By The Diary desk · Last verified 11 October 2026
Jurong Lake Gardens is Singapore’s “national gardens in the heartlands”: 90 hectares in three parts, Lakeside Garden and the Chinese and Japanese Gardens, which reopened on 8 September 2024 after rejuvenation. Entry is free. For children, the big draw is the Forest Ramble playground in Lakeside Garden, open 8am to 10pm and closed on Mondays for maintenance. The Clusia Cove water play area is closed for maintenance until further notice as of October 2026, so check NParks before promising a splash. Walkers can follow the red Rasau Walk boardwalk along the water. Take the East West Line to Lakeside for Lakeside Garden or Chinese Garden for the pagodas.
It is a garden built for families, with wide lawns, shaded paths and plenty of places to stop for a drink. Plan for a morning and you will want to stay into the afternoon.
Quick facts
- Size: 90 hectares across Lakeside Garden and the Chinese and Japanese Gardens.
- Cost: free entry.
- Forest Ramble playground: 8am–10pm; closed Mondays, and Tuesdays after a public-holiday Monday.
- Clusia Cove water play: closed for maintenance until further notice (October 2026).
- Chinese and Japanese Gardens: reopened 8 September 2024.
- MRT: Lakeside (about 10 minutes’ walk to Lakeside Garden) or Chinese Garden, both on the East West Line.
The playgrounds
| Play area | Where | Hours and status | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forest Ramble | Lakeside Garden, near the North Carpark | 8am–10pm; closed Mondays | Climbing, slides and nature-themed play |
| Clusia Cove | Lakeside Garden, 104 Yuan Ching Road | Closed for maintenance until further notice | Free water play with sand underfoot, when open |
Both play areas share the same weekly maintenance day: Monday, moving to Tuesday when Monday is a public holiday. Bring hats and water, as parts of the play areas are exposed to the sun.
The trails and gardens
| Spot | Garden | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Rasau Walk | Lakeside | A red boardwalk along the water’s edge; the north and south access points are the most pram-friendly |
| Grasslands | Lakeside | Open meadow with the Lone Tree sculpture made from recycled iron bars |
| Twin Pagoda | Chinese Garden | One of the three themed gardens, with pagodas you can climb for views |
| Sunken Garden | Japanese Garden | A themed garden, with a water lily garden nearby |
As of October 2026, NParks also lists the Waterwall Court in the Chinese Garden and the Sunken Garden toilet as closed for maintenance, and the Lakeside dog run closed for routine maintenance on Wednesday 14 October.
Getting there
- For Lakeside Garden and the playgrounds: take the East West Line to Lakeside MRT and walk about 10 minutes.
- For the Chinese and Japanese Gardens: alight at Chinese Garden MRT, one stop east.
- By car: use the North or South carparks off Yuan Ching Road; the North Carpark is closest to Forest Ramble.
- A full loop: start at Lakeside, walk Rasau Walk, cross to the Chinese and Japanese Gardens and leave from Chinese Garden MRT.
Where to eat
Inside Lakeside Garden there are cafes on Yuan Ching Road, including Canopy and the halal-certified Eden Cafe, and a Starbucks and an ice-cream stall near the Sunken Garden area. Names are given factually, not as endorsements. For cheaper meals, Jurong’s hawker centres and malls are a short bus or MRT ride away.
The WahLiao Verdict
Go on a Tuesday to Sunday morning, start at Lakeside MRT and let the children tire themselves out at Forest Ramble before it gets hot. Then walk Rasau Walk and finish among the pagodas of the Chinese Garden. Do not plan the day around Clusia Cove until NParks says it has reopened. Everything here is free, so your only bill is lunch.
Questions people ask
Is Jurong Lake Gardens free?
Yes. Entry to the gardens and the playgrounds is free.
Is Clusia Cove open?
Not as of October 2026. NParks lists it as closed for maintenance until further notice.
Which MRT is nearest to Jurong Lake Gardens?
Lakeside MRT for Lakeside Garden and Chinese Garden MRT for the Chinese and Japanese Gardens.
When is Forest Ramble closed?
Every Monday for maintenance, or the Tuesday after a public-holiday Monday.
Sources: National Parks Board, Jurong Lake Gardens notices and gardens; Jurong Lake District, opening of the Chinese and Japanese Gardens; HoneyKids Asia, playground hours and facilities. The Diary explains; it does not advise.
Read next: Free Water Playgrounds in Singapore: Where They Are and When They Open · Science Centre Singapore: Prices, the Omni-Theatre and the Planned Move · Back to The Diary
For what’s worth it this week, with the bill shown, read The WahLiao Week.
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