The botanical garden of the University of Bucharest, founded in 1860 and moved in 1884 to its current 17-hectare site at the foot of Cotroceni hill. The collection includes an extensive Romanian flora section, a Japanese garden, a Mediterranean garden, and four 19th-century greenhouses sheltering palms, orchids, and tropical plants.
The garden is at its best in spring (April-May for tulips, magnolias, and cherry blossom) and early summer, when the rose garden is in full bloom. The greenhouses cost extra and are open more limited hours; the outdoor sections are open daily and very cheap. Bring a picnic — the lawns are pleasant — and combine the visit with a walk through Cotroceni or up to the presidential palace.