Top 10 Hidden gardens and parks in Europe that are worth exploring

Giardino Bardini is a hidden garden located in the heart of Florence, Italy. This beautiful garden offers a tranquil escape from the bustling city and provides stunning views of the city from the top of the garden. Visitors can explore a wide variety of plants, including lemon trees, magnolias, and wisterias.

 

The garden is divided into several terraces that are connected by staircases and walkways. Visitors can explore the various terraces, each with its own unique charm and beauty. The top terrace of the garden offers a breathtaking panoramic view of Florence, making it a popular spot for photographers and tourists.

 

In addition to the stunning gardens, Giardino Bardini is also home to a museum that houses a collection of antique furnishings and decorative arts. The museum is located in the historic Villa Bardini, which dates back to the 16th century.

Giardino Bardini is open year-round, with different opening hours depending on the season. Admission fees apply, but the price is reasonable considering the beauty and tranquility that the garden offers.

Overall, Giardino Bardini is a hidden gem that is worth visiting for anyone traveling to Florence. It offers a peaceful escape from the busy city streets and provides a unique opportunity to explore the beauty of Italian gardens and the history of the Villa Bardini.

Jardin des Plantes is a stunning botanical garden located in the heart of Paris, France. The garden covers 28 hectares and is home to a wide variety of plants, including a rose garden, an Alpine garden, and a botanical school garden.

Founded in 1626 as a medicinal herb garden for the King Louis XIII, the Jardin des Plantes has since evolved into one of the most beautiful and diverse botanical gardens in Europe. Visitors can explore the various sections of the garden, each with its own unique charm and beauty. The rose garden, for example, features over 170 varieties of roses and is a popular spot for visitors during the summer months.

The garden is also home to several museums, including the National Museum of Natural History, which houses over 60 million specimens, including fossils, plants, and animals. Visitors can learn about the history of natural history and explore the various exhibits and collections.

In addition to the museums and gardens, Jardin des Plantes also offers several activities and events throughout the year, including guided tours, workshops, and concerts.

Jardin des Plantes is a must-visit destination for anyone traveling to Paris. It offers a peaceful escape from the busy city streets and provides a unique opportunity to explore the beauty and diversity of the botanical world.

Villa Borghese Gardens is a beautiful public park located in the heart of Rome, Italy. The park covers 80 hectares and is one of the largest public parks in the city. The park was established in the 17th century by Cardinal Scipione Borghese and has since become a popular destination for both locals and tourists.

The park features several gardens, including an English garden, a French garden, and an Italian garden. Visitors can explore the various gardens, each with its own unique charm and beauty. The Italian garden, for example, features stunning fountains and statues, while the English garden offers a more natural and relaxed atmosphere.

In addition to the gardens, Villa Borghese is also home to several museums, including the Galleria Borghese, which houses a collection of masterpieces by artists such as Caravaggio, Bernini, and Raphael. The museum is housed in the 17th-century Villa Borghese itself, which is a stunning example of Baroque architecture.

The park also offers several activities and events throughout the year, including guided tours, concerts, and outdoor movie screenings.

Overall, Villa Borghese Gardens is a must-visit destination for anyone traveling to Rome. It offers a peaceful escape from the busy city streets and provides a unique opportunity to explore the beauty of Italian gardens and art.

Parc de la Ciutadella is a beautiful public park located in the heart of Barcelona, Spain. The park covers 17 hectares and is one of the largest green spaces in the city. It was originally built in 1877 as a military citadel, but it was later transformed into a public park for the Universal Exposition held in Barcelona in 1888.

The park features several attractions, including the Barcelona Zoo, the Catalan Parliament, and the Cascada Monumental, a stunning fountain designed by Josep Fontserè in collaboration with Antoni Gaudí. The park also features several gardens, including the Botanical Garden, which houses over 1,500 plant species from around the world.

Visitors can explore the park's various attractions, relax on the grassy areas, or rent a rowboat to paddle around the park's lake. The park also offers several outdoor activities, including yoga classes, tai chi sessions, and soccer games.

Parc de la Ciutadella is a popular destination for both locals and tourists. It offers a peaceful escape from the busy city streets and provides a unique opportunity to explore the beauty of Barcelona's green spaces and architecture. Overall, it is a must-visit destination for anyone traveling to Barcelona.

Keukenhof Gardens is a stunning flower garden located in Lisse, Netherlands. It covers an area of 32 hectares and is home to over 7 million flower bulbs, including tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths.
The garden was established in 1949 as a showcase for Dutch flower growers and has since become one of the most popular destinations for tourists visiting the Netherlands during the spring season.

 

Visitors can explore the various sections of the garden, each with its own unique theme and design. The garden features several flower shows and exhibitions, including the Dutch Design theme, which highlights the Dutch art and design heritage.

One of the most popular attractions at Keukenhof Gardens is the Flower Parade, a 42-kilometer long parade of floats decorated with flowers that takes place in the surrounding area. The parade is held annually in April and attracts thousands of visitors from all over the world.

Visitors can also enjoy several outdoor activities, including cycling, boating, and picnicking in the park. The garden also offers several restaurants and cafes where visitors can enjoy traditional Dutch cuisine.

 

Keukenhof Gardens is a must-visit destination for anyone traveling to the Netherlands during the spring season. It provides a unique opportunity to explore the beauty and diversity of Dutch flowers and horticulture.

Giardino Garzoni is a beautiful garden located in the small Tuscan town of Collodi, Italy. The garden covers an area of 12 hectares and is known for its stunning collection of plants, sculptures, and water features.

The garden was designed in the 17th century by the Garzoni family, who were wealthy merchants in the area. The garden features several levels, each with its own unique design and features. Visitors can explore the various sections of the garden, including the Italian garden, the water garden, and the butterfly house.

The Italian garden features stunning fountains, statues, and flower beds arranged in a geometric pattern. The water garden, on the other hand, features several pools, waterfalls, and cascades, creating a tranquil and serene atmosphere. The butterfly house is a unique attraction that houses several species of butterflies from around the world.

Visitors can also explore the Collodi Butterfly and Insect House, which is located near the garden. The house features several species of exotic butterflies and insects, including tarantulas and scorpions.

 

Giardino Garzoni is a popular destination for both locals and tourists. It offers a peaceful escape from the busy city streets and provides a unique opportunity to explore the beauty of Tuscan gardens and architecture. It is a must-visit destination for anyone traveling to Tuscany.

Vondelpark is a beautiful urban park located in Amsterdam, Netherlands. It covers an area of 47 hectares and is the largest public park in the city. The park is named after the Dutch poet and playwright Joost van den Vondel, whose statue is located at the entrance of the park.

The park features several attractions, including several playgrounds, a rose garden, and several cafes and restaurants. Visitors can explore the various walking and cycling paths that wind through the park, or rent a boat to paddle around the park's lake.

One of the most popular attractions at Vondelpark is the open-air theatre, which hosts several free concerts and performances during the summer months. The park also hosts several cultural events and festivals throughout the year, including the Holland Festival and the Amsterdam Roots Festival.

Vondelpark is a popular destination for both locals and tourists. It offers a peaceful escape from the busy city streets and provides a unique opportunity to explore the beauty of Amsterdam's green spaces and architecture. Overall, it is a must-visit destination for anyone traveling to Amsterdam.

The Jardins de Marqueyssac is a beautifully designed garden located in the Dordogne region of France. The garden was originally created in the 17th century and has been meticulously maintained and restored over the years.

One of the most striking features of the Jardins de Marqueyssac is the over 150,000 hand-pruned boxwood trees that cover the garden's hillsides. These trees are sculpted into unique shapes, creating a stunning landscape that has earned the garden a reputation as one of the most beautiful in France.

Visitors to the Jardins de Marqueyssac can explore the garden's winding paths and staircases, which offer spectacular views of the Dordogne River and the surrounding countryside. The garden is also home to a variety of plants and flowers, including roses, lavender, and jasmine.

In addition to the garden itself, the Jardins de Marqueyssac also features a chateau that was built in the 17th century. The chateau has been restored and now houses a restaurant and gift shop, as well as an exhibition space that showcases the history of the garden and its restoration.

Throughout the year, the Jardins de Marqueyssac hosts a variety of events and activities, including outdoor concerts, guided tours, and workshops on gardening and topiary.

Overall, the Jardins de Marqueyssac is a must-visit destination for anyone interested in gardens and outdoor beauty. With its stunning landscapes, unique topiary designs, and rich history, it is truly one of the most beautiful gardens in France.

Kew Gardens is a botanical garden located in London, UK. It is one of the largest and most diverse botanical gardens in the world, with over 50,000 living plants and millions of preserved plant specimens.
The garden was first established in the 18th century and has since become a world-renowned center for research, conservation, and education. Visitors to Kew Gardens can explore a variety of different environments, including tropical rainforests, desert landscapes, and alpine meadows.

One of the most famous attractions at Kew Gardens is the Palm House, which houses a collection of tropical plants from around the world. The Palm House is a beautiful example of Victorian-era engineering and design, with a towering glass roof that allows sunlight to filter through and warm the plants inside.

Another popular attraction at Kew Gardens is the Temperate House, which is home to a vast collection of plants from temperate regions around the world. The Temperate House is the largest surviving Victorian glasshouse in the world, and it has recently undergone a major restoration to preserve its historic architecture and provide a better environment for the plants.

In addition to its botanical collections, Kew Gardens is also home to several art and architecture exhibits, as well as a number of seasonal events and activities. Visitors can take guided tours of the gardens, attend lectures and workshops, or simply enjoy a relaxing stroll through the various landscapes.

Overall, Kew Gardens is a must-visit destination for anyone interested in botanical gardens, plant life, or natural history. With its diverse collections, historic architecture, and commitment to research and conservation, it is one of the most important botanical institutions in the world.

The Schönbrunn Palace Gardens in Vienna, Austria are a must-visit destination for anyone interested in history, architecture, and natural beauty. The gardens are part of the larger Schönbrunn Palace complex, which was built in the 18th century as the summer residence of the Habsburg royal family.

The gardens themselves cover over 1.2 square miles and feature a variety of different landscapes, including formal gardens, meadows, and woods. Visitors can explore the gardens on foot or by taking a tour on the historic train that runs through the park.

One of the most impressive features of the Schönbrunn Palace Gardens is the Great Parterre, a formal garden that stretches out in front of the palace. The Great Parterre is made up of a series of terraces, fountains, and sculptures, and it provides a stunning backdrop for photos and leisurely strolls.

Another highlight of the Schönbrunn Palace Gardens is the Neptune Fountain, a large Baroque fountain that was built in the 18th century. The fountain features a statue of Neptune, the Roman god of the sea, surrounded by a variety of other mythological figures and sea creatures.

The gardens also feature several smaller, more intimate spaces, including the Privy Garden and the Orangery Garden. The Privy Garden is a formal French-style garden that is designed to be viewed from above, while the Orangery Garden is home to a variety of citrus trees and exotic plants.

Overall, the Schönbrunn Palace Gardens are a beautiful and historic destination that should not be missed by anyone visiting Vienna. With its formal gardens, Baroque fountains, and natural landscapes, the gardens are a perfect place to spend an afternoon or to simply take in the beauty and history of Austria's rich cultural heritage.