Singapore Botanic Gardens Garden

Address: 1 Cluny Road, Singapore 259569

Website: https://www.nparks.gov.sg/sbg

Hours: Gardens: Daily 5:00am-12:00am; National Orchid Garden 8:30am-7:00pm (last entry 6:00pm)

Admission: General gardens free; National Orchid Garden: SGD 5 (paid entry)

The Singapore Botanic Gardens is a large public botanic garden founded in 1859 and recognised for its long-standing role in tropical botany and horticulture. The gardens combine formal landscaped areas, specialist collections and conservation and research activities.

Major highlights include the National Orchid Garden, a substantial curated orchid collection, ornamental lakes such as Swan Lake, and family-oriented spaces including the Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden. Paths, lawns and mature trees provide a mix of recreational and scientific attractions across the grounds.

The gardens were inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2015 in recognition of their historical importance and ongoing role in plant research, education and public enjoyment. They occupy a large green space close to central Singapore and are managed for both conservation and public access.

• History and UNESCO: Established in 1859 and inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2015 for its historical role in botanical research and tropical horticulture.
• Orchid Garden: Contains the National Orchid Garden, which is the garden’s most visited attraction and showcases extensive orchid collections in curated displays.

What to See#

• National Orchid Garden: The National Orchid Garden, which displays a large curated collection of orchid species and hybrids arranged in themed landscapes and conservatories.
• Children’s Garden: Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden, a dedicated area for children with interactive plant displays and educational programming.
• Swan Lake: Swan Lake and other formal water features which form part of the garden’s landscaped core and recreational spaces.

Take the Circle Line to Botanic Gardens MRT (CC19/DT9) and use the Cluny Road or Bukit Timah Gates entrances. Taxis and bikes are also convenient for shorter connections from Orchard Road (about a 10-15 minute taxi ride).

• Enter from the Botanic Gardens MRT (Circle Line) and walk through the Rainforest section first-it's often quieter and cooler in the morning.
• Visit the National Orchid Garden just after opening (8:30am) to see the displays before tour groups arrive.
• Look for the Tanglin Core's historical markers: one commemorates the original 19th-century experimental plots run by the Singapore Botanic Gardens.