I’ve written about the Singapore Botanic Gardens in previous posts, but I always find myself returning. Even if you’ve been many times before, you’ll always find something new. The Gallop Extension offers gallery space, walking trails, and wide-open areas for picnics and play. But the can’t-miss features are the Singapore Botanic Gardens Cool House and Mist House inside the National Orchid Garden, home to some of the Botanic Gardens’ most dramatic orchid displays.

I can’t get enough of the National Orchid Garden — it has to be one of my favorite places in all of Singapore. Within that space, one of the highlights is the Tropical Montane Orchidetum, a trio of zones designed to walk you through orchids as if you were ascending a tropical mountain. The unrivaled star of the show is the Sembcorp Cool House.

Inside the Singapore Botanic Gardens Cool House

The Cool House is designed to mimic a high-elevation mountain forest, and the lower temperatures inside allow it to showcase flowers such as Phragmipediums (slipper orchids) …

… Miltonias (pansy orchids) …

… Masdevallias (kite orchid) …

… Cymbidiums (boat orchids) …

… Phalaenopsis (moth orchids) …

… Sobralias …

… and Rhynchostylis (foxtail orchids):

But I’ll admit that I’m rarely paying attention to the orchids’ scientific classifications — I’m just there to admire the pretty flowers.

Some of the displays here are really dramatic.

What I love about the Cool House is that it transports you to an entirely new environment — you’re there in the mountains and far, far away from Singapore.

The other reason that you should head straight for the Cool House is that it’s air conditioned! On a hot day (and let’s face it, all days are hot in Singapore), you’ll breathe a sign of relief and delight the minute you walk through the doors.

Visiting the Singapore Botanic Gardens Mist House

The second feature in the Tropical Montane Orchidetum is the Tan Soon Siang Mist House.

While the Cool House is downright chilly, the Mist House — a “paleotropical” garden — is warm and humid. The orchids here grow at slightly lower altitudes, so they need more heat to thrive.

Bromeliads Galore

The Yuen Peng McNeice Bromeliad Collection rounds out the trio of spaces in this section of the garden. You’ll definitely want to look out for the many tiny pineapples.

Walkways among these different areas allow the Botanic Garden to showcase other kinds of plants, some of which are truly remarkable.

The Gallop Extension

For an entirely different kind of garden experience, fifteen minutes away on foot from the National Orchid Garden lies a 20-acre expanse called the Gallop Extension.

Added to the Botanic Gardens in 2021, the space still feels a bit bare — I’m not sure I’d run out of my way to see it — but the Gallop Extension does play host to the Botanical Art Gallery …

… the Adventure Grove (featuring a giant cemepdak for kids’ climbing) …

… and Atbara, Singapore’s oldest black-and-white house. Over 125 years old, Atbara houses the Forest Discovery Centre, which teaches visitors about Singapore’s forest ecosystems.

The Gallop Extension is also home to both a small dipterocarp arboretum and Rambler’s Ridge, the highest point in the Botanic Gardens. You can’t see much of anything from the top, but it’s a nice walk.

From the Orchid Garden to the Gallop Extension

If you visit the Gallop Extension, try to get there from the HPL Canopy Link (it comes out of the Learning Forest). We took an approach through a parking lot, which was not particularly appealing.

I’m not sure I’d visit both the Gallop Extension and the National Orchid Garden in one day — that would be a lot. But if you do, you’ll see all sorts of amazing flowers and plants along the way!

Tips for Visiting the Singapore Botanic Gardens Cool House and Mist House

• Entry Fee: The Singapore Botanic Gardens are free, but you need a separate ticket to enter the National Orchid Garden.
• Opening Hours: The Cool House and Mist House follow the same hours as the Orchid Garden.
• Location: You’ll find the Orchid Garden near the Ginger Garden, not far from the Tyersall Gate (here’s a handy map to help you with orientation).

If you want to read more about the Singapore Botanic Gardens — along with other Singapore parks that are easy to reach by MRT — take a look at this post.