Fort Canning Park guide
Fort Canning Park is one of the most iconic parks in Singapore. Despite it not being as big as Singapore Botanic Gardens or Macritchie Reservoir, its prime location in the city centre plus the ancient artefacts scattered around makes it a significant landmark.
With chill walking trails and historical sites that make for IG-worthy backdrops, here’s what you can do at Fort Canning Park for when you want to gai gai with your friends and family.
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IG-worthy spots in Fort Canning Park
A candi bentar split gate is a common sight in Bali, but there’s also one here.
Who needs to go to Bali when you can take similar pics for your Insta feed in Singapore? The Sang Nila Utama Garden at Fort Canning Park is named after the founding prince of Singapura, and was designed to replicate a 14th-century Javanese garden.
The red bricks and intricate volcanic rock murals really make it feel like we time-travelled back to royal times. From a replica of the Wringin Lawang split gate from the Majapahit Empire to a recreation of a Balinese freshwater bathing spring, there are plenty of picturesque backdrops to give your friends some wanderlusting envy.
One of the most popular photography spots in Fort Canning.
You can also head to the spiral staircase for a more dramatic OOTD. Shooting from a lower angle will make your photo look more interesting with the contrast between the tree line and the rock stairs. Just make sure to exercise caution when taking a photo!
Battlebox in Fort Canning
Image credit: Battlebox via Facebook
Your history teacher would have probably drilled into your memory the significance of Fort Canning Park in our colonial history: it was where Lieutenant-General Arthur Pervical surrendered to the Japanese forces on 15th February 1942.
The room where this piece of history occurred is the Battlebox. It underwent a revamp and re-opened in 2023, now with free entry for all guests. Interactive elements like the VR experiences and guided tours, however, will come at an additional cost.
The gothic gates.
Other still-standing historical sites that you can visit include the old gothic gates and nine-pound cannon that were supposed to defend Singapore’s shores.
Walking trails in Fort Canning Park
Before Sir Stamford Raffles arrived in Singapore and built his home on the hilltop of the park, it was the OG Sang Nila Utama who ruled from his grand palace here. Although his estate was abandoned centuries ago leaving only ruins, you can go on a leisurely stroll around to see the cool artefacts that were found in archaeological digs.
Image adapted from: NParks
From an old tomb that supposedly contains the remains of the last ruler of pre-colonial Singapore to gold ornaments that date back to the 14th century, this walking trail is a must-do for history buffs. Who knew that our little red dot had treasures buried in the grounds? But please do not go to Fort Canning Park with a shovel and a metal detector – not our dai ji if you kena caught.
How to get to Fort Canning Park
- By MRT: Take the Downtown Line to Fort Canning Station, come out through Exit B and turn left to Jubilee Park.
- By Bus: The two closest bus stops are Fort Canning Station Exit B and Old Hill Street Police Station. The former is served by buses 32, 54, 195; the latter by buses 124, 145, 147, 166, 174, 174e, 190, 851, and 851e.
- By Car: There are 3 open-air public car parks – labelled car parks A, B, and C – within Fort Canning Park. Rates are charged at $1.20 per half hour from 8am to 5:30pm on Mondays to Saturdays. Parking at night as well as on Sundays and public holidays is free.
Things to do at Fort Canning Park
The lush gardens at Fort Canning Park are a nice respite from the buzz of nearby Clarke Quay. But it’s not your typical garden with just trees everywhere and a beautiful pavilion. There are plenty of Instagrammable spots around for when you’re really feeling your OOTD, and all the historical landmarks and artefacts from yesteryear gives the park a lot of character.
Book a Fort Canning walking tour.
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Check out more parks in Singapore:
- Hidden gardens in the CBD
- Lakeside Garden
- Punggol Waterway Park
- Dairy Farm Nature Park
- Things to do in West Coast Park
Originally published on 25th February 2021. Last updated by Shannon Lee on 30th August 2024.
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