Diomedes Botanical Garden

The Diomedes garden covers a large stretch of hillside at Haidari, on the western edge of Athens, and is run by the university as a scientific collection rather than a display garden. That distinction explains most of the experience. There are formal sections, including a historical plants area growing species named in ancient texts and a Mediterranean flora collection, but much of the ground is left semi-wild with pine, olive and phrygana scrub crossed by rough tracks. It is the largest garden of its kind in the country and one of the larger ones in the region. In spring the bulbs and shrubs make it worth the trip; in high summer the dry sections look exactly as dry Mediterranean hillside is supposed to look.

What you actually see

• The historical plants section - species recorded in ancient Greek texts, grown and labelled together.
• The Mediterranean flora collection - regional shrubs and trees arranged by origin.
• The semi-wild slopes - pine and phrygana scrub on rough tracks above the planted areas.
• The spring bulbs - the strongest few weeks of the year, in March and April.

When to go

March to May is the season worth planning around, when the bulbs and Mediterranean shrubs are flowering. Opening hours are short and it closes in the early afternoon, so a morning visit is essentially the only option. Weekdays are quiet to the point of solitude. Summer visits are hot and much of the collection is dormant or dry.

Honest expectations

Maintenance is uneven: some sections are well kept, others overgrown, and labels are missing or faded in places. Facilities are minimal and there is little shade on the upper tracks. Getting there by public transport is awkward and the last stretch is a walk along a busy road. Anyone expecting manicured beds and a cafe will be disappointed.

Nearby

The monastery at Daphni, the Athens western suburbs and the road out toward Elefsina.