This incredible world has SO many natural wonders that are truly breathtaking. But there are also numerous man-made attractions around the world that are also worth noting, celebrating and.. seeing at least once with your own eyes.
Take beautifully landscaped gardens for example. They are a great way to enjoy what mother nature has to offer, with a little help from some very creative humans.
Green spaces, plants and flowers have a way of giving us a sense of calm and helps us find some much needed peace. And after another long, depressing winter and a surprisingly rainy spring, we cannot wait to go outdoors and enjoy some warm weather.
Walking through any of the following 25 gardens from around the world will certainly uplift your mood.
From North America to Europe, Africa and Asia, each part of the world has a few exquisite gardens worth making a detour for.
Whether you’re lucky enough to live close by to any of these wonderful gardens, or if you’re just planning a vacation, try to visit at least one of these following gardens if you can. To top it off, they will make for some amazing pictures as well!
Let’s see which are the 25 most beautiful gardens in the world, in our opinion.
25. Allerton and McBryde Gardens, Hawaii, USA
If you’re looking for a nice day trip while you’re on the island of Kauai, head over to the Allerton and McBryde gardens. These two side by side gardens contain a fascinating history, and the whimsical garden will bring you pure joy. Try to include it on your list next time you’re in the area.
24. Aswan Botanical Garden, Egypt
The Aswan Botanical Garden covers 16 acres full of different species of birds and flora. The gardens contains majestic trees, such as palm trees, and a variety of imported exotic plants from parts of Africa, India, and the Far East. Lord Horatio Kitchener is responsible for gifting the island to the Egyptian government, who is now operating the gardens.
23. Mauritius National Botanical Garden, Mauritius
The lush National Botanical Garden from Mauritius was formerly known as Sir Seewoosagur Botanic Garden. As one of the most visited attractions in the country, the garden is located in the district of Pamplemousse, near Port-Louis.
Home to an incredible variety of indigenous tropical plants, the garden offers you a chance to explore different plant species. The French influence can still be noticed today.
22. Pukekura Park, New Plymouth, New Zealand
Pukekura Park, set at the center of New Plymouth, the breezy coastal city, spreads over 128 acres of land. Featuring stunning waterfalls and alluring formal gardens, this place is worth a detour.
There are many attractions, such as the Mishima Torii gate, Cannon Hill, Poet’s Bridge, and a multitude of fountains and water features, along with gorgeous plants and flowers.
21. Jardim Botanico Do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Open to the public more than 200 years ago, the Botanical gardens of Rio de Janeiro are located in the South Zone of the capital. When the gardens were first built, only the Royal family has access to the grounds.
But now, everyone can enjoy strolling through the well manicured gardens and ponds. Some of the areas feature plants that are specific to the Amazonian region, which is always a nice way to enjoy the local greenery.
20. Brisbane Botanic Gardens, Australia
Step out of the city and into these lush subtropical botanical gardens located on the edge of Brisbane. The city’s exotic gardens spread out over 135 acres, and they feature a large collection of native Australian rainforest trees.
Other attractions are a bamboo grove, arid gardens that contain succulents and aloe plants, a japanese garden, a fern house, and waterfalls. You can also hike through the scenic Spotted Gum Trail, among eucalyptus forests.
19. Vallarta Botanical Gardens, Mexico
Located 11 miles south of Puerto Vallarta, the city’s spectacular Botanical gardens feature more than 3,000 species of plants. Along with a wide variety of flowers, there is a vast area of tropical forest.
There, you can hike or swim then go admire the blue agave plants, or any other flowers that catch your eye. The garden is registered with the Botanic Gardens Conservation International in England, and you can also watch the multitude of colorful birds.
18. Kenrokuen Garden, Japan
Once part of the outer part of the Kanazwa Castle in Japan, these gardens were created over two centuries ago. The main goal was to build the perfect garden, which contains six elements.
The antique elegance, artificial construction, a magnificent view, spaciousness, tranquility, as well as water features are all incorporated into this natural wonder. It features a tree house that was built in 1774, the oldest fountain in Japan, as well as almost 9,000 trees.
17. Sanssouci Park, Potsdam, Germany
Surrounding the splendid Sanssouci Palace, which was built in 1744 by Frederik the Great, the King of Prussia, Sanssouci Park is one of the loveliest gardens to visit in Germany.
While the King meant for the park to serve as a place to cultivate figs, grapes, and plums, he added a terraced garden that had an amazing view. You can see a vineyard terrace, a hedge quarter, a Chinese teahouse, and more than 3,000 fruit trees.
16. Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden, Japan
Formerly a residence of the Naito family, Shinjuku Gyoen is now one of the most beautiful gardens in Tokyo. In spring, you can see more than 1,000 cherry trees in fill bloom, which is quiet a sight. In the fall, the Japanese maple trees show off their gorgeous colors. It is a beautiful public park that contains a formal, a traditional, and a landscape garden.
15. Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild, France
Located on Saint-Jean-Cap Ferrat on the French Riviera, this charming garden is also known as Villa Ile-de-France. It was originally constructed for The Baroness Beatrice de Rothschild, who was a keen gardener. She designed a few themed areas herself, such as a Spanish garden and a Florentine garden, just to name a few.
We’ve been there just a few weeks ago and trust us, it’s even more beautiful than it seems to be in all the photos and videos you’ll find online. It was so nice that we.. just didn’t want to leave this place. And it also has a wonderful restaurant and a lovely terrace on-site.
14. Gardens by the Bay, Singapore
One of the newest gardens on our list, Gardens by the Bay opened its doors to the public in 2012. Since then it had more than 50 million visitors and that number is growing every single year. In these mesmerizing gardens you’ll also find Cloud Forest, the second tallest waterfall on the planet.
There are also a three waterfront gardens and a grove that holds 18 luminous trees. These extraordinary structures are linked by an elevated walkway, where a restaurant is located.
13. Nong Nooch Tropical Garden, Thailand
Spanning over 500 acres, the Nong Nooch Tropical Garden is easily one of the most beautiful tropical gardens in the world. With more than just pretty flowers, the botanical garden includes a whole resort.
There are restaurants, a swimming pool, and luxurious accommodations on the site, as well as cultural shows presented at the Thai Cultural Hall. Make it a whole adventure!
12. Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, South Africa
Spreading out over 1,300 acres of land and located at the base of Table Mountain in Cape Town, Kirstenbosch is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful botanical gardens in the world.
Showcasing more than 7,000 South African species of plants and flowers that are native to the region, it makes their landscaped gardens magnificent. The Tree Canopy Walkway is also worth walking through.
11. Dubai Miracle Garden, UAE
Photographers and content creators love taking pictures at the fabulous Dubai Miracle garden. With more than 250 million plants and 50 million flowers, it is a real paradise on earth.
The largest natural flower garden in the world spreads over 72,000 square meters, and it attracts more than 1.5 million visitors each year. The largest floral arrangement in the world is a replica of an Airbus A380, making it a Guiness World record breaker.
10. Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, UK
No garden list would be complete without at least one UK garden. The Brits are famous for their elaborate, perfectly manicured lawns and green spaces, therefore you must visit at least one of their multiple gardens while in London.
The best place is the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, which also has hidden gem on site: The Marianne North gallery. The Victorian building is worth a visit on its own, but the Hive, the Treetop Walkway, among many other attractions, are also a must-see.
9. Longwood Gardens, United States
If you happen to be in Pensylvania and have a 3-4 hour slot to spare in your day, these magical gardens are definitely worth a visit. The massive Longwood botanical gardens extend over 1,075 acres, and you can visit any time of the year.
Before the holidays, you can admire the Christmas themed garden, and at night the Open Air Theater Fountain shows are a small illuminated wonder. Blending engineering and horticulture, the Garden Railway is a popular attraction, along with the Main Conservatory.
8. Monte Palace Gardens, Madeira, Portugal
With an extensive collection of exotic plants from all around the world, Monte Palace Gardens is located on the beautiful Madeira island. Spreading over multiple levels, and with more than 70,000 square meters of land, these breathtaking gardens will prove to be a lovely day trip.
Depending where you are located in the gardens, you can get some fantastic views of the sea, as well as of the city of Funchal. Along the stunning gardens, you can also admire the important collection of 15th and 16th century Hispano-Moorish tiles.
We’ve been there two years ago and it was easily one of our favorite places to see in Madeira.
7. The Butchart Gardens, Canada
One of the most popular tourist attractions in British Columbia, the Butchart gardens get more than a million visitors every single year. Created by the wife of a cement manufacturer, Jennie Butchart, right in the heart of an old limestone quarry, this place is a National Historic Site of Canada, that attracts people form all over the world today.
The breathtaking Victorian garden holds over 900 plant varieties and it has so many picturesque corners, and the gift shop and the on-site restaurants will make your stay here even better, so you don’t have to rush through the entire site.
6. Villa D’Este Gardens, Tivoli, Italy
About an hour outside of Rome, in Tivoli, you’ll find this sumptuous 16th century mansion. Home to a breathtaking Italian Renaissance garden, the terraced hills of Tivoli gardens are simply magical.
With an astounding 500 fountains and sculptures of nymphs, this site is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its most notable feature is the Fountain of the Organ, a marvelous water feature worth photographing.
5. Gardens of Versailles, France
Another iconic French attraction, the formal gardens from the Versailles palace were created by the French landscape artist Andre Le Notre for King Louis the XIV. Spread over almost 200 acres of land, the massive Versailles Gardens project took more than 40 years to complete.
Among some of its most notable features is the large parterres, with their symmetrical and elegant patterns. With more than 220 sculptures on site, it is also among the largest open-air museums in the world. And Queen’s Hamlet, a charming model village is also a must-see.
4. Isola Bella, Italy
Located close to Lake Maggiore, Isola Bella, or beautiful island, is one of the three Borromean islands that is owned by the Barromeo family. They’ve been the owners of the three islands since the 16th century, and Isola Bella houses a gorgeous baroque style garden.
On the garden site, there is the Palazzo Borromeo, as well as a few artificial grottos. The emblem of the family, a unicorn, can be found in the Teatro Massimi, alongside a few other statues.
3. Jardin Majorelle, Morocco
This mesmerizing garden is associated with the late French painter Jacques Majorelle, who inspired the site. It took almost forty years to complete Jardin Majorelle, but it was definitely worth the wait. This tropical garden is spread over 9,000 square meters, and it is characterized by Moorish and Art Deco influences.
In 1980, Pierre Berge and partner Yves Saint-Laurent purchased both the gardens and the villa located on the site and renovated them. Paul Sinoir designed the vibrant blue villa in the Cubist style, which makes it a focal point amidst the lush gardens.
2. Fondation Monet in Giverny, France
If you haven’t heard of one of the most famous Impressionist painters in the world, Claude Monet, you need to get out more. Or do a Google search, at the very least. The gardens that honor the late painter are located in a picturesque area of Normandy.
Fondation Monet Gardens are truly sublime, if we may say so ourselves. They are typically open from June until the beginning of November. The Japanese style gardens as well as the pink house where the painter used to live are their more noteworthy stops.
1. Keukenhof, Netherlands
Famous for their tulips and lots of other flowering bulbs, the Keukenhof, nicknamed The Garden of Europe, is among the largest gardens in the world. Located in the town of Lisse, in close vicinity to Amsterdam, it spreads over 32 hectares of land. The only thing to keep in mind if you’re planning a visit is that it is only open from mid-march to mid-may generally.
Each year, about 7 million bulbs are planted, and it boasts around 800 varieties of tulips. Supplied by the growers in the area for free, it is a great place to visit if tulips happen to be your favorite flowers.
These gardens don’t compare to the ones we have in our backyards, but they are so breathtaking we just can’t help but draw inspiration from them. At the very least, they make for few wonderful hours spent outdoors and a few gorgeous pictures. We hope you enjoyed this list of the 25 most beautiful gardens in the world.
Contents
- 25. Allerton and McBryde Gardens, Hawaii, USA
- 24. Aswan Botanical Garden, Egypt
- 23. Mauritius National Botanical Garden, Mauritius
- 22. Pukekura Park, New Plymouth, New Zealand
- 21. Jardim Botanico Do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- 20. Brisbane Botanic Gardens, Australia
- 19. Vallarta Botanical Gardens, Mexico
- 18. Kenrokuen Garden, Japan
- 17. Sanssouci Park, Potsdam, Germany
- 16. Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden, Japan
- 15. Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild, France
- 14. Gardens by the Bay, Singapore
- 13. Nong Nooch Tropical Garden, Thailand
- 12. Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, South Africa
- 11. Dubai Miracle Garden, UAE
- 10. Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, UK
- 9. Longwood Gardens, United States
- 8. Monte Palace Gardens, Madeira, Portugal
- 7. The Butchart Gardens, Canada
- 6. Villa D’Este Gardens, Tivoli, Italy
- 5. Gardens of Versailles, France
- 4. Isola Bella, Italy
- 3. Jardin Majorelle, Morocco
- 2. Fondation Monet in Giverny, France
- 1. Keukenhof, Netherlands
