The most beautiful city parks in the world

[jw5]

The most beautiful city parks in the world​

For all its charisma, culture, and convenience, sometimes the city can get you down. When you start growing tired of the noise, the traffic, and the general hustle and bustle, it's important to have somewhere you can go to get away from it all, even if just for a few minutes. Well, whether you've had a bad day at work or want to enjoy a beautiful Sunday afternoon away from all the concrete, city parks are an invaluable element of any metropolitan landscape.
Thankfully, most city governments around the world have come to a consensus regarding the importance of parks, and have gone to great lengths to provide their citizens with beautiful spaces right in the heart of the concrete jungles they call home. Many of these parks don't just fulfill a basic need, but stand as magnificent feats of design and architecture.

 

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Djurgården - Stockholm​

Resting in the middle of the Swedish capital of Stockholm is Djurgården Island. Technically still owned by the Swedish crown, the island is complete with biking trails, footpaths, and a number of museums, including the famous ABBA Museum.

 

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Hong Kong Park - Hong Kong​

This modestly-sized city park in the heart of Hong Kong, aptly named Hong Kong Park, was built in 1991 and has provided a beautiful, green space for residents to relax in ever since. Nestled within the magnificent manicured flora and artificial lakes is the famous Flagstaff House Museum of Tea Ware, and one of Asia's largest greenhouses.

 

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Park Güell - Barcelona​

Designed by the legendary Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí and constructed between 1900 and 1914, Park Güell is a perfect example of Gaudí's genius modernist forms. The park was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984.

 

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Stadtpark - Vienna​

In the heart of the elegant Austrian capital of Vienna lies Stadtpark, the oldest park in the city. Here, locals and tourists alike can stroll through the beautiful manicured flowerbeds and hedges. Running through the park is Vienna's beautiful Wien River.

 

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Luxembourg Garden - Paris​

The magnificent Luxembourg Garden in Paris was commissioned in 1612 by Queen Mother Marie de' Medici. The massive stretches of lawn and extravagant flower gardens are built around Luxembourg Palace, where the Queen Mother resided after the death of her husband, King Henry IV.

 

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National Garden - Athens​

The National Garden in the Greek capital of Athens provides a picturesque escape from city life. At the time of its creation, in the mid-19th century, more than 500 species of flora and fauna were imported into the park. This expansive diversity diminished over the years, as many of the foreign species couldn't thrive in the dry Athens climate.

 

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Hama-rikyū Gardens - Tokyo​

Nestled between the skyscrapers of Japan's capital metropolis, Tokyo, lies Hama-rikyū Gardens, one of the city's many beautiful green spaces. The park is home to a number of ponds and rivers that flow into the nearby Tokyo bay, and an ancient tree planted by a shogun when Tokyo was still known as Edo.

 

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Vondelpark - Amsterdam​

Amsterdam's largest city park, Vondelpark, took more than 30 years to build. Today, the park is a perfect place to take a break from the city and rest by the lake underneath the shade, or ride down one of the park's many bike paths.

 

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Yoyogi Park - Tokyo​

After Tokyo hosted the 1964 Summer Olympic Games, the city repurposed its Olympic Village into the beautiful and serene Yoyogi Park. The park is an excellent location for tourists or locals to witness Japan's famed cherry blossom trees in springtime.

 

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Mount Faber Park - Singapore​

The massive Asian city-state of Singapore is home to one of the most famous and unique city parks in the world. This park includes the entirety of Mount Faber, and many beautiful, modern paths wind up and down the mountain through its beautiful rainforest surroundings.

 

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Lumphini Park - Bangkok​

The sprawling, bustling Thai capital of Bangkok finally received its first public park in 1942. Previously, the park was only open to Thai royalty, but King Rama VI decided the citizens of Bangkok deserved access to this wonderful green space as well.

 

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Imperial Gardens - Tokyo​

For 364 days out of the year, the gardens surrounding Tokyo's Imperial Palace are only accessible via guided walking tours. But once a year, to celebrate the emperor's birthday, the elegant Imperial Gardens are open for locals to wander as they please.

 

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Hyde Park - London​

The largest park in London, Hyde Park started as a private hunting ground for the royal family in the 16th century. Some of the city's largest events and festivals take place amongst Hyde Park's lakes, lawns, and wooded areas.

 

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Ibirapuera Park - São Paulo​

Ibirapuera Park, in the massive metropolis of São Paulo in Brazil, was built in 1954 to commemorate the city's 400th anniversary. Ibirapuera Park holds the distinction of being South America's most-frequented city park, boasting 14.4 million visitors in 2017 alone.

 

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Regent's Park - London​

Another of London's old hunting grounds-turned parks, Regent's Park has been open to the public since 1841. It is considered one of the most beautiful parks in the world, with its picturesque lakes and gorgeous collections of trees and vegetation.

 

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Centennial Park - Sydney​

In the heart of Sydney lies Centennial Park, a beautiful stretch of marshland that was restructured to turn it into the lush recreation space it is today. It also holds special significance for being the site of the 1901 Inauguration of the of the Commonwealth of Australia.

 

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Mount Royal - Montreal​

Mount Royal, likely where the Canadian city of Montreal got its name, lies to the west of the main part of the city and offers an easily accessible getaway for its residents. The numerous overlooks on the mountain provide spectacular views of the city, and there are even ski routes available for use in the winter months.

 

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The English Garden - Munich​

Munich's English Garden, opened in 1789, is a long, gorgeous patch of green that stretches out from the center of the city. An inviting mixture of wooded areas and wide open spaces make it the perfect place to spend lazy summer days.

 

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Kings Park - Perth​

The massive and breathtaking Kings Park in Perth, Australia, stretches almost 1,000 acres along the banks of the Swan River. The beautiful grasslands and marshlands are home to hundreds of species of native and foreign flora and fauna, including 80 different species of birds.