Bang in the middle of concrete city jungles, these places offer tranquility and serene moments for city dwellers and visitors. These lush green patches sitting alongside state prettily besides urban development and state of the art infrastructure is a sight to behold! Visitors can explore among other things, long winded paths, lush open meadows, ponds and other striking features. These parks make for a perfect place to enjoy some respite from the city chaos. From Canada’s wilderness to wooded sea strewn paths to vibrant architecture, there’s nothing these parks don’t feature. Here’s our pick of the world’s most beautiful urban oasis places.
1- Forest Park, St Louis
You can spend a full day in the confines of St Louis’ popular Forest Park. Nestled in the heart of the city, the verdant park boasts of 1,300 acres of greenery comprising five cultural institutions that includes an ice rink, zoo and art museum. Enjoy a picnic on the green rolling hills of the park or go paddle boarding through its glistening blue ponds. There’s also a two tracks path for running and bike riding.
2. Central Park, New York City
Central Park in New York City is the world’s most famous city park, having hosted several visitors in its lush green and state of the art confines. A peaceful and relaxing retreat, it is perfect for strolling down verdant meadows or enjoying a quiet afternoon near idyllic lakes. Take the stairs to Bethesda Fountain, enjoy a picnic lunch or witness the quintessentially English Strawberry fields.
3. Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne
Scenic views, a lush landscape and vibrant tropical fauna make Royal Botanic Gardens in Melbourne one of the planet’s most gorgeous city belts. Bursting with 50,000 plants and several idyllic lakes spread across 100 acres, the park also has exotic Chinese plant species. It also houses black swans, cockatoos, kookaburras and a variety of birds, which can be spotted on a guided nature trail. Royal Botanic Gardens transforms into a venue for theater performances and exhibitions during summer.
4- Villa Doria Pamphili, Rome
Villa Doria is the biggest landscaped public park in Pamphili, which is known for its intricate architecture and exquisitely lush gardens. The park was once a home of the of a eminent, noble family, with the sprawling grounds featuring everything from manicured gardens to fountains and neatly trimmed hedges. Its gravel paths are ideal for jogging, while featuring statues and antique vases that date back several years. Look out for the iconic Arch of the Four Winds monument at the park entrance.
5. Stanley Park, Vancouver
Located a hop away from downtown Vancouver, Stanley attracts a large number of people for its multi recreational activity landscape. Visitors can enjoy walking, rollerblading and cycling, in addition to catching cultural performances during summers. Don’t skip seeing the innumerable green trails and sparkling lakes. Beaver Lake (enveloped with water lilies) is the perfect place to enjoy a laidback time in the midst of nature. Lost Lagoon is another shinning freshwater lake.
6. Balboa Park, San Diego
You’ll be forgiven for mistaking that you’ve entered a fairy tale land. The park’s enchanting architecture and other striking features such as glistening fountains, expansive courtyards and rustic desert landscape is enough to keep visitors enthralled. There’s a blooming Rode Garden in the eastern side of the park, along with a 200 feet tower that has an attractive blue dome and 100 carillon hourly tolling bell.
7. Park Guell, Barcelona
Park Guell is no average city park with a bunch of activities thrown in. It is sort of a huge, iconic institution that defines Barcelona’s cityscape. Designed by world famous architect Antoni Gaudi, it features several strikingly colorful elements and offers panoramic views of Barcelona. From Art Nouveau gingerbread homes at the entryway to serpentine benches that wade through the main square, it has all the makings of a fairy tale destination. Climb atop the hill for sweeping views of Barcelona’s bay or explore Park Guell’s slopping columns.
8. Golden Gate Park, San Francisco
The 1,000 acre Golden Gate Park in San Francisco stretches all the way from the Haight Ashbury area to the gorgeous Pacific coast, including a variety of walking trails, vibrant gardens, trees and museums. Stop at the flower conservatory, which is famous all the over for its collection of unique tropical flora. Visit the park’s western section for witnessing quaint windmills and lush tulip gardens. One of Golden Gate’s most sought after attractions is the Japanese Tea Garden, housing royal statues, exquisite lanterns and an idyllic waterfall.
9. Hyde Park, London
Initially built as a hunting ground for King Henry VIII, one of London’s most prominent landmarks still reverberates with a quintessentially British royalty historic appeal. Visitors can witness everything from guards leaving for the Buckingham Palace to horseback riding through one of the park’s riding trails. No visit to Hyde Park is complete without a visit to Serpentine Boat House, where visitors can relax and view the park on a boat ride. Hey, you should also consider picnicking near the rive banks.
10. Ibriapuera Park, Sao Paulo
Known as Sao Paulo’s Central Park, this is the hub of all happening recreation activities in the city. Built in the mid 20th century to mark Sao Paulo’s 400th anniversary, which included among several other things new structures built by Oscar Niemeyer. Today, people can relax of the emerald rolling lawns or witness spectacular views of the city. There are biking paths and post-card perfect bridges to keep adventure and photography enthusiasts busy.
11. Luxembourg Garden, Paris
This is one of the romantic French capital’s most idyllic and tranquil zones. The serene retreat features vibrant flowers and immaculately manicured pathway. Luxembourg Garden also houses a bunch of interesting attractions such as the French and English gardens, greenhouses (you’ve got to see their mind-blowing orchid collection) and a thriving fruits orchard. Watch a puppet show at the marionette theatre and go merry go round riding if you have little ones in tow.
12. Hibiya Park, Tokyo
Nestled in central Tokyo, the Hibiya Park is the city greenest patch. It was initially a part of the royal palace ground but has transitioned into a thriving cultural hub and idyllic urban getaway. Guests can enjoy live music performances in open concert theatres or walk through the park’s serene and blooming gardens. The park’s flower beds bloom throughout the year. You can view the famous cherry blossoms and in all their glory during the blossoming season during March-April.
13. Royal National City Park, Stockholm
This is a natural haven smack in the middle of Stockholm’s urban chaos. The flourishing park grounds create a multiple mile arc that feature a plethora of wildlife species including elks, deer and unusual indigenous birds. Spend a lazy noon exploring one of its museums or castles or take a horseback ride on one of the Royal National Park’s picturesque riding trails. Enjoy a picnic under the park’s green cover or enjoy a relaxed stroll adjacent to the scenic canals.
14. Griffith Park, Los Angeles
Enjoy a respite from Los Angeles’ frenzied pace by heading to Griffith Park. The sprawling 4,200 acre park is the United States’ biggest municipal park and wilderness zone, which is frequented by locals and tourists. Don’t miss a view of Los Angeles’ skyline from the park’s observatory or explore its jagged hills on a leisurely stroll. The piece de resistance here though is Mount Hollywood, where visitors can catch views of the blue Pacific and the internationally known Hollywood sign.
15. Lumphini Park, Bangkok
Lumphini Park is famous for its glistening lakes and series of cultural performances. Nestled in the center of Bangkok’s commercial district, the park is an idyllic retreat and offers everything from open spaces to lots of trees to pristine lake shores, where you can enjoy tranquility in the midst of nature. Spend an afternoon boating on the lake or enjoy an early morning jog. Come summers, and the place becomes a hub for classical music renditions.
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