Singapore Botanic Gardens

Overview

Singapore Botanic Gardens is a blossoming garden that sits on 63.7 hectares of land holding many rare specimens of plant life. Enjoy and relax by either taking a slow walk around the Singapore Botanic Gardens or choosing a pleasant spot for a picnic with your family.

It is the only botanic garden in the world that opens from 5 a.m. to 12 midnight every single day of the year, and does not charge an admission fee, except for the National Orchid Garden.

Attractions

National Orchid Garden. The main attraction within the botanic gardens. Located on the mid-western side of the garden, the hilly three hectare site has a collection of more than 1,000 species and 2,000 hybrids of orchids.

Ginger Garden Located next to the National Orchid Garden, this one hectare garden lumps together the collection of members of the family Zingiberaceae. There is also a drop-off point along Tyersall Avenue as well as a waterfall. The garden was officially opened in 2003.

Evolution Garden. A new attraction at the botanic garden is the 1.5-hectare (3.7 acre) Evolution Garden, located within the Central Core. The Evolution Garden tells the evolution story of plant life on Earth throughout the ages.

Botany Centre and Tanglin Gate The corridors and walkways of the Botany Centre are covered by leaf imprint. And there are also a number of wooden carvings that litter the ground. There are also fern covered vertical walls. The Green Pavilion is the first “green roof” in Singapore. Weed-like or grass-like plants fully cover the pitched roof. It houses the visitor services desk as well as the foodcourt (Taman Serasi Food Garden) at its basement.

Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden The children’s garden was named after its main donor the late Mr Jacob Ballas, a Jewish-Singaporean philanthropist who died in 2000. It is located at the quiter Northern end of the botanic gardens. It has its own Visitor Centre with a cafe. It is Asia’s first children’s garden. There are play areas like the Water Play area, a small playground, tree-houses with slides, mazes…etc. There are also interactive exhibits like teaching how photosynthesis works in a fun way, mini-gardens that showcase different uses of plants like in making dyes, beverages or as herbs.

Shop for exquisitely beautiful gift items at the RISIS Store located at the entrance of National Orchid Garden. Its merchandise ranges from ornate sets of orchid brooches to unique name cardholders with designs inspired by the Peranakan culture, which is a fusion of Chinese, Malay, and European influences. Definitely a great place for those who are looking for special mementos.

How to get there

Located in central Singapore and just five minutes away from Orchard Road (Singapore’s main shopping street), getting to the Gardens is easy! Visitors can access the Gardens via its various major entrances. Knowing where to alight will help ensure that your visit is an enjoyable experience.

Which Entrance?

There are three gates leading to the various attractions in the Gardens:

To Visit	Enter Via
Tanglin Core(Botany Centre, SBG Heritage Museum, CDL Green Gallery, Heritage Trail, Herbarium, Food For Thought,Swan Lake, Bandstand)	Tanglin Gate
Central Core(National Orchid Garden, Ginger Garden, Palm Valley,Shaw Foundation Symphony Stage, Visitor Centre, Casa Verde, Halia Restaurant)	Nassim Gate
Bukit Timah Core(Eco-Lake, Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden,NUS Alumni Guild House, NUS Law Faculty)	Bukit Timah Gate*

* The Botanic Gardens MRT Station (Circle Line) alights you at the Bukit Timah Gate.

 

By Bus/MRT

By bus alighting at Napier/Holland Road (Tanglin Gate)

• SBS Transit 7, 105, 123, 174,174e
• SMRT 75, 77, 106, NR8
• Nearest MRT Station : Orchard MRT (North-South Line) and a 5-min bus ride to Tanglin Gate.

By bus alighting at Bukit Timah/Dunearn Road (Bukit Timah Gate or Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden)

• SBS Transit 48, 66, 151, 153, 154, 156, 170
• SMRT 67, 171
• Nearest MRT Station : Botanic Gardens MRT Station (Circle Line)

By Taxi

There are taxi drop-off/pick-up points at the following major entrances:

• Botany Centre, Tanglin Gate (via junction of Holland/Napier Road)
  
• Visitor Centre, Nassim Gate (via junction of Nassim/Cluny Road)
  
• Visitor Centre, Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden (via Bukit Timah Road)
• Bukit Timah Gate (via Cluny Park Road)                                                                                                                                                                         

By Car

Parking is available at:

• Botany Centre, Tanglin Gate (via junction of Holland/Napier Road)
• Visitor Centre, Nassim Gate (via junction of Nassim/Cluny Road)
• Raffles Building (via junction of Evans/Cluny Road)
• Visitor Centre, Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden (via Bukit Timah Road)
• Cluny Park Gate (via Cluny Park Road)
• Along Tyersall Avenue (coupon parking)

Parking Charges

Hours*	Charges
7.00 am to 10.30 pm	$0.02 per minute
7.00 pm to 10.30 pm	$2 maximum
8.00 am to 9.00 am	$1 **

No overnight parking is allowed

Opening Hours

Daily 5am to 12 midnight

• National Orchid Garden 8.30 am to 7 pm daily (last ticket sale at 6pm)
• Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden 8.00am – 7.00pm (last admission at 6.30pm) The Children’s Garden is closed on Mondays (except when it falls on a designated public holiday)
• Library of Botany and Horticulture Mondays to Fridays: 9.00am – 5.00pm; Saturdays & Sundays: 9.00am – 1.00pm; Public Holidays: Closed

– See more at: http://www.best-singapore-guide.com/singapore-botanic-gardens.html#sthash.wSxVLoVS.dpuf