Athens Walker: Diomedes Botanic Garden: a jewel of a garden west of Athens

Local authorities and other Greek officials often use the term “oasis of green” to describe even the smallest of public spaces, but only a handful of places really deserve the title. A, somehow little-known, botanic garden in the western suburbs of Athens is one of these places. The "Julia & Alexander N. Diomedes Botanic Garden" in the western suburb of Haidari is the product of a donation and long-term thinking by late Greek academic, politician and prime-minister Alexander N. Diomedes (1875-1950). If you like visiting urban parks and other public spaces this is something to put in your agenda, even though it will be a bit of a journey. The botanical garden and adjoining wood (186 hectares in total) are maintained and run through funding from Diomedes' trust fund, with the care of the University of Athens, as a public benefit foundation.

Diomedes Botanic Garden, Haidari (Athens suburb), Greece

The botanic garden is based on initial designs by German Professor and landscape architect Herta Hammersbacher from the 1960s but has greatly expanded ever since. It blends nicely with the surrounding forest which, if I remember well, was the site of the now infamous 'Greek wine fest' in the 1970's and 80's (a dark page in Greek wine production associated with binge drinking of low quality wines, ...but that’s another story!).

Diomedes Botanic Garden, Haidari (Athens suburb), Greece

Entering the site, you notice a playground to your right which is popular with small kids and their parents. Straight ahead from the entrance there is an area with plants from Oceania, while to your left you’ll see a wood with typical Mediterranean vegetation, leading to a landscaped area with flower gardens, large lawn areas and plenty of ponds with turtles, insects and frogs dotting this well-crafted, “natural” landscape. There are also sitting areas and a few wood benches that look just right for a pic-nic. Part of the garden hosts an “historic plants” section –not clearly marked but still there!-, with plants mentioned in the Bible as well as in ancient Greek writers and mythology (more about it in the Garden's official site, together with detailed info on other sections of the garden). Obviously there's also a good deal of research and teaching activity taking place here and if you’re interested in knowing more about the garden it is possible to have an educational visit arranged. Contact the site directly for that purpose.

Flowers and grass in Diomedes Botanic Garden, west of Athens, Greece

The Botanic Garden is located 8kms west of Athens city center but there are various buses coming here (some from city center and some from further west), described in the garden’s website. The ones that will serve you best depart from Plateia Koumoundourou in Athens city center (not a great area...) or Egaleo Metro Station (the closest one). See map below for details and advice. There is no legal parking space provided, but parking on the street (Iera Odos) by the Garden is allowed / tolerated according to my experience.

View Diomedes Botanic Garden in a larger map

Days and Hours of operation: As of the time of writing of this post, the Garden is not open during the high “tourist season” (July 15-August 31). Except for major holidays it is open everyday as follows: Mon-Fri: 08:00am-2:00pm, Sat-Sun (and holidays): 10:00am-3:00pm.

Baby watching turtle; Diomedes Botanic Garden, west of Athens, Greece

Flowers; Diomedes Botanic Garden, west of Athens, Greece

Flower bed; Diomedes Botanic Garden, west of Athens, Greece

Flowers and ... busy bee in Diomedes Botanic Garden, west of Athens, Greece

Landscaped section of the Diomedes Botanic Garden, west of Athens, Greece. The nearby Mount Egaleo and the edge of the city can be seen over the tree tops.