Jardín Botánico Carlos Thays

Planning a day at Jardín Botánico Carlos Thays is simple but rewarding. Since admission is free and the garden sits at the edge of Palermo—just steps from the city’s bustling subway—spontaneous visits work as well as carefully scheduled ones. Mornings fill the gardens with sunlight and songbirds, while afternoons may attract local families and students. Weekends, especially during the pleasant spring and fall, see the most visitors, but the space rarely feels overcrowded, thanks to winding paths and wide lawns that soak up even the largest groups.

• Best time to visit: Spring (September–November) and fall (March–May) for cooler weather and blooming gardens. Early mornings for quieter paths.
• How to get there: Subway Line D (Scalabrini Ortiz station) drops visitors a block away; city buses and rideshares are also easy options.
• Accessibility: Smooth, gravel pathways are stroller- and wheelchair-friendly, though some side trails may be uneven. Plenty of benches provide rest stops.
• Average visit duration: 1–2 hours for a thorough walk, longer for plant lovers or photography buffs.

Jardín Botánico Carlos Thays packs a remarkable array of sights and activities within its compact grounds. The historic Art Nouveau greenhouse, imported from Paris in the late 1800s, gleams behind beds rich with ferns and tropical palms. Closer to the garden’s heart, several themed zones reveal native Argentine plants from far-flung provinces, European species brought by immigrants, and herbs cultivated in organized plots. Sculpture hunters will encounter mythological creatures and busts of botanists, while quiet corners invite daydreamers, bookworms, or couples lost in conversation among the lavender blooms.

• Key sights: The striking central greenhouse, rose garden, butterfly-friendly beds, and a small but charming botanical library.
• Unique experiences: Free guided tours most weekends (usually in Spanish); spotting resident cats wandering the lawns; themed plantings like the sensory garden.
• Photo-worthy locations: The greenhouse’s filigree ironwork backlit at sunrise; lotus ponds with reflections of old statues; broad avenues lined with plane trees.
• Cultural or historical facts: The garden was established in 1898 by landscape architect Carlos Thays, whose influence shaped much of Buenos Aires’ parkland. The garden’s design blends French symmetry with wilder English and Roman-inspired plantings, echoing Argentina’s multicultural identity.