The Most Beautiful Gardens in the World1782 min read

To many, a plot of land is more than an area of dirt and grass—it’s a blank canvas that holds endless opportunities for creating beautiful gardens and landscapes.

But in addition to being something aesthetically pleasing, gardens also can be important extensions of a country’s culture; styles, designs, and elements used are often unique to each, and there’s a lot that can be learned about a country and its people when you immerse yourself in a garden.

While there are hundreds of gardens in the world, these are the ones that set the bar:

Gardens at the Palace of Versailles, France
To Louis the XIV of France, the gardens were considered to be equally as important as the palace itself—and it shows. Covering 250 acres, the gardens took 40 years to complete and are filled with flowerbeds, walking paths, statues, lakes, and a canal for gondola rides.

Image from Synchrosecrets.

Rikugien Gardens, Japan
Inspired by the six elements in Japanese waka poetry, this unique garden is divided into six sections that are based on different parts of the country. Travelers who visit Rikugien will find that it’s similar to the minimalistic gardens of the Edo Period, which features ponds, trees, and hills.

Image from Garden World:

Villa d’Este, Italy

The epitome of the Italian garden, the Villa d’Este is a UNESCO world heritage site that has inspired a number of other European gardens. Some of the highlights of the garden include incredible water fountains, grottos, and statues.

Image from Villa d’Este: