6 Glorious Garden Tours to Escape a Storm

A garden tour of Keukenhof is worth organising in spring. As it is the largest garden in Europe, you can admire 800 varieties of tulips across 32 acres. Start your garden holiday in Amsterdam after arriving by ferry or train. Some guided coach tours can also take you to the Dutch bulb fields directly.

Live like the locals by enjoying a bicycle ride to Amsterdam’s largest green space (The Vondelpark) for a picnic. Then follow a cycle route from Amsterdam to the tulip fields. Also, you can join a guided cycling tour around the Keukenhof Gardens to learn more.

However, if cycling isn’t for you take the Keukenhof shuttle bus from Amsterdam North for views of tulip fields on your way to the Keukenhof Gardens. During the Tulip flower festival (from mid-March to May), a free shuttle bus runs to the Keukenhof Gardens. However, The Keukenhof Gardens isn’t the only way to see lines of cheerful tulips in Holland.

For instance, visit the Tulip Barn in Hillegom, which has 750,000 tulips. Or join a private tulip field tour led by a local in Bollenstreek (40 minutes from Amsterdam). Whizz past fields of flowering daffodils and hyacinths alongside tulips on a bus, Land Rover, scooter, or tuk-tuk. For a slower pace, plan a river cruise to sail from Amsterdam to a family-run tulip farm and back again.

Step back in time to ancient Rome. On route to the Spanish Steps, you’ll discover Rome’s green lung – The Villa Borghese Gardens. Named after Cardinal Scipione Borghese, they became Rome’s central park ‘Borghese Park’ (in 1903). These vast gardens, covering 80 hectares make Rome a green city.

If you’re exploring the garden in summer, plan a visit when the heat drops in the latter part of the afternoon. Walk past graceful trees and elegant statues, then around a lush lake. Stand back in awe at elegant statues. When the sun sets admire the city lights from the Pincio Terrace. Meanwhile, to admire a variety of roses in The Rose Garden take a wander in spring. Private Garden Tours are also available. They’re led by people who are passionate about Italian culture and ancient Rome. So, enjoy a historical journey!

To escape the hustle of the city walk over the Tiber River to discover Rome’s botanical garden. Admire fountains, spot over 3,000 species of plants, and shelter under monumental secular trees. Also, across 12 hectares there’s a herb, Mediterranean, and Japanese Garden. In spring join a free garden tour of the Japanese garden to celebrate Hanami, which is a traditional Japanese custom of enjoying the transient beauty of flowers.

In Japan, observing floral phenomena has been celebrated for thousands of years. The Japanese floral festivals include Cherry blossom season (Hanami) in spring and ‘maple leaf hunting’ (Momijigari) in autumn. They may even have been the first civilization in the world to stop to witness these colourful seasons.

Kyoto, Japan’s former capital city, contains ancient shrines and elegant gardens, including landscaped and Strolling gardens. Strolling gardens were a popular choice for Japan’s ancient feudal lords. Take a stroll in autumn to admire the maple leaves around the Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion). This three-tiered temple sits in a 14th-century stroll garden and extends across a pond, making it one of the most glorious gardens in Japan.

While the Kinkaku-ji and its gardens are popular, step off the beaten path (to Okazaki) and book a garden tour around the Murin-an in advance. The Murin-an is a grand garden villa that once belonged to a Japanese statesman. Today, his garden has become a masterpiece built around the Higashiyama Mountains! Wander over streams, along carpets of bright moss, and watch the leaves change with a cup of matcha tea in the cafe.

When exploring Japan in spring (which can be popular) book a secret garden tour with a local to discover some stone and zen gardens. Throughout your trip, you’ll be greeted by cheerful cherry blossoms that brighten pathways. See them across Kyoto, Kanazawa, Osaka, Nikko, and Tokyo! Japan has a good selection of guided Garden Tours for Cherry Blossom Season. Choose one that incorporates an art or museum visit. Each is led by expert gardeners, who’ll share which trees and plants are in traditional or landscaped gardens and how you can look after them!

One of the world’s most famous gardens belonged to Claude Monet the impressionist painter who lived in the Loire Valley in France. The valley is a fairy tale location, dubbed ‘The Garden of France’. So it’s no surprise that it inspired many of Monet’s magical paintings which we admire to this day. Free Spirits may wish to explore the valley during a road trip or escorted group tours will take you to the gardens via the Eurostar from London to Vernon.

When you arrive at Monet’s Gardens in Giverny (the “Village of Painters”), you’ll be welcome from March 29th – November 1st. You may wish to escape the crowds between May and June. Booking tickets ahead of time is always advisable too. Tickets for private house and garden tours are available by appointment only. Yet amateur artists will walk away feeling inspired and ready to master Impressionism after their garden visit.

Guides who lead the Monet Gardens tour are passionate about Monet’s life, gardens, and gardening. They’ll share insights into why he designed his garden to create charming scenes and atmosphere. Monet’s gardens flow from his house to the river. Walk at your own pace around the Water-Lily Pond. Then under weeping willows and over the Japanese bridge in the Water Garden. Pause to ponder in the flower garden (Clos Normand), surrounded by roses, daises, and poppies, to reflect upon your next composition!

Spending more time in France? Create a fantastic holiday by adding more gardens to visit! Take an hour’s drive from Giverny to Versailles and join a Versailles Garden tour. Also, spend a day like the Parisians do by having a traditional picnic in The Luxembourg Gardens.