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A Guide to the Tropical Montane Orchidetum in Singapore, a Forest in the Middle of the City
I named my daughter after Cattleya, a stunning orchid native to South America, inspired by my visit to the National Orchid Garden in Singapore Botanic Gardens.
A few years later, I returned to explore the Tropical Montane Orchidetum, one of the garden’s newest additions. This beautiful landscape showcases thousands of rare orchids thriving in their natural conditions and elevations.
I’m excited to take my daughter on trips here and can’t recommend it enough! Here’s a handy guide to the Orchidetum so you can explore and admire it fully.
Things to Know
Address: 1 Cluny Road, National Orchid Garden, Singapore Botanic Gardens
Contact Details: +65 6471 7138
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday, 8:30 am to 7:00 pm
Price:
- Adults: $15 (foreigners), $5 (locals)
- Children, seniors, and students: $3 (foreigners), $1 (locals)
How to Get to the Tropical Montane Orchidetum
By Train: Take the train along the Downtown Line or Circle Line and alight at Botanic Gardens MRT Station to enter the Bukit Timah Entrance of the Singapore Botanic Gardens. You can also alight at Napier and Orchard MRT Station to reach the Tanglin Entrance.
By Bus: Take Bus Nos. 7, 75, 77, 105, 106, 174, 174E to reach the Tanglin Entrance or Bus Nos. 48, 66, 67, 151, 153, 154, 156, 170 to reach the Bukit Timah Entrance of the Singapore Botanic Gardens
By Car: There are 8 parking lots inside the Singapore Botanic Gardens, namely Botany Centre, Gallop Extension, Raffles Building, Cluny Park Road Car Park, Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden, Centre for Ethnobotany, the Learning Forest, and Car Parks A to C.
What is the Tropical Montane Orchidetum?
Media from vernisse_official
Visiting the National Orchid Garden was already an amazing experience, but stepping into The Tropical Montane Orchidetum took it to a whole new level. It felt like embarking on a simulated adventure through a tropical montane forest.
As I wandered through the exhibit, I was surrounded by a fascinating array of plants—orchids, bromeliads, magnolias, gingers, and tropical rhododendrons—all thriving in their respective high-altitude and lowland montane environments.
It was like trekking through a forest inside a massive glasshouse! I explored the Sembcorp Cool House, the Tan Hoon Siang Mist House, and the Lowland Habitat Trail, each one providing a distinct and immersive experience.
Tips:
- You can get discounted rates for students, senior citizens, and persons with disabilities if you show proof of identity at the ticketing office of the National Orchid Garden. Note that this discount is only available to Singapore citizens and residents.
- As much as possible, don’t touch or hold the orchids inside the Orchidetum. You may risk contaminating them with bacteria and other infectious diseases. Always ask a staff member for assistance if you wish to take pictures next to orchids!
