The World’s Most Awe-Inspiring Gardens
Some of the most beautiful gardens in the world can inspire a person to achieve inner peace. They can also inspire creativity, the desire to grow, and the need to surround oneself with pure beauty. All over the world, grand gardens have been cultivated for centuries, and we’ve brought them all to into your home with the following list.
Isola Bella, Italy
The Isola Bella Gardens are located in Lago Maggiore, Italy. 400 meters wide and 320 meters long, the entirety of this small island is a garden complete with a small fishing village. The island is situated in North Italy, is accessible by ferry, and hosts the annual Stresa Music Festival.
Sanssouci Garden, Germany
Sanssouci (located in Potsdam near Berlin, Germany) was the summer palace belonging to King of Prussia, Frederick the Great. The terraced gardens were created in 1774 and 132 steps lead down to the ornamental gardens modeled after Versailles. Frederick attempted to rival Louie’s garden at the French palace for decades.
Denver Botanic Garden, USA
The Denver Botanic Garden is one of the top-rated gardens in the United States. Located in Cheesman Park, the gardens span 23 acres of flowers and greenery. The gardens are themed, and many people flock to the conservatory and sunken amphitheater for local concerts during the summer.
Butchart Gardens, British Columbia
The famous Butchart Gardens found in Victoria, British Columbia, are said to be one of the world’s most beautiful gardens. Floral displays, fountains, and birdhouses add to the ambiance of the botanical background, and millions of visitors stroll through the pathway that lights up at night. The Pavillion is a popular place for parties and events.
Stourhead Garden, England
Stourhead Garden is situated on almost 3,000 acres of land, offering a waterway view and autumn feel to those who come and enjoy the atmosphere. The River Stour flows through the park’s center and gives visitors a glimpse into the calm energy surrounding Wiltshire, England. It’s a woodland wonderland that was created in 1714.
Paleis Het Loo, Netherlands
Het Loo Palace has a private, great garden that lies in the property’s backyard. Originally created as a royal garden, the pathways were constructed for horse and carriage rides, as well as hunting. The garden was last restored in 1970 after the death of the Queen in 1962, and her last wish for the Palace to be returned to the Dutch State.
Nong Nooch, Thailand
Nong Nooch Botanical Garden is a large tropical property located in Thailand with multiple garden divisions to explore. There are French, European, Stonehenge, and Cactus gardens to experience, along with butterfly hills, ant towers, and flower valleys. Taxonomy and horticultural study is a center of activity at the garden.
Gardens of the Villa Éphrussi, France
The Villa Ephrussi de Rothchild is a seaside villa located on the French Riviera. The famous nine gardens were designed to embody a ship with a visible sea surrounding each side. The different garden themes include Florentine, Spanish, French, exotic, Japanese, stone, and rose.
Lotusland, USA
Lotusland (located in California) once hold its claim to fame as opera singer Madame Ganna Walska’s historic estate. Now, it’s known as a non-profit botanical garden near Santa Barbara. In order to access the garden visitors need a reservation in advance. There are 14 themed sub-gardens that represent different cultures and floral arrangements, including a water garden with several different species of lotus flowers to enjoy.
Royal Botanic Gardens, England
The Royal Botanic Garden in Kew, England is one of the world’s most important botanical research and educational institutions. When visitors choose to go explore the gardens, they can also gain access to a tour of the conservation and research activities, as well as the collections of plant species and glasshouses. It’s one of the United Kingdoms highest-rated spots for tourists.
The Master Of Nets Garden, China
In Suzhou, China lies one of the grandest Asian gardens in the world. The Master of Nets Garden combines art, architecture, and nature to achieve a zen-like experience, and is considered a “metaphysical masterpiece” by enthusiasts. It is divided into sections (east and west) representing classic Chinese garden art.
The Garden Of Cosmic Speculation, Scotland
The Garden of Cosmic Speculation is a crowd favorite and a wonderful place to relax and contemplate life. A sculpture garden, the Garden of Cosmic Speculation is located in South West Scotland. As a perfect place for self-reflection and thinking, it has inspired a plethora of references in both music and literature.
The Majorelle Garden, Morocco
The 12-acre botanical garden in Morocco, the Majorelle Garden has been a source of inspiration to many. It currently houses the Islamic Art Museum. The garden was designed by French artist Jacques Majorelle in the 1920s, with construction taking place well into the 1930s. After his death in 2008, designer Yves Saint Laurent’s ashes were scattered in the garden.
Château de Versailles, France
The Palace of Versailles is one of the most treasured and historical kingdoms in not just French history but in all of human history. The Versailles garden spans almost 2,000 acres and holds 50 sculpted fountains, 260 water jets, intricately designed lawns, and hundreds of flower arrangements. It’s one of the most visited sites in France, with tourists vying for a first-hand look at the site of the daily lives of Marie Antoinette and King Louie.
Asticou Azalea Garden, USA
The Asticou Azalea Garden in Maine was created in 1956 next to a nearby harbor. The property contains a sand garden and a Japanese stroll garden, and a water canal which is outlined by fine gravel paths. This garden is one of the most visited attractions in the Northeast.
The Miracle Garden, Dubai
The Dubai Miracle Garden is primarily composed of colorful flowers and extravagant arrangements, much like the city itself. It’s one of the world’s newest gardens, it’s only been open since 2013, but has quickly become a global attraction. It’s the world’s largest natural flower garden and it contains 109 million planted flowers.
Singapore Botanic Gardens, Singapore
The Singapore Botanic Gardens are 156 years old. The tropical garden was founded in 1859 and has been on honored by the UNESCO World Heritage Site. The National Orchid Garden is one of the main attractions to see, growing 1,200 species and 2,000 hybrids of the beloved orchid.
Villa d’Este, Italy
Villa d’Este is a sixteenth-century villa located near Rome and has a hillside Italian Renaissance Garden with a collection of impressive fountains. The 51 fountains are made up of a connected system of water pumped by the nearby natural resources of canals and cascades.
Keukenhof Garden, Netherlands
The Keukenhof, also known as the “Garden of Europe,” is located in Lisse, Netherlands. There are 7 million flower bulbs planted in the park once a year, covering 79 acres, making it one of the largest flower gardens in the world. The Japanese landscape portion of the garden puts a spin on unusual architecture in a natural environment.
Dumbarton Oaks, USA
Dumbarton Oaks is a historical site found in Georgetown, Washington. The property’s garden took 30 years to create, beginning in 1921, and the creators eventually settled on 27 acres of land. The landscaping is designed to resemble a stream-side valley park.
Drummond Castle, Scotland
The Drummond Castle may be famous in Scotland for its historical value, but it’s the palace’s garden that grabs global attention. The terraced gardens are on the steep hill-side of the castle’s land, which also has a downward view of the more formal-looking gardens. The site has been used as a movie set.
Brooklyn Botanic Gardens, USA
The Brooklyn Botanic Garden was founded in 1910 in the Prospect Park area of New York state. The garden spans 52 acres and includes a number of themed gardens, as well as an aquatic glass house, an art gallery, 10,000 species of plants, and three separate, climate-themed pavilions. Over 900,000 people visit the garden annually.
Boboli Gardens, Italy
The Boboli Gardens in Florence, Italy famously keep the Fountain of Neptune as a focal point of the landscape. A collection of sculptures dating back in between the sixteenth and eighteenth centuries are scattered throughout the gardens. Visitors are often attracted to The Isolotto, an oval-shaped island in the center of an enclosed pond which contains a statue of Andromeda.
Berlin-Dahlem Botanical Garden
The Berlin-Dahlem Botanical Garden has become an area of scientific research since its construction in 1897. The garden cultivates 22,00 species of plants and is attached to a research library, as well as an herbarium. The institutions are partnered with the Free University of Berlin.
Rikugi-en Gardens, Japan
In Tokyo, Japan lies the Rikugi-en Botanical Gardens, a traditional Japanese garden compromised of a pond, tres, and small, rolling hills. Construction of the park began in 1965 and was neglected until 1878 until new ownership took over the property. It’s an understated, modest garden, with multiple cherry blossom trees.
Huntington Desert Garden, USA
The Huntington Desert Garden can be found in San Marino, California, and is one of the world’s oldest collections of cacti and desert plants. 5,000 different species of desert plants span across the garden’s 10 acres, with flowers sprouting in summer and fruits and veggies growing in the fall. The unconventional garden also possesses the largest living stone collection in the States.
Ryōan-ji Zen Garden, Japan
The Ryōan-ji Zen Garden is located at a zen temple in Kyoto, Japan. The Japanese landscape is a dry, rock garden in the shape of a rectangle that is 250 square meters. Built in the fifteenth century, experts have debated over the meaning of the garden and its design, examining the wall in the back of the garden, which is perhaps the most significant area of the property.
Exbury Gardens, England
Exbury Gardens is a famous property belonging to a wealthy family in Hampshire, England. The 200-acre woodland garden has a large collection of flowers, and also includes the Hydrangea Walk, a Rock Garden, Iris Garden, and the Sundial Garden. The Camellia Walk takes explorers to the Beaulieu River.
The Bahá’í Gardens, Israel
The Bahá’í gardens in Haifa, Israel are home to religious monks that worship the Shrine of the Báb on Mount Carmel. The holy place is a top-ranked tourist attraction in northern Israel, sitting on one acre of land. The terraces are also known as the hanging gardens, and circular paths and designs surround the shrine. It’s one of the holiest places on Earth.
Villa Lante Garden, Italy
In central Italy, the garden of surprise is more famously known as Villa Lante. The Villa Lante is a mannerist garden, designed to feature water display and extreme hydraulics. In 1944 the gardens were bombed after the fall of Rome, damaging the aesthetics and working water models. It was restored in the late twentieth century.
Claude Monet’s Garden, France
The actual name of Claude Monet’s garden is Giverny, although most tourists and fans of the painter flock to his primary place of inspiration calling it by his name. Monet lived there until his death in 1926 and is buried with his family nearby. Impressionist artists are specifically drawn to the landscape, and is now a center of artistic exploration.
Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, South Africa
Kirstenbosch is South Africa’s favorite garden, located at the bottom of Table Mountain in Cape Town. It was originally constructed to preserve the country’s flora and was the first garden ever to be built for this reason. There are stone sculpture exhibits held in the garden, as well as outdoor concerts in the summer.
Yuyuan Garden, China
Yuyuan Garden in Shanghai is located next to the City God Temple. The garden is divided into 6 different regions that include ancient wells, ponds, pavilions, and small towers. The garden was damaged many times during the nineteenth century and was restored by 1961.
Jardim Botânico de Curitiba, Brazil
Jardim Botanico is a botanical garden in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The garden contains 6,500 species, some of which are endangered, and has artistic, archaeological and historic monuments located on the landscape. Associated with a nearby research institute, many botanical studies are conducted at the garden.
Shalimar Bagh, Kashmir
Shalimar Bagh is designed to look like the Persian or Islamic gardens, and it is located in Kashmir. It’s 31 acres large, with three terraces and a large fountain. The first terrace is along the canal, the second is a zen garden, and the third terrace is a public garden near a waterfall.
Alhambra Garden, Spain
The Alhambra Gardens includes a promenade of Cyprus trees, a gallery, promenade of towers, and garden paths at the palace. The garden sits at the forefront of the once summer palace, and the unique architectural features bring in tourists from all over the world, along with its ancient history and artifacts.
Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, USA
The Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, is made up of 11 acres of landscape enriched with unusual works of sculpted art. Many temporary pieces of art are moved in and out of the property during the year, but there are at least 40 installations that remain there permanently. Floral designs were a part of the landscape for 50 years until it was demolished, and the garden is now connected to Loring Park with a pathway.
Andromeda Botanic Gardens
Andromeda Botanic Gardens, located on the island of Barbados, is a 6-acre tourist attraction with tropical plants, flowers, and trees. It used to be a private garden at the home of famed horticulturist Iris Bannochie, a Barbados native. Over 600 species of plants and flowers were imported to garden, forced to adapt and flourish in the warm climate over time.