Eden of Enchantment: 12 Most Stunning Gardens Around the World

Are you searching for paradise or your own corner in the Garden of Eden? From the flower and plant choices to the beautiful blend of colors complimenting each other, these enchanting Edens are the most stunning worldwide.

1. Butchart Garden, Canada

If you seek the sights of otherworldly sunken gardens of Japanese origin, the Butchart Gardens should be your next port of call. Visitors are enthralled by the vibrant scents of bloodred roses and feather-sized dahlias waving relentlessly in the autumn snow.

2. Keukenhof Gardens, Netherlands

The love affair of the Dutch with flowers has never been a secret, and the giant spread of the Keukenhof Gardens in Lisse is a testament to that. The vibrant tapestry of colors that dignifies Keukenhof is best experienced during the spring, with millions of blooming tulips, hyacinths, and daffodils making for a picturesque backdrop that eternally sticks to memory even on first sighting.

3. Versailles Gardens, France

A combo of gardens worked with intent to the detail, the Versaille Gardens are natural wonders of perfectly manicured lawns and ornate fountains that grant you more than a peep into the perfectly preserved, luxe estate of the French monarchy.

4. Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, South Africa

A localized garden that covets global attention, the unique centerpiece of the Kirstenbosch is the careful assemblage of indigenous South African flowers that make for a flora paradise. And because Kirstenbosch is situated at the foot of Table Mountain in Cape Town, the immersive view of the mountain above the sea of rioting colors brings the paradise feel of the first Eden.

5. Villa Cimbrone Gardens, Italy

Perched on the cliffs of the Amalfi Coast, the Villa Cimbrone Gardens offer you an unforgettable view of the Mediterranean Sea. Villa Cimbrone’s fragrant rose terraces and the Terrace of Infinity make it an enchanting destination, where art and nature meld into one in floral romance.

6. Gardens of Alhambra, Spain

The aura of its Arabian architecture is what the city is most renowned for, but the Alhambra Gardens are equally worth the hype for their show-stopping views from a drone shot. You’ll find intricate courtyard crystalline reflective pools with mirror images of your favorite flowers against the backdrop of a more transparent Spanish sky.

7. Kyoto Imperial Palace Gardens, Japan

entrance to Kyoto Imperial Palace Gardens — Image Credit: Shutterstock.

Travelers often recount the sacredness of the Kyoto Imperial Palace in a few words: creaking wooden bridges and serene ponds boasting an abundance of wildlife that share boundaries with meticulously pruned trees. If you seek a glimpse into Japan’s rich history and much-celebrated culture, add the Kyoto Imperial Palace to your bucket list.

8. Claudet Monet’s Garden, France

The French are renowned for their artistic sophistication, and it’s no surprise that two French gardens appear on the list. The Claudet Monet’s Garden has been eternally mesmerizing. It served as a well of inspiration for the impressionist painter Claude Monet’s best works.

9. The Lost Garden of Heligan, United Kingdom

Having suffered neglect for decades, the Lost Garden of Heligan sustained its natural lushness after its loving restoration. Open to exploration, Heligan now includes a jungle, a Victorian-styled kitchen garden, and a charming woodland that brings forth the scents of fairytale destinations.

10. Ryoan-ji Temple, Japan

Ryoan-ji Temple is the proud home of one of Japan’s most iconic Zen gardens, headlined in some Western documentaries. Famous for its simplistic and harmonious atmosphere, Ryoan-ji Temple Zen Gardens brandish meticulously raked gravel surrounding fifteen carefully placed rocks, creating a quiet ambiance that encourages meditation and reflection, especially if you love yoga.

11. Biltmore Estate Gardens, United States

Although gardens in the United States are often sewn with European landscape design in mind, one unique theme of Biltmore is its outwardly spread terraces, neighboring fountains, and beautiful seasonal displays that make for the most natural timestamp of waking autumn and fading spring.

12. Gardens of Villa D’este, Italy

Italy is renowned for its architecture that opens books into the annal of Renaissance history. Still, not many know that just on the outskirts of Rome in Tivoli is the Garden of Villa D’este, which doubles as a Unesco World Heritage Site. The Renaissance-era gardens break into terraced slopes adorned with cascading water fountains and plush greenery that promise to make your eyes pop in nature’s awe.