The University of Tartu Botanical Gardens is the richest in species in Estonia and a great tourist attraction in Tartu. The mission of the botanical gardens covering 3.5 hectares by the River Emajõgi in Tartu is to introduce to its visitors the diversity of the flora and the use and protection of the plants. The collections exhibited in the botanical gardens include approximately 10,000 types of plants ranging from tundras to tropical rainforests as their natural habitats. The experimental gardens of the botanical gardens are located nearby on Oa Street.

Today, the botanical gardens primarily serve as a study facility for botany, horticulture and nature education for students, pupils and visitors: exhibitions and nature education programmes are organised. The garden exhibits new ornamental plants, and lots of attention is paid on using and introducing garden design methods. In the botanical gardens, fine arts can be found between the plants. The exhibited works are part of the sculpture collection of Tartu Art Museum; among them, sculptures by Anton Starkopf (1889–1966) and other Estonian artists. The newest course in the activity of the botanical gardens is the organisation and implementation of the gene bank of rare and protected plant species and plant species of scientific and cultural value.

Description

Tartu University Botanical Gardens are almost in the heart of Tartu, not far from the town hall. There isn`t parking near the Garden but there are places all over the old town and also across the river where marked parking spots for disabled can be found. The Botanical Gardens are accessible from three sides but with a wheelchair or a stroller you can access the Garden from Vabaduse puiestee street or Kroonuaia street since the old town side (Lai street) has stairs. The Botanical Garden area has many paths, also gravel, ramps that are mostly accessible but on some paths the plants may be a bit on the way. You can also access the greenhouse with a ramp and you can use an elevator to move in the greenhouse of the Botanical Gardens. Accessible toilet is on the outside of the greenhouse, access is from the outside.