Botanical gardens are often places where one can see rare plants.  They can also be calming places of beauty that can breathe real life into otherwise sterile urban areas.  Here are the world’s nine most beautiful botanical gardens.

1.  Jardim Botânico, Brazil

The Jardim  Botânico can be found at the base of Corcovado Mountain in Rio de Janeiro.  There under the ever-watching eyes of Christ the Redeemer, this botanical garden covers an area of 140 hectares (or almost 346 acres).  There you can see more than 6,500 different species of plants.

Portugal’s King John VI founded this place in 1808.  The King wanted it to be used as a place to acclimatize such spices as cinnamon, pepper, and nutmeg found in the West Indies prior to being shipped to Europe.  It opened to the general public in 1822.  Today it’s one of Brazil’s most important research sites.

2.  Brooklyn Botanic Garden, USA

Situated in the popular Prospect Park neighborhood of New York City, New York, this botanical garden was opened in 1910.  It spans a space of 52 acres and is visited by more than 900,000 visitors every year.  Highlights include more than 200 cherry trees.

There are 42 different cultivated varieties and species.  Thus, it is actually one of the best spots on the planet to enjoy cherry blossoms other than Japan.  Visit the Steinhardt Conservatory and see the impressive collection of indoor plants within a trio of climate-controlled buildings.  Don’t miss the oldest continually operating Children’s Garden or art gallery either.

3.  Singapore Botanic Garden, Singapore

For more than 160 years the famous Singapore Botanic Garden has been located on Orchard Road in the Orchard Road shopping district.  It is the world’s only tropical garden included on the list of UNESCO world heritage sites.  This garden is also a bit of a “Mecca” for true fans of orchids because there are more than 20,000 of them growing here.

The garden encompasses 82 hectares (almost 203 acres).  It also includes a rainforest, a ginger garden, an evolution garden, a children’s garden, and even wild monkeys.  Officials in Singapore also report that the Singapore Botanic Garden is officially one of the republic’s “most popular” tourist spots

4.   Royal Botanic Gardens, Australia

Ensconced on the very edge of the central business district in Sydney, the well-known Royal Botanical Gardens take up a great spot along Sydney Harbour.  In fact, the iconic Sydney Opera House is located at its west gate.  Founded in 1816, the Royal Botanic Gardens is Australia’s oldest scientific institution as well.

There once was as many as 20,000 fruit bats living here but in  2013 they were moved out with the use of some loud music.  The bats decided to take up residence north of Sydney in an area of native bushland meant to be destroyed in order to construct a now delayed new road.