The rhododendron valley
The whole slope flowers in May.
Bulver — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Björn S... — CC BY-SA 2.0 · C T Johansson — CC BY-SA 3.0 · C T Johansson — CC BY-SA 3.0
Gothenburg's botanical garden is the largest in Sweden and among the largest in Europe: a hundred and seventy-five hectares holding more than sixteen thousand plant species, with an adjoining forest nature reserve. Entry to the outdoor garden is by nominal donation only. Its sections are arranged as a geographical journey: a rock garden internationally known for alpine plants from the Himalayas and the Andes, a rhododendron valley that flowers in May in colours covering the entire slope, a Japanese garden, and a vast collection of bulbs and lilies. Timing changes the experience completely — May and June are the flowering peak. The glasshouses carry a separate nominal ticket and hold the best-known orchid collection: over fifteen hundred species, some extremely rare. The garden connects directly to Slottsskogen park and the Anggardsbergen forest reserve, so you can walk between them all on a single green route taking half a day.
The whole slope flowers in May.
Over 1,500 species in the glasshouses.
Carl Skottsbergs gata 22A, 413 19 Gothenburg
SlottsskogenSlottsskogen is Gothenburg's largest park at close to a hundred and thirty-seven7 minutes walk4.7
The Gothenburg Museum of Natural HistoryGothenburg's Museum of Natural History is **the oldest museum in the city**, fou9 minutes walk4.6
Skansen KronanSkansen Kronan is an octagonal stone redoubt standing on a rocky hilltop above t19 minutes walk4.6
Masthugg ChurchMasthugg Church stands on a rock hill west of central Gothenburg, and its red br22 minutes walk4.4
HagaHaga is Gothenburg's oldest suburb, laid out in 1648 outside the city walls to h22 minutes walk4.6May without competition if you want maximum flowering — the rhododendron valley alone justifies the trip that month, followed by early June. July and August are green but less colourful, and September brings autumn tones. In winter the outdoors is dormant and the glasshouses alone make the visit worthwhile.