The Great World

Nestled in the heart of the bustling city, the Singapore Botanic Gardens offers a refreshing retreat into nature. Earning the country’s first and only tropical garden which is honored as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it’s a must-visit for anyone traveling to Singapore. This guide will walk you through the wonders of these gardens, providing insights into their rich heritage, diverse flora, and the myriad of experiences they offer.

Singapore Botanic Gardens was established in 1859, spans an area of 82 hectares, and serves as a key botanical and recreational venue. The Gardens have played a pivotal role in Singapore’s greening journey and agricultural research, particularly in rubber and orchid cultivation.

Is Singapore Botanic Gardens free?

The Singapore Botanic Gardens are open daily from 5 AM to midnight and cost nothing to explore. However, the National Orchid Garden – the park’s crown jewel – only welcomes visitors from 8:30 AM to 7 PM

How much time is needed for Singapore Botanic Gardens?

If you only visit the orchid garden, it will take about 2-3 hours to complete. But if you are also going to walk around the whole botanical garden, you should spend 4-5 hours to visit there.

How to get to the Botanic Gardens?

From Changi Airport to here only takes about 30 minutes, so you can use modern public transportation in Singapore to get to this green park as quickly as possible.

• Travel by MRT: From Changi Airport, go to the basement of bus 36PTB2, take the LineExpo MRT for 12 minutes (6 stops) to Botanic Gardens MRT station, walk for 4 minutes and you will reach the garden. Botanical Gardens. You can refer to instructions on how to travel by MRT in Singapore to get to entertainment or sightseeing places most conveniently.
• Travel by bus: You can go to this park by bus numbers: 07, 76, 105, 174, 123, 106 and 75 on Holland Street.

If you use public transportation from other places, use Google Maps you can see the guide in more detail.

• Traditional taxis and Grab are easy to find on the streets in Singapore. However, the cost is very high.

What are Singapore Botanic Gardens’ unique attractions?

• National Orchid Garden: Home to over 1,000 species and 2,000 hybrids of orchids, this is the crown jewel of the Botanic Gardens. The VIP Orchid Garden, which names orchids after state dignitaries, is a highlight. A place named “Cool House” to grow flower plants is only found in the tropical highlands, especially with the presence of carnivorous plants such as pitcher plants and prey plants. I think you shouldn’t ignore this place which there is a greenhouse growing a variety of indescribably beautiful orchids.

Adults (12 – 59 years old): 5 SGD for domestic customers and 15 SGD for foreign customers

Elderly people (60 years and older) and Students: 1 SGD for domestic customers and 3 SGD for foreign customers

Children under 12 years old: Free

• Swan Lake: One of the oldest features, complete with a pair of mute swans from Amsterdam, Swan Lake is both serene and picturesque.
• Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden: Dedicated to educating children about nature, it’s the first garden in Asia tailored for kids.
• Rainforest: A large area of 6000 square meters, simulating a tropical jungle. This place gathers plants and herbs from common to rare tropical forests. The lush green vegetation and abundance of tree species will be ideal for those who love biological research or simply want to mingle with nature and plants.
• Ginger Garden: You will be surprised to know that there are not only the types we often see in the market but there are up to 250 different types of ginger. At Botanic Garden’s ginger garden, ginger species are divided into different areas according to themes such as shape, use, or origin. The garden has a walking path and a very poetic fountain, making it an ideal place to rest and have lunch.
• Healing Garden: Displaying over 400 varieties of plants used medicinally, it’s arranged by the human body parts they benefit.
• Evolution Garden: This is the most interesting garden at the Botanic Garden. Plant species, both real and model, are arranged according to each period of the earth’s history, telling a million-year story of nature’s evolution. Through this, visitors will learn a vivid lesson about the history of plant development as well as the close relationship between humans and nature.
• Botany Centre & Tanglin Gate: The main entrance, offers visitor services, a library, and shops for souvenirs.

Some notes for you when coming Singapore Botanic Garden

• The Botanic Garden campus is very large. If you want to explore everything, it can take more than half a day. Should prepare snacks and water while resting in the garden. You can prepare for a small camping trip with your friends.
• You can enjoy coffee or lunch at Botanic Garden’s on-site restaurants with menus ranging from fast food, and luxury meals to snacks.
• You should bring a hat and sunglasses if you go at noon because the weather will be quite hot. You should also choose comfortable sports shoes to make it easier to walk a lot.
• Don’t litter, chew gum, or smoke. Violations will result in very heavy fines according to Singapore law, with fines of up to thousand SGD.
• Do not arbitrarily climb trees, pluck flowers, or break branches in the garden.
• The entrance of Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden is located on Bukit Timah Road, not within the Botanic Garden campus.
• At the Jacob Ballas children’s area, parents can come along to supervise children but should limit climbing on the children’s tree huts.

If you have the opportunity to travel to Singapore, don’t miss the opportunity to explore the Botanic Gardens in the middle of this lion island nation. This will be a great place for you to see rare plants, especially if you love orchids.

This comprehensive guide to the Singapore Botanic Gardens provides a detailed overview of what to expect, how to plan a visit, and the unique experiences available, making it a valuable resource for any traveler or nature enthusiast.

I hope you have a memorable Singapore trip!