Best Botanical Gardens In The World To Add To Your Travel Bucket List

One of the most stunning attractions of New York City, the Brooklyn Botanical Garden is built across an area of 52 acres. Home to more than 1,400 species, the garden is dotted with a series of sub-gardens. Additionally, it hosts private events at the Atrium and Palm House, which offers a gorgeous outdoor setting.

Highlights:

• Fragrant Garden for the visually impaired
• Lily Pool Terrace features around 100 varieties of tropical water lilies and sacred lotuses, especially from July to September
• Japanese-Hill-and-Pond Garden – the first Japanese-inspired garden in the US
• The Shakespeare Garden – an English cottage-style garden that features more than 80 species of plants mentioned in William Shakespeare’s works including Squill, Dwarf Irises and Daffodils
• The Bonsai Museum exhibits more than 400 temperate and tropical Bonsai – one of the largest collections outside Japan
• The Cherry Esplanade highlights a pink carpet of cherry blossom petals during spring

Ticket price

• For members: Free
• For adults: USD 18 (RM 82)
• For senior citizens (65+): USD 12 (RM 55)
• For students with ID (12+): USD 12  (RM 55)
• For children under 12 years of age: Free
• Community tickets: Free
• Winter weekdays (December – February): Visitors may pay as per their choice

Timing:

• 10:00 am – 6:00 pm (Tuesday – Sunday); last entry at 5:30 pm

Image Credit: Hsa Htaw/Shutterstock

Established in 1878, Lloyd’s Botanical Garden is spread across almost 40 acres of land in Darjeeling. It is categorised into three sections — the upper section housing the Darjeeling Himalayan vegetation, the mid-section that has conifers, ferns, and alpine trees, and the lower section for the popular ‘weeping willow’ tree.

Highlights

• The Orchidarium feature 2,500 orchids of 50 varieties
• A sanctuary created with old Himalayan Cherries

Ticket price

• INR 20 (USD 0.24) (RM 1) per person
• INR 5 (USD 0.061) (RM 0.28) for students with ID cards

Timing: 6:00 am – 5:00 pm (Open daily)

Image Credit: Bernard Gagnon, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden is home to more than 7,000 species. Located at the eastern foot of Table Mountain in Cape Town, it is globally recognised as one of the seven most magnificent botanical gardens in the world.

Highlights:

• Visitors can explore the garden through a number of hiking trails – The Silvertree Trail, The Yellowwood Trail and The Braille Trai
• The Herbaria collection features nearly 3,00,000 dried plant specimens
• The Sculpture Garden features eye-catching Mamboo sculptures engraved from opal stone
• The Centenary Tree Canopy Walkaway takes the visitors on a tour through the forest covers, offering a bird’s eye view of the garden and surrounding mountains
• The garden hosts several kinds of art exhibitions, including both indoor and outdoor

Ticket price:

• For adults: ZAR 220 (USD 11.50 ) (RM 52)
• For learners and students from a South African institute (18 years and above with student ID card): ZAR 60 (USD 3.5) (RM 14)
• For children between 6 – 17 years of age: ZAR 40 (USD 2.09 ) (RM 9)
• For children under 6 years of age: Free
• For South African senior citizens (60+ with ID): Free on Tuesdays except for public holidays

Timing:

• 8:30 am – 5:30 pm (Monday – Sunday, except for Thursday)
• 8:00 am – 5:00 pm (Thursday)

Image Credit: Andre Silva Pinto/Shutterstock

Hawaii’s Na ‘Āina Kai Botanical Garden, spanning 240 acres, is adorned with innumerable gardens and boasts a collection of more than 160 bronze sculptures. Created in 1999, the garden endeavours to give its visitors a taste of nature and art through forestry, agriculture, and tropical horticulture.

Highlights

• The Formal Gardens are equipped with Poinciana Maze, a Shower Tree Park, and Ka’ula Lagoon
• Guided tours are held on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday
• The Orchid House gift shop features some of the finest souvenirs

Timing –

• 8:30 am – 4:00 pm (Monday – Thursday)
• 8:30 am – 3:00 pm (Friday)
• Closed on Saturday, Sunday, and all major holidays

Ticket price: This varies according to the trip you choose. There are packages available that start from USD 20 (RM 91) per adult, USD 10 (RM 45) per child and more.

Image Credit: naainakai.org

The northernmost botanical garden in the world showcases some of the most unique collections of plants belonging to the Polar region. The delicately maintained arctic species from alpine and cold regions across the world complement the park’s picturesque landscape along with 28 themed collections. If you plan to visit during the initial days of May, you get lucky enough to witness the gorgeous yellow cushion plants, pasqueflowers and various other bulb-like plants around the entire garden.

Highlights

• The garden’s rustic Hansine Hansen’s cafe offers the best beverages after a long day tour
• The North Norwegian Tradition Garden comprises almost 700 plants belonging to the old gardens of Norway
• The garden’s African collection houses species of plants that withstand strong Tromsø winters

Timing: Open 24 hours (Monday – Sunday)

Ticket price: Free for all

Image Credit: Visem, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Founded in 1808, this spectacular 350-acre site boasts a collection of beyond 7,000 species (Native Brazilian plants – palms, aroids, and woody members of the bean family) and stands as one of the prized assets to the world, given the richness and scientific significance of its herb collection. Home to one of the largest herbariums globally (with nearly 3,30000 reference specimens), the Jardim Botánico Garden is a must-visit attraction in Rio de Janeiro.

Highlights

• The Garden House collection includes Bromeliads and unique Orchids
• The Bird Sanctuary hosts almost 140 species of unusual birds
• The 16th-century Visitor’s Centre along with statues of Eco and Narciso by Mestre Valentim (a Brazilian sculptor) are some of the major architectural marvels to explore in the garden

Timing

• 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm (Monday)
• 8:00 am – 5:00 pm (Tuesday – Sunday)

Ticket price:

• Foreign visitors: BRL 60 (USD 12.8) (RM 55)
• Foreign visitors from Mercosul: BRL 45 (USD 9.06) (RM 41)

Image Credit: Alex Segre/Shutterstock

The 119-year-old Butchart Gardens, located in British Columbia, opens a door to flower-lined aisles and lush greenery amounting to more than 900 varieties. The internationally acclaimed garden was established by the late Jennie Butchart and is still maintained by the Butchart family to keep up the legacy of the 55-acre site. One of the most famous attractions here is the Sunken Garden, which was created in a former limestone quarry.

Highlights

• Visitors can enjoy a musical evening, firework shows on Saturdays, and tour the garden at night when it’s adorned with sophisticated coloured lights (a special attraction during the summer tide)
• The Rose Garden features a collection of 2,500 Floribundas, Hybrid Tea Roses, Climbers, and Ramblers
• The Italian Garden, which was previously the Butchart family’s tennis court, features a bronze-cast statue of Mercury
• The Mediterranean Garden features exotic drought-resistant plants from across the globe

Timing: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm (Monday – Sunday)

Ticket price:

(April 1 – June 14)

• For adults (18 +): CAD 36.50 (USD 27) (RM 123)
• For youth (13 –17): CAD 18.25 (USD 14) (RM 61)
• For children (5 – 12): CAD 2 (USD 1.5) (RM 6)

(June 15 – September 30)

• For adults (18 +): CAD 39.50 (USD 30) (RM 134)
• For youth (13 –17): CAD 19.75 (USD 14.65) (RM 67)
• For children (5 – 12): CAD 3 (USD 2.22) (RM 10)

(October 1 – November 30)

• For adults (18 +): CAD 32.80 (USD 24.32) (RM 111)
• For youth (13 –17): CAD 16.40 (USD 12.16) (RM 55)
• For children (5 – 12): CAD 2 (USD 1.5) (RM 6)

(December 1 – January 6)

• For adults (18 +): CAD 35 (USD 25.95) (RM 118)
• For youth (13 –17): CAD 17.50 (USD 12.98) (RM 59)
• For children (5 – 12): CAD 3 (USD 2.22) (RM 10)

Image Credit: hw22/Shutterstock

Located on the site of a former royal estate, Kew Gardens is a UNESCO World Heritage Site which houses rare species and plantations. It is filled with archived elements, tropical succulents, orchids, ferns, and more than 50,000 living plants. The primary details of the 18th and 19th centuries including the Orangery, Queen Charlotte’s cottage, garden vistas to William Chambers’ pavilion, iron framed glasshouse, lakes, ponds, herbarium, and Syon Park House showcases the gardens’ history from being a royal retreat to a national botanical garden before shaping into a modern 20th-century establishment of conservation ecology.

Highlights

• The Temperate House, the world’s largest Victorian greenhouse, features some of the rarest species including Tree Pincushion and Kaka Beak among others
• The walkway of Great Broad Walk Borders comprises varieties of colourful flowers
• Visitors can also visit the Great Pagoda — one of the garden’s iconic sites as well as the Kew Palace — the smallest British royal palace

Timing –

• 10:00 am – 7:00 pm (Open daily, April 1 to April 30, 2023); last entry is at 6:00 pm
• 10:00 am – 7:00 pm (Monday – Friday, May 1 to September 30, 2023); last entry is at 6:00 pm
• 10:00 – 8:00 pm (Saturday, Sunday, bank holidays); last entry is at 7:00 pm
• 10:00 am – 4:00 pm (Open daily, October 29 to November 13, 2023); last entry is at 3:00 pm

Ticket price: Varies from GBP 4 (USD 4.98) (RM 22) to GBP 48 (USD 59.78) (RM 273).

Image Credit: Scott Wylie, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

With nearly 1,854 species of flora on display, this 240-acre garden is home to the country’s largest collection of tropical as well as sub-tropical plants and features unique herbs belonging to Afghani, Persian, and French origins. Given its rich legacy, decorative ambience, and varied collection of vegetation, the Lalbagh Botanical Garden is one of Bengaluru’s top tourist attractions.

Highlights

• The giant palace-like Lalbagh Glass House is a striking attraction, inspired by Crystal Palace in London’s Hyde Park
• The one-of-a-kind Lalbagh Flower Show is held every year on Republic Day and Independence Day
• The Bird Sanctuary houses bird species like the Common Egret, Brahminy Kite, and Purple Moor Hen
• The Lalbagh Rock, one of the main attractions, is over 3,000 million years old

Timing: 6:00 am – 7:00 pm (Open daily)

Ticket price

• For adults (after 8.00 am): INR 25 (USD 0.30) (RM 1.39)
• For children below 12 years of age: Free
• Entry with cameras: INR 60 (USD 0.73) (RM 3)

Image Credit: Saktivel E, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Designed to look like a botanical garden floating on water, it covers an area of about 8 acres and features a collection of citrus trees of over 150 different varieties. Part of the Borromean archipelago, Isola Madre is one of the largest of the Borromean islands furnished with rare sub-tropical plantations and unique species, including Magnolias, Grandiflora, Yellow Bird and Soulangeana.

Highlights

• The 16th-century palace and the family chapel of the Borromeo family are worth exploring
• The Square of the Parrots houses birds like white peacocks and pheasants
• The Butia Capitata is dotted with juicy orange-coloured fruits in autumn
• The English-style Garden features Calycanthus, Rhododendrons, Maple, Cypresses, and Mulberry trees

Timing: 10:00 am – 6:30 pm (Monday – Sunday)

Ticket price

• For adults: EUR 17 (USD 18.55) (RM 84)
• For youth: EUR 10 (USD 10.91) (RM 49)
• For adults in a group: EUR 15 (USD 16.37) (RM 74)
• For youth in a group: EUR 8 (USD 8.73) (RM 39)

Image Credit: leoks/Shutterstock

Founded in 1931, the garden is a part of Montreal Space for Life – the largest natural sciences museum complex in Canada. With over 22,000 species of plants from across the world and 30 thematic zones, the Montreal Botanical Garden is an expansive green meadow with lots of unusual things to explore. Visitors can expect to learn about the First Nations, as well as Japanese and Chinese cultures through the vast range of fauna and flora around the garden.

Highlights

• The Herbarium comprises nearly 1,00,000 specimens
• Of the garden’s several greenhouses, only 10 are open to visitors which showcase Bagonias, Bromeliads, and Gesneriads among other rare collections

Timing: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm (Tuesday to Sunday, closed on Monday)

Ticket price:

• For adults: CAD 22.75 (USD 16.79) (RM 77)
• For students: CAD 16.50 (USD 12.17) (RM 55)
• For children (5 –17): CAD 11.50 (USD 8.49) (RM 39)

Image Credit: Denis Roger/Shutterstock

A perfect fit for a day-long trip, the Nong Nooch Tropical Garden resembles a theme park atmosphere, exhibiting more than 12,000 collections of varied explorations along with three ecological zones – the Animal Kingdom, the Beautiful Garden, and the largest private collection of plants in the world. From dazzling archaic gardens to mini-zoos and regular cultural shows and even cosy accommodations, this botanical garden is truly worth a visit.

Highlights

• The 17th-century French Garden along with the European Renaissance Garden is one of the most spectacular attractions
• The estate’s  popular skywalk takes visitors through several gardens
• Visitors can have an entertaining time by attending the Elephant show and Thai cultural show

Timing: 8:00 am – 6:00 pm (Monday to Sunday)

Ticket price: Available on request

Image Credit: Starovoytova an, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Famous for its Art Deco and Moorish architectural influences, Jardin Majorelle was created by French painter Jacques Majorelle in the 1920s. Now owned by designers Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé, it houses many botanical specimens from around the world, including 300 species of cacti and succulents. Majorelle’s studio now serves as the Berger Museum.

Highlights

• Memorial to Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé
• Yves Saint Laurent’s Love Gallery
• The bookshop, Cafe Bousafsaf and the Boutique

Timing

• 8:00 am – 6:00 pm (Monday to Sunday)
• The last entry is at 5:30 pm

Ticket price

• Admission fee: MAD 150 (USD 14.94) (RM 67)
• For international students/children above 10 years of age: MAD 75 (USD 7.47) (RM 33)

Image Credit: Viault, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

A botanical garden in a desert sounds bizarre, doesn’t it? This dramatic garden is one of the only botanical gardens in the world focussing entirely on desert plants. Spread across 140 acres of land, the Arizonian attraction shelters thousands of species of flowers, trees, and cacti from all over the world. Standing strong since 1939, it showcases more than 50,000 species of plants and 95,900 herbarium specimens.

Highlights

• Visitors can indulge in the desert discovery loop trail and desert wildflower loop trail
• The Cactaceae collection, designated as The National Collection of Cactaceae by the North American Plant Collections Consortium (NAPCC), is home to more than 15,476 herbs and plants
• The Agavaceae collection signifies the most significant agave collection in the United States

Timing: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm (Open daily)

Ticket price: Available on request

Image Credit: Chris Curts/Shutterstock

Singapore Botanic Gardens, the first UNESCO Heritage Site in Singapore, is a remarkable exhibit showcasing the journey from a British colonial tropical garden to a well-maintained present-day scientific institution used for both education and conservation. Created in 1859, the space is dotted with innumerable plantings including 44 heritage trees and ancient sculptures.

Highlight –

• National Orchid Garden has 1,200 species and 2,000 hybrids
• The Forest Discovery Centre teaches about forest ecosystem

Timing: 5:00 am to 12:00 am (Monday to Sunday)

Ticket price: Free

For adults visiting the National Orchid Garden: SGD 5 (USD 3.73)

Image Credit: Matthew Seah/Shutterstock