The Botanical Gardens are located right in the heart of the city. The gardens cover a 2-hectare area featuring around 6′000 plant species growing outdoors and in seven greenhouses.
The Alpinum contains a big selection of alpine plants as well as plants from Asia and North America. Visitors gain insight into the Swiss flora, learn about the many endangered species and feel as if they had been transported to the Swiss mountains. Three other show houses focus on tropical and subtropical vegetation. The Palm House is home to a selection of agricultural plants usually cultivated in humid tropical areas (bananas, pineapple, sugar cane, coffee). The Fern House contains plants from tropical mountain forests such as tree and palm ferns. The third show house is dedicated to the vegetation found in the warm and dry climate of semi-deserts.