Fodor's Expert Review Nikitskiy Botanical Garden

The gardens were first laid out by Christian Steven, a Russian botanist (Swede by birth) in 1812. This superb example of architectural landscaping is also the largest scientific-research establishment in southern Ukraine and a nature reserve. The garden covers a few square kilometers of hillside all the way to the shore and is a home to 25,000 species of plants. The park is divided into 4 different sections, including an extensive rose garden and a garden of subtropical plants.