20 Botanical Gardens: A Haven for Plant Enthusiasts

a statue made out of plants in front of a fountain — Canva / Alyssa’s Designs

Spectacular floral displays highlighting an area’s natural beauty, educational opportunities for visitors to learn about local flora, and introductions to unusual or distinctive plant life all make a botanical garden shine. Visitors and locals visit them year-round all over the world. But our fascination with gorgeous gardens is no surprise because they allow us to stroll through a conservatory filled with butterfly-enticing plants or contemplate the borders of a lovely stone walkway as we wind our way through a forest of trees.

These stunning floral displays make visiting the world’s most beautiful botanical gardens a must for your next trip.

1. Gardens by the Bay, Singapore

Singapore City, Singapore. Supertree Grove at the Gradens by the Bay. — Adobe Stock

This USD$1 billion botanical garden is in a class by itself. The Gardens boast several unique features. Firstly, they include a large flower dome that mimics the arid Mediterranean climate. Next, there’s a waterfall located in the Cloud Forest. This addition enhances the natural and tranquil atmosphere of the Gardens. An elevated skyway further enhances the experience. It is suspended between two Supertrees, providing a perfect vantage point. From here, visitors can view the three gardens that constitute this futuristic botanical garden. This view is not only breathtaking but also surprising, and visiting the Gardens is an unforgettable experience

2. Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, Cape Town, South Africa

Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden during sunset in Cape Town South Africa — Adobe Stock

Kirstenbosch offers over 1,300 acres of wild and cultivated botanical gardens in Cape Town’s Table Mountain. This impressive garden includes formal gardens with winding pathways up the mountain, art gardens, and a statue garden, including a bust of Nelson Mandela. Life-size dinosaurs roam around the garden, bringing attention to South Africa’s nearly extinct beautiful cycad plants. Kirstenbosch offers many educational opportunities to learn about the unique plant and animal life that calls this southern tip of Africa home.

3. Kew Royal Botanic Gardens, London

View on fthe Palm House, an orangery inside Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, England on sunny day. Generative AI — Adobe Stock

Home to the world’s most diverse and extensive botanic collection, the beloved Kew is a UNESCO World Heritage site only a short train ride from central London. The Kew’s Temperate House, the world’s largest Victorian glasshouse, a Japanese landscape, the Great Broad Walk Borders, and the namesake Kew Palace all provide gorgeous views here. Still, the Arboretum, comprised of over 130 ha of botanical plantings and seminatural woodlands, is where the Kew began.

4. Jardim Botânico, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Rio’s botanical garden has enchanted guests for over 100 years with over 240 acres of rainforest, an orchidarium, and a Queen Victoria water-lily pond. Jardim Botânico, an oasis of flora and fauna, is conveniently located in the heart of the city near the iconic giant Jesus statue. Accessing it is a delight through the magnificent Isle of Palms Drive. Explore the traditional Japanese gardens and watch out for the over 140 species of exotic birds that call Jardim home.