Singapore Botanic Gardens

The Singapore Botanic Gardens have occupied their site in Tanglin since 1859, and in 2015 they became the country's first UNESCO World Heritage Site. The gardens cover 82 hectares of lawns, lakes, themed gardens and forest, and entry is free every day, which is why you will share the paths with joggers, dog walkers, families and tai chi groups as well as visitors.

The one ticketed area, the National Orchid Garden, is the highlight for most people. It displays an enormous collection of species and hybrids, including the orchids named after visiting heads of state and celebrities, and it is open from 8.30am to 7pm, with last entry at 6pm. Elsewhere, look for the patch of rainforest that is older than the gardens themselves, the bandstand and the swan-dotted lakes, and Symphony Lake with its open-air stage, which hosts free concerts on some weekends. The Jacob Ballas Children's Garden is designed for younger visitors, with play areas and water features, and it is closed on Mondays unless that day is a public holiday.

The gardens are open from 5am to midnight. Early morning is the best time to go, when the air is at its coolest and the light is soft. The paths are wheelchair-friendly, there is a dedicated wheelchair route through the National Orchid Garden, and wheelchairs can be borrowed free of charge from the visitor services desks. Cycling and skateboarding are not allowed inside the gardens, though there is bicycle parking at the entrances.

Allow two to three hours if you want to see the orchids and walk from one end to the other, as the gardens are long and narrow. Families, couples and anyone who needs a break from the city's malls will enjoy it, and it is one of the easiest places in Singapore to spend a morning at almost no cost. Admission to the National Orchid Garden is S$15 for adults on the standard rate, with reduced prices for students and seniors and free entry for children under 12.

There are two MRT stations at opposite ends. Botanic Gardens station, on the Circle and Downtown lines, serves the Bukit Timah entrance in the north, and Napier station, on the Thomson-East Coast line, serves the Tanglin entrance in the south, close to the top of Orchard Road. Starting at one end and finishing at the other is an efficient way to see the whole site.