Jardí Botànic

© Greg Gladman / Time Out

Jardí Botànic review Rate it

After the original 1930s botanical garden was disturbed by the construction for the Olympics, the only solution was to build an entirely new replacement. This opened in 1999, housing plants from seven global regions with a climate similar to that of the Western Mediterranean. Everything about the futuristic design, from the angular concrete pathways to the raw sheet steel banking (and even the design of the bins), is the complete antithesis of the more naturalistic, Gertrude Jekyll-inspired gardens of England. It is meticulously kept, with plants tagged in Latin, Catalan, Spanish and English along with the date of planting, and has the added advantage of wonderful views across the city. A small space houses occasional exhibitions and useful, free audio guides lead visitors through the gardens.

There are also combined tickets for the garden and the Natural History Museum.