The world’s most beautiful botanical gardens

With thousands upon thousands of eye-popping flora and fauna, botanical gardens provide an oasis on any city trip.

Here is our list of must-see botanical gardens around the world.

Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden, Brazil

With moss-covered fountains, patches of dense rainforest, and lily-pad ponds, the Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden is gloriously tropical. Founded in 1808 by the Brazilian emperor, it is home to 6,500 species of exotic flora (including 600 species of orchids), as well as tropical butterflies, 20 species of hummingbird, and monkeys. It sits at the foot of the Corcovado Mountain, atop of which you’ll see the statue of Christ the Redeemer overlooking the garden. Just 50 metres from the gardens, Pouso Verde Bed and Breakfast is a highly rated accommodation in a pretty, lemon-yellow townhouse.

Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, UK

Kew Gardens is the world’s largest collection of living plants. Step inside the warm climes of the Temperate House, the world’s largest Victorian greenhouse, or the Bonsai House whose trees date back 150 years. There are 326 acres of landscaped grounds to explore, with treetop walkways, conservatories galore, and the Orangery Restaurant housed in an 18th-century building. Kew is open all year round; in summer visitors can attend al fresco film screenings and concerts, and at Christmas, a festive trail winds its way through the illuminated gardens. Stay at the conveniently-located, luxurious Kew Gardens B and B.

Brooklyn Botanic Garden, USA

In New York’s famously industrial Brooklyn neighbourhood, you may be surprised to find one of the world’s best botanical gardens. Spanning 52 acres, Brooklyn Botanic Garden is a horticultural wonderland; favourite features include the thousands of roses and scent-filled air of the Cranford Rose Garden, the Japanese Garden, the Steinhardt Conservatory, which houses several pavilions of varying climates, and the art gallery. The Brooklyn is a boutique hotel close to the gardens.

Chicago Botanic Garden, USA

The Chicago Botanic Garden is spread across nine islands floating in the Cook County Forest Preserves. Divided up into 27 gardens – the Waterfall Garden, the English Oak Meadow, the Heritage Garden, and so on – it consists of 385 acres of greenery. The piece de resistance is the bonsai collection, with 185 different specimens dotted around the Japanese Garden, which spans three separate islands. Courtyard Chicago Highland Park is less than 2km from the Chicago Botanic Gardens.

Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, South Africa

South Africa is known for its beautiful wildflowers, so where better to come to appreciate nature than Cape Town’s extraordinary display of native vegetation? With the flat-topped, moody Table Mountain forming the backdrop, you can explore 7,000 indigenous species at the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden. This superb collection includes fynbos shrubs and camphor trees that flower brightly in spring, a Fragrance Garden, a Medicinal Garden, and the Botanical Society Conservatory. Summer sunset concerts are also held on Sunday evenings from December through till March. As well as being 2-minutes’ walk from the gardens, Klein Bosheuwel Guest House has a beautifully-sculpted garden of its own.

Singapore Botanic Garden, Singapore

Home to 20,000 orchids divided into ‘colour zones’, shimmering lakes, wild monkeys, terrapins, an evolution garden, and plenty of rainforest – Singapore Botanic Garden is known to be one of the best of its kind in the world. Founded in 1859 and recently declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it’s a historic part of the city, where you can easily spend several days marveling at 183 acres of tropical flora and fauna. Set amid 15 acres of exotic gardens of its own, Shangri-La Singapore is also easy walking distance from the Singapore Botanic Garden.