Best Gardens In The World: What To Add To Your Bucket List

Sharing Our Insights From Gardens Around The World

There’s something magical about wandering through a garden — no matter where in the world you are. They’re peaceful places that let us slow down, enjoy nature, and get a real feel for the local environment. 

Whether it’s a formal palace garden or a lush tropical sanctuary, each one has its own charm and unique plant material. And we often take inspiration from these locations, trying new plants or implementing design elements into our own garden at home.

In this post, we’re sharing some of the best gardens in the world – the ones that really stood out and made a lasting impression on us. Hopefully, it will encourage you to visit a garden while on your next trip.

Visit The Most Beautiful Gardens in the World

Versailles Gardens, France

If you fancy a formal garden, then Versailles should definitely be high on your list.  Louis XIV ordered these gardens to be created in the 1660s, and they took over 40 years to build. It’s not surprising, given the immense size of the property. We are fairly certain that this is the largest garden complex we have ever visited.

Everything is done on a massive scale. There are huge sections of garden with intricate green spaces, wide pathways, and numerous sculptures. The grounds feature large tree groves that provide a shaded area, perfect for staying cool. There are even several lakes on the property.

While these gardens are not full of flowers, when we visited in the spring, there was a beautiful tulip section. But the structure of this garden is all about the clean lines, the perfectly trimmed shrubbery and the amazing fountains. If you visit during the season, they play music several times per day.

✅ If you would like to get an in-depth look at the Versailles Gardens, consider this 5 star small group tour that takes an extensive look at the gardens, groves, canals and fountains.

Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, South Africa

One of our favourite natural setting gardens is located on the eastern slopes of Table Mountain in Cape Town. This piece of land was owned by many people over the years, but probably most notable was Cecile John Rhodes, who purchased the land and, upon his death, left it to the government. After being severely neglected for many years, it was decided in the early 1900s to develop it into a botanical garden. The result is truly stunning.

While the property is 4200 hectares, 365 hectares are maintained. The Cape area is extremely rich in biodiversity, with more than 9000 species in its own floristic region. This has resulted in a fascinating botanical garden with over 7000 species thriving here.

The garden was designed to showcase native South African plants, including several endangered and threatened species, resulting in most of the plant life being from the region. A few foreign trees remain from before the garden was established, and they are preserved as part of the historical estate.

The grounds are full of interesting plants, including ancient cycads, wild foxglove, sour figs, red hot poker, and the silver tree that is unique to Table Mountain. There is a massive wild almond tree from the mid 1600s that you can climb through and a spring that never runs dry.

A tree canopy walkway has been built to observe some of the lovely forested areas, and they host concerts in an outdoor theatre on Sundays. There is so much to see, you could spend days exploring this garden! 

Be sure to plan your visit to take advantage of the complimentary tours offered by the botanical society’s volunteers. It provides a lot of information and shares the major points of interest.

✅ Save time and purchase your ticket in advance.

Jardin Majorelle, Morocco

This garden is an oasis built in the middle of the city of Marrakesh within stone walls. Originally a palm grove, it was purchased by Jacques Majorelle, and he had a studio built in the Art Deco style in the 1930s. He loved the area so much that he also commissioned a garden to be developed around the studio. He filled the area with exotic plants and rare species that he collected during his travels. It was open to the public for a while, but when he died, the garden fell into ruin.

Thankfully, in 1980, Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Berge purchased the property, completely restored it and added a significant number of new plants. This gorgeous spot houses a lovely combination of bright blue buildings, fountains, ponds, a bamboo forest and amazing cacti. 

We loved wandering the winding paths through the estate, which gave us the chance to see the entire property, admire the mature trees, and an unusual collection of plants, and, of course, an elegant memorial to Yves Saint Laurent.  

While you’re there, you can also check out the café, bookstore, and boutique.

✅ For a seamless option, including your round-trip transportation, have a look at this tour that also includes your entrance tickets to both the gardens plus the Berber and Yves Saint Laurent museums.

Gardens By The Bay, Singapore 

This awesome location was purpose-built with a vision to be a world of gardens for everyone to own, enjoy and cherish. It houses plants that aren’t typically seen in this region of the world, and it is done with an artistry meant to entertain and educate visitors.

The gardens are housed within massive glass domes in order to carefully control the distinct environmental climates inside. One of the domes is a replicated Cloud forest with the tallest indoor waterfalls and mountain in the world.

As you wander the raised walkways and see the exotic plant species, the mist surrounds you, making you feel like you are in a real cloud forest. We have experienced Cloud Forests in Monteverde and Mindo, and this one feels genuinely authentic.

The second conservatory is the Flower Dome. With 3332 glass panels, this spot holds the world record for the largest glass greenhouse, and its sheer size is awe-inspiring. Nowhere have we seen such a plethora of flowers from different regions under one roof. Everywhere, from the Mediterranean to South Africa, to desert plants. The collection is spectacular.

It also houses several different seasonal displays. Both times that we visited, it was Christmas and the whole area was holiday themed. But they also highlight tulip time, begonias in the summer, and an orchid extravaganza. These changes in theme allow the gardens to be in constant bloom.

Outside the domes, there are several additional attractions, including an aerial walkway through the Supertrees and an observatory accessed from within the tallest Supertree. These Supertrees enable sustainability by providing solar energy and water conservation.

And often they have a special feature, such as the Claude Monet projection show that we saw while we were there. We have been twice to this garden and it is truly an experience like no other.

Plan your time at the garden so you are there in the evening. There is a daily light show in the Supertrees at 7:45pm and 8:45pm. The light show is choreographed to music, and its theme changes monthly. It is fantastic to see!

✅ Make things easy and avoid the queue by pre-purchasing your tickets online.

Baha’i Gardens, Israel

While some gardens are created for entertainment value, the Baha’i gardens in Haifa are distinctly for the preservation of its faith. The community has several significant religious buildings in this area, right in the heart of the city. To connect the buildings and also to insulate them from external noise and the busyness of the adjacent urban centre, the gardens have been carefully woven into the surroundings. 

This calm and serene location allows pilgrims who visit this holy spot the opportunity to gather for contemplation and prayer within a beautiful setting.

We loved the symmetrical designs and the soft colours that were visible on the terraces. It was a truly unique garden to visit and really demonstrates how the ambiance of a garden can have a significant impact on people’s overall well-being.

Claude Monet’s Gardens, France

One of the most well-known gardens in the world is Monet’s garden in Giverny. This is because Monet’s series of paintings of his famous lily pond is displayed prominently in museums worldwide. The grounds here were carefully curated by Monet himself since he lived here for more than 40 years. 

We visited this garden in late April, and while the lily pads were not in bloom at that time, we were treated to incredible displays of tulips and prolific blooming of wisteria. This, along with many other plants in the abundant flower beds, was a sight to behold.

The property is set up with a picturesque pathway that leads you through forested areas, past peony beds with huge blooms and bushes bursting with azaleas, over bridges and under trellises. It is magical to walk around this spot and see the inspiration that we had previously only seen in paintings.

The Japanese bridge is a focal point of this garden, adding to the whimsical feel of this wonderland. You can easily imagine Monet walking in the garden and setting up his easel to sketch the light and reflections of the water and its surroundings, and then moving into his studio to create his masterpieces.

Be sure to visit the home where Monet lived with his family. It provides a nice insight into the man and the artist that he was.

✅ The best way to explore this area in a half day from Paris is with a guide. On this small group tour with a maximum of 8 people, you will be driven to Giverny and have priority access for an extensive tour of the gardens.

Dubai Miracle Garden, UAE

We have to say that this is a display like no other. Like everything in Dubai, it is completely over the top. With its 50 million blooms, it holds numerous Guinness World Records, including the world’s largest natural flower garden.

This is quite literally the Disney World of flowers. Its corporate partnership is evident in the massive topiary pieces carved into Mickey Mouse and the Genie from Aladdin. 

Walking around this huge amusement park is incredible. Everything is on a gigantic scale – mini castles, flower-covered arches, sculptures of peacocks and dancing girls, Smurfs, huge penguins and an Emirates 380 plane!

We found it to be interesting, and the displays are creative. But the emphasis here is really about flower displays on a grand scale, though the variety of flowers is very limited – mostly with long-lasting greenery, petunias and daisies. But they are immaculately cared for, and we wondered exactly how much water is needed to keep this site so beautifully manicured in the middle of the desert. 

It is certainly an interesting place to visit and will not be like anywhere else you have seen before. You also need to be super patient, as Instagram photos are being taken at every point. Keep in mind, this is a seasonal location typically running from October to April. Exact opening dates are posted on their website each year.

✅ Pass by the queue by purchasing your tickets in advance. This option provides skip-the-line access.

Royal Botanic Garden of Sydney, Australia

Our favourite public garden, which is also free to enter, was in Sydney. We loved these extensive grounds and weren’t surprised to learn it was Australia’s oldest botanical garden.

The large mature trees amongst the ample green spaces made for a wonderful spot to wander. As we walked on the multiple pathways, we admired the many ponds, flower beds of native plants and statues that decorate the property.

There are many different sections as well, such as ferns, herbs, roses and oriental, and when we visited in the Spring, much of the area was in bloom. If you time it right, you can enjoy the incredible jacaranda trees with their abundant purple blooms.

Be sure to walk to the end of the peninsula, where you will have the best view across the harbour of the Sydney Opera House with the Sydney Bridge behind it. This is a great spot for that perfect picture.

Jardin Exotique D’Èze, France

Installed at the crest of the 12th century medieval village of Èze is the extraordinary Jardin Exotique. The terraces have been built within the ruins of a castle, 429 metres above sea level, and this is what makes it so spectacular.

Two sections have been developed – one that is very dry and arid where cacti and succulents from North America, South Africa, and Mexico have been planted. And in the other section, where it is more humid and slightly shadier, are plants endemic to the Mediterranean plus tropical varieties from New Zealand and China. 

There are an astounding number of plants here, beautifully arranged along the hillside, interspersed with enchanting statuary of women, known as the Goddess Collection. While there are many steps along the steep cliffs, there are also spots for sitting and relaxing on chairs and loungers. 

Make sure to go to the very top, where you can see phenomenal views of the French Riviera.  Plan to give yourself enough time to really take in this garden. It was hard to drag ourselves from this spot of sheer beauty.

✅ Tour the village of Èze with a certified guide, and they will also provide skip-the-line access to the Jardin Exotique.

Singapore Botanic Gardens

These breathtaking gardens in Singapore are the only tropical botanical gardens in the world to be listed on the UNESCO World Heritage Site List. And while there are several gardens within the complex, the most outstanding is the National Orchid Collection. This is the only section that requires a nominal entrance fee.

What initially began as an orchid breeding program in the 1920s has evolved into a stunning display of 1500 species and 3000 hybrid plants on view. The design of this magnificent tropical garden was created by the horticultural staff to provide the ideal environment for these gorgeous flowers to thrive.

Each section has been developed with a different microclimate and houses specific varieties that would naturally live in those environments. For example, mountainous regions, both higher and lower elevations, and a mist house that mimics the conditions of an Old World tropical zone. 

Each displays awesome varieties, some extremely rare and unusual, plus award-winning hybrids that can’t be seen anywhere else. We even saw the tiniest of plants in the miniature section. There are also other beautiful plants such as bromeliads, rhododendrons, begonias and magnolias. The entire location is a gardener’s wonderland. When in Singapore, don’t miss this must-see spot.

Terra Nostra Park, Azores

Situated within a woodland are 12 hectares of remarkable gardens in the Furnas region of São Miguel in the Azores. This immense location dates back 200 years and houses a surprising 2000 species of plants, trees and fauna. These species, divided into seven different zones, come from all over the world. And they boast the largest collection of camellias with over 800 different varieties.

Due to the proximity to the Furnas Volcano, the atmosphere in this area has an excess amount of carbon dioxide. This means that the trees grow to be enormous to absorb the large amount of gas. This, plus the temperate weather, makes them very impressive!

We loved the overall garden design with its streams, ponds and fountains. The lush greenery made for a cool respite from the humid environment.

Once you finish checking out the garden, plan additional time here to enjoy the large thermal pool located on the grounds. Heated from a volcanic spring, the water reaches 40 degrees celsius. It has a high concentration of iron oxide, giving it an interesting orange colour that is great for your skin.

Jardin Japones, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Initially built in the 1960s as a thank you to the country of Argentina for accepting Japanese immigrants, this location, in Buenos Aires, was developed at that time in honour of a visit from the Emperor of Japan. The ties between the two countries have always been very close, and this was a way to publicly acknowledge the strong bond. It is considered to be one of the largest Japanese gardens outside of Japan.

Now the garden is open for visitors to walk the serene pathways, admire the large collection of bonsai trees and rock gardens and cross the authentic bridges named the Divine and Truncated Bridges. The entire pavilion surrounds several small lakes with lily pads and tiny islands with Torii gates, making this a haven in the centre of the city.

Once you have strolled around the tranquil landscape, you can visit the cultural centre, restaurant and gift shop located onsite.

The Final Word…Best Gardens In The World To Visit

As you can see, we appreciate a good garden. It is something we love to explore in different destinations since they are all uniquely designed. We find this to be an excellent way to incorporate tranquility into the busyness of our travelling.

If you enjoyed this post and found some inspiration from it, then check out some of our other favourite collections, like the best beaches we have visited and the top butterfly gardens we have explored.