The best gardens to visit in Europe

One of the most spectacular sights for those who love flowers, the Keukenhof gardens near Lisse are famous for their tulips and a highlight of a Dutch river cruise. Open for six or seven weeks every year, around seven million flower bulbs are planted every autumn in time to flower the following spring. April is one of the best times to visit the 80-acre site, which transforms into an astonishing rainbow of colours, with decorated floats passing the gates in a Flower Parade in mid-April.

When to visit: The gardens are open from around mid-March to mid-May, with the flowers (and crowds) peaking in mid-April.

How to see: Dutch and Belgian river cruises

Whether you love gardens or art, you shouldn’t miss Claude Monet’s Garden at Giverny, set between Rouen and Paris in northern France. Home to the Japanese water garden which inspired his famous painting, Bridge over a Pond of Water Lilies, where you can gaze onto the iconic pond and bridge, watching the light on the water. There’s also a second section, the lovely flower garden called Clos Normand, with its vibrant colours during spring and summer.

When to visit: May to June and September to October are best for a visit.

How to see: cruises to France

As you might expect at the lavishly opulent Palace of Versailles, the gardens are equally jaw-dropping. Dating back to 1661, work on the vast grounds started at the same time as the palace and took around 40 years, with 300 hectares of forests and classical formal gardens, alongside the more naturalistic Jardins du Petit Trianon. As well as enjoyinf the manicured topiary and geometric patterns of the hedges, you could count 600 fountains and water features and 370 statues as you go.

When to visit: March to May are the months to see the gardens at their best.

Home to the world’s biggest living plant collection, Kew Gardens was founded by Princess Augusta, mother to George III in 1759, expanding to cover 230 acres of land. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the sprawling Royal Botanical Gardens are home to several glasshouses, including the famous Palm House, lakes, sculptures, a palace and even a giant pagoda, with spectacular flower displays throughout the year, plus a unique collection of plant and tree life.

When to visit: There’s something to enjoy year-round, from spring flowers to the warmth of the Palm House in winter.

One of the most ambitious garden projects in the world, the Eden Project in Cornwall is another of the UK’s UNESCO-listed sites. Once an abandoned clay mine, the crater now houses two huge Biomes where you can transport yourself to the Mediterranean or one of the world’s largest indoor rainforests. That’s before you explore the outdoor gardens, or discover some of the artworks and performances at the site.

When to visit: The controlled environments of the biomes means you can visit year-round, although spring and summer are best for exploring the outdoor gardens.

How to see: British Isles cruises

These formal gardens in Tuscany were once the private grounds of the Medici family’s Palazzo Pitti in Florence. Designed in the mid-16th century, the Boboli Gardens were intended to bring the principles of the Renaissance to life and acted as a model for European court gardens, with their enticing mix of the natural and man-made. Look out for the spectacular fountains, along with caves and grottos, sculptures, and the lemon house, where the Medici bred new varieties of citrus fruit.

When to visit: The gardens are at their best from April to September, although it’s best to avoid peak summer’s heat and crowds.

How to see: Gardens of Tuscany

This unusual garden is one of the best places to discover why Madeira’s subtropical climate makes the island such a paradise of flowers and plants. The former 18th century estate was transformed into Monte Palace Tropical Gardens during the 1980s, after being abandoned for decades. Today, there are around 100,000 plant species from across the world in the 70,000 m2 site, which is also home to sculptures, a collection of tiles and a small museum.

When to visit: Any time from April to August is a good month to enjoy the gardens.

How to see: Madeira's Enticing Gardens

Generalife courtyard

The UNESCO-listed Alhambra in Granada is one of the world’s top tourist attractions, but it’s not only the ornate interiors of the royal palace which make this site stand out. The Generalife Gardens surround the summer palace of the Moorish kings who ruled here, set higher up the hill than the main fort and palace, with shady paths passing pools and fountains to allow visitors to find a tranquil escape from the hot Spanish sun.

When to visit: April-May or September-October avoid the hottest weather

How to see: Moorish and Modern Gardens of Spain

Set around a Neoclassical villa, just to the south of Denia, the Albarda Gardens blend the formal and the natural, with more than 700 plant species across five hectares. The different styles showcase some of the main Mediterranean flora, with Moorish influences in the Valencian gardens and more structured Renaissance styles elsewhere. Spring is one of the best times to visit to see the blossom, or from May to June when the roses are in bloom.

When to visit: Late March to June sees everything from blossom to roses in flower.

How to see: Valencian Gardens

Laberint d’Horta

One of the most unusual gardens in Catalonia, the Laberint d’Horta is the oldest of its kind in the city. Set on a former private estate, the historic site gives you a chance to walk through centuries of garden design, including an 18th century neoclassical garden and a 19th century romantic garden, plus the labyrinthine hedge maze which gives the site its name.

When to visit: May to June is ideal to see the gardens without the heat and crowds of summer.

How to see: Catalonian Gardens

You’re spoiled for choice when it comes to memorable gardens in Spain’s green north but Pazo de Oca stands out from the competition. Often called the Galician Versailles, thanks to its Baroque gardens, the French style was introduced to the court of Spain in the early 18th century and the then Lord of Oca (whose wife had links to the French court) was quick to adopt the new designs on his estate. Today, the carefully designed gardens also feature ornamental ponds and camellia walks, with the flowers thriving in the cooler climate of Galicia.

When to visit: June to September has some of the best weather, or see the camellias blooming in February and March.

This 12-hectare botanical garden in the capital of Tenerife is memorable for more than one reason; not only did the site transform a municipal rubbish dump into an outstanding green space, but the Palmetum Gardens are thought to be the largest botanical collection of tropical island palms in the world. With 3,000 species of plants from tropical and subtropical climates, the gardens are divided into different areas ranging from local endemic palms to Caribbean and New Caledonian areas.

When to visit: There’s something to see year-round, but spring and autumn have some of the best weather.

How to see: Wild Flora and Gardens of Tenerife

The Great Garden at Herrenhausen was once a meeting point for artists and politicians from across Europe, created by the royal family of Hanover. The original Baroque design was commissioned by Sophia of Hanover, the granddaughter of James I and cousin of Queen Anne, with 50 hectares of hedges and avenues laid out in elegant geometric patterns, dotted by statues. Once surrounding the Herrenhausen palace in northern Germany, the buildings were destroyed during the Second World War.

When to visit: May to June are among the best months to see the gardens without the crowds of summer

The largest Japanese garden in Europe, Hasselt is one of the continent’s newer gardens, only completed in 1992, although its traditional elements are based on a 17th century original. Donated to the Belgian city by the Japanese city of Itami, the six-acre site is home to 250 cherry trees, which transform the gardens into a lacy sea of blossom each April, although it’s equally lovely filled with the vibrant colours of maple trees in autumn. With their water features, rock gardens and tea houses, it’s easy enjoy the peace year-round.

When to visit: April and October

The northernmost reaches of Norway might not seem an obvious location for one of Europe’s best gardens, but Tromsø’s Arctic-Alpine Botanical Garden is a perfect example of how plants can thrive in even the Arctic chill. With thousands of plants from polar and mountainous regions, there are collections from the Himalayas and southernmost South America as well as the Arctic, plus big displays of primroses, gentians and saxifrages, along with Arctic poppies and Siberian lilies.

When to visit: June and July are the best times to see the huge blue Tibetan poppy in flower.

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