The World’s Best Flower Gardens and the Best Season to Visit Them

Keukenhof Gardens – Lisse, Netherlands

The Keukenhof, often referred to as the “Garden of Europe,” is one of the largest and most spectacular flower gardens in the world. Located in Lisse, just outside Amsterdam, it spans around 79 acres and is planted with over seven million flower bulbs each year. The garden is best known for its tulips, but it also features hyacinths, daffodils, orchids, roses, and lilies. Each year, Keukenhof presents a different theme, which influences its flower arrangements and exhibitions. The best time to visit is from late March to mid-May, with peak tulip bloom usually in mid-April. Visitors can stroll through themed pavilions, take boat rides along the surrounding bulb fields, and enjoy sweeping views from the historic Dutch windmill inside the park.

Hitachi Seaside Park – Ibaraki, Japan

Hitachi Seaside Park is a 470-acre public park along the coast of Ibaraki Prefecture. It has gained worldwide fame for its vast, color-coordinated flower displays that change dramatically with the seasons. The most famous sight occurs in late April to early May, when over four million “baby blue eyes” (nemophila) cover Miharashi Hill, creating an otherworldly carpet of pale blue. In autumn, the park’s green kochia bushes turn vivid crimson, peaking from late September to mid-October. Other seasonal highlights include tulips in April, narcissus in March, and sunflowers in summer. Visitors can explore by walking trails, cycling paths, or even a small tourist train that loops through the park.

Dubai Miracle Garden – Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Dubai Miracle Garden is the largest natural flower garden in the world, covering 72,000 square meters and boasting over 150 million flowers in elaborate arrangements. Open only from November to March due to the region’s extreme summer heat, the garden offers a fantastical display of floral sculptures in the shapes of castles, hearts, cartoon characters, and even a life-size Airbus A380. The designers change the displays each season, ensuring that no two visits are ever the same. The site also includes a Butterfly Garden with thousands of free-flying butterflies. The cooler winter weather makes for comfortable strolling and photography.

Claude Monet’s Garden – Giverny, France

Claude Monet, the French Impressionist master, designed and tended this garden himself, using it as inspiration for many of his most famous paintings. Located in the small village of Giverny, Monet’s property is divided into two sections: the Clos Normand, a vibrant flower garden in front of the house, and the Japanese-inspired water garden across the road, featuring a pond with water lilies, weeping willows, and the now-iconic green Japanese bridge. The gardens are open from late April to October, with June being the ideal time to see the water lilies in full bloom. Paths are lined with roses, irises, tulips, and countless other plants, arranged to create shifting palettes of color throughout the season.

Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew – London, United Kingdom

Kew Gardens is both a botanical research institution and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, located in southwest London. Spanning over 300 acres, it houses more than 50,000 living plants in gardens, arboretums, and glasshouses. The best months for floral displays are April and May, when magnolias, cherry blossoms, and bluebells reach their peak. Kew is home to iconic structures such as the Victorian Palm House, the Temperate House (the largest surviving Victorian glasshouse in the world), and the Pagoda. Seasonal events include orchid festivals in winter and summer evening concerts. Its historic collections also make it an unparalleled site for plant conservation.

Ashikaga Flower Park – Tochigi, Japan

Ashikaga Flower Park is one of Japan’s most celebrated floral destinations, particularly for its breathtaking wisteria tunnels. A century-old wisteria tree with cascading purple blossoms is the centerpiece, often described as looking like a “flower waterfall.” The park also features white, pink, and yellow wisteria, as well as azaleas, roses, and hydrangeas. The wisteria season runs from late April to mid-May, with each color peaking in a different week. Nighttime light-ups during this period turn the garden into a glowing dreamscape. In mid-February to March, plum blossoms create a different but equally enchanting scene.

Butchart Gardens – British Columbia, Canada

Once a limestone quarry, Butchart Gardens was transformed in the early 20th century by Jennie Butchart into one of Canada’s most beloved horticultural attractions. Covering over 55 acres, the gardens feature a series of themed areas: the Sunken Garden, Rose Garden, Japanese Garden, and Italian Garden. Spring offers tulips, hyacinths, and daffodils, while summer is dominated by roses in full bloom from June to August. In autumn, dahlias and fiery foliage add a different kind of beauty. The gardens host summer concerts and Saturday night fireworks, making warm evenings particularly memorable.

Mainau Island – Lake Constance, Germany

Mainau Island, known as the “Flower Island,” sits in Lake Constance and is famous for its seasonal floral displays, Mediterranean-style terraces, and baroque palace. The gardens are designed to ensure blooms in every season: tulips and magnolias in spring, roses in June, and dahlias in late summer. A tropical butterfly house, giant sequoias, and sweeping lake views make it a year-round attraction. The island’s mild climate, influenced by the lake, allows for the growth of exotic plants not usually found in central Europe.

Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden – Cape Town, South Africa

Located at the eastern foot of Table Mountain, Kirstenbosch is considered one of the most beautiful botanical gardens in the world. It specializes in the flora of southern Africa, particularly the Cape Floral Kingdom. The best time to visit is between August and November, when native proteas, ericas, and other fynbos species are in bloom. The gardens also feature a canopy walkway called the “Boomslang,” which offers panoramic views. In summer, the grounds host open-air concerts against the mountain backdrop.

Jardin Majorelle – Marrakech, Morocco

Jardin Majorelle is a small but striking botanical garden originally created in the 1920s by French painter Jacques Majorelle and later restored by Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé. Its signature cobalt-blue buildings contrast vividly with the greenery, cacti, bamboo groves, and water features. Though not a seasonal flower garden in the same sense as others on this list, its exotic plant collection and unique design make it worth visiting at any time of year. The most pleasant weather for exploring is from October to April, when Marrakech is cooler and the gardens are at their lushest.