From Singapore to Beijing, these city parks provide a peaceful oasis among the chaos.
Central Park, New York City, USA
St. James's Park, London, United Kingdom
Jardin du Luxembourg,
Paris, France
Park Güell, Barcelona, Spain
The Unesco-listed park is where Gaudí turned his imagination to landscape gardening. It’s a surreal and enchanting place. The central area is limited to 400 people every half-hour – book ahead online.
National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden, Washington DC, USA
This 6-acre garden is studded with whimsical sculptures. They are scattered around a fountain – a great place to dip your feet in summer. In winter, the fountain is transformed into an ice rink.
Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, Singapore
Clinging to Singapore’s highest peak, the reserve supposedly holds more tree species than the entire North American continent. Its forest canopy shelters what remains of Singapore’s native wildlife.
Volkspark Friedrichshain, Berlin, Germany
Berlin’s oldest public park has only been hilly since the late 1940s, when wartime debris was piled up to create two 'mountains'. Laze on expansive lawns, or visit a beer garden or the outdoor cinema.
Parco Savello,
Rome, Italy
Known to every Roman as the Giardino degli Aranci, this walled park is a romantic haven. Head down the central avenue to bask in heavenly sunset views of St Peter’s dome and the city's rooftops.
Beihai Park,
Beijing, China
The inside of the old Imperial City looks much as it did in the 18th century when it was the Emperor's private gardens. The White Dagoba soars over the lake, surrounded by temples and pavilions.
Bondi Beach,
Sydney, Australia
Definitively Sydney, Bondi is one of the world’s top beaches. It’s the closest ocean beach to the city centre, has consistently good (though crowded) waves, and is great for a rough-and-tumble swim.