The world’s most vibrant and colourful gardens

Sir Seewoosagu Ramgoolam Gardens

Let’s face it – everyone looks forward to spring, with new blooms and trees bringing some much-needed colour back into our lives after a long, grey winter. Stepping into a flower garden full of rich reds, sunny yellows and deep purples when the seasons change feels like a breath of fresh air!

From Kew Gardens in the UK to Kirstenbosch in South Africa or the Butchart Gardens in Canada, gardens around the world are loved for their stunning displays and bright colours. Many, such as the Jardin Majorelle in Morocco, are even associated with one specific colour – the cobalt “Majorelle Blue”.

We often associate the word ‘vibrant’ with gardens and floral displays so, to give you a little short break inn-spiration this spring, we studied imagery from some of the world’s most famous gardens using AI-powered colour analysis to determine which ones are bursting with the most bold and beautiful hues!

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In our study, we’ll be revealing:

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The world’s most vibrant gardens

Europe dominates the overall rankings, with eight of the top 10 most vibrant gardens in the world found in the continent – the UK alone is home to five of them!

Kensington Palace Gardens takes the top spot according to our research, with a vibrancy score of 254. Kew Gardens, only six miles from Kensington Palace in London, ranks in a close second, with a score of 250 for vibrance. Scotland’s Inveraray Castle and Gardens follows in third, with the Kyoto Garden in Holland Park completing the top five.

The Rosedal de Palermo gardens rank in fourth place, making these Argentinian gardens the best-ranked of any outside of the UK and Europe. The gardens also rank far higher than others in South America, with Santiago Metropolitan Park Gardens falling in 37th place on the global scale.

The Dubai Miracle Gardens are the only location in Asia to feature in the top 10, sneaking in 10th position with a vibrancy score of 222. Gardens in Oceania fall just outside the top 10, with the Auckland Botanic Gardens in New Zealand in 11th and the Fitzroy Gardens in Australia in 12th. Adelaide Botanic Garden and Brisbane Botanic Gardens also rank in the global top 20, in 15th and 20th positions respectively.

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Rank	Garden	Country	Continent	Vibrancy Score
1	Kensington Palace Garden	UK	Europe	254
2	Kew Gardens	UK	Europe	250
3	Inveraray Castle and Gardens	UK	Europe	248
4	Rosedal de Palermo	Argentina	South America	240
5	Kyoto Garden	UK	Europe	238
6	Nymphenburg Palace Gardens	Germany	Europe	231
7	Powerscourt Gardens	Ireland	Europe	226
8	Oxford Botanic Garden	UK	Europe	226
9	Herrenhausen Gardens	Germany	Europe	225
10	Dubai Miracle Garden	Dubai	Asia	222
11	Auckland Botanic Gardens	New Zealand	Oceania	220
12	Fitzroy Gardens	Australia	Oceania	219
13	Versailles Gardens	France	Europe	218
14	Generalife Gardens	Spain	Europe	216
15	Adelaide Botanic Garden	Australia	Oceania	216
16	Cambridge University Botanic Garden	UK	Europe	215
17	Dunrobin Castle and Gardens	UK	Europe	215
18	Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden	South Africa	Africa	213
19	Koishikawa Korakuen Garden	Japan	Asia	213
20	Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mt Coot-tha	Australia	Oceania	212
21	Sanssouci Park and Gardens	Germany	Europe	211
22	Glasgow Botanic Gardens	UK	Europe	210
23	Kenroku-en Garden	Japan	Asia	209
24	Stourhead	UK	Europe	209
25	Alhambra Gardens	Spain	Europe	208
26	The Garden Society of Gothenburg	Sweden	Europe	208
27	Mirabell Gardens	Austria	Europe	206
28	Abu Dhabi Presidential Palace Gardens	Abu Dhabi	Asia	206
29	Royal Botanic Garden Sydney	Australia	Oceania	206
30	Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne	Australia	Oceania	205
31	Geografisk Have	Denmark	Europe	201
32	KZN National Botanical Garden (PMB)	South Africa	Africa	201
33	Mainau Island (Flower Island)	Germany	Europe	201
34	Kaisaniemi Botanic Garden	Finland	Europe	200
35	Fredriksdal Museum & Gardens	Sweden	Europe	200
36	Hunter Valley Gardens	Australia	Oceania	199
37	Santiago Metropolitan Park Gardens	Chile	South America	199
38	Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanic Garden	Mauritius	Africa	198
39	Quinta da Boa Vista Gardens	Portugal	Europe	198
40	RHS Garden Harlow Carr	UK	Europe	197
41	Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden	United States	North America	196
42	Giardino di Ninfa	Italy	Europe	196
43	Boboli Gardens	Italy	Europe	195
44	Nan Lian Garden, Hong Kong	China	Asia	194
45	Gothenburg Botanical Garden	Sweden	Europe	194
46	Biltmore Estate Gardens	United States	North America	194
47	Alnarpsparken Arboretum	Sweden	Europe	194
48	Trentham Gardens	UK	Europe	194
49	Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh	UK	Europe	194
50	Brooklyn Botanic Garden	United States	North America	194

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Kensington Palace Garden

1. Kensington Palace Garden

Surrounding the royal residence of Kensington Palace, the gardens at Kensington Palace are one of London’s most manicured and beautiful green spaces.

Found adjacent to Hyde Park, they’re also very accessible for any visitors to the capital on city breaks in London!

The famous Sunken Garden is a must-see, particularly when the elegant roses and dahlias are in flower.

Whether you’re wandering through the wildflower meadow or strolling under the cradle walk, this garden is a peaceful escape from the busy city.

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Kew Gardens

2. Kew Gardens

Officially known as the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew is one of the most famous and extensive botanical gardens in the world. Spanning more than 330 acres with over 50,000 living plants, it’s the ultimate destination for plant lovers, nature lovers and researchers alike.

Beyond the beautiful outdoor gardens, don’t miss the iconic Victorian Palm House, the Temperate House and Princess of Wales Conservatory, which display beautiful plant varieties from across the globe.

With many events running throughout the year, including the upcoming Sounds of Blossom in collaboration with the Royal College of Music, there’s always something new to explore.

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Inveraray Castle and Gardens

3. Inveraray Castle and Gardens

Inveraray Castle is a spectacular Scottish baronial style castle found in Argyll and Bute in Western Scotland.

Home to the Duke of Argyll, the castle is surrounded by breathtaking gardens, woodlands and even views of Loch Fyne.

The formal gardens are beautifully arranged with winding paths running between the flowerbeds, making the ideal setting for a relaxing stroll, while the castle is also famous for its vibrant rhododendron and azalea collection, which is best viewed during the spring months from late April to early June.

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Europe's most vibrant gardens

Europe is well known for breathtaking cities and sun-soaked beaches, but it’s also home to some of the world’s most stunning green spaces. From wild mountain landscapes to gorgeous gardens, the continent dominates our ranking of the most vibrant gardens.

Beyond the UK’s top-ranking gardens, Nymphenburg Palace and Gardens in Germany ranks in fifth place, with a vibrancy score of 231. Originally designed in the elegant French Baroque style, the gardens later took on more characteristics of an English landscape garden. A grand canal runs through the gardens, leading to a picturesque central lake, surrounded by formal French gardens and an English-style park – between April and October, visitors are even able to enjoy the canal from the water on a gondola ride! Easily accessible as part of a visit to Munich, the Nymphenburg Palace and Gardens is a must-visit for anyone who heads to the south German city.

Powerscourt Gardens in Ireland rank in sixth place, with the 47-acre gardens known for their Italian-style terraces and formal lakes. With the Wicklow Mountains providing a dramatic backdrop, it’s easy to forget that you’re 40 minutes from Dublin.

Oxford Botanic Gardens comes in seventh place (226), with Herrenhausen Gardens near Hannover, Germany following in eighth. The world-famous Versailles Gardens in France rank in ninth, while the Generalife Gardens in Spain, with their Moorish courtyards and water features, complete the top 10.

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Rank	Garden	Country	Vibrancy Score
1	Kensington Palace Garden	UK	254
2	Kew Gardens	UK	250
3	Inveraray Castle and Gardens	UK	248
4	Kyoto Garden	UK	238
5	Nymphenburg Palace Gardens	Germany	231
6	Powerscourt Gardens	Ireland	226
7	Oxford Botanic Garden	UK	226
8	Herrenhausen Gardens	Germany	225
9	Versailles Gardens	France	218
10	Generalife Gardens	Spain	216
11	Cambridge University Botanic Garden	UK	215
12	Dunrobin Castle and Gardens	UK	215
13	Sanssouci Park and Gardens	Germany	211
14	Glasgow Botanic Gardens	UK	210
15	Stourhead	UK	209

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Asia's most vibrant gardens

Dubai’s Miracle Garden

Dubai’s Miracle Garden stands out as the only Asian garden in the global top 10, also claiming the title of the continent’s most vibrant with a score of 222. Covering more than 72,000 square metres, it holds the title of the world’s largest flower garden, displaying more than 150 million flowers of different varieties and a full-sized Emirates A380 plane covered in blooms - no wonder it’s one of the UAE’s most popular attractions!

In second place is Japan’s Koishikawa Korakuen Garden, scoring 213 on our vibrancy scale. As one of Tokyo’s oldest and most traditional gardens, it seamlessly blends Chinese and Japanese landscaping techniques to create a serene space filled with ponds and bridges. The central Daisensui Pond is a miniature version of Lake Biwa, Japan’s largest lake, with the garden also featuring small-scale replicas of other famous landscapes from the region such as the Kiso Valley, as well as Mount Lu.

Kenroku-en Garden in Japan takes third place, followed by the grand Abu Dhabi Presidential Palace Gardens in fourth, while Hong Kong’s serene Nan Lian Garden rounds out the top five.

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Rank	Garden	Country	Vibrancy Score
1	Dubai Miracle Garden	Dubai	222
2	Koishikawa Korakuen Garden	Japan	213
3	Kenroku-en Garden	Japan	209
4	Abu Dhabi Presidential Palace Gardens	Abu Dhabi	206
5	Nan Lian Garden, Hong Kong	China	194
6	Rikugien Garden	Japan	184
7	Singapore Botanic Gardens	Singapore	183
8	Government Botanical Garden	India	179
9	Hangzhou Botanical Garden	China	172
10	Garden of Dreams	Nepal	169
11	Gardens by the Bay	Singapore	163
12	Sri Nakhon Khuean Khan Park and Botanical Garden	Thailand	162
13	Perdana Botanical Garden	Malaysia	162
14	Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Indian Botanic Garden	India	162
15	Brindavan Gardens	India	157

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North America's most vibrant gardens

Florida’s Fairchild Tropical Botanical Garden

While North America’s gardens don’t rank among the top 40 globally, they’re still full of beautiful blooms and winding paths to explore.

Topping the list for North America, Florida’s Fairchild Tropical Botanical Garden takes the crown with a vibrancy score of 196. Spanning 83-acres, the garden is named after Dr. David Fairchild, a pioneering botanist who introduced thousands of exotic species to the country.

With a lush forest, butterfly garden, palm collection, arboretum and water gardens, visitors will be transported to somewhere that feels far, far away from the USA.

The Biltmore Estate Gardens in North Carolina follow closely in second place, with a score of 194, while Brooklyn Botanic Garden places in third.

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Rank	Garden	Country	Vibrancy Score
1	Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden	United States	196
2	Biltmore Estate Gardens	United States	194
3	Brooklyn Botanic Garden	United States	194
4	Butchart Gardens	Canada	192
5	Huntington Library & Botanical Gardens	United States	185
6	Desert Botanical Garden	United States	184
7	United States Botanic Garden (USBG)	United States	183
8	VanDusen Botanical Garden	Canada	183
9	Missouri Botanical Garden	United States	181
10	Chicago Botanic Garden	United States	181
11	Denver Botanic Gardens	United States	165
12	Toronto Botanical Garden	Canada	164
13	Montreal Botanical Garden	Canada	151
14	Lankester Botanical Garden	Costa Rica	150
15	Portland Japanese Garden	United States	144

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Brooklyn Botanic Garden, USA

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Koishikawa Korakuen Garden, Japan

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Kenroku-en Garden, Japan

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South America's most vibrant gardens

Rosedal de Palermo

Ranking fourth globally, Rosedal de Palermo in Argentina takes the crown as South America’s most vibrant garden. Nestled within Parque Tres de Febrero, this picturesque rose garden is a tranquil escape in the heart of the city. With thousands of roses in bloom during peak months, it’s no surprise that El Rosedal is also seen as one of the city’s most romantic spots.

Beyond the floral beauty of the park, visitors can explore the beautiful tiled Andalusian patio gifted by the city of Seville, stroll across the photogenic Puente Blanco (White Bridge) or wander through the Poet’s Garden, where busts of famous literary figures stand among the greenery.

The Santiago Metropolitan Park Gardens in Chile follows in second place, with the Botanical Garden of Curitiba in third.

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Rank	Garden	Country	Vibrancy Score
1	Rosedal de Palermo	Argentina	240
2	Santiago Metropolitan Park Gardens	Chile	199
3	Botanical Garden of Curitiba	Brazil	187
4	Jardín Botánico Carlos Thays	Argentina	181
5	Ibirapuera Park Garden	Argentina	180
6	Botanical Garden of Rio de Janeiro	Brazil	179
7	Viña del Mar National Botanical Garden	Chile	167
8	São Paulo Botanical Garden	Brazil	158
9	Jardín Botánico de Bogotá José Celestino Mutis	Colombia	153
10	Jardín Botánico de Medellín	Colombia	151

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Oceania’s most vibrant gardens

Auckland Botanic Gardens

Oceania is a region known for its breathtaking scenery – from crystal-clear waters and white sandy beaches to lush green forests and striking red deserts – but it’s also home to some of the world’s most vibrant gardens.

Just missing out on a spot in the global top 10, Auckland Botanic Gardens in New Zealand claims the title of Oceania’s most vibrant garden. Covering 64-hectares, this garden features more than 10,000 species from around the world but also has a strong focus on New Zealand’s native flora. Visitors can explore the Native New Zealand Plant Collection, an ideal place to learn more about traditional Māori plant use, or head to the Rose Garden, Magnolia Garden and Camellia Garden which showcase stunning blooms for much of the year.

In second place, Melbourne’s Fitzroy Gardens is one of the city’s most historic gardens. Located just a short walk from the central business district (CBD), it’s easily accessible to visitors and is a peaceful escape from the busy city. Highlights include a conservatory full of floral displays, tree-lined pathways, an ornamental lake and even a miniature English-style village, making it a lovely location for an afternoon walk.

The Adelaide Botanic Garden takes third place, followed by the Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mount Coot-tha in fourth and Royal Botanic Garden Sydney in fifth.

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Rank	Garden	Country	Vibrancy Score
1	Auckland Botanic Gardens	New Zealand	220
2	Fitzroy Gardens	Australia	219
3	Adelaide Botanic Garden	Australia	216
4	Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mount Coot-tha	Australia	212
5	Royal Botanic Garden Sydney	Australia	206
6	Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne	Australia	205
7	Hunter Valley Gardens	Australia	199
8	Christchurch Botanic Gardens	New Zealand	192
9	Wellington Botanic Garden	New Zealand	185
10	Hamilton Gardens	New Zealand	157

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Fitzroy Gardens, Australia

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Adelaide Botanic Gardens, Australia

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Santiago Metropolitan Park Gardens, Chile

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Africa's most vibrant gardens

Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden

While much of Africa is characterised for its hot and dry conditions, the continent - especially South Africa - is still home to many beautiful gardens.

In our previous eye-tracking study on beautiful flower fields, we revealed Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden as the most beautiful garden in Africa.

Now, we can reveal that it also ranks as the continent’s most vibrant, with its stunning mountain backdrop and rich flora making it a must-visit destination.

Following in second place, KZN National Botanical Garden in Pietermaritzburg boasts a score of 201.1, while the Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanic Garden in Mauritius completes the top three.

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Rank	Garden	Country	Vibrancy Score
1	Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden	South Africa	213
2	KZN National Botanical Garden (PMB)	South Africa	201
3	Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanic Garden	Mauritius	198
4	Arderne Gardens	South Africa	191
5	Pretoria National Botanical Gardens	South Africa	188
6	Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden	South Africa	174
7	Karoo Desert National Botanical Garden	South Africa	173
8	Harold Porter National Botanical Gardens	South Africa	172
9	Lowveld National Botanical Garden	South Africa	168
10	Free State National Botanical Garden	South Africa	164

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Ready to explore the world’s most vibrant gardens? Take a look at our travel guides for some short break inn-spiration, or book one of our airport hotels to ensure you rest easy ahead of your trip abroad.

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Methodology:

A list of 156 popular gardens from around the globe were compiled using desk research.

Satellite imagery of the gardens was then gathered, using Google Earth and selecting the image that best represented the garden at its most vibrant (e.g. in summer months, or when most plants were blooming).

Using AI software, we analysed images based on hue, saturation, and brightness (HSB). The saturation and value figures were then combined to create an overall ‘vibrancy’ score.

The gardens were then ranked from high to low, with the gardens with the highest scores seen as most vibrant.