You may not know Gardens by the Bay by name, but you’ve definitely seen photos and videos of it. It might even be the reason Singapore made its way onto your bucket list.
People travel thousands of miles to Singapore to see one thing: the Supertrees. These world-renowned Supertrees are vertical gardens in the sky that look like trees of the future. Supertree Grove is the main attraction at Gardens by the Bay, making it one of the most popular tourist spots in Singapore.
This guide tells you everything you need to know before planning your visit to Gardens by the Bay in Singapore.
The Basics
Gardens by the Bay is a public park that functions more like a botanical garden. The park is free to enter and explore but you need a ticket to visit the bio-domes and other attractions. Gardens by the Bay is located behind the Marina Bay Sands hotel and is open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. (21:00).
The Ticketed Attractions
There are five main ticketed attractions at Gardens by the Bay: Supertree Observatory, OCBC Skyway, Cloud Forest, Flower Dome, and Floral Fantasy. The must-see are the Cloud Forest and the OCBC Skyway in Supertree Grove, if you’re short on time (or just want to save money) you can skip the rest.
You can buy your tickets online, but they’re easy to get in person. Buy your tickets when you arrive at the Floral Fantasy ticketing counter (right by the Bayfront MRT station) or at The Canopy ticketing counter (right next to the Flower Dome and Cloud Forest).
Supertree Grove: Supertree Observatory and OCBC Skyway
Supertree Grove is the main attraction at Gardens by the Bay. It’s free to enter to see the futuristic trees from below. But, you need to buy a ticket to go up into the treetops.
In Supertree Grove there are two ticketed attractions: the Supertree Observatory and the OCBC Skywalk. The Supertree Observatory takes you to the top of the tallest Supertree in the grove while the OCBC skywalk allows you to walk from Supertree to Supertree on a network of suspended bridges. Both attractions cost 14 SGD each. I recommend the Skywalk because you’re still high in the sky but get to walk around and see more.
Be mindful that both attractions will be closed if there’s inclement weather or if it’s too windy out. That’s why it’s best to buy your tickets on the day of so you can get a better idea of what the weather will be like.
Cloud Forest
The Cloud Forest is a top attraction in Singapore because it’s home to one of the largest indoor waterfalls in the world. The tropical greenhouse is truly something to marvel at. It can get crowded with lines within the Cloud Forest itself but it’s well worth the wait. For example, you’ll need to wait in line to go to the top of the bio-dome in an elevator and then make your way down the sloped ramp.
Because Gardens by the Bay knows how popular the Cloud Forest is, you can’t buy a single ticket to the Cloud Forest. It needs to be bundled with a ticket to less popular attractions like the Flower Dome or Supertree Observatory. Combo tickets for the Cloud Forest start at 34 SGD and fluctuate based on exhibitions in the Flower Dome.
Flower Dome
The Flower Dome is another indoor greenhouse focused on flowers from across the world. It typically features a rotating exhibition of flowers in the middle of the dome. When I visited, there was a Dutch tulip exhibition, but through my research, I’ve found exhibitions with art like Monet. Flower Dome tickets are bundled with Cloud Forest tickets starting at 34 SGD.
Floral Fantasy
Floral Fantasy is a greenhouse with intricate hanging floral displays and designs. It’s more of a flower showcase than a true natural greenhouse garden. You can also see a collection of poisonous dart frogs here. Entrance to Floral Fantasy is 20 SGD. I didn’t visit Floral Fantasy because it looks like it’s more for Instagram than anything else.
Free Points of Interest
Dragonfly Lake + Bridge
When you arrive at Gardens by the Bay from the Marina Bay Sands side by the Bayfront MRT station, you’ll be greeted by Dragonfly Lake. To reach the gardens, you’ll cross the Dragonfly Bridge.
Supertree Grove
As aforementioned, Supertree Grove is free to visit during opening hours and is a must-see on your trip to Singapore.
At night, Supertree Grove comes alive with lights for two showings of Garden Rhapsody, a music and light show. The show is free and runs at 7:45 and 8:45 p.m. every night for 30 minutes.
Gardens
Throughout the park, there are multiple gardens with plants from various regions like the Indian Garden and the Malay Garden. Here is a map with all the points of interest.
Where to eat
There are plenty of food options to choose from if you get hungry during your visit to Gardens by the Bay. There are chain restaurants like McDonald’s and Shake Shack but you’re better off visiting Satay by the Bay, a hawker centre within the gardens with local food.
When to go
Singapore has a hot and humid tropical climate. To avoid the heat, the best times to visit Gardens by the Bay are in the morning when it opens or in the late afternoon when the sun isn’t as strong.
I recommend going in the late afternoon so you can visit the outdoor attractions during the day like the OCBC Skywalk and then see the Supertrees come to life at night with lights.
You should allocate about four hours for your visit. Because of the rain, I had to divide my visit into two days to go up the OCBC Skywalk. I walked through the gardens multiple times during my multi-day trip to Singapore because I enjoy being in nature.
Getting there
You can reach Gardens by the Bay by taking the subway to the Bayfront station on the west side or the Gardens by the Bay station on the southeast side. There are entrances to the park on both sides.
You can also walk from any point in the Marina Bay area with plenty of sights to see along the way.
If you want to catch a Grab or taxi after your visit, walk to the pickup/drop off zone by the Gardens by the Bay station on the southeast entrance of the park. A Grab ride share will always be cheaper than a taxi.
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