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Merian Gardens

The Merian Gärten are a large botanical garden on the outskirts of Basel, Switzerland, covering 18 hectares with ornamental plant collections, vegetable gardens, a historic English garden and nature conservation areas. The gardens are open daily and free of charge, and are home to Europe's largest iris collection with around 1,500 historic bearded iris varieties. Visitors can explore diverse garden areas such as the Rhododendron Valley, the English Garden and the Brüglingerhof farmstead, and enjoy the restaurant and café on site.

Families and Kids

The Merian Gärten offer nature education courses for school classes from kindergarten to 6th grade, as well as an adventure week for children in collaboration with Robi-Spiel-Aktionen. Children can discover farm animals such as sheep, chickens and rabbits, and visit the beehive.

Information

  • Visit duration: 120min
  • Barrier free: Yes
  • For rainy days: No
  • Free entrance: Yes
  • Price range: $
  • Topic: Botanical garden
    • Guided tours: Yes
    • Children experience: Child friendly
    • Children age group: 3-6, 6-12, 12-18
    • Children activities: Workshops, Tours and demonstrations

Opening hours

Open daily from 8:00 until sunset.
Monday
08:00-21:00
Tuesday
08:00-21:00
Wednesday
08:00-21:00
Thursday
08:00-21:00
Friday
08:00-21:00
Saturday
08:00-21:00
Sunday
08:00-21:00

Admission fees

0 CHF
Adult admission

Contact

Webpage
meriangaerten.ch
Email
info@meriangaerten.ch
Address
Vorder Brüglingen 5, 4052 Basel

Access

Nearby stops

  • Basel, St. Jakob550 meters walking distance
  • Basel, Dreispitz700 meters walking distance
  • Basel St. Jakob750 meters walking distance
  • Basel, Leimgrubenweg1050 meters walking distance

Travel duration

From
Travel time
Basel SBB
7m
Olten
40m
Bern
1h 12m
Zürich HB
1h 13m
Luzern
1h 25m

FAQ

  • Are dogs allowed in the Merian Gärten?
    No, dogs and other animals are not allowed in the gardens to protect the collections and cultivated beds. Guide dogs are welcome.
  • Is the gardens' entrance free of charge?
    Yes, the Merian Gärten are open 365 days a year and admission is free for everyone.
  • Are the paths in the gardens wheelchair accessible?
    Many of the paths are wheelchair accessible, though some are paved with cobblestones or natural surfaces. A wheelchair-accessible WC is located at Vorder Brüglingen and on the Brüglingerhof.
  • Can I take photographs in the gardens?
    Yes, visitors may photograph the gardens for private use and share on personal social media channels. A paid permit is required for published or commercial photo and film shoots.
  • Is there a restaurant or café on site?
    Yes, the Restaurant Iris in the Neue Scheune is open daily from 9:00 until sunset, and the Villa Merian café opens in good weather from Thursday to Sunday.