We’ve just returned from Japan where we have seen some of the most beautiful gardens in the world. But rather than show you them now we want to wind up our series with this bumper finale written by some of fellow bloggers.

Zilker Botanical Garden – Austin TX USA

by Susan of Solo Trips and Tips

Zilker Botanical Garden is my favourite garden in Austin Texas because it is beautifully serene, yet it’s located near the busy city centre. My favourite time to visit is spring. Exploding in bunches of bright pink flowers, the redbud trees in bloom signal the start of springtime in Austin in early March.

For me the most peaceful setting at Zilker is the Japanese Garden. While in his seventies, local resident Isamu Taniguchi created the Japanese Garden. Mr Taniguchi was born in Osaka but moved to the US as a teenager. Visitors walk over the wooden ‘Bridge to Walk Over the Moon’ and pathways with lotus flower ponds, statues, and a stream in this Zen garden space.

Not many gardens feature a section devoted to prehistoric times but Zilker created just that after dinosaur footprints were found in the area. The plants included in the Hartman Prehistoric Garden at Zilker are the type from the Cretaceous Period. Watch out for the dinosaur sculpture hidden among the foliage and be sure to see the waterfall feature at Zilker Botanical Garden.

Lalbagh Gardens, Bangalore

by Jenny of TraveLynn Family

In city choking with congestion and chaos, the gardens of Bangalore are a welcomed oasis and often referred to as the lungs of the city. There are a number dotted around Bangalore, and after a year living there we decided that Lalbagh Botanical Gardens were our favourite.

The gardens are well-laid out with shaded paths and open spaces guiding you around many exotic and native plant species. In the centre you’ll come across The Glass House, which was built as a replica to Crystal Palace of England, and was intended for acclimatising the exotic plant specimens. It is now used to house the famous biannual flower shows. On the eastern edge of the gardens, you can’t fail to notice the Peninsular Gneiss (a large granite rock). You can take the short climb to the temple at the top for great views of the city skyline.

Lalbagh is the perfect place for an early morning or late afternoon stroll, especially if visiting Bangalore with kids as it’s one of the few places you can allow them to roam free without worry of traffic. You will also find lots of monkeys and there are plenty of food vendors serving fruit, roasted nuts and sweetcorn, and drinks.

Lalbagh is open 6am-7pm everyday, entry fee Rs20, children under 12 free, camera Rs50.

Volksgarten, Vienna, Austria 

By Marie of Vienna 101 Facets

When spring starts, there is one garden I always visit in Vienna: the Volksgarten – situated at the city centre. It’s a beautiful park where one can escape to when the hustle and bustle of the city gets too much to bear. Volksgarten literally means “People’s garden”, it is the very first public park in Vienna opened in 1823…quite old but always beautiful no matter which year, season, or time of the day.

The Volksgarten blooms with over 3,000 rose bushes of more than 200 different types, sizes, and colors, along with tulips, and other botanical flowers laid down in green grass. There are benches all around to rest your tired feet and watch as the wind makes the bushes sway. Overall,  a beautiful landscape of colourful and wonderfully smelling surrounding. The Volksgarten is located near many must-see buildings in Vienna; the Rathaus (city hall), the Burgtheater, the Parliament, the Hofburg Palace, and the twin museums – all in walking distance.

The Volksgarten is one of my favourite spots to take prenuptial photos. The surrounding is so romantic and picturesque, especially in May when the flowers are in full bloom and when the skies are blue deep, the sun just gently kissing the skin, and  when the breeze is just cool enough leaving you a beautiful scent wafting through the air.

Estufa Fria, Lisbon

by Maria & Rui of Two Find a Way

Estufa Fria is Lisbon’s stunning Cold Greenhouse and honestly one of our favorite gardens in the world. It is divided into three different areas. The Cold House, covered with a lath roof, has plants from all over the world, including China, Australia, and different South American countries. The most important are the Tasmanian fern, the azalea and different types of camellias. The Hot House is covered by a beautiful glass dome and therefore has the ideal climate for tropical plants (such as coffee, mango, and banana trees). The Sweet House is the smallest and filled with cactuses and succulent plants.

The normal ticket price is 3,10€ – a very small price for the beauty you get to witness! Plus, there are various types of discounts and entrance is free every Sunday morning and on Bank Holidays (until 2pm). Be aware that due to the garden’s characteristics it is necessary to be careful and take some precautions, especially if you are travelling with kids.

Even though the Estufa Fria is located outside the main historical centre of Lisbon, it is easy to access through the metro system as it is very near to two stations: Parque and São Sebastião. A few minutes away from the garden you can find the beautiful viewpoint of Parque Eduardo VII and one of Lisbon’s most important squares: Marquês de Pombal.

Rio Botanic Gardens in Brazil

by Nicole of Travelgal Nicole

When most people this of Rio de Janeiro they think beaches but Rio also has a lot of green spaces in the city.  Even Christ the Redeemer is in a National Park.

My favourite space in Rio is the Botanic Gardens which shows the diversity of the flora in Brazil.  This 140 hectare park contains over 6,000 different tropical species and 900 different varieties of palm trees.

Avenue of Royal Palms is the highlight of the garden for me.  It is an avenue that is almost a kilometre long and is lined with 134 palm trees from the entrance of the gardens to the Fountain of the Muses.

The gardens include orchids, cacti, giant water lilies and carnivorous plants.  This is a sanctuary for many birds as well.  The gardens contain over 140 species of birds including toucans.

The Kew Royal Botanical Gardens, England

by Kathryn of Travel With Kat

Located in Richmond by the River Thames about 10 miles west of central London, Kew Gardens makes a fabulous day out from the city.

I studied Botany at college and first visited Kew as part of my course, over 30 years ago, and it’s been pulling me back ever since.

The gardens were founded in 1759 and have since made an immense contribution to our understanding of plant and fungal life, contributing to both research and conservation projects around the world. In 2003 Kew Gardens was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

There is so much to see and do here that it is easy to fill a whole day. Highlights include the iconic Victorian Palm House housing a mini tropical rain forest, the Princess of Wales Conservatory, with ten different climatic zones under glass including the most magnificent display of orchids and the treetop walkway. And even on a busy bank holiday when the queues to get in run a long way down the road and around the corner, once inside there’s plenty of room to find a quiet corner of the lovely gardens to enjoy with barely a soul in sight.

Parque Leite Monteiro

by James of Portugalist

One of my favourite gardens that I’ve stumbled upon while travelling is the unpretentious Parque Leite Monteiro on the island of Madeira. While the nearby Madeira Botanical Gardens charges for entry and even has a cable car to take you there, Parque Leite Monteiro isn’t very heavily promoted. This is great, obviously, as it means the gardens are rarely very busy and it’s a place that you can relax and be alone with your thoughts.

Parque Leite Monteiro is incredibly tranquil, partly due to the few visitors it gets but also the sound of the small stream which passes through the center and ends in a waterfall at the southern end of the park. It is home to a variety of flowers and trees, some indigenous to Portugal and others exotic, and many of the trees in particular have been in the gardens since it was built in 1894.

Look out for flowers like the South African Protea and the Saucer Magnolia, two of the most beautiful flowers that you’ll find on Madeira. As well as these gardens, it’s also worth visiting the nearby Nossa Senhora do Monte church which is just a few minutes away on foot.

Keukenhof Gardens Amsterdam

by Richa of My Ticklefeet

If you are planning to travel to Western Europe in spring I highly urge you to swing by Amsterdam to be in flower heaven. The reason Keukenhof Park is one of our favorite gardens of all time is the variety of tulips they have plant in different formations. The park is so big in area that you could easily spend an entire day exploring all the exhibitions, the outdoors, and the tulip farms nearby. Not just tulips but the park is home many other spring flowers especially hyacinth. This is definitely a must-visit garden for all flower lovers. It is located about 35 Km South of Amsterdam in the city of Lisse and can be easily accessed via public transport.

Keukenhof Park are open to public only in spring i.e. from mid March to mid May so planning your trip accordingly is very important. Being one of the most popular gardens in Europe, it attracts thousands of visitors every year in this short duration. If you are visiting Keukenhof Park near Amsterdam then we highly recommend buying the tickets online to avoid long queues at the ticket counter.

Longwood gardens, Pennsylvania

by Neha of Travel Melodies

If you are looking for a paradise in a city which will freshen up your spirits and moods, then Longwood Gardens in Pennsylvania, USA is the perfect choice.

The botanical garden spread over 1000 acres is home to a variety of exotic plants, lakes, tree houses, fountains and the world’s greatest greenhouse conservatory. As you enter the conservatory, you’ll be mesmerized by the exquisite flower decorations, even on the ceiling, extensive bonsai display, rose house, orchid display, cactus house, fruit house with plants like pineapple, nectarines, grapes, fig and many more.

Walking out of the conservatory the eyes get a sight of a magnificent fountain garden spread on 5 acres. It is a fine amalgamation of art, engineering and craftsmanship with over 1000 fountains creating the magic that will leave you spellbound. As the sun goes down, music and infinite colors add to the beauty of the fountains in a 30-minute scintillating show.

Talking about fountains, the Italian water garden is also a pleasure to view. Another artistic display is the Topiary garden with trees taking fancy shapes of cones, spirals with perfection. Nobody is ignored here as there are 3 tree houses for the kids to have fun. Summer has many activities and events planned for all the ages. In fact there is something to look forward in every season, with Longwood Christmas being the most famous. With half a million lights illuminating the garden and special flower decorations, it feels of the magical winter wonderland.

Walking along the garden, inhaling the enticing aroma, green fresh trees, watching the fishes in pond, hearing the birds chirping is just a perfect day to have.

Pro Tips:

1. If you think you will visit the garden more than once, then taking membership is more beneficial.
2. Do wear comfortable footwear to walk around. Getting strollers for kids is recommended to explore the vast area.
3. Food from outside is not allowed inside the garden. There are cafes that serve light snacks.
4. The fountains open from May to October. Do confirm the timings.

Setagaya Park, Vienna

by Marie of Travelers Joint 

A lot about Japan fascinates me, one thing is Hanami or flower viewing. In spring, locals go about admiring the blossoms of cherry and plum trees. With the shortest distance from where I am to Japan being 9,179 km, it’s still on my bucket list to experience first hand (I booked in May but circumstances made me cancel). For now, I visit Vienna’s Setagaya Park, a small Japanese garden in front of a pension house at the 19th district. Cherry trees, magnolias, plum trees, pear trees are some of the flowering trees that make Setagaya park give an authentic Japanese feel.

There’s a small wooden tea house by the lake. I imagine it is used to hold sessions for tea ceremonies, ikebana (art of flower arrangement), and origami (art of folding paper). The lake has a lot of kois, smaller fish, ducks, and tortoises. There’s also a typical Japanese wooden bridge at one end of the bridge and other statues that can typically be found in Japanese gardens.

Setagaya park has become a cheerful extension of home for the residents of the pension house near it. When you visit, you would see a lot of older people walking about doing their own hanami. And because the existence of the blossoms  mentioned  is fleeting, it is always wise to visit as soon as the first bud appears.

Lodhi garden, New Delhi

By Chandresh of Family on the wheels

Built on the backdrop of 15^th Century Mughal era tombs, this place is now the greenest property in Capital of India – Delhi. This place teleport visitors from mad rush of Metropolitan to lush green landscape where heart, mind and soul can feel close to mother earth again.

Spread across 90 acres, this garden houses 3,000 species of plants and trees. It is a favorite Picnic spot among locals as well as joy for Morning walkers due to its 6 Km long jogging trek.  It houses an open-air gym and Play area available to use for everyone in the midst of natural surroundings. Our favourite part is a rainwater pond located inside the garden where you can sit, relax and watch various migratory birds and flocks of ducks playing freely around. You can spot Local and International tourist clicking Instagram worth pics around carefully restored tombs.  Small part of garden converted into a Restaurant, is defined by its Strings of lights, spindly trees, and bold wooden tables offering one of the finest dining experiences in the city

This place has free entry for all and is open around the year. It is well connected by Metro rail & can be reached from all part of city.  Early and Late hours are recommended time of visit in summers (March – Nov) and Noon during winters (Dec – Feb).

Millennium Park, Chicago

By Ketki Sharangpani of Dotted Globe

Chicago’s Millennium Park is one of the most unique public parks; this park has everything: a modern-day town square or plaza, beautiful sculptures and artworks, dazzling fountains, a music pavilion, well-maintained landscaping, and a dazzling display of spring flowers. While many tourists see the Cloud Gate and Crown Fountain before visiting Chicago’s other tourist attractions, Millennium Park offers lots more for visitors and locals.

Located on the shores of Lake Michigan, this free park truly comes to life after the harsh winter of Chicago when the fountains are turned back on, cafes lining the park set out patio chairs, and bright blooms of tulips bring splashes of colour to the garden. Millennium Park comprises of many small laid out gardens with unique themes. The most well known of them is Lurie Garden located towards the south end of the park. The garden is actually a rooftop garden and covers the parking lot of Millennium Park. In spring, Lurie Garden is beautifully landscaped with blooming tulips, daffodils, geraniums, colourful sages, ferns, and grasses. A variety of birds and butterflies call the garden home from spring through fall. To see Lurie Garden and Millennium Park in full bloom, try visiting the Windy City in May.

Golden Park in San Francisco

By Noel of Travel Photo Discovery

Golden Park in San Francisco is an amazing park filled with wonderful gardens, museums and scenic places to explore in the larges park of the city. You’ll find so many fantastic garden areas to explore including the photo centric Conservatory, Mediterranean/desert garden, dahlia dell, botanical garden, Japanese garden, Stowe Lake and so many other beautiful places that are  perfect for garden lovers and tourists to visit. There are so many colourful and seasonal areas and gardens here to explore with 4 season foliage, flowers and stunning landscape to enjoy throughout the park. For more inspiration to visiting the park, check out my post on the Golden Gate park gardens here for more images and places to  visit in  the park for garden lovers.

Botanic Gardens, Ooty, India

by Somnath of Travel Crusade

The best gardens in the hilly slopes of South India is believed to be in Ooty and I was quite fortuitous to be present there in the winter months of October with my close friends.I was quite lucky to have seen and felt the essence of some beautiful flowers and plants which I have not seen before in any part of the world.They are planted in tandem and in proximity with the trees that have grown up in the garden.The botanical gardens is accessible from the central town of Ooty by any means of transport.Entry tickets are required to gain entry into the gardens which can be traversed within a few hours by spending time with friends and family.

The garden treasures both exotic and indigenous plants spanning across the entire area covered by tall trees,high field grounds and newly planted species of flowers.Tourists and botanists come from all parts of he country to pay a tribute to these gardens situated in the hilly slopes of Nilgiris. The garden is the largest in South India and is famous for preserving unique species of flowering plants.

Powerscourt Gardens, Ireland

by Alouise of Take me to the World

Until I lived in Ireland for two years, I never realised how much I love gardens. My favourite gardens are the ones at the Powerscourt Estate, House and Gardens in County Wicklow. National Geographic and Lonely Planet voted them among the top gardens in the world. Powerscourt has many styles of gardens that you can visit. This includes an Italian garden, a Japanese garden, a rose garden, and trees from around Europe, Asia, and North America. Powerscourt is about 45km south of Dublin. No public transit goes to the Powerscourt, but some bus companies have day trips to here from Dublin. That’s what I did, but I recommend renting a vehicle and driving yourself. This way you can spend as much time at Powerscourt as you want. Aside from the gardens you can also tour the mansion, and go to the nearby Powerscourt Waterfall. Admission (for the gardens only) ranges from €7.50 to €10.00 per adult (depending on the time of year that you visit). I was there in September when some of the leaves were starting to turn colours, which was beautiful. I have a feeling though the Powerscourt Gardens would be stunning any time of the year.

Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, Cape Town

by Alya of Stingy Nomads

Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden in Cape Town is one of our favourite places in the city. The Garden is located on the eastern slopes of Table Mountain and has a unique micro climate very different from the rest of the city. It was founded in 1914 with the idea to preserve South African endemic plants – there are several sections in the garden that represent different regions and their vegetation; fynbos, savanna, karoo and, of course, plants that are indigenous to Cape Region including a stunning collection of proteas – South African national flower. Kirstenbosch is a real paradise with lush green jungles, exotic flowers, lovely picnic spots and beautiful hiking trails – one can easily spend here the whole day just wandering along its walkaways, discovering some hidden corners and enjoying birds’ singing. To get a nice view over the garden go up to the Tree Canopy walkway – 130 m long narrow bridge that goes over the Arboretum. The bridge has bizarre waving shape that was inspired by snake movement, its height is 12 m above the ground, there are two wide view-points from where visitors can observe the garden and the surrounding mountains. For those who likes outdoor activities there are several hiking and MTB trails inside the park. From mid November till the end of March Kirstenbosch Summer Sunset concerts take place in the garden. Every Sunday evening visitors can enjoy a concert at the Kirstenbosch Gardens Concert stage – nice vibe, stunning views on the garden and good music are guaranteed.

Botanic Gardens, Adelaide

by Tom of The Travelling Tom

The Botanic Gardens in Adelaide are, in my opinion, the best in Australia. There are a range of flowers and displays to pour over, and you could easily spend the majority of the day checking out everything in the gardens.

My favourite thing about the gardens in Adelaide is the numerous displays they have. There is the Palm House, a beautiful Victorian style glasshouse, which houses a variety of Malagasy arid flora. The Rose Garden is a beautiful part of the gardens. Roses are grown to see which ones are able to tolerate the intense Australian heat. It’s an ideal place for an Instagram snap! While there is also the Bicentennial Conservatory, which houses a number of tropical plants.

One of the best things about the gardens is that it’s a good place to go and relax. The Adelaide gardens are spread over 130 acres (51 hectares), and you will be able to relax in peace at any spot you desire!

Even if you’re not into flowers, the Adelaide Botanic Gardens are somewhere you shouldn’t miss out when you visit the city. It’s a beautiful place and one of the most underrated spots in Adelaide!

Mirabell Gardens, Salzburg

by Nisha of Lemonicks

One of the oldest gardens in Salzburg is the Mirabell Gardens. Built originally in the year 1606 as part of Mirabell Palace, was renovated in Baroque style by the then Archbishop later in the century. Many of these Baroque features are discernible even today.
With a clear view of the Hohensalzburg Fortress sitting atop the hill, there are multiple amusement areas for the pleasure of the tourists within Mirabell Gardens, like the Grand Fountain symbolizing fire, water, earth & air, one of the oldest Hedge Theatre where cultural events are held in summer, Dwarf Garden with its 17 dwarfs, a Rose Garden and an early 20th century addition, the Pegasus fountain, in the centre of which is a proud Pegasus, trying to fly away.

One of the movie locations of the movie The Sound of Music was this geometrically laid out garden when it was used for the song “Do, Re, Mi”. The famous Arbour tunnel through which von Trapp Family members cavort and the mythological statues are very popular with tourists as they take photographs while re-enacting the song 🙂

The Marble Room in the Mirabell palace is now the venue for all-the-year-round concerts. These 1.5 hours concerts are also quite a hit with the visitors.
Entry to this garden is free and is open from 8 AM to 6 PM every day. The tickets for concerts starts at 20 Euros.

So there you have it, the final instalment of the most beautiful gardens in the world. Have we missed any of your favourite gardens? Which do you think was the most stunning? Check back on the beautiful gardens in Part 1,  Part 2 and Part 3 and let us know in the comments below.

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