It is located in Bukit Panjang rather than its namesake district and its altitude is 164 metres (538 feet) above sea level.

The highest point in Singapore, however, is the 284-metre (932 ft) Guoco Tower, one of scores of buildings taller than the hill.

The hill is now protected as part of the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, which has been classified as an ASEAN Heritage Park.

Bukit Timah Hill features a tropical rainforest climate (Köppen Af) and has a mix of both wet and dry seasons.

Due to its low to moderate elevation, the weather is slightly cooler than the rest of Singapore and strong winds sometimes occur at the peak.