10 Most Breathtaking Gardens in the World

In our modern busy lives we do not appreciate and often tend to overlook the natural beauty that surrounds us. Taking a walk through a beautiful garden is a great way to escape the hustle and bustle of the city.

A great garden is a place that will enable you to experience the diversity of Mother Nature along with vibes that only nature can induce. Most cities around the world have gardens and some of them are truly special. In this article, we take a look at ten of the world’s most breathtaking ones.

Gardens of Chateau de Villandry, Indre-et-Loire, France

The Chateau de Villandry in Indre-et-Loire France hosts multiple magnificent gardens which are very popular among the tourists as well as travelers. This particular garden covers nearly 2,000 acres and consists of six sections. Every year an estimated six million people visit the place to embrace its beauty. The upper terrace is called the ‘Sun Garden’ because of the sun-shaped pond which is in the middle of it. It hosts attractive meadow plants which are complemented by lime trees.

The next terrace is called the ‘Water Garden’. During our visit we were so moved by the sheer beauty of this section, we literally decided to sit down in relaxation for hours. We were mesmerized by its pleasing fountains and exceptionally maintained vegetation. The lower part of the terrace is called the ‘Herb Garden’. It’s a space filled with many sweet-scented plants that bear medicinal values. This place has a circular structure symbolizing eternity.

Keukenhof, Lisse, Netherlands

This 80-acre flower garden is one of the largest and most breathtaking ones in the world. Dubbed ‘The Garden of Europe’, this spectacular landscape is home to seven million plants that blossom with unprecedented beauty in the spring.

It’s only open to visitors from March to late May every year. We were fortunate enough to visit the Netherlands during the month of April when it was actually open to the public. It has become one of the most visited places in the Netherlands due to its exclusivity and grandeur.

Nong Nooch Tropical Botanical Garden, Pattaya, Thailand

This awe-inspiring, beautifully designed, and exceptionally maintained garden is spread across 500 acres of land in the city of Pattaya in Thailand. It’s the largest garden in the country and hosts over 650 different types of native flora.

We found this to be a fantastic way to find some relaxation from the city that’s usually full of tourists. It was also a great place to come face-to-face with plants that are native to Thailand.

Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, London

We visited the Sky Gardens in London first but the best was yet to come. Situated in the Kew district of London, this world-renowned place is spread across 326 acres of land. It’s a historic location which is a world heritage site.

Royal Botanic Gardens is home to over 50,000 different plants and hosts various climatic zones, greenhouses, winter gardens, art galleries, historic buildings, and a research haven for hundreds of scientists and researchers.

It’s very easy for a traveler to get lost in this beautiful place as we personally experienced. So it’s a good idea to come here with a Kew gardens map to avoid any confusion. London can be a tricky city to navigate through so you might also need some help on how to get to Kew Gardens. All in all, it’s a very good place to relax after you do a shopping spree in the city.

Butchart Gardens, British Columbia, Canada

This is a national historic site of Canada and one of the most famous gardens in the world. It houses around 700 different varieties of plants spread across 50 acres of land. During our visit, we were fortunate enough to see birds such as peacocks, parrots, and hundreds of thousands of butterflies who call this place their home.

Sometimes one cannot help but compare this gorgeous place to the Botanical Gardens Birmingham. It had resemblances from many landscape gardens from around the world and we never felt like leaving.

Gardens of Versailles, France

Here’s a beautiful landscape that’s known for its beauty and uniqueness. It’s spread over 2,000 acres and consistently attracts over 6 million visitors every year. In 1979 UNESCO recognized it as a world heritage site. We enjoyed its lovely French design with more than 370 statues and 600 fountains. The Gardens of Versailles consist of over 200,000 flowering plants, hundreds of acres of flower beds, and 750 acres of forest.

We felt that it was a very complete garden with something for everyone from tried workers looking for relaxation to serious enthusiasts of flora.

Giardini Botanici Villa Taranto, Piedmont, Italy

This Italian masterpiece houses over 20,000 different species of plants. It’s situated in the Piedmont region in the Northern part of Italy. It spans over 40 acres offering everything one would expect from a world-class location.

Dolly442 [CC BY-SA 3.0]

One of the most distinctive memories during our visit to this garden is how well it portrays the essence of the Italian culture.  It’s not just about the plants as it also consists of waterfalls, fountains, Italian statues, and ponds that give visitors a unique experience which is an interesting combination of natural and manmade beauty.

Kenrokuen, Kanazawa, Japan

All over the world, the people of Japan are preconceived to be crafty, hardworking and innovative. This stunning place bears all the above-mentioned values and more. It’s considered to be one of the three great gardens in Japan.

During our visit, we were unable to comprehend how such a magnificent location was free for visitors from all around the world. One of the most impressive qualities of the location is how it has been built through careful planning and evaluation spanning over two centuries. One can’t help but really see the immense amount of work put in to build such a mesmerizing masterpiece.

Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Brooklyn, New York

Located in the heart of a major metropolis, this 52-acre place is known for its cherry trees that attract visitors by the thousands during the month-long blossom festival. It’s very popular amongst students since it hosts many educational, conservation, and community horticulture programs. One of its qualities that impressed us the most was how unique the place actually is in terms of diversity.

We must highlight the Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden, Shakespeare Garden, Native Flora Garden, and Water Garden for their unique landscapes and natural beauty.

Longwood Gardens, Pennsylvania, U.S

This highly sought after American botanical garden is open to visitors throughout the year. It consists of 1077 acres of well-maintained and beautifully landscaped land which is home to more than 11,000 types of trees and plants.

We felt the best part of it was the 86-acre meadow garden that was simply breathtaking. It also did remind us of the beautiful Cambridge Botanical Gardens that almost made it to this list. We must mention that it’s a good idea to set aside a few days to truly experience how fantastic the Longwood Gardens is.

In Summary

A visit to the garden does not necessarily mean staring at plants and trees all day. Many locations offer alluring architectures and exciting activities that create a fantastic atmosphere for their visitors.

Gardens like these are a great way to remind ourselves what important role nature plays in our lives. It’s important to mention that one must never visit a renowned public garden in a hurry. Be prepared to simply relax and soak in the beauty.

What are your ideas? Do you know of better gardens? Share them below!

Thomas Glare (Author’s Bio)

An architect by profession, writer by vocation, Thomas loves open space designs and quietful places. He spends most of his time writing novels, fiction and articles related to architecture and design.