Getting outdoors is excellent for your health, as is keeping up with a garden at home. If you love plants and traveling, there is no better location to visit than a botanic garden. There are incredible viewing options around the world.
Whether you travel to Asia, Europe, or somewhere else on the globe, there are some amazing botanic gardens to see. Keep reading to learn more about some of the top choices in the world, along with their senior visiting information and when they are open.
1. Brooklyn Botanic Garden
The Brooklyn Botanic Garden is unique because it’s located right in the heart of the city in Brooklyn, New York, surrounded by urban jungle. It contains 52 acres of plants and houses millions of visitors each year. It contains over 14,000 plants and several smaller gardens within the larger one. The vast walk provides gorgeous views and significant health benefits along the way.
Seniors only have to pay $16 for admission to the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. For interested visitors, the location is open all year long, though not all plants bloom year-round.
2. Botanical Garden of Forest Research Institute
The Botanical Garden of Forest Research Institute in Dehradun, India, stands out because it’s an educational and tourist-driven location. There is a vast diversity of plants and ample opportunities to learn about them. Visitors can also see the Timber Museum, Social Forestry Museum, and more.
There do not appear to be senior rates for older adults, but that could change in the future. They will pay 20 INR, which is the same for all. It is open every day of the year, except for major holidays in the country.
3. Singapore Botanical Gardens
Singapore houses the iconic Singapore Botanical Gardens. It’s nearly 200 years old and is considered a UNESCO Heritage Site, which is a rare feat for any garden. There are 2,000 hybrids and 1,000 species of orchids in the Orchid Garden, a dedicated children’s garden, and so much more.
Seniors who want to visit the gardens will pay $1 SGD for the National Orchid Garden, but everything else is free. The gardens are open and available all year long for anyone who wants to visit.
4. Adelaide Botanic Gardens
Australia is home to the Adelaide Botanic Gardens, sitting right in the center of the city. You will find plants native to Australia and other locations around the world. Evergreen plants thrive throughout the year, and April through September brings life to the rose garden.
There is free admission for everyone at the Adelaide Botanic Gardens. It’s also possible to visit the beautiful location year-round, even on public holidays.
5. Arctic-Alpine Botanic Garden
It’s impossible to forget the Arctic-Alpine Botanic Garden in Norway, which was made famous as a spot on the show “Around the World in 80 Gardens”. It’s the northernmost garden in the world. There are ample polar plants, including stunners like the Wilander Buttercup and Tibetan blue poppy. This location is the place to be for rare plant life.
Admission to the garden is free. It’s typically open from May to October to avoid the serious snowfall that comes in the winter months.
6. Montreal Botanic Garden
Montreal, Canada, holds the gorgeous Montreal Botanic Garden. It’s 190 acres and consists of greenhouses and gardens with specific theming. There’s even an artificial mountain and a Chinese building with a Bonsai collection. There’s a First Nations Garden, a Japanese Garden, and more.
Seniors only have to pay $14 if they are citizens and $18 if they are not. The garden is open all year, but the hours shift depending on the season.
7. Lloyd’s Botanical Garden
India houses Lloyd’s Botanical Garden, one of the most beautiful places in the area with cascading slopes and ample flora to see. You will find plants like bamboo, magnolia, oak, and other plants that are native to the Himalayan region. There are conservatories built to house and keep alive various plants in the area.
There does not appear to be a senior rate for this location, so older adults will pay 20 rupees. They are open for the majority of the year, except for major holidays.
8. Jardim Botânico
Those who want to see the plants of Brazil will love what’s available in Jardim Botanico. There are 130 acres with 6,000 species of plants, pressed into various greenhouses and gardens. There’s a research institute, spices, and a vast array of carnivorous plants for the adventurous.
There seems to be a senior discount of a few dollars, so seniors should pay less than $20 to get in. The botanic garden is open to the public all year.
First time visiting a botanic garden? Check out our guide to learn botanical garden etiquette.
9. Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden
One of the most unexpected places for a botanic garden might be South Africa, but that’s where you’ll find the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden. It’s at the bottom of Tabletop Mountain in the Cape Town area and holds plants from across South Africa.
Seniors can get into the garden for free on Tuesdays unless Tuesday falls on a public holiday. It’s open all year, though the hours will shift depending on the time of the year.
10. Fondation Monet
Claude Monet is to thank for the Fondation Monet, a flower and water garden located in Giverny that’s filled with glorious blooms and vibrant colors. He used these gardens for inspiration, and it’s simple to see what he was looking at when he painted some of his most famous creations. There are two significant, gorgeous sections.
Seniors do not have a discount at Fondation Monet and will pay around 13 euros. The gardens are open from March to November.
11. Kew Gardens
Vast mycological and botanical diversity is available at the Kew Gardens, located in England. There are 8.5 million plants and fungi preserved here, and more than 750,000 books centering around the flora. It’s a popular tourist spot in London and claims a spot as a World Heritage Site.
Seniors will pay 10-18 pounds for their ticket, depending on the peak season. The garden is open the entire year, but the hours may vary depending on public holidays and the weather conditions.
Want to stay a little closer to home? Check out our list of the 6 best botanic gardens in the United States!
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