Any traveler who wants to immerse themselves in nature abroad should visit the nearest botanical garden.
Like an encyclopedia that has come to life, botanical gardens have something of everything: history, culture, geology. Some focus on indigenous species, while others grow a vast collection of exotic plants, flowers and trees from around the world.
Above all, botanical gardens are designed to be enjoyed. So sit back and browse through a dozen of our favorites.
If New York's Central Park decided to emigrate south, sprout a few rare and endangered South Australian plants and settle in a new city, this might look like Adelaide's esteemed botanical garden. With 1.5 million visitors a year, the expansive grounds offer a variety of landscapes - from wetlands to rose gardens to a mini rainforest in the single largest conservatory in the southern hemisphere - and a sense of tranquility amid the bustling downtown of Adelaide.
On the slopes of South Tyrol, about halfway between Trento and Innsbruck, there is a medieval castle with one of the most complex gardens in Europe. The vegetation is divided into 83 (yes, really) different landscapes, from oak forests to olive groves, vineyards, semi-desert gardens with cacti and a lily pond sprinkled with lotus flowers. Mountain peaks surround the entire site, and wherever you look, the view promises to be spectacular.
This royal garden in the city of Lahore is the culmination of four centuries of careful care. The traditional layout has been retained: a high brick wall surrounds three terraced gardens, linked by a series of fountains and pools. Once you pass the entrance, you will be taken to a tranquil oasis of cool, polished marble, intricate stone pavilions and trails shaded by schinar, gulmohar and cypress trees. It is a perfect place for a romantic picnic - the name Shalimar is finally Sanskrit for "dwelling place of love".
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