Top 10 Gardens in Switzerland
Switzerland's gardens span a remarkable range of altitudes and climates. The lakeside palms of Locarno and the alpine cushion plants of the Bernese Oberland exist within a few hours of each other. Public botanic gardens, lakeside private collections, and high-altitude alpine gardens together form a varied national tradition.
1. Alpengarten Schynige Platte, Bernese Oberland
An alpine garden at 1,967 metres, with over 650 native species in their natural rock habitats. Reached by cogwheel railway from Wilderswil; open June to October only.
2. Botanischer Garten der Universität Zürich
Founded 1837, with 8,000 species across 5.4 hectares. The three dome glasshouses (1976) and the systematic outdoor beds are the highlights.
3. Conservatoire et Jardin botaniques de Genève
Geneva's twin botanical and conservation gardens, with more than 16,000 species and a herbarium of six million specimens — one of the world's largest.
4. Parc de l'Indépendance, Morges
On Lake Geneva, with a five-month annual tulip festival (160,000 bulbs of 300 varieties) from late March to early May.
5. Brissago Islands Botanical Garden, Ticino
On two islands in Lake Maggiore, with a subtropical collection of 1,500 species that grow outdoors thanks to the lake's mild microclimate. Reached by boat from Brissago.
6. Parco Scherrer, Morcote, Ticino
A small but extraordinary Mediterranean and Asian garden on Lake Lugano, with replicas of Egyptian and Indian temples among palms and bamboo.
7. Gardens of Villa Heleneum, Castagnola, Ticino
The Museum of Cultures' lakeside garden, with subtropical plantings and a small but exquisite collection of contemporary sculpture.
8. Insel Mainau (Bavarian side, accessible from Switzerland)
Although technically German, Mainau is closely tied to Lake Constance Switzerland. Three million flowering bulbs, the Butterfly House and the Italianate Cascade.
9. La Garenne, Le Vaud
A native flora wildlife park and garden in the Jura foothills, demonstrating Swiss alpine ecosystems alongside rescued native fauna.
10. Sukkulenten-Sammlung Zürich
One of the world's most important succulent and cactus collections, with around 4,500 species. Free entry to a meticulously curated specialist garden.
Keep exploring
All of the gardens mentioned in this article are pinned on the interactive map. Use it to plan a route, group nearby sites into a single trip, or compare gardens by style and season.