Singapore is a leading global financial centre in Asia and a thriving metropolis of more than 5 million people. Even with its bustling urban vibe, the city-state has many verdant spaces where its residents and visitors can relax and enjoy some leisure time. Aside from nature reserves, Singapore also has a lot of beautiful gardens filled with wide varieties of flora that nature lovers can appreciate. Furthermore, Singapore has amazing nature-themed attractions. Because of these, Singapore has built a reputation as a garden city.
If you want to learn more about some of these lush places in one of the most modern cities in the world, read about these seven locations that you can also include in your list of must-visit places in Singapore. :
Jewel Changi
Even if you’re staying in Singapore for only a couple of days and are staying in one of the hotels near Changi Airport, you can get a glimpse of what this country is all about. From the airport terminals, you can easily go to Jewel Changi, a vast commercial complex where you can find several nature-themed attractions. First, you can’t miss the magnificent Rain Vortex, which is the world’s largest and tallest indoor waterfall at 40 metres high. It’s surrounded by the Shiseido Forest Valley, which is one of Asia’s largest indoor gardens. It spans five stories and is home to around 3,000 trees and 60,000 high-altitude tropical forest plants from different parts of the world.
Singapore Botanic Gardens
At the heart of the city of Singapore, you’ll find the Singapore Botanic Gardens. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the oldest garden in the city, having been established in 1859. The park has a rich collection of plants and is one of the premier orchid breeding centres in the world.
The Singapore Botanic Gardens is also considered a cultural site, where you can find a variety of historic features, buildings, and artworks that showcase the garden’s development since 1859. As a leisure park, the garden is a popular spot among adults and children alike. It has a specialised garden for kids and many beautiful areas for gatherings and picnics.
Supertree Grove
One of the most iconic nature-themed attractions in Singapore is the Supertree Grove. It’s located at Gardens by the Bay and has 12 towering futuristic-looking tree-like structures. The large trunks are planted with over 150,000 varieties of ferns, orchids, and tropical flowering climbers. They wrap around the metal structure and almost reach the canopy. They are the ultimate symbol of nature and technology coming together.
No matter where you view them, the Supertrees look magnificent. They’re perfectly spaced from each other, providing great composition every time you take a picture. At night, the trees light up and come alive with music during the Garden Rhapsody light show.
Flower Dome
The Flower Dome is one of the iconic places in Bay South Garden, which is also located at Gardens by the Bay. It’s a conservatory that replicates the cool-dry climate of South Africa, California, and some parts of Spain and Italy. Here, you can find a wide range of plants from deserts all over the world. It’s also a wonderful place to learn how these plants adapt to arid environments.
A trip to the Flower Dome isn’t complete if you don’t see the colourful and changing displays of the Flower Field. It features various flora according to the different seasons, festivals, and themes. With all these plant varieties, you’ll always have something new to look forward to when you visit this place.
Cloud Forest
Another attraction at Gardens by the Bay is the Cloud Forest. It’s a conservatory that features multi-level walkways filled with various species of flowers and plants—from orchids and ferns to philodendrons— from different tropical regions of the world. The structure recreates a cool and moist atmosphere of between 23 and 25 degrees Celsius, with a humidity percentage of 80 to 90 percent. This is the perfect environment for plants found in tropical mountain areas to thrive inside the conservatory.
Make sure to explore the lush aerial walkway that’s designed to feel like you’re in a real rainforest. There are nine different levels where you can closely observe the vegetation inhabiting the Cloud Forest. Additionally, the conservatory boasts one of the world’s tallest indoor waterfalls. On the ground, you can marvel at the impressive sight of water raining from over 35 metres.
Mount Faber Park
One of the oldest gardens in Singapore is Mount Faber Park. It’s a nature reserve where you can have a pleasant walk amidst healthy foliage. The vegetation gives the hilltop destination its beauty, and it also stabilises the terrain. When you reach the garden, you can get a stunning panoramic view of southern Singapore. You can take beautiful photos with the view of the city as your background from thedifferent lookout points in the park. You can also spot one of the four Merlion statues in Singapore here. Indeed, it’s a great place to visit either during the day or at night.
MacRitchie Reservoir Park
Nature lovers will certainly enjoy visiting the MacRitchie Reservoir. While it’s situated a bit a ways off the city, the garden is a great place to observe various wildlife, including monkeys, flying lemurs, and monitor lizards. It also has great hiking trails like the popular Treetop Walk, which is 27 metres high. This trail is a great place to spot different bird and reptile species, along with 18 rare types of trees.
Thanks to Singapore’s amazing gardens, parks, and nature-themed attractions, the country has gained a reputation as a Garden City. These places have also helped the country attract tourists who are looking for a refreshing adventure in nature without the hardcore outdoor activities. So, the next time you visit the city-state, stop by these locations and explore the greener side of this vibrant city.
