much more interesting than I was led to believe. We had a good conversation with one of the friendly gardeners who was obviously passionate about his work.
The garden is laid out like a park, with a stream, colour co-ordinated borders, and amazing rockeries. There are also more formal beds with plants organised by family.
The cafe in the centre looked good but we did not try it.
Having been brought up in Oxford, with its world famous and ancient botanic garden, I would say this is not in the same class, but you will be amazed at what can be persuaded to grow in these climes.
Definitely worth visiting if you have an hour or two to spare.
It was better and much more interesting than I was led to believe. We had a good conversation with one of the friendly gardeners who was obviously passionate about his work.
The garden is laid out like a park, with a stream, colour co-ordinated borders, and amazing rockeries. There are also more formal beds with plants organised by family.
The cafe in the centre looked good but we did not try it.
Having been brought up in Oxford, with its world famous and ancient botanic garden, I would say this is not in the same class, but you will be amazed at what can be persuaded to grow in these climes.
Definitely worth visiting if you have an hour or two to spare.
Written 2 September 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sofia
Athens, Greece89 contributions
Aug 2021 • Couples
This is a small and nice place for a stroll. However, if you're a traveller (like I am) and don't have much time to spend in Reykjavik maybe this is not worth your time. It's not so close to the city centre (about 40 minutes walk) and it doesn't have a lot to offer.
Written 14 August 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
patn03
Minneapolis, MN712 contributions
Sept 2023 • Couples
Small gardens - we strolled the entire thing in about half an hour. Pretty, although we ended up here at the end of the season. I would second people who say it's worth stopping if you are already in the area, but at least in September it was not worth a drive just here.
Written 9 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rajesh11110
Dubai, United Arab Emirates8 contributions
Nov 2019
I visited this site mid Nov 2019. There were no single plant visible. Only ice, there were signs of some ponds or fountains, but all frozen. Still it was good to see.
Entry was free, no gates, no other activities.
Entry was free, no gates, no other activities.
Written 15 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TheLongLongTrailer
Hartsburg, MO696 contributions
Jul 2023 • Family
This place is huge! The best part is that it is free to roam around. Tons of unique flowers and walking paths that wind around ponds and little bridges. A nice way to spend an afternoon.
Written 12 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
AndreasG6410
Aldrans, Austria7 contributions
May 2021 • Couples
At this location is no botanical garden. The garden is 1 km east of this point. Please update the reference. There is nothing more to say
Written 30 May 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Annelies B
Antwerp Province, Belgium203 contributions
Aug 2019
I took the garden walk (every Friday in summer, free admission) and was suprised by what I learned! About Icelandic plants, but also plants in general. I strolled through the garden before, wondering why they put e.g. sun flowers or plants from Chili in “Iceland”.
After this wonderful talk, I know now why, how they operate, and I pay more attention to plants and trees in general now while in Iceland. Go visit and certainly go for the guided walk if you have the opportunity!
After this wonderful talk, I know now why, how they operate, and I pay more attention to plants and trees in general now while in Iceland. Go visit and certainly go for the guided walk if you have the opportunity!
Written 17 August 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Can you tell us how you got to the Botanical Gardens in Reykjavik? Public transport? Is it far out of the city? Thanks for any advice.
Written 17 April 2018
I rented a car for around $500. Best decision I ever made especially for taxi and bus prices.
Written 18 June 2018
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