Singapore Botanic Gardens
The 63.7-hectare Singapore Botanic Gardens is nestled within a large urban area. This is the only botanic garden in the world that keeps its gates open from 5 am till midnight every single day of the year (inner attractions like the Orchid Garden close by 7pm). Interestingly, this garden is now 151 years old. It was founded way back in 1859 by an Agri-Horticultural society and subsequently handed over to the government to maintain.
Within the botanic gardens today, there are various attractions (National Orchid Garden, ginger garden, evolution garden, and a rain forest). Marvel at the huge variety of flowers and plants, or even enjoy a leisurely stroll around the 3 lakes in the botanic gardens. Besides being a place for relaxation and recreation, the Singapore Botanic Gardens also has educational value, through its conduct of workshops and tours for adults and children.
To mark the Gardens’ 150th anniversary, an additional 7.4 hectares will be added to the total area. Future visitors can thus look forward to attractions such as the Learning Forest. Visitors can walk through the lush tropical forest featuring a great variety of giant trees, a bamboo garden, and a collection of rare fruits and nuts species.
Occasionally on weekends, the Singapore Symphony Orchestra or the Singapore Chinese Orchestra stage free concerts at Symphony Lake. It is not uncommon to find the grass spaces in front of the performing stage packed with people when there are live performances. The Botanic Gardens is best explored in the cooler times of the day, especially in the early mornings.
How to get to Singapore Botanic Gardens
Bus service numbers 7,75,77,105,106,123,174, takes you along holland road. Buses 48,66,67,161,153,154,156,170,171 ply bukit timah road. Can enter the gardens from either taxi drop-off and pick-up points is at the visitor center along cluny road.
Why not hire a car while you’re in Singapore, this is a great option and gives you the freedom to go everywhere in your own time. Roads are easy to follow and great to drive on. Hire cars are modern. Tourists can drive using a valid foreign license and an International Driving Permit (IDP), issued in your home country. If you come from one of the Asian Nations you can drive in Singapore without an international permit.
