Real Jardín Botánico de Madrid

The Real Jardín Botánico de Madrid is a historic botanical garden in central Madrid, founded in the 18th century and serving both scientific and public roles. It is located on the Paseo del Prado near the Prado Museum and Prado boulevard.

Collections include living plant beds arranged for study, specialty glasshouse collections and a herbarium supporting botanical research. The garden displays Mediterranean and global plant species and hosts seasonal flower displays, temporary exhibitions and educational programmes.

The garden’s institutional history connects it with Spain’s scientific establishments and royal patronage from the 18th century onward; its collections and layout have evolved with botanical science. Historic elements remain alongside modern conservation and research facilities.

Situated in Madrid’s central district, the garden is easily reached on foot from major city museums and public transport hubs and functions as an urban green space as well as a research institution.

• History and location: Founded in the mid-18th century, it combines scientific collections and public gardens and is located close to the Prado Museum on Madrid's boulevard, the Paseo del Prado.
• Visiting tips: Spring and early summer are the best seasons for flowering displays; the garden also runs exhibitions and educational programmes linked to its research activities.

What to See #

• Systematic garden: A historic systematic garden laid out to display plant collections according to botanical classification, with beds arranged for scientific study and public display.
• Herbarium and library: A herbarium and botanical library that support research and house preserved specimens and historical botanical literature connected to the garden's scientific role.
• Glasshouses: Glasshouses that accommodate collections of succulents and tropical plants not suited to Madrid's outdoor climate.