Posetite botaničku baštu Reykjavíka

About

Quick facts: Spread across 5.6 hectares, this botanical garden showcases over 5,000 plant species despite Iceland's chilly subarctic climate. Its geothermal greenhouses allow tropical plants like banana trees and cacti to thrive alongside hardy Arctic flora.

Highlights: The garden's geothermal greenhouse complex pumps naturally heated water through pipes beneath the soil, creating microclimates where Mediterranean herbs and subtropical ferns flourish just steps from Icelandic moss and lupine. On a crisp winter day, you can stand surrounded by fragrant rosemary and blooming jasmine while frost coats the grass outside the glass walls.

Insider tips

• Visit the rock garden section first, where volcanic basalt formations showcase alpine plants from high elevations across Iceland.
• The café near the greenhouses serves excellent homemade rhubarb cake, made from rhubarb grown right on the premises.
• Go on a weekday morning between 9 and 11 AM to have the greenhouses nearly to yourself.
• Bring a thin layer for indoors and a warm coat for outside, you'll be stepping between tropical warmth and Arctic air repeatedly.

More attractions in Reykjavík

Hallgrímskirkja

Harpa Concert Hall and Conference Centre

Sun Voyager (Sólfar)

Perlan (The Pearl)