Room with a bloom: European hotels with beautiful gardens

Opened in 1863, the Grand was once a favourite stay for high society, and was even mentioned in Ernest Hemingway’s novel, A Farewell to Arms. Follow in their footsteps as you admire the formal flower beds and classical statues, and enjoy meals on the terrace. Then end the day in true Italian style with a passeggiata (evening walk) along gravel paths lined with rhododendron bushes.

The hotel’s named after Lake Maggiore’s Borromean Islands – and no holiday here would be complete without taking a boat trip over to see the lush gardens on Isola Bella and Isola Madre too.

The Hotel Poiano and Poiano Apartments are surrounded by 60 hectares of Mediterranean greenery, so you can really stretch your legs. Wander past oleander bushes and olive groves, down paths shaded by cypress trees, and head to the flower garden to smell the roses, violets and hydrangeas. There’s plenty of other things to do outside as well, from the Olympic-sized swimming pool to a tennis court and archery range. And all the rooms and apartments also have a balcony or terrace where you can look out over the grounds or lake.

The Saalbacher Hof’s a modern hotel with an extra special twist – it’s built right into the hillside and has a garden on the rooftop. Up here, you can lay out on the lawn among ferns, succulents and alpine flowers, and look over the wooded Glemm Valley. The hotel runs free workshops too, where you can find out about the health benefits of wild plants. And for a touch more zen, why not join an outdoor yoga session?

From the front, the Bergland looks like a typical Austrian hotel, with its flower-filled window boxes on the balconies and painted wall decorations. The rest of it’s swish and stylish though – including the garden. Out here, you can doze on a lounger, sit on the wrap-around bench under the tree and lose yourself in a good book, or sip a drink on the deck as you listen to the trickling water fountain.

Then to get a feel for the local area and learn more about alpine flowers, don’t miss the hotel’s free guided walks.

The Hotel Wengener Hof ’s up on a hillside, overlooking the Swiss Alps and pretty-as-a-picture village of Wengen – and it’s got landscaped gardens that blend in with the natural surroundings. You can follow stone-flagged paths past dwarf pines and conifer bushes to a small pavilion, to take in the big mountain scenery of the Lauterbrunnen Valley. And when evening rolls around, watch the sunset over the trees from the terrace.

The botanical gardens on the Schynige Platte mountain are nearby as well, so hop on the cogwheel railway to spend some time walking among alpine plants like crocuses and edelweiss.

Discover blossoms and beauty on a Lakes & Mountains holiday this summer. Or for some floral-themed day trips, read our guide to the best gardens to visit in the Italian lakes.

Head to our Lakes & Mountains homepage to discover more about our favourite holidays.

Author: Courtney Sparham

Last updated: 26/01/2023