7 Most Breathtaking Gardens in the World

Take a trip with us as we explore seven mesmerising gardens around the world.

If you think you've got your spring trip bucket list sorted, think again as you're sure to make some additions after you see these colourful oases of serenity, renowned for their natural beauty, abundant flora and walking trails.

Click ‘Begin Slideshow’ to see the full list.

By Roula Allam

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Kew Gardens, England

Founded in 1840, Kew Gardens, in Richmond, is the world's largest collection of living plants. Its living collection includes over 30,000 different species of rare and beautiful plants. In addition, the gardens, which were put on the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites in 2003, boast a lot more. You can explore over 1.3 km² of landscapes and gardens, stroll a soaring treetop walkway and wander through tropical glasshouses reaching up to 27°C. The world’s most famous gardens will also amaze you with its art galleries, a serene lake, water lily pools and Princess of Wales Conservatory, where you can travel through 10 climatic zones.

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Keukenhof Gardens, The Netherlands

Keukenhof is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful gardens in the world. There are over seven million bulbs in bloom, with daffodils and hyacinths and a total of 800 varieties of tulips. Situated in Lisse, this spring marvel is one the world's largest flower gardens. Besides the spacious 0.32 km² of flowers, you can enjoy the spectacular flower shows, surprising inspirational gardens, unique artwork and wonderful events. One must-see is the Tulpomania exhibition in the Juliana Pavilion. Keukenhof, also known as the Garden of Europe, is one big party for children too, with boat and bike rides and other special activities.

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Suan Nong Nooch Tropical Botanical Garden, Thailand

Opened to the public in 1980, the garden was named in honour of Nongnooch Tansacha, one of the owners who decided to turn what was a fruit orchard into a tropical garden. Located in Chonburi Province, it can be described as the most gorgeous and biggest botanical garden in Southeast Asia, spanning about 2 km². Over 2,000 visitors from around the world visit the garden daily to see the largest variety of palms and cycads in the world and delights like the Orchid & Bromeliad Display Garden, Butterfly Hill and Stonehenge Garden. There are also a lot of interesting shows.

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Butchart Gardens, Canada

Over a century ago, Jennie Butchart began building what is now one of the world’s premier floral show gardens in Victoria, British Columbia. The greenhouses operate year round to produce a seemingly unending supply of colourful plants. Each flower bed in the gardens is replanted at least once each year with some of the plantings changed up to five times. Over 900 varieties of plants are used in their summer displays alone. You’ll see absolutely stunning tuberous begonias and magnificent delphiniums, which create a dramatic backdrop to the Rose Garden and much more.

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Jardin Majorelle, Morocco

Jardin Majorelle took French painter Jacques Majorelle 40 years to create. The enchanting garden in the heart of Marrakesh opened to the public in 1947 after he had brought rare varieties of trees and plants from around the world, including cacti, coconut palms, thujas, weeping willows, carob trees and agaves. Amidst the exotic collection there are burbling streams and pools filled with water lilies and lotus flowers and a Berber Museum with its Moorish charm. The bold colour scheme, including the “Majorelle blue”, also makes it unique, and it inspired Yves Saint Laurent, who bought the garden with Pierre Bergé in 1980.

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Jardim Botânico, Brazil

Rio de Janeiro’s exotic 1.37-km² garden boasts over 8,000 plant species. The garden was created by order of the Prince Regent Dom João (later to become Dom João VI) in 1808. Highlights include the row of palms (planted when the garden first opened), the Amazonas section, the lake containing the huge Vitória Régia water lilies and the enclosed orquidário, home to 600 species of orchids. Additionally, there’s the Museu do Meio Ambiente, which houses temporary environmentally focused exhibits. With its redolent flowers and lush gardens, Jardim Botânico certainly provides peaceful respite.

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Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, South Africa

What could be described as the most beautiful garden in Africa, Kirstenbosch was established in 1913 to promote the extraordinary rich and diverse South African flora. As well as a wide variety of the unique plant life of the Cape Flora, plants from all the diverse regions and biomes of southern Africa are grown at Kirstenbosch, including a near-complete collection of cycads. In fact there are over 7,000 species, incorporating many rare and threatened ones, at the garden, which is part of a nature reserve estate.

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Features

7 Most Breathtaking Gardens in the World

Take a trip with us as we explore seven mesmerising gardens around the world.

Kew Gardens, England

Keukenhof Gardens, The Netherlands

Suan Nong Nooch Tropical Botanical Garden, Thailand

Butchart Gardens, Canada

Jardin Majorelle, Morocco

Jardim Botânico, Brazil

Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, South Africa

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