Natural Wonders: 9 Of The World’s Greatest Hotel Gardens

The joy of a hotel garden isn’t just in its looks: it’s the scent of blossom dancing on a breeze, the dappled shade of a flourishing fruit tree, or lilting birdsong amid tropical woodlands. From lush Arabian oases to grand English estates, these gardens aren’t merely the 'grounds' of their hotels – they're their highlights, filled with colour, perfume and life.

Discover a paradise in Paris

With its towering magnolia trees, rambling roses and richly fragranced jasmine, the private garden of Renaissance Paris Nobel Tour Eiffel Hotel is one of Paris’s best-kept secrets – a peaceful idyll for in-the-know guests and locals.

You’ll find it in the hotel’s courtyard, its presence betrayed only by the sound of popping Champagne corks and gentle conversation at bistro Maison Revka, whose terrace sits among the blooms – a glorious setting for smoked salmon and caviar blinis at brunch.

For the best views of the blossoming hydrangeas and fruit trees, book a Garden View room – or opt for the Magnolia Suite, which features a balcony overlooking the greenery.

Find your zen in Tenerife

The gardens of The Ritz-Carlton Tenerife, Abama offer a relaxing opportunity to bask in the Tenerife sun surrounded by greenery (Photo: Marriott International)

With its volcanic soil and abundant sunshine, The Ritz-Carlton Tenerife, Abama is one big botanical garden – where lustrous ferns, sculpturesque cacti and citrus trees flourish, their leaves rustling in the refreshing sea breeze.

This natural splendour envelops the entire resort, from the private courtyards of the Garden Villas, to the glossy yukkas and banana leaves of the Persian Garden – named for its perfect symmetry and tinkling fountains.

At El Mirador, perched high on the resort’s clifftop, the ocean is framed by tousled palm trees and blushing oleander: the perfect spot for weddings, private dining and sunset views. 

Go wild in Dubai

The shimmering pool at Lapita, Dubai Parks and Resorts, Autograph Collection offers a refreshing respite amidst the city's bustling energy (Photo: Marriott International) 

Lapita, Dubai Parks and Resorts, Autograph Collection has created a tropical hideaway in Dubai’s theme park quarter: a joyous display of fragrant hibiscus and delicate gardenia, just a few minutes’ walk from its epic rollercoasters and rides.

With songbirds chirruping in the treetops, and the sweet scent of frangipani dancing in the fresh air, the hotel’s gardens are a salve after a high-octane day at Dubai Parks and Resorts.

Each of the villas has its own private garden, as well as a plunge pool and three bedrooms, making it an ideal choice for multi-gen getaways.

Explore a private island in Venice

Guests at the JW Marriott Venice Resort & Spa can take a relaxing stroll in the lavish rose gardens which alight the senses (Photo: Marriott International) 

Even in high season, JW Marriott Venice Resort & Spa feels blissfully tranquil, because this lavish resort sits on its very own island. Guests are invited to hop on the boat from St Mark's Square to this haven of natural beauty and superlative service.

With their neatly clipped lawns, abundant rose bushes and tree-lined park, the hotel’s grounds make a sublime setting for private picnics, olive-oil tastings, outdoor workouts and sunset aperitivo, or simply sipping your morning coffee to a chorus of birdsong. Herbs and vegetables tended in the JW Garden may form part of your evening meal,

Stretch out on the lagoon-view yoga pavilion, revel in the shady serenity of the olive grove, and marvel that you’re just a few minutes from central Venice – yet seemingly worlds away.

Enjoy blissful gardens in Mallorca

It doesn't get more romantic and intoxicating than the blossom-filled archways of The St. Regis Mardavall Mallorca Resort (Photo: Marriott International) 

Designed in the style of a lavish Moorish palace, The St. Regis Mardavall Mallorca Resort has gardens to match: think blossom-filled archways, towering palm trees, and everything from allium pom-poms to aromatic lavender filling the borders.

At Terra, enjoy a leisurely ‘farm to table’ lunch on the lushly planted terrace, surrounded by wild rosemary and pink clouds of bougainvillaea – the ideal setting for traditional dishes such as fresh gazpacho and roast Iberico pork, with a frosty bottle of Mallorca-grown chardonnay. 

Spend your days relaxing in the waterfall pool, before strolling down to the Mediterranean waterfront at sunset, its sparkling panorama shaded by fruit trees, palms and lofty bamboo. 

Step into an Omani oasis

At the Al Bustan Palace, a Ritz-Carlton Hotel, guests enjoy waking to vistas of impressive palm trees and emerald lawns (Photo: Marriott International)

Opt for a garden-view room at Al Bustan Palace, a Ritz-Carlton Hotel, and you’ll wake to vistas of elegant date palms, emerald lawns and flower-filled borders – where tiny swallows flit between blooms, and the sea breeze brings wafts of sweet rose and wild herbs. 

This majestic resort was once a palace, and its 200 acres have retained their royal flair. But this isn’t simply scenery to be admired: you can find your balance with outdoor yoga, kick back in hammocks slung between trees, and stroll leafy pathways to the white-sand beach.

Tucked away in the gardens, The Pavilion offers a menu inspired by Oman’s natural bounty – a feast of local lobster, king crab and gourmet salads, with an ever-refreshing sea breeze.

Breathe deep in Ibiza

Discover the peaceful side of Ibiza in the tranquil gardens of the Hotel Riomar, Ibiza, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel (Photo: Marriott International)

The gardens of Hotel Riomar, Ibiza, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel seem to tumble down the hillside to this barefoot-luxe hotel, a tangle of bright pink hibiscus, tall pines and plump aloe vera leaves, resplendent in the near year-round sunshine.

Plants don’t simply grow here: they flourish, bursting from huge terracotta pots, filling vast sun-kissed borders and framing the hotel’s pool deck perfectly. It’s a wild sanctuary, yet the bustle of Ibiza Town is just a 20-minute drive away.

Start your day at TRIBE, the hotel’s secret zen garden, for a guided yoga and meditation session among the banana trees and stylish tipi beds. Good vibes are guaranteed.

Experience a lakeside haven in Portugal

The Domes Lake Algarve, Autograph Collection is a natural haven filled with swaying palms, quirky cacti and bright kalanchoe (Photo: Getty Images)

The islands and beaches of the Algarve’s Ria Formosa Natural Park are renowned for their staggering biodiversity, home to chameleons, migrating flamingos and the world's biggest population of seahorses – a spectacular location for hiking, kayaking and birdwatching.

Close to this natural haven, Domes Lake Algarve, Autograph Collection sits on the edge of its namesake waterway, its gardens replete with swaying palms, quirky cacti and bright kalanchoe – a riot of fuschia and orange blooms.

Here, holidays are spent sipping vinho verde on lake-view terraces, spotting booted eagles flying over the water, and dozing in the cool shade of fruit trees.

Revel in an English idyll

A stroll through the exquisite grounds of The Langley, a Luxury Collection Hotel in Buckinghamshire, transports guests to another era in time (Photo: Marriott International)

Created by renowned 18th-century landscape designer Capability Brown, the grounds of The Langley, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Buckinghamshire rival those of England’s greatest palaces and stately homes.

The exquisite symmetry of the hotel's formal gardens meets the calming cascade of its fountains, and the delicate perfume of traditional roses. Stroll the 150-acre grounds to discover woodlands of ancient oaks and chestnuts, and the Temple Garden’s vibrant rhododendrons.

This is a scene to be savoured, whether over afternoon tea in the Drawing Room, on summertime walks and picnics, or from your suite’s roll-top bath – positioned for the perfect elevated view of the grounds. 

Published: April 12, 2024