How to Get to the Singapore Botanic Gardens by MRT
Quick answer: Take the Circle Line or Downtown Line to Botanic Gardens (CC19/DT9); the station exit is beside the Bukit Timah Gate at the north end of the gardens. For the Tanglin Gate, the main entrance nearest the Swan Lake and the National Orchid Garden, use Napier (TE12) on the Thomson-East Coast Line, about 5 minutes away.
Nearest MRT station to the Singapore Botanic Gardens
- Station: Botanic Gardens (DT9/CC19)
- Lines: Downtown Line, Circle Line
- Train times: see first and last trains by line
How to get to the Singapore Botanic Gardens from the airport, Orchard and the city
| Starting from | Route | Stops | Changes | Adult fare | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Changi Airport | Take the East West Line (Changi Airport branch) to Tanah Merah. Change at Tanah Merah to the East West Line (towards Tuas Link) to Bugis. Change at Bugis to the Downtown Line (towards Bukit Panjang) to Botanic Gardens. | 15 | 2 | S$2.38 | about 50 min |
| Orchard | Take the North South Line (towards Jurong East) to Newton. Change at Newton to the Downtown Line (towards Bukit Panjang) to Botanic Gardens. | 3 | 1 | S$1.49 | about 15 min |
| City Hall | Take the North South Line (towards Jurong East) to Newton. Change at Newton to the Downtown Line (towards Bukit Panjang) to Botanic Gardens. | 6 | 1 | S$1.75 | about 25 min |
| Jurong East | Take the East West Line (towards Pasir Ris) to Buona Vista. Change at Buona Vista to the Circle Line (towards Dhoby Ghaut) to Botanic Gardens. | 6 | 1 | S$1.90 | about 25 min |
| Woodlands | Take the Thomson East Coast Line (towards Bayshore) to Caldecott. Change at Caldecott to the Circle Line (towards Prince Edward Road) to Botanic Gardens. | 8 | 1 | S$2.20 | about 30 min |
Stops and changes come from the current network map. Fares are the adult card fare for the distance (50 cents less before 7.45am on weekdays). Times are estimates for the train ride only and do not include the walk at either end. Use the fare calculator for any other starting station.
From Botanic Gardens station to the Singapore Botanic Gardens
Botanic Gardens station comes up at the corner of Bukit Timah Road and Cluny Road, and the Bukit Timah Gate is directly across the road, with the Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden and the Eco-Lake a few minutes inside. From Napier station, walk along Holland Road to the Tanglin Gate, where the heritage museum, the bandstand and the path to the orchid garden begin. The gardens run about 2 kilometres end to end, so a good plan is to enter at one gate and leave at the other.
Tips for the trip
- Entry to the gardens is free and the gates are open from 5am to midnight; only the National Orchid Garden charges admission.
- Go before 9am or after 4pm for cooler air and better light; the middle of the day is hot with little breeze.
- Orchard Road is two stops from Napier on the Thomson-East Coast Line, so the gardens fit easily into a shopping day.
- Holland Village is two stops south of Botanic Gardens station on the Circle Line for lunch afterwards.
Other places near Botanic Gardens station
- Cluny Court (Shopping mall, about 3 min walk): Visit Cluny Court for a small cluster of shops, cafes and restaurants.
- Herbs and Spices (Attraction, about 4 min walk): Explore the Herbs and Spices garden section within the Botanic Gardens grounds.
- Jacob Ballas Children's Garden (Attraction, about 5 min walk): Bring children to Jacob Ballas Children's Garden for outdoor play and nature learning.
- Serene Centre (Shopping mall, about 5 min walk): Head to Serene Centre for everyday amenities, eateries and neighbourhood services.
- Priya Sen Skin & Laser Centre (Hospital, about 5 min walk): Visit Priya Sen Skin and Laser Centre for specialist dermatology and skin treatments.
- Adam Food Centre (Food centre, about 5 min walk): Go to Adam Food Centre for a range of local hawker food and drinks.
Frequently asked questions
Which MRT station is nearest to the Singapore Botanic Gardens?
Botanic Gardens (CC19/DT9) at the Bukit Timah Gate, and Napier (TE12) about 5 minutes from the Tanglin Gate. Orchard Boulevard (TE13) is about 15 minutes from the Tanglin Gate.
How do I get to the Botanic Gardens from Orchard?
Take the Thomson-East Coast Line from Orchard two stops to Napier and walk 5 minutes to the Tanglin Gate, about 15 minutes in all.
Which entrance is best for the National Orchid Garden?
The Tanglin Gate, served by Napier station. From Botanic Gardens station it is a 20-minute walk through the gardens to the orchid garden.
How long does it take from Changi Airport to the Botanic Gardens?
About 50 minutes with the changes shown in the route table above, and the adult fare is S$2.38.
Plan the rest of the trip with the interactive Singapore MRT map, the fare calculator and the guide to paying for the MRT.
More places to reach by MRT
Bukit Timah Nature Reserve | East Coast Park | Fort Canning Park | Gardens by the Bay and Marina Barrage | Jurong Lake Gardens and the Chinese Garden | MacRitchie Reservoir and the TreeTop Walk | Pulau Ubin and Changi Village | Punggol Waterway Park and Coney Island | Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve | the Southern Ridges, Henderson Waves and Mount Faber
See the full list: how to get anywhere in Singapore by MRT, or find your nearest MRT station.