Gardens with a View: Top Rooftop Gardens in Singapore
Singapore has a small land area, so to make sure that there’s still greenery in urbanized areas, Singaporeans are building rooftop gardens.
While these rooftop gardens aren’t as wide and expansive as the Botanic Gardens and Gardens by the Bay, they’re still amazing in their own right. The sight of plants and flowers is refreshing, and you can also enjoy a beautiful view of the neighborhood.
We list some of the best rooftop gardens in Singapore, and—best of all—they’re free of charge (except for one)!
SkyGarden at CapitaSpring
Address: Level 51, 88 Market St, Singapore Open
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Friday—8:30 to 10:30 am, 2:30 to 6 pm
- Closed on Saturday and Sunday
Contact Number: +6567133948
If you work in the Downtown Core—or maybe you’ve visited it many times—you might be aware of CapitaSpring. It’s a corporate skyscraper with eye-catching architecture, but did you know it has a rooftop garden?
This rooftop garden, named Sky Garden, was built to inspire tenants, professionals, and casual visitors to take a break from work every now and then. And it truly is inviting: greenery is everywhere, and the landscaping is neat.
In addition to that, the view is absolutely gorgeous! The skyscraper stands 280 meters tall, so you’ll feel like you’re on top of the world here.
Pro Tip: Since you’re already in CapitaSpring, you might as well drop by the Green Oasis. It’s another garden inside the building, located from Level 17 to 20.
You’ll get a stunning view of the skyscrapers nearby, and with so many stairs, you can sneak in a bit of exercise as well!
Ng Teng Fong Roof Garden
Address: 1 St Andrew’s Rd, #05-01, Singapore 178957
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Thursday—10 am to 7 pm
- Friday to Sunday—10 am to 10 pm
The Ng Teng Fong Roof Garden is located on the top floor of the National Gallery Singapore. That should already tell you that this rooftop garden is a unique one.
What makes this rooftop garden stand out is the fact it also serves as an exhibition space. Aside from tranquility, you can find several art installations from renowned artists here, and you’ll be tempted to examine them all.
One exhibition I like is an installation by Cao Fei, a contemporary artist from China. This installation is a kinetic artwork in the shape of a raft that moves every 15 minutes; it alludes to Singapore’s history as a port city.
Pro Tip: Exhibitions change every now and then, so I recommend visiting this rooftop garden frequently. You never know what art installation you’re going to see next.
Design Orchard Rooftop Garden
— From: @phoebebiting
Address: 250 Orchard Rd, Singapore 238905
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday—10:30 am to 9:30 pm
Contact Number: +6565131743
Design Orchard may not be a skyscraper like the CapitaSpring, but that’s not to say that the rooftop garden here is boring. In fact, it’s pretty fascinating because it’s actually set up like an amphitheater.
In other words, the seats are arranged in inclined planes. So, if there’s a live performance—which is usually held in the evenings—you can enjoy watching it from any seat.
The rooftop garden is also terraced, so you can watch the activity below without any problems.
Pro Tip: This rooftop garden is also a perfect spot for drinking your coffee or tea. There’s a cafe nearby called Alchemist, so you can get your drink there.
Orchard Central Rooftop Garden
Address: 181 Orchard Rd, Singapore 238896
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday—11 am to 10 pm
The rooftop garden on Orchard Central is the shopping mall’s biggest open secret. It’s pretty underrated, but that’s actually its strength because you can relax here without a huge crowd.
You’ll be able to watch all the bustling activity on Orchard Road, and with the soothing sound of waterfalls playing in the background, you’ll feel at ease.
There are also adorable Yayoi Kusama sculptures that add so much color and whimsy to the garden. If you’re bringing your little one, they’ll love to play with the sculptures.
Pro Tip: This rooftop garden has no shade, so you might want to bring an umbrella or a cap to protect yourself from the heat. There are also no seats, so wear comfortable footwear since you’ll be walking around.
Singapore Chinese Cultural Center Roof Garden
Address: 1 Straits Blvd, Singapore 018906
Operating Hours:
- Monday—2 to 8 pm
- Tuesday to Sunday—10 am to 8 pm
Contact Number: +6568127222
The Singapore Chinese Cultural Center is always bustling with activity, with all the exhibitions, fairs, seminars, workshops, and live performances often held here.
If you ever feel overwhelmed with all the activity, feel free to head to the roof garden for some peace and quiet. This garden is pretty spacious—it’s said to accommodate up to 480 people—and it’s neatly landscaped.
The garden also faces the ocean and the city, so you have a beautiful view to look at while relaxing. Sometimes, there are even art installations by local artists, which are always fascinating to examine.
Pro Tip: It’s possible to rent the roof garden for your own event. If this sounds interesting to you, check out this page for more details, such as the venue’s capacity and package rates.
VivoCity Outdoor Rooftop
Address: 1 HarbourFront Walk, Singapore 098585
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday—10 am to 10 pm
Contact Number: +6563776870
For families with little children, the VivoCity Outdoor Rooftop might seem like heaven. It actually has a dedicated playground; they can crawl under tunnels, whizz down slides, and jump on trampolines!
There’s even an interactive water play area here! This is the perfect place for your children to cool down during hot days, and if you want, you’re free to join in the fun as well.
Aside from the playground area, there’s a spacious deck where you can lay down a blanket and have a picnic with your loved ones. You can also enjoy a gorgeous view of the harbor and Sentosa, which is a welcome bonus.
Pro Tip: Bring a change of clothes for your child (and yourself, just in case) because they’ll definitely want to splash around in the water playground.
313@Somerset Sky Terrace
Address: 313 Orchard Rd, Singapore 238895
Operating Hours:
- Sunday to Thursday—10 am to 10 pm
- Friday and Saturday—10 am to 11 pm
Contact Number: +6564969313
Speaking of shopping malls with a rooftop garden that also acts as a playground for children, 313@Somerset is worth checking out.
The rooftop garden here, called the Sky Terrace, features a colorful and whimsical play area with a slide, an adorable bridge, and little cars children can ride on. There are also seats if they ever get tired and want to rest for a bit.
As for the adults, feel free to take a leisurely stroll around the garden. You’ll find multiple pillars with green foliage, making you feel like you’re in a green oasis; you can also look down and enjoy the sight of people walking on Orchard Road.
Pro Tip: This playground is right next to Food Republic and Toast Box, so while your children are playing, you can treat yourself to a cup of coffee and snacks.
Urban Farm @Funan
Address: 107 North Bridge Rd, Singapore
Technically, this one is an urban farm, but I’ll still count it as a rooftop garden (after all, gardens and farms have a lot in common).
The Urban Farm at Funan Mall was created by Edible Garden City to inspire people to practice sustainability. This place has an area of 5,000 square feet, and it’s filled with a wide range of plants.
Mostly, you can find edible crops, such as herbs and fruits, but there are also flowers and decorative plants. Aside from these crops, you can learn more about different farming techniques if you’re interested.
The view from this garden is stunning as well. In particular, the Singapore River and the Parliament House are very much prominent in the scenery.
Pro Tip: Don’t miss out on the F&B establishment in this rooftop garden: a Japanese restaurant called Noka. This restaurant actually uses produce from the farm, so you’ll be able to see how fresh the farm’s crops are.
SkyVille @Dawson Rooftop Garden
Address: 86 Dawson Rd, Singapore 141086
Aside from corporate buildings and shopping malls, rooftop gardens can also be found in HDB buildings, and SkyVille @Dawson is one perfect example.
This majestic building was designed by the renowned architectural firm WOHA, and hidden all the way up on the 47th floor is this gorgeous rooftop garden. The garden has a modern feel to it, with towering pillars and paved walkways.
Because of its location, you can enjoy a panoramic view of the Singapore skyline. In particular, you can take advantage of this spot during sunrise or sunset because the scenery is absolutely breathtaking.
Pro Tip: There are seats available, so feel free to sit down and get lost in a book. You can also bring your own coffee or tea for an even more relaxing time.
The Pinnacle @Duxton Garden
— From: projectpinnaclee
Address: Cantonment Rd, #1G, Singapore 085301
Contact Number: +6518002255432
Admission Fee: S$6
The Pinnacle @Duxton is another marvelous residential building with a state-of-the-art rooftop garden. In fact, there are two rooftop gardens here—one on the 26th floor and another on the 50th.
The garden on the 26th floor is only accessible to residents, but don’t worry because the one on the 50th floor is open to everyone. And wow, is it so breathtaking; the view makes you feel like a giant, and the breeze is refreshing!
Many people come here to do their fitness workout, but personally, I love sitting down here and maybe listening to music or burying my nose in a good book.
Pro Tip: Only 150 people are allowed to visit the garden on the 50th floor every day. So, I recommend coming here as early as possible to secure your spot.
Marina Barrage Green Roof
Address: 8 Marina Gardens Dr, Singapore 018951
Operating Hours: Open 24 hours
Contact Number: +6565145959
Marina Barrage has this huge rooftop field that many people, especially families and couples, will love. It’s big enough that you can do all sorts of activities; your children can run around while you jog or do some yoga.
I would also recommend bringing your own kite here or buying one from the kite shop on the grounds. Sometimes, the winds are strong enough that your little kite can fly high in the sky.
For a more relaxing time, you can have a picnic and enjoy the view and the breeze.
Pro Tip: There’s little to no shade area here, so be sure to bring an umbrella or a cap. I also recommend putting on sunscreen, especially if you’re planning to stay here for a long time.
Kallang Trivista Sky Garden
Address: 8 Upper Boon Keng Rd, Singapore 382008
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday—6:30 am to 11 pm
The Sky Garden at Kallang Trivista is actually a community initiative. The residents in this HDB estate have volunteered to create and maintain this urban farm, which is teeming with fruits, vegetables, and edible flowers.
Of course, this is also a garden space where you can relax when you’re feeling stressed. The lush greenery is calming, and the view is lovely; you can clearly see the Kallang River and the National Stadium from here!
Pro Tip: Since this garden is facing the river, be sure to look out for otters! Sometimes, they make an appearance, and they’re so adorable to look at.
Marina South Pier Rooftop Deck
— From: @millmillways4
Address: 31 Marina Coastal Dr, Singapore 018988
Contact Number: +6563751600
Marina South Pier is where you go if you want to ride a ferry going to any of the Southern Islands. But it’s also a great place to chill and relax.
This rooftop deck has benches scattered around, so feel free to sit down and enjoy the cool air. You can also cherish the view in front of you; if you have perfect vision, you can even see the faraway islands on the Singapore Strait!
Pro Tip: This rooftop garden also has a playground with a mini-ship slide, so you can let your little ones run around and play games with each other.