Singapore aims to be the World’s Greenest City and has great parks and gardens to offer that invite for a run on the winding paths, extensive hiking with breathtaking views, or long leisurely walks in the tropical environment.
Singapore is one of the world’s most densely populated countries. And with travel restrictions going on for a little while, one can easily develop cabin fever in the small city-state. Luckily, Singapore is also known for its great efforts in preserving the bits of greenery that remain. What started out as a Garden City initiative with the idea to transform Singapore into a city with abundant lush greenery and a clean environment in order to make life more pleasant for the people, has evolved into the “City in a Garden”.
Walking in a park helps to improve the emotional well-being
Today, Singapore consists of quite a few green spaces that not only soften and beautify the cityscape but also provide environmental benefits: Trees and plans offer a welcome respite from the city’s heat and help alleviate the heat island effect by removing excess carbon and air pollutants. Additionally, they improve our well-being by helping us feel more connected to nature and the city we live in.
So get out there and work your ass in one of Singapore’s many parks that invite you to run on winding paths, hike on hilly terrain, or walk in the stunning tropical environment. Here are my favorites:
Botanic Gardens
The Botanic Gardens are probably the most popular green spot in Singapore and are internationally known and admired. In the extensive landscape of 49 hectares, you will find the most spectacular tropical flora. The linear distance between the northern and southern ends is around 2.5 km (1.6 mi), making the gardens an ideal destination for a family weekend walk.
Opening Hours
Singapore’s Botanic Gardens are usually open from 5 a.m. to 12 midnight daily. There is no admission fee except for the National Orchid Garden. During Singapore’s reopening, some gardens may be closed. I recommend checking their website beforehand to be sure.
How to get there
Located in central Singapore and just five minutes away from Orchard Road, the garden can be accessed via different entrance gates, e.g., Tanglin Gate, Nassim Gate, Bukit Timah Gate, Tyersall Gate.
What I think about Singapore’s Botanic Gardens
The Botanic Gardens invite you for a long, leisurely stroll on the winding paths, along the lakes, and or a run through its different sections. They are the ideal place to spend a beautiful, relaxed weekend day with family and watch the various tropical flora and fauna.
Bukit Timah Reserve
Bukit Timah Forest Reserve is a 1.64 square kilometers (400 acres) nature reserve and was the first of a kind created in Singapore. It is also the country’s largest surviving primary rainforest, housing over 840 species of flowering plants and over 500 species of fauna. Located on the slopes of Bukit Timah Hill, it also includes Singapore’s highest hill at 163 m.
Opening Hours
The park is usually open from 7 am to 7 pm daily. Some areas are currently closed due to implications on the slopes, development, and the latest advisory on safe distancing.
How to get there
By bus (Jalan Anak Bukit Road, opposite Beauty World Centre, or Upper Bukit Timah Road, opposite Bukit Timah Shopping Centre)
By MRT: Alight at Beauty World MRT Station, take Exit A
By Grab/Gojek: Drop off at Bukit Timah Nature Reserve Visitor Centre (Southern Entrance in Bukit Timah) or Dairy Farm (Northern Entrance in Skywoods).
What I think about Bukit Timah Reserve
I am still amazed by the fact that in Singapore, you can do a tropical forest walk just minutes away from the city center. In the reserve, you can discover nature in its pristine form, have an amazing insight into the variety of native plants and wildlife, and on the side, also do a strenuous workout. The Bukit Timah Nature Reserve Trail is very hilly and covers hundreds of steps, up and down. Bring your sweat towel and plenty of water and enjoy the hike! There are also specially allocated mountain bike trails around the area and Bukit Timah Mountain Bike (MTB) Trail.
MacRitchie Reservoir Park & Treetop Hiking Trail
The MacRitchie Reservoir is Singapore’s oldest reservoir and a popular spot for nature lovers and exercise enthusiasts. The park is known best for its breathtaking views from the Treetop Walk, which is traversing a 250-meters suspension bridge from Bukit Peirce to Bukit Kalan, the two highest points in MacRitchie Park. At its highest point, the bridge is 25 meters – or seven stories above the forest floor! Besides, it is a great place for animal lovers as there are miles of monkey-inhabited boardwalks.
Opening Hours
The Treetop Walk is open Tuesday to Friday from 9 am to 5 pm, and 8.30 am to 5 pm on Saturday, Sunday and Public Holidays. It’s closed on Mondays. Check out the latest updates on safe distancing before heading there. Admission is free.
How to get there
By public transport: Take any bus to the ‘MacRitchie Reservoir’ stop on Lornie Road
By MRT: Caldecott MRT (Circle Line)
What I think about MacRitchie
With hiking trails, kayaks, and canoes for rent, MacRitchie Reservoir & Park is an ideal place for recreational activities, both on land and in water. You can also go there for a morning or evening walk and stroll along the water’s edge to admire the beauty and serenity of the reservoir. For those looking for an adrenaline rush, the TreeTop Walk might be the highlight of the park. For hiking lovers, the park has six different hiking trails that vary in length and difficulty.
Photo Description: MacRitchie is an excellent destination for anyone who loves fun and the outdoors.
Southern Ridges & Mount Faber
You can tell, that Singapore’s Southern ridges are among my favorite parks in Singapore, have I already written a dedicated post only for the hiking trails near Habour Front. The Southern Ridges comprise 10 km of green, open spaces that connect Mount Faber Park, Telok Blangah Hill Park, HortPark, Kent Ridge Park, and Labrador Nature Reserve. The Henderson Waves, a structure not to be missed, connects Mount Faber Park to Telok Blangah Hill Park. Standing 36 meters above Henderson Road, it is the highest pedestrian bridge in Singapore. Other highlights of the Southern Ridges include the Forest Walk and Canopy Walk, where you can see a rich variety of flora and fauna and observe birds in their natural habitat.
Opening Hours
The Southern Ridges are usually open 24 hours a day. However, some areas may be closed temporarily to allow for safe distancing. Check out the safe distancing website for the latest updates.
How to get there
The Southern Ridges can be accessed at numerous points, depending on where you want to start your walk. From west to east, the most common options are Bus 197 from Clementi MRT to “Opp Jin Tai Primary School” bus stop, next to Clementi Woods, and a short distance to West Coast Park (via West Coast Link). Kent Ridge MRT station (exit B).
What I think about the Southern Ridges
On 9 kilometers you can walk on the Ridges and capture the beauty of wildflowers and birds. This is about as far from hardcore hiking as you can get: The trail is ideal for a walk on Sunday afternoon, which will last you about 2.5 hours when walking leisurely. An hour before the sun sets, the area around Henderson Wave Bridge turns into a beautiful, warm golden, the place is a great spot to watch the sundown while cooling down from your exercise. Most of the trail is even lit up at night until midnight or beyond.
Fort Canning Park
I consider myself very lucky to live right across an iconic hilltop landmark that has witnessed many of Singapore’s historical milestones. Imagine a place where the Malay kings once ruled in the Middle Ages, where the British surrendered to the Japanese during World War II, and where more recently some of the world’s greatest musicians have performed. Today, Fort Canning Park features nine historical gardens – the Pancur Larangan, Artisan’s Garden, Sang Nila Utama Garden, Jubilee Park (Phase 1), Raffles Garden, First Botanic Garden, Farquhar Garden, Spice Garden, and Armenian Street Park. Whether your passion is history, music, or nature, Fort Canning Park usually is full of surprises.
Fort Canning Hill is a small hill about 48 meters (157 ft) high in the southeast portion of the island city-state of Singapore.
Opening Hours
The Park is open 24/7 and lightened between 7 pm and 7 am.
How to get there
To get to Fort Canning Park, you can make use of the covered escalators from Fort Canning MRT station, Clarke Quay MRT Station, Dhoby Ghaut MRT Station, and Bras Basah MRT station to the top of Fort Canning Park.
Ideal for
Fort Canning Park is usually a venue for celebrations. These days, there is no music playing in the threes, but you can still learn a lot of Singapore’s history, or just go for a walk on the hills. I personally prefer a run at dust or dawn, simply because I like the atmosphere of the park and the views on the city. After all, the park serves as an important green lung for Singapore’s downtown city area and I enjoy catching some fresh air now and then.
During Singapore’s reopening, access to a few parks may be limited during the reopening. Some parks could be closed temporarily to ensure ample space for safe distancing. Make sure you check out the visitorship in the parks before you go there.
What's your favorite park in Singapore?
0 Comments
POST COMMENT
Related Posts
Mojave National Preserve
After an incredible morning in Joshua Tree National Park, we went off to another park on my bucket list. This time, it wasn’t an actual national park (which saved us the entry fees), but rather a national preserve.
Singapore’s Southern Ridges
In Singapore, I’ve developed a new passion that is actually rather untypical for me: visiting parks. Wearing sports clothes and equipped with a bottle of water, you can spend nice afternoons in the shade of the palms and trees. Beside some interesting insights into...
Picturesque Point Lobos
If there's one thing you can't miss on your California adventure, it's Point Lobos – the spot where land and water come together in a breathtaking display that'll leave you speechless. As Francis McComas famously put it, it's "the greatest meeting of land and water in the world."
Anne
Just found your post on Instagram… I love Southern Ridges too. Especially the view from Henderson Waves is stunning. Have you been to Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve? You can see mangroves and even crocodiles there.