If there’s one thing the world needs more of, it’s botanical gardens. These beautiful green spaces can instantly lift people’s spirits and make them think more positively, so it’s no wonder that people are clamoring to find out where the world’s best botanical gardens are located. This guide will help you with the best travel locations that you can visit so that you can see a luscious botanical garden first-hand.

Continue reading to ensure that your travelling experience is the best it can be when you embark on a botanical garden search.

 

Why Travellers Should Go to Botanical Gardens

Botanical gardens offer a unique kind of rest stop: one that recharges your body and your mind. Many are free or low-cost, easy to access, and located right inside the cities you’re already exploring. Whether you're taking a break from crowded streets or need somewhere to journal and breathe, a garden can be the calm you're craving.

 

Travel to The Best Botanical Gardens in the World

Kew Gardens | London, England

The largest botanical garden in the world, Kew Gardens in London. It has the vastest collection of live plants and flowers within its 230-acre Royal Botanical Garden. It is the world leader in plant species study and a Unesco World Heritage Centre. It’s a Unesco World Heritage Centre and the world's leading plant species research facility, so you can only imagine the type of plants that are housed within this garden.

Visitors can explore some of the main attractions in the garden like the Great Broad Walk Borders, Temperate House and the beautiful Kew Palace. While here, you can also get a great visual of the garden 59 feet above ground on the treetop walkway.

 

Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens | Cape Town, South Africa

If you’re in search of the most grandeur botanical garden in the world, perhaps the Kirsenbosch Botanical Garden in Cape Town, South Africa, takes the trophy. It has a wide array of different plants and flowers to enjoy, and when paired with the famous Table Mountain backdrop it makes for one of the most jaw-dropping visuals.

The aim of the garden when it was established was to preserve and protect species of flora and fauna that are native to the country. It has since been developed into more than that, as it now homes everything from anatomically correct dinosaur sculptures to plants that derived from the Jurassic era.

 

Montreal Botanical Garden | Montreal, Canada

Canada has several botanical gardens, but none are as famous as the Montreal Botanical Garden. Based in Maisonneuve Park, the garden comprises 75 hectares of thematic gardens and greenhouses, creating a wonderful hub for all different types of plants. When visiting the garden, the living plant sculptures will be the first thing you’ll want to see.

Its masterpieces include the Chinese, Japanese and First Nations Gardens, which provide tourists with varied cultural and scenic experiences. Things like this make the garden a must-see for tourists.

 

Singapore Botanical Gardens | City of Singapore

One of the oldest botanical gardens on this list (160-years-old), the Singapore Botanical Garden has everything, including 1,000 species of orchids and 2,000 hybrids. Wander through themed gardens showcasing spices, medicinal plants and rainforest flora, all meticulously curated for both scientific study and sheer aesthetic pleasure.

Whether you seek a peaceful stroll amidst lush greenery, a captivating glimpse into the diversity of the plant kingdom or simply a refreshing escape from the tropical heat, the Singapore Botanic Gardens promises an enriching and unforgettable experience for visitors of all ages and interests. Not to mention, it’s one of the most underrated countries to visit.

 

Desert Botanical Garden | Phoenix, Arizona

Desert plants are some of the most unique in the world, as they can only be found in dry climates so any botanical garden offering this should be near the top of your travel list. Phoenix, Arizona has a beautiful desert garden that has exciting plant growth and living creatures for travellers to see. Discover a living museum showcasing thousands of arid-adapted plants from around the globe, including rare and endangered species.

A visit to the Desert Botanical Garden provides not just visual delight, but a deeper appreciation for the delicate balance and surprising biodiversity of one of the world's most fascinating ecosystems. There’s also captivating art installations that harmonize with the natural landscape and a tranquil oasis where you can connect with the serene power of the desert environment.

 

How to Create a Botanical Garden in Your Own Backyard

Once you have visited the botanical garden of your choice and returned home from your travels, you might want the feeling it gives you to be present all the time. Creating a botanical garden in your own backyard is very achievable with the right tools, such as pruners, and although it might not be as grand as the gardens listed here, it can still have positive effects on your mental health.

 

There’s many elements that go into this, such as the garden layout, sunlight exposure, soil health, drainage systems, water sources and more. It’s important to have a planned out design and ensure that every aspect is carried out carefully to achieve your dream botanical garden aesthetic. Creating a botanical garden in your backyard is a rewarding process that evolves over time, so the journey of cultivating a beautiful space!

 

After completing a University degree in Journalism, Darcy Fowler has dedicated a lot of time to travelling around the world and experiencing a variety of cultures. Darcy is determined to provide interesting and insightful content with the hope of inspiring others.