We can build just about anything.
Though skyscrapers and vast structures inspire awe in cities worldwide, it’s often the things we can’t build that leave us breathless.
The things so beautiful-they can’t be made or replicated. If you find yourself looking for a world of tranquility during your travels, you’ll definitely want to check out one of these gorgeous botanical gardens….
Singapore Botanic Gardens
With Singapore known as ‘a city in a garden’, you would rightly have high expectations for their botanic gardens. Fortunately they don’t disappoint. Set over 200 acres there is plenty not to miss: a huge orchid garden, tropical rainforests, a beautiful lake, home to countless species of aquatic plants and fishes; and of course, a healing garden with over 400 varieties of plants used medicinally.
Kew Royal Botanic Gardens – London
Fancy getting married with the most diverse collection of living plants in the world? You can, and your in laws will have plenty to talk about.
Kew Gardens, in Southwest London, is home to a treetop walkway, a stunning Victorian structure known as The Palm House, complete with rainforest climate, a kitchen garden and many unmissable areas. Often the location for exhibitions, concerts and tours, it’s a charming way to spend a sunny day in London (sunny days in London DO happen, by the way).
Jardim Botânico – Rio de Janeiro
If you’re looking for a place to enjoy and relax that’s not a beach, which can prove difficult in Rio, this could be your spot.
Walk around the lush, green surroundings whilst admiring exotic plants, flowers and giant Amazon trees, which provide a home to plenty of wildlife including Marmoset monkeys and toucans. The garden is spread over 350 acres, and also includes an orchid house, Japanese garden as well as other rare plants from the Amazon rainforest.
The Gardens of Trauttmansdorff Castle – Merano, Italy
Natural beauty on steroids. Definitely a must go!
With an altitude differential of 100 meters, visitors can rejoice in spectacular views of the exotic gardens, with the dramatic surrounding mountains creating a beautiful backdrop, as if it needed to be any more beautiful. Very easy to spend a few hours here enjoying the castle and the gardens. It is paradise!
Brooklyn Botanic Garden – New York
Manhattan madness? Fuggedaboudit. Escape the chaos of Manhattan for a morning walk around these gorgeous 52 acre gardens.
Cherry blossom in the spring are a must see, as are the beautiful rose gardens in the summer, offering thousands of different varieties. The perfect place to relax and walk peacefully around the shimmering ponds and luscious plants and flowers (getting plenty of colourful photos for those instagram accounts of course!).
Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden – Cape Town
When we say stunning, we mean really stunning. Set against a miraculous backdrop-the Eastern slopes of Table Mountain, this garden has instant advantage.
Packed full of gorgeous plants and flowers, including many rare and threatened species, be sure to look out for some of the beautiful wildlife and enjoy the tree canopy walkway for some good views. Why not bring a picnic basket, some good South African wine and sit and enjoy the beauty all around?
Koishikawa Kōrakuen Garden – Tokyo
Japan does gardens very-very well, and this is no exception. Beautifully maintained walking trails lead to peaceful, picturesque viewpoints, creating a natural escape from urban Tokyo.
It’s a wonderful place to visit all year, but most popular during the fall where maple trees turn vibrant colours of red, orange and yellow. Of course, spring during the famous cherry blossom season is not one to miss either…
Butchart Gardens – British Columbia, Canada
Well worth a visit all year round, these gardens are meticulously kept with beautiful colour combinations- a photographer and artists dream.
Walk around the floral paradise taking in the vast variety of plants and flowers on display. They have summer and winter lighting shows and offer a lovely high tea… who doesn’t want to enjoy their cup of tea and finger sandwiches whilst sitting in one of the world’s most breathtaking gardens?!
Nong Nooch Tropical Botanical Garden – Pattaya, Thailand
This place is huge, so huge-it is unlikely that you’ll be able to cover it all by foot. Fear not, you can rent a bicycle and enjoy the vast gardens at your own leisurely pace.
With its individually themed gardens, daily cultural shows, restaurants and many other activities, even including paddle boats and elephant rides, this is the perfect day out.
Dahlem Botanical Garden and Botanical Museum – Berlin
Explore one of the largest greenhouses in the world, with an even larger variety of tropical vegetation. The gardens are beautiful, but the highlight is really the greenhouses.
There are pathways to take you between the many different sections, where you will discover plants and flowers from all over the world. Just be prepared, it gets humid in there!
