Just minutes from Orchard Road, this is a haven in the middle of the city and you can easily spend a few hours leisurely wandering around. The gardens themselves are free to enter although there is a small charge to get into the National Orchid Garden. Launched at its present site in 1859 and nurtured by Kew-trained botanists, the gardens played a hugely important role in the agricultural development of Singapore. The 82-hectare site was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2015; it is the first and only tropical botanic garden, the first in Asia and only the third globally. The National Orchid Garden is truly beautiful with stunning displays of colour, there are over 1000 species and 2000 hybrids on display.
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Tips
- Check out the events page of the National Parks Service (NPS) – there are often concerts taking place, take a picnic along and unwind in the gardens to some music. Just be careful that the monkeys don’t steal your food!
- Head to the Gardens late afternoon and then onto Dempsey Hill (a converted army barracks) for dinner and try the traditional Singaporean chilli crab at Long Beach.
- If you’re there a bit earlier in the day, consider combining with a spot of retail therapy on Orchard Road.
Highlights
National Orchid Garden
Wander through the beautiful displays and check out the orchids created for visiting celebrities and dignitaries, including; the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Jackie Chan, Michael Kors, Ban Ki-Moon and Princess Diana.
Rainforest
Take a walk through an area of original rainforest.
Bandstand
A favourite location for wedding photos and children’s birthday parties amongst locals.