Among the concrete jungles of the Lion City lies Singapore Botanic Gardens, a wonderland filled with 3,000 lush tropical and subtropical plants perfect for nature lovers and horticulture enthusiasts!
Just like the Emerald Hill, Hawker Centers, and Sentosa Island, Singapore Botanical Gardens is a well-preserved historical site that has become a beloved attraction in Singapore.
This Botanic Garden is visited by 4.4 million people each year making it the most stunning garden in Asia and probably around the world!
The Story Behind Singapore Botanic Gardens
In 1822, Sir Stamford Raffles set up the first botanical garden on Government Hill at Fort Canning to introduce economic crop cultivation, then the park closed in 1829.
In 1859, a new garden was developed and established by the Agri-Horticultural Society in its present Tanglin site. It was handed over to the government in 1874.
163 years after its establishment, the 82 hectares or 202.63-acre garden now stands as a top-tier botanic garden of plant research and conservation.
Singapore Botanic Gardens as a World Heritage Site
Singapore ratified the World Heritage Convention in June 2012. Then, they submitted a World Heritage Tentative list to UNESCO in December of the same year to show their interest in including Singapore Botanic Gardens as a World Heritage Site.
In January 2014, a Nomination Dossier was successfully submitted to UNESCO. Eight months later, an International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) technical assessor visited the site as part of the bid evaluation. And finally, on July 4, 2015, the Botanic Gardens officially became a World Heritage Site at the 39th session of the World Heritage Committee.
It became one of four UNESCO botanic gardens. The other three are 1. Botanical Garden (Orto Botanico) in Padua, Italy, and 2. Royal Botanical Gardens in Kew, England. 3. Richtersveld Cultural and Botanical Landscape in South Africa.
Checklist Before Going to Singapore Botanic Gardens
It takes more than 2 hours to go around the Botanic Garden. With its size, here are the things you need to bring:
- Water. The weather might be hot on the day of your visit, so never forget to bring water with you at all times.
- Hat and Umbrella. To protect you from the blazing heat of the sun, wearing a hat or bringing an umbrella is very important. To be extra safe, you can bring both!
- Sunscreen. SPF is your skin’s bestfriend! It’s not about being darker but protecting your body’s first line of defense from the ultraviolet rays!
- Snacks. There are places to eat in Singapore Botanic Gardens, but you might be too far away to grab a quick snack. So that you won’t starve as you become one with nature, don’t forget to bring light snacks with you.
There are also some rules that we must follow while we are on the premises:
- Personal wheelchairs are only allowed in some places but special wheelchairs that can withstand hilly terrains can be rented for $2/day.
- Dogs are allowed in the Gardens but may be restricted in some attractions. Also, remember to leash and muzzle your dogs per Animal and Birds (Dog Licensing and Control) Rules.
- Bikes and cycling are not allowed.
- Drones are prohibited, except for special occasions or if granted permission.
And remember that the main aim of the Botanic Gardens is to preserve nature. Always be mindful of where we go and STAY IN PATHWAYS.
Attractions in Singapore Botanic Gardens
The Gardens offer more than just displays of plants and flowers. In fact, the 82 hectares of land are full of surprises and activities to do. The best part is that the admissions are FREE (except for the National Orchid Garden)!
Here are some of the attractions you will find in the Singapore Botanic Gardens:
SUNDIAL GARDEN
Probably one of the oldest artifacts in the area, the Sundial has been around since 1929!
The area itself is surrounded by thriving plants and a red brick pathway allows for a perfect stroll.
Admission: FREE
Opening Hours: 5:00 a.m. to 12 midnight, Daily.
NATIONAL ORCHID GARDEN
Before it became a home for the largest collection of orchids in Singapore, the National Orchid Garden was originally a research facility for the propagation and study of rare species of plants.
There are over 1000 species and 2000 hybrids of orchids waiting for you!
Admission: FREE- 12 years old and below
S$15- Standard Adults
S$5- Senior Citizens and Students
Opening Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., Daily.
GINGER GARDEN
As the name suggests, this garden houses 250 varieties of ginger from Asia, the Pacific, Africa, and Indochina. You will also find a waterfall surrounded by floating giant Amazon water lilies.
Admission: FREE
Opening Hours: 5:00 a.m. to 12 midnight, Daily.
NATURE REMIXED
Everyone has got to take this opportunity to listen to the wonderful sounds of mother nature through ‘Nature Remixed: Where are the borders of our paradise?’, a sound project by Sistrum (Ramesh Krishnan, Lim Shu Min, and Laura Miotto).
The concept of this project is to show how nature sounds like every hour of every day and Sistrum can deliver through sampling and layering site-specific conversations and atmospheres while using a polyvocal approach that reimagines our relationship with nature.
You can find them in various spots around the Gardens.
You can also listen to the songs of nature here while you walk around the Gardens.
If you want to know more about Sistrum and their other projects, check out their website: https://sistrum.sg/
Admission: FREE
Opening Hours: 5:00 a.m. to 12 midnight, Daily.
LEARNING FOREST
To really immerse yourself in the forest life, you can explore the Learning Forest which features interconnected boardwalks and elevated walkways. Discover the freshwater forest wetland and lowland rainforest.
Be among the gigantic trees, palms, and tree-climbing plants, and don’t forget to get a glimpse of some of the endangered plant species of the region’s freshwater forest wetlands habitats at the Keppel Discovery Wetlands.
Admission: FREE
Opening Hours: 5:00 a.m. to 12 midnight, Daily.
SWAN LAKE
Swan Lake is another area in Singapore Botanic Gardens you can visit, perhaps with a significant other. You’ll find two Amsterdam mute swans gracing the waters of this lake. In addition to the pair, there are also fish and water monitor lizards who call this lake their home.
By the lake stands a beautiful Victorian cast iron gazebo that will make you feel as if you’ve been transported back to the Victorian era. This gazebo is the oldest part of the Gardens, dating back to 1859.
Admission: FREE
Opening Hours: 5:00 a.m. to 12 midnight, Daily.
EVOLUTION GARDEN
Like humans, plants took millions of years to be what they are today. However, it’s mind-boggling how much our environment has changed since the dawn of human civilization, and oftentimes, we find ourselves wondering what the world looked before we existed.
Well, wonder no more because the Evolution Garden will show you that. In this garden, you’ll find a demonstration of how some plants have evolved through the years as they adapted to their surroundings.
This is not Jurrasic Park, so you don’t have to worry about a hungry t-rex suddenly chasing after you. But you will find species of plants from different periods of the Earth.
Admission: FREE
Opening Hours: 5:00 a.m. to 12 midnight, Daily.
PALM VALLEY
Did you know that there are over 2,600 species of palm trees all over the world? And you’ll find 200 of those right here in Palm Valley!
Take a walk among the beautiful palm trees with different leaves of varying shapes and sizes!
Admission: FREE
Opening Hours: 5:00 a.m. to 12 midnight, Daily.
JACOB BALLAS CHILDREN’S GARDEN
Named after one of Singapore’s pioneers in horticulture, the Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden is the first garden in Asia dedicated to children. It is where you can let your kids interact, not just with other kids but with nature as well.
Admission: FREE for children aged 14 and below. Children must be accompanied by a parent.
Opening Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 7 p.m., Tuesday to Sunday.
Closed on Mondays except if the day falls on a public holiday.
SYMPHONY LAKE
The Symphony Lake is the most popular hangout spot in the Gardens as it allows for a perfect picnic with the family or a partner while listening to the melodies of the orchestra performances.
If you’re lucky enough, you might get to hear the Singapore Symphony Orchestra play at the Shaw Foundation Symphony Stage which is on an islet in the middle of a lake.
Admission: FREE
Opening Hours: 5:00 a.m. to 12 midnight, Daily.
BOTANICAL ART GALLERY- GALLOP EXTENSION
If you’re like me and love Arts, the Botanical Art Gallery should definitely be on your priority list!
The Gallery is located at the 8-hectare Gallop Extension within two conserved buildings revamped to hold additional attractions.
The Gallery highlights the importance of Art in the scientific documentation of plants. Be mesmerized by over 2000+ paintings, sketches, and photographs in the collection!
Admission: FREE
Opening Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00p.m, daily but closed every last Thursday of the month.
Map of Singapore Botanical Gardens
Singapore Botanic Gardens is a massive area and it can be difficult to navigate.
We were worried you might get lost there, so here is a map of the Gardens that might come in handy.
Final Thoughts on Singapore Botanical Gardens
The Singapore Botanical Gardens is another marvelous place in Singapore you can visit with your friends, family, and significant other, or by yourself. It’s a great way to take a break from the world’s problems and reconnect to the natural world. Just remember to breathe and take one step at a time.
Contact Singapore Botanical Gardens
Address: 1 Cluny Rd, Singapore 259569
Contact Number: +65 6471 7138
E-mail: nparks_sbg_visitor_services@nparks.gov.sg
Opening Hours: 5 a.m. to 12 midnight, Daily.
The Singapore Botanic Gardens is one of the attractions featured in our 5-day Singapore Itinerary. Check it out and see what else you can do in Singapore!
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