The Best Singapore Parks and Green Spaces for a Nature Fix

There’s a good reason why Singapore is called “Garden City.” Despite being famous for architectural marvels like Gardens by the Bay or the world-class shopping on Orchard Road, Singapore has a very impressive natural side. Not only is Singapore one of the greenest cities in the world, but it strives to be at the top of the list.

You don't even have to leave the city centre to be surrounded by nature. Simply head to Gardens by the Bay to check out the futuristic vertical gardens in Supertree Grove, or make your way to East Coast Park to spend a lazy beach day at one of the best beaches in Singapore. But take the time to explore the areas just outside the CBD and you'll be rewarded with incredible botanical gardens and tropical nature reserves.

Whether you want to spend the day trekking through the jungle in Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, walking along the treetops in MacRitchie Reservoir Park, or seeing the diverse flora in the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Singapore Botanic Gardens, you're going to love getting outside in Singapore's incredible parks and green spaces.

Spread across 82 hectares of lush grounds and featuring over 10,000 species of plants, the Singapore Botanic Gardens was established in 1859 and is one of the most well-known green spaces in Singapore. 

If you've never been to this sprawling UNESCO World Heritage Site before, you're missing out. Visitors of all ages will love seeing the colourful blooms and ancient rain trees in the National Orchid Garden, while younger kids will have a blast clambering around the treehouses and suspension bridges in the Jacob Ballas Children's Garden. 

From seeking out the picture-perfect waterfall in the Ginger Garden to paddling around Swan Lake and learning about medicinal plants in the Healing Garden, you'll want to plan your day carefully. It's impossible to fit everything into one visit. With so many things to see and do, it's no wonder why locals and tourists keep coming back for more.

Cost: Aside from a small admission fee to enter the National Orchid Garden, Singapore Botanic Gardens is free to visit. 

Known as the "Green Lung" of Singapore, Gardens by the Bay is another one of the coolest Singapore parks and a must if this is your first time in the city. What makes this place unique is that it's located right in the heart of downtown, making it a convenient spot to get out in nature whenever you fancy. 

With its 50-metre-tall vertical gardens, Supertree GroveSome is one of the most iconic attractions in this nature park. It's well worth paying the small fee to walk along the "treetops" on the OCBC Skyway. This 128-metre-long aerial walkway is set 22 metres above ground and offers up-close views of the diverse plant life on the "supertrees," as well as incredible views of the Singapore skyline.

Other family-friendly activities in Gardens by the Bay include the 35-metre-tall waterfall and the thousands of plants inside the domed Cloud Forest, the colourful blooms inside the Flower Dome, and the themed gardens surrounding Supertree Grove, just to name a few options. 

Cost: Gardens by the Bay and many of its attractions are absolutely free. But you will have to purchase tickets to top sites like the Cloud Forest and Flower Dome.

Located just up the coast from Gardens by the Bay, East Coast Park is one for beach lovers. This 185-hectare park is the largest in Singapore, stretching across a whopping 15 kilometres of gorgeous coastline. 

One of the biggest draws of this park is East Coast Beach, which just happens to be one of the best beaches in Singapore. Beach aside, locals flock to East Coast Park to take advantage of the many family-friendly activities on offer. It's a great place to get outside and enjoy quality time with family and friends.

Looking for fun things to do at East Coast Park? Cycle around the 5.4-hectare Cyclist Park, take your pick of water sports like wakeboarding and stand-up paddleboarding, go skating or BMX biking at the Xtreme SkatePark, have a beach BBQ at one of the many BBQ pits, take your little ones to see the 90 life-size dinosaurs on the Changi Jurassic Mile, and so much more. 

Cost: The park is free to enter but you will have to pay for some things like bike rentals and BBQ stations.

Fort Canning Park is yet another urban green space set right in the heart of Singapore. Due to the many 14th-century royal ruins, British colonial buildings, and WWII relics that dot the park, this family-friendly park is one for history buffs as well as nature lovers. 

Nowadays, this historic hilltop park is home to nine historical gardens. For example, the First Botanic Garden dates all the way back to 1822 and was the very first of its kind in Singapore, while the Spice Garden hearkens back to the experiments that Stamford Raffles, the founder of contemporary Singapore, conducted on his former spice plantation.

Other cool attractions are the Insta-worthy Fort Canning Tree Tunnel, the kid-friendly playground at Jubilee Park, and Battlebox Singapore, a secret underground command centre used during WWII. You'll find Fort Canning Park adjacent to Clarke Quay, meaning it's easy to reach and super well-connected to public transport.

Cost: Free

One of the things that makes Singapore so incredible is that you'll find spectacular rainforested areas like the 163-hectare Bukit Timah Nature Reserve less than 15 kilometres from the CBD. This place offers the perfect escape from the city, especially if you're looking to hike or mountain bike through the jungle.

For something more mellow and family-friendly, take a stroll to the top of Bukit Timah Hill. Standing at a height of 165 metres, this is the highest natural peak in Singapore and the perfect place for fun photo ops. After that, head over to Hindhede Nature Reserve and take endless photos of the craggy cliffs reflecting on the waters of Hindhede Quarry.

However you decide to spend your time in Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, be sure to keep an eye out for local wildlife, which ranges from crab-eating macaques and flying lemurs to red-cheeked flying squirrels.

Cost: Free

MacRitchie Reservoir Park is located so close to Bukit Timah Nature Reserve that you can walk between these two Singapore parks if you're feeling up for an adventure. One of the most popular things to do in the 12-hectare MacRitchie Reservoir Park is the TreeTop Walk. This unique 250-metre-long suspension bridge takes you 25 metres into the sky so you can walk along the forest canopy. This is easily one of the coolest things to do in all of Singapore. 

In addition to the Insta-famous TreeTop Walk, you can also take in the bird's-eye views from the top of the seven-story Jelutong Tower, go kayaking or canoeing at MacRitchie Reservoir, hike through the jungle on one of the many nature trails, and check out the unique ZigZag Bridge and Submerged Boardwalk. 

Cost: The activities in MacRitchie Reservoir Park are free aside from a small fee for kayak and canoe rentals at MacRitchie Reservoir.

Many places on this list are located just outside of the city centre. But if you don’t have your own car, you can still reach each and every one of these parks and green spaces by either ordering a Grab taxi or taking advantage of the city’s excellent MRT and bus systems.

If you're looking for a family-friendly hotel with modern rooms and suites, an outdoor pool, and a gym, Novotel hotels in Singapore are an ideal choice. With options in Little India and Orchard Road, you'll be within easy reach of Singapore's top attractions. And when you need a break from the concrete jungle, you'll have easy access to all of the best parks and green spaces the city has to offer. 

As you can see, “Garden City” lives up to its name. While it can be easy to get distracted by the glitz and glam of city living, Singapore makes it easy to get outside, stay active, and reconnect with nature. Whether you’re in need of a beach day with your family or you need to recharge with a solo hike through the jungle, you'll have endless options to choose from with Singapore’s truly unique parks and green spaces.

The best parks to visit in Singapore are Gardens by the Bay for the Cloud Forest and Supertree Grove, Singapore Botanic Gardens for the National Orchid Garden, and East Coast Park for East Coast Beach and Cyclist Park. 

Many Singapore parks have playgrounds or facilities for children. For example, Far East Organization Children's Garden boasts a kids' water play area and playground, East Coast Park offers a large park with a playground, and Fort Canning Park is home to Jubilee Park Playground, to name a few family-friendly options.

Yes, many Singapore parks have jogging or cycling paths. There are jogging and cycling paths at Bay East Garden at Gardens by the Bay, a 5.4-hectare Cyclist Park at East Coast Park, and nature trails of varying lengths in MacRitchie Reservoir Park. However, there are numerous places to cycle and jog in Singapore. 

Most parks in Singapore are free to enter, including East Coast Park, Fort Canning Park, Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, and MacRitchie Reservoir Park. Top Singapore parks like Gardens by the Bay and Singapore Botanic Gardens are also free to enter. However, visitors will have to pay to access certain attractions inside these parks.

If you're wondering which Singapore parks are most centrally located, your best options are Gardens by the Bay and Fort Canning Park, which are both located in downtown Singapore.