Gardens, bays and temples: seeing Singapore well, the back story

About Gardens, bays and temples: seeing Singapore well, the back story

By the ULTIMATE Singapore Editorial Team

Editor-in-Chief: Jai Michael

Two great gardens bracket Singapore’s story: the Singapore Botanic Gardens, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2015 and the first and only tropical botanic garden on the list (NParks), and the Gardens by the Bay, with its Supertrees and glass conservatories on reclaimed land at Marina Bay. Between them lie the heritage quarters of Chinatown, Kampong Glam and Little India.

Two gardens

The Singapore Botanic Gardens, at 1 Cluny Road, are open from 5am to midnight every day; NParks describes them as the first UNESCO World Heritage Site in Singapore, inscribed in 2015. The Gardens by the Bay, at 18 Marina Gardens Drive, hold the Flower Dome, the Cloud Forest, Floral Fantasy, the OCBC Skyway and the Supertree Observatory (gardensbythebay.com.sg).

Marina Bay

A walk round the bay takes in The Fullerton, the Esplanade, Marina Bay Sands and the Gardens by the Bay, with the Singapore Flyer at the far end.

Visit the gardens early, the heritage quarters in the late afternoon, and the bay after dark.

The heritage quarters

Sri Mariamman Temple stands on South Bridge Road in Chinatown, close to the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Thian Hock Keng; Masjid Sultan anchors Kampong Glam on Muscat Street. Dress modestly at places of worship, covering shoulders and knees, and remove your shoes where asked.

Jewel

Jewel Changi Airport, opened on 17 April 2019 (changiairport.com), holds the Rain Vortex, the Canopy Park and the Forest Valley, and links to the terminals.

Timing

Singapore is hot and humid all year, with thundery showers common in the afternoon (NEA). Plan outdoor sights for the morning and keep the museums for the heat of the day.

Our advice: arrive at the Botanic Gardens at 7am, when the city is still cool.

Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with Gardens, bays and temples: seeing Singapore well, the back story before you go.