University Botanic Garden in Balchik

The Botanical Garden in Balchik is a unit of Sofia University "St Kliment Ohridski", established in 1955 under the direction of Academician Prof. Daki Yordanov. It is one of the Hundred National Tourist Sites. A large part of its territory is designated a protected area under Bulgaria's Protected Areas Act — so what you see here includes natural ecosystems and the region's full biodiversity, not only cultivated collections. The garden forms part of the park of The Palace architectural complex, the former summer residence of Queen Marie of Romania. Along the shoreline, on steeply falling ground, it is laid out as terraced gardens linked by steep staircases, green tunnels and archways. That's what makes a walk here so different from any ordinary park: you move in tiers, and the sea appears now beside you, now below. More than 4,600 plant species are grown here. The cacti — what Balchik is famous for The garden specialises in tropical and subtropical exotics, but it is best known for its collection of large cacti and succulents. Through the warm months these are displayed outdoors — a sight you won't find anywhere else in Bulgaria. Since 2012 there has also been a permanent Cacti and Succulents exhibition, so the collection can be seen year-round rather than only in summer. A separate attraction is the garden of cold-hardy cacti, which surprises most visitors: these species stay outside through the winter. What else you'll see Exotic trees — rubber tree, candy tree and paper mulberry, the ancient ginkgo, metasequoia, southern magnolia, tulip tree, and other species rarely seen growing outdoors in a Bulgarian park. The glasshouses — where lemons the size of a handball ripen, alongside bananas, papaya and other exotic fruit. This is the part children remember longest. The Divine Garden — the celebrated carpet bedding that many visitors come specifically to see. The formal beds and planted corners display annual spring and summer flowers, alpine and aquatic plants, ferns, climbers, flowering and evergreen shrubs, and protected and rare species. Accessibility Since 2005, marking its 50th anniversary, the garden has had an adapted garden for visitors with disabilities, opened officially for that purpose. The rest of the site, however, is steep and terraced, with staircases and sloping paths. Plan accordingly if you're travelling with someone with mobility difficulties or with a pushchair. More than a visitor attraction The University Botanical Garden is a working scientific institution: it hosts research, student fieldwork and programmes in environmental education and the arts. It also serves as a rescue centre for rare and endangered species under the Washington Convention (CITES). It is a member of Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI), the European Consortium of Botanic Gardens and the Educational Botanic Gardens Environmental Network (EBGEN), and its collections take part in the worldwide Index Seminum seed exchange. Opening hours: - April 8:30 – 19:00 - May – 14 September 8:00 – 20:00 - After 14 September 8:00 – 19:00 - October 8:30 – 18:00 - November – March 8:30 – 17:00 The garden is open year-round. Address: 1 Akad. Daki Yordanov Street, PO Box 56, 9600 Balchik Practical notes - An hour and a half to two hours is enough for an unhurried visit. Add The Palace next door and it becomes a half-day. - The best time in summer is late afternoon — the heat eases and the light across the terraces and the sea is at its best. - Wear comfortable shoes: the ground is steep and there are a lot of steps. - Admission is on a separate ticket from The Palace, even though both sit within the same park. - If you're coming for the outdoor cacti, visit between May and September. Outside that window the collection is shown in the indoor exhibition. Nearby - The Palace architectural park complex — immediately adjacent; the two are done in a single outing. - Balchik — the seafront promenade and old town, about 2 km away. - Albena — 8 km away. - Cape Kaliakra — around half an hour north.