Singapore is known as the “Garden City” and you're never far away from green space or a park. Some of the gardens and parks here are also creatively designed to show off the best local flora while you take a break from city life. If you need to take a breather from the daily grind, why not visit one of the most beautiful gardens in Singapore?
Gardens by the Bay
This futuristic garden, built entirely on reclaimed land, is like something from a sci-fi movie. Home to the second largest greenhouse in the world and famous “supertrees” (architectural structures interspersed with greenery,) wander around this tropical paradise to see a meld of contemporary architecture and innovative garden design. There are three different sections to the garden, Bay South, Bay East and Bay Central. The Bay South garden is the largest, at 54 hectares, and is home to the Cloud Forest and Flower Dome conservatories, which are well worth a visit.
Chinese and Japanese Gardens
In the west of Singapore, the serene Chinese and Japanese Gardens are the perfect place to take a break. Also known as the Jurong Lake Gardens, they are situated in the middle of a scenic lake. Connected together by a white bridge known as the Bridge of Double Beauty, both the Chinese and Japanese sections are unique and totally stunning. The Chinese Garden has an unmissable bonsai collection, and traditional architecture like pagodas and pavilions in the northern Chinese style. The Japanese Garden uses garden aesthetics from the Muromachi and Momoyama period and is a wonderland of stone lanterns, arched bridges and small waterfalls. The best time to visit is during the Lunar New Year or Mid-Autumn Festival, where the gardens are filled with glowing lanterns at night.
Singapore Botanic Gardens
This 160-year tropical botanical garden is Singapore's first UNESCO world heritage site, and when you visit here, you'll understand why. Open from 5am to midnight daily, don't miss the National Orchid Garden, where lush displays of native orchids create Instagram-worthy backdrops. After that, wander up the wooden boardwalk into the Rain Forest section - a precious small piece of primary forest with trees which have been growing here for hundreds of years. Finish off with a picnic next to the stunning landscaped section surrounding Symphony Lake, which often hosts concerts and outdoor film screenings in the evening.
Ann Siang Hill Park
Tucked away behind shophouses near Telok Ayer MRT station, Ann Siang Hill Park is a secret green space within the hustle and bustle of the city. This peaceful little hill has a fascinating history - it was originally owned by Charles Scott, who planted nutmeg and cloves here, before Chia Ann Siang, the current namesake, bought the hill. At the foot of the hill was where one of the earliest Cantonese burial grounds in Singapore was located. Today, it's a serene place lined with shaded pergolas, and with flourishing tamarind, cinnamon, nutmeg and breadfruit trees.
HortPark
Located in the wild Southern Ridges area, but still close to the city centre, HortPark is a collection of stunning landscaped gardens and a hub for research, retail and all things garden-related. There are twenty different show gardens on the site, so wander around the Butterfly Garden, the Balinese Garden and the Vertical Greenery area to see a showcase of award-winning garden design. The Therapeutic Garden here is not to be missed, and aims to serve as a model for similar gardens throughout the city. While here, don't miss the workshops, events and guided walks which will be sure to leave you with new gardening knowledge and inspiration.
Bishan Ang Mo Kio Park
In central Singapore, Bishan Park is one of the largest urban parks in this location. Wander along the banks of Kallang River, which meanders through the space and is surrounded by banks of wildflowers, and explore the Frangipani Garden and Green Vibes Garden (a vegetable garden.) The Lotus Garden here is unmissable, and while you're here, make sure you keep an eye out for some of the regular feathered visitors - rare birds like the Zanzibar red bishop and spotted wood owl have been seen here. The Park is also home to a family of otters, so keep your eye out for them when wandering through the river plains.