25 of the most unique gardens around the world

According to The Biltmore Estate Timeline, George Vanderbilt purchased the land for the property in 1888 and hired Frederick Law Olmsted, who was responsible for the design of Central Park in New York City, to design the gardens.

Biltmore also provides potential visitors with a blooming guide, explaining what months flowers will be in bloom for. If your favorite flower is roses, for example, the best time to visit is May; but if your favorite is the sunflower, July is the best time to visit, according to the estate.

The medieval tower was built for the Guinigi family and adjoined to their palace; in Italy, it was common for wealthy families to build commission towers to see who could build the tallest and most desirable, per Expedia. As of 2024, the Torre Guinigi is one of the few structures from the time period remaining in the city.

To ascend the tower, you’ll need to climb 230 steps, but the view is worth the effort. Plus, you’ll be able to relax in the shade of the trees, which scholars believe are symbols of rebirth and power.

Located between Amsterdam and the Hague, Keukenhof is one of the world’s largest flower gardens. Each year, more than 7 million bulbs are planted in the fall, including 800 different varieties of tulips, the Tulip Festival Amsterdam reported.

Open from March to May, Keukenhof bursts to life with colorful blooms every spring; this year, the garden’s displays were reported to be “extra festive” in celebration of the garden’s 75th anniversary.

Situated 30 minutes south of Dublin in County Wicklow, Ireland, the 47-acre Powerscourt Gardens are divided into distinct areas, including the Italian garden, the Japanese garden, and the walled garden, according to the estate’s website.

The country estate used to be the home of the Viscount Powerscourt, a noble title in Ireland. On a more morbid note, visitors can take a break from walking through curations of roses, lavender, and tulips to see the pets cemetery, which the estate reports is “believed to be the largest pets’ cemetery in any private Irish garden.”

The Dubai Miracle Garden features 60 varieties of flowers. Spanning about 18 acres, the garden usually attracts more than one million people each year, CNN reported in 2017.

Its vibrant floral displays — which have included a life-size Emirates Airbus A380 — change seasonally.

The palace ruins of Sigiriya — a UNESCO World Heritage Site — sit atop a mountainous rock that stands over 600 feet tall, per Sri Lanka Travel.

Some of the oldest landscaped gardens on the planet are nestled among the site’s intricate network of staircases and reservoirs.

Named the 2023 Skytrax Airport of the Year, Singapore Changi Airport is home to a number of gardens and nature-inspired attractions, including a butterfly garden with more than 1,000 butterflies, a sunflower garden, and a koi pond.

The indoor greenery reflects Singapore’s nickname, “City in a Garden.”

Per the location’s website, Tromsø Botanical Garden has plants from every continent, such as its “mascot,” the Himalayan blue poppy, which is native to Asia, and the white-eyed ice plant from southern Africa.

The South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) reported that the government first designated land at the estate of Kirstenbosch for a national botanical garden in May 1913.

One of the garden’s most notable features is its canopy walk. Built from 2013 to 2014, the walkway spans more than 400 feet and lifts visitors nearly 40 feet above ground to offer excellent views of the flora, such as fynbos, a type of vegetation native to the southern tip of Africa.

Stretching 1.45 miles, the High Line is one of New York City’s most popular attractions, drawing an estimated 8 million people a year according to the Institution of Civil Engineers and featuring 150,000 plants, trees, and shrubs.

Some of the plant species that call the Melbourne Gardens home include cacti and succulents, roses, camellias, and rainforest flora, the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria reports.

Many Australian Open winners including Aryna Sabalenka, Jannik Sinner, Novak Djokovic, and Caroline Wozniacki have posed at the garden with their trophy.

Located on a Cornwall estate that was originally built in the 1200s, the Lost Gardens of Heligan — famous for its whimsical stone statues, like the sleeping Mud Maid — live up to the name.

During World War I, the estate became overgrown due to neglect. However, the property was never sold or developed. Fortunately for plant lovers everywhere, workers restored the forgotten gardens to their original glory in the 1990s.

Today, there is a jungle area filled with bamboo tunnels and pleasure grounds that feature historic plantings from around the world, Heligan’s website reports.

Monet lived in this Giverny home from 1883 to 1926, and helped design its famous gardens, including the water lily pond that would become the inspiration for his timeless work of art, “Water Lilies,” which now hangs in the Musée de L’Orangerie in Paris.

The garden was inspired by Japan and includes plants like bamboo, maple, Japanese tree peonies, weeping willows, and of course, water lilies, the location’s website reports.