Botanical Gardens

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  • Address
    ul Professora Popova 2, Petrogradsky
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  • Phone
    346 3639
  • Transport
    underground rail: Petrogradskaya

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Lonely Planet review

On eastern Aptekarsky (Apothecary) Island, this quiet jungle was once was once a garden of medicinal plants that gave the island its name. The gardens date to 1714, when they were founded by Peter the Great himself.

The botanic gardens contain 26 greenhouses on a 22-hectare site. It is a lovely place to stroll and a fascinating place to visit - and not just for botanists.

At the turn of the 20th century, these were the second-biggest botanic gardens in the world, behind London's Kew Gardens. However, 90% of the plants died during WWII, which makes the present collection all the more impressive (you will recognise the 'veterans' by their war medals).

A highlight is the tsaritsa nochi a flowering cactus that blossoms only one night a year, usually in mid-June. On this night, the gardens stay open until morning for visitors to gawk at the marvel and sip champagne.