The National Botanic Gardens was established in 1705 by the Royal Dublin Society. These colourful gardens stretching over an area of 19.5 hectares, the garden area contains a large collection of plants including approximately 20,000 species.
Notable features include herbaceous displays, rose garden, rockery, vegetable garden, arboretum, extensive shrub borders and wall plants. Gardens are accessible for people with disabilities but there are some steep gradients.
There are four ranges of glasshouses, including Richard Turner's architectural masterpiece, the Curvilinear Range. Also our newly restored Great Palm House. Notable features include herbaceous borders, rose garden, rockery, alpine yard, vegetable garden, arboretum, extensive shrub collections and wall plants.
A new Education and Visitor Centre opened in September 2000. This includes a restaurant/tearoom, lecture theatre and exhibition area. Guided tours of the Gardens are available - these need to be pre-booked for groups; a general tour, which does not require pre-booking, is normally available on Sundays, at 2.30 pm. Cost of tour - € 2.00 per person.
The car park, which also has coach-parking facilities, is located next to the Visitor Centre. Cost €2.
Gardens are accessible for visitors with disabilities, but there are some steep gradients. Wheelchairs are available on request at the Visitor Centre Desk.
Richard Turner's range of glasshouses (1843-1869) is under restoration.
Opening Hours:
Season: Summer
Day: Mon-Sat
Time: 09.00-18.00
Day: Sunday
Time: 10.00-18.00
Season: winter
Day: Mon-Sat
Time: 10.00-16.30
Day: Sunday
Time: 10.00-16.30
Other Facilities:
- Audio-Visual Presentation on the Gardens, their history, the collections and special features, and their year-round appeal, available in the Visitor Centre. Duration 12 minutes, seating (in the Lecture Theatre) for 144 people, available in Irish, English, French, German, Italian and Spanish. Maps and guidebooks also available from the Visitor Centre.
- Restaurant/Tearooms; - open daily. Opening hours - as above for the Gardens, but closing approx. one hour earlier.
- Facilities (disabled visitors); - wheelchairs, toilet facilities.
Admission Charges: Free entrance to the Gardens. There is a small car park charge of €2 (regardless of length of stay).
The National Botanic Gardens are open every day throughout the year, except 25 December.
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