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Five of the best places to see flowers

The bounty of nature’s blooms are on full display in these flower-filled destinations.

4 min 19 Mar 2023

Editorial Team

Author

Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Amsterdam, the Netherlands

The Dutch take their flowers seriously. Keukenhof, just 30 minutes from Amsterdam, is the world’s largest flower garden. Here you can stroll amongst more than seven million tulips, lilies, roses and more in full, spectacular bloom across verdant lawns, serene lakes and pretty pavilions. This year, the gardens are open from 23 March to 14 May. Back in the city, saunter down the Singel canal to the houseboat greenhouses that make up Bloemenmarkt, the world’s only floating flower market. It’s open seven days a week, year-round, and sells bouquets, single flowers and bulbs.

Shore experience: Tulips of Amsterdam

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Madeira, Portugal

‘Garden of the Atlantic’, ‘Garden Isle’, ‘Flower Island’… whatever nickname you use, Madeira’s reputation as a floral paradise is deeply rooted. But you might be surprised to know that it was once ‘the forest island’ (Madeira does translate to ‘wood’, after all). In the 18th century, traders travelling to England with exotic flowers would stop in Madeira to acclimatise the plants, as its mild, subtropical climate makes it hospitable to plants from all over the world. Today, the island’s gardens – such as Madeira Botanical Garden, Monte Palace Garden and Palheiro Gardens – are home to a dizzying array of colourful, exotic plant life that makes the island well worthy of its bywords.

Shore experience: Farmer’s Market and Botanical Gardens

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Marseille, France

With row after row of purple flowers stretching out in front of you and a delicate, calming scent permeating the air, a visit to the lavender fields of Provence is dreamy. The flowering plants bloom in the summer months and draw visitors the world over. Dotted among the violet fields are charming villages and vineyards – while in Provence, why not complete the lavender colour spectrum with a chilled glass of rosé under a bright blue sky? If a trip to the fields isn’t on the cards, you can still reap the rewards of the harvest by picking up some dried lavender and lavender products at virtually any Provençal market.

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Grenada, Caribbean

Lush, colourful, bountiful and beautiful – the Caribbean island of Grenada is a treat for the senses. Its fertile, volcanic soil and mild climate create the perfect conditions for a veritable bouquet of flowers – think orchids, ferns, lilies, heliconia and bougainvillea, the national flower of the island – to flourish. Grenada regularly exhibits at London’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show, and often wins gold for its beautifully crafted tropical displays. The island is also known for its bounty of spices with the likes of nutmeg, cinnamon and turmeric softly scenting the air. Visit Smithy’s Garden at Morne Jaloux for a jaunt through almost two acres of flowers, foliage and fruit trees.

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Gran Canaria, Spain

Cameras at the ready in Puerto de Mogán, where bright bougainvillea twists around the terraces and arches of whitewashed buildings. The picturesque fishing village on Gran Canaria’s southwest coast makes for a peaceful break from the bustling nearby destinations of Maspalomas and Playa del Ingles. What it lacks in raucous atmosphere it makes up for in a riot of colours: the pinks, reds, purples and oranges of the bougainvillea and bird of paradise; the lush green of the surrounding hills; and the calming blue of the sea.

Shore experience: Leisurely Gran Canaria

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