About Gardens by the Bay
Gardens by the Bay is a horticultural masterpiece spanning over 250 acres, featuring stunning gardens, art installations, and innovative sustainable elements, making it a must-see attraction in Singapore.
The Gardens by the Bay are unique for their futuristic and innovative designs, seamlessly blending nature and technology. The garden’s main highlights are giant Supertrees that capture solar energy and provide shade during the day while lighting up in a dazzling display of colors at night.
The Flower Dome and Cloud Forest in Gardens by the Bay are two of the most impressive attractions, showcasing various flora and fauna from different world regions. The gardens also have a sustainable focus, with initiatives like rainwater harvesting and a biomass boiler system to power the conservatories.
This vast nature park has three big waterfront gardens: Bay South Garden, Bay East Garden, and Bay Central Garden. Bay South Garden is where all the main attractions are.
Gardens by the Bay consists of many different attractions, some of which are free of charge, and some are paid.
The best attractions of Gardens by the Bay are the Cloud Forest, the Flower Dome, the Flower Fantasy, Supertree Grove, the Garden Rhapsody Show, OCBC Skyway, and Supertree Observatory.
Are Gardens by the Bay worth visiting?
Singapore’s Gardens by the Bay are one of the most unique tourist attractions in the world, making them absolutely worth visiting. The gardens are also the top thing to see in Singapore.
Whether you only stick to free attractions in the Gardens or visit the paid conservatories such as Cloud Forest and Flower Dome (highly recommended!), you’ll enjoy it.
Singapore Travel Tips
Stay connected with an eSIM
Instantly connect to the internet on your arrival in Singapore by buying an eSIM package in advance.
- eSIM packages on Airalo (get $3 off the first purchase with code MATEJ1033)
- eSIM packages on Holafly (get 5% off your purchases with code SHIPPEDAWAY)
Book trusted tours
Singapore is easy to explore on your own, but for some guided experiences, we recommend booking the top-rated ones on Viator or GetYourGuide.
A convenient way to explore Singapore while also saving money on attractions and tours is with the Singapore Go City Pass or Klook Pass Singapore!
Get travel insurance
While Singapore is a safe destination, we recommend getting travel insurance for any trip outside your country. We highly recommend an insurance package from Heymondo. And as our reader, you get 5% off the price.
Gardens by the Bay Travel Tips
Before we dive into the details about visiting Gardens by the Bay in Singapore, we’d like to share some essential travel tips so you can be best prepareesimd for your visit.
Book your skip-the-line tickets for Gardens by the Bay paid attractions online, as it’s cheaper (and faster) than buying on the spot.
Take a light jacket if you plan to go inside the Cloud Forest, as the temperature ranges between 23 and 25 °C.
There are electronic lockers across a few spots in Gardens by the Bay area where you can store your luggage. The lockers have various sizes and operate from 5 am until 2 am. The prices are from $3 to $6, and they only accept cash.
Save money on conversion fees and ATM transactions. Get a Wise card!
For the best aerial view of Gardens by the Bay, head to Marina Bay Observatory. This is where you see how huge the gardens are.
How to get to Gardens by the Bay
Getting to Gardens by the Bay is easy, as it is located in the heart of Singapore. You can get there by MRT, bus, taxi/Grab, or on foot.
You can also join the Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing tour and visit Gardens by the Bay that way.
If you’re coming to Gardens by The Bay on foot from the Merlion Park area, you can pass through the Marina Bay Sands Hotel building and then cross into the gardens area, where you get a nice view right at the entrance.
When using Grab to get to Gardens by the Bay, there will be a few different drop-off points, like the entrance near Golden Garden, Bayfront Plaza, and The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands.
For travelers by car, there are many paid parking spaces around.
Opening times of Gardens by the Bay
Cloud Forest, Flower Dome, OCBC Skyway, and Supertree Observatory in Gardens by the Bay are open daily from 9 am until 9 pm. The last admission for all is at 8:30 pm, except the Cloud Forest, where the last admission is at 8 pm.
Flower Fantasy in Gardens by the Bay is open from 10 am to 7 pm Monday to Friday and 10 am to 8 pm on Saturday, Sunday, and public holidays. The last admission is 30 minutes before closing.
Supertree Grove, other outdoor gardens, and Active Garden are open daily from 5 am until 2 am.
The Garden Rhapsody Show happens every evening at 7:45 pm and 8:45 pm.
Entrance tickets for Gardens by the Bay
Entrance to the Gardens by the Bay complex is free, but there is an admission fee for the bigger attractions.
The prices for entrance tickets range from $8 to $45, depending on how many attractions you want to visit.
Buy the skip-the-line tickets to avoid big lines at ticket counters, especially during peak times. Also, check the combination tickets for the best value.
It’s also often cheaper to buy the tickets online than on the spot.
You can also buy combined tickets for Gardens by the Bay with some other attractions in Singapore, such as:
If you plan to visit many tourist attractions in Singapore, it’s also worth checking the Singapore Go City Pass, which covers more than 50 top attractions in Singapore. We used Go City Pass during our trip to London and loved the simplicity of using it.
Best things to see at Gardens by the Bay
Gardens by the Bay in Singapore offer many things to see and do, and you can easily spend a whole day walking around and visiting all the conservatories and gardens here.
While you can see a lot just by walking around all the free areas of the Gardens, we highly recommend checking out some paid areas like the Cloud Forest and Flower Dome, as they’re simply amazing! They are our favorite part of the Gardens and Singapore!
Now, let’s dive into all the best things to see in Gardens by the Bay in Singapore and all the information you need to visit.
1. The Cloud Forest
The Cloud Forest, an incredible conservatory inside a large dome, is one of the best places to visit in Gardens by the Bay. It features a mesmerizing indoor waterfall and lush tropical gardens. You can walk along a multiple-level aerial walkway that provides breathtaking views of the levels below and their surroundings.
Fun fact: The indoor waterfall at Cloud Forest is 35 meters tall and is one of the world’s highest indoor waterfalls!
The Cloud Forest is home to a diverse range of plant species, including high-altitude plants. We especially enjoyed observing carnivorous plants.
Many of the plants displayed are also endangered, making Cloud Forest an important conservation site.
Plan to spend about 1,5 hours exploring the Cloud Forest as there is a lot to see there. Personally, this was one of our favorite spots in Singapore.
Get an e-SIM to stay connected! ($3 off first purchase with code MATEJ1033)
The best time to visit Cloud Forest at Gardens by the Bay is during the misting hours when the whole dome fills with mist and makes you feel like you’re in an actual rainforest. Misting hours happen daily, every 2 hours, starting from 10.00 am.
The Cloud Forest in Gardens by the Bay is open daily from 9 am until 9 pm, with the last admission at 8 pm.
Cloud Forest tickets are sold in combination with the Flower Dome and cost about $24.
Travel tip: The Cloud Forest is one of the most popular spots in Singapore, so we suggest going there at the opening time with skip-the-line tickets as we did for the best experience! Book your skip-the-line tickets in advance!
Photography tip: The waterfall at Cloud Forest is one of the most photogenic spots there, so it’s worth noting that it’s the first thing you see when you enter. Coming straight at the opening, you’ll have it for yourself for some time.
2. The Flower Dome
The Flower Dome is a massive glass conservatory housing an impressive collection of exotic plants and flowers worldwide, including the Mediterranean and dry regions such as Australia and South Africa.
It is a must-visit attraction at Gardens by the Bay and Singapore. It’s like the whole world is in one building. And we especially loved seeing the Baobabs.
Fun fact: The Flower Dome holds the Guinness World Record as the largest glass greenhouse.
Plan to spend about 1 hour at the Flower Dome as there are many different gardens to see. There’s even a restaurant/cafe inside.
The Flower Dome in Gardens by the Bay is open daily from 9 am until 9 pm, with the last admission at 8:30 pm.
Flower Dome tickets are sold with other attractions in Gardens by the Bay, and the cost varies depending on the combination you choose. Book your skip-the-line tickets online in advance!
3. The Floral Fantasy
Floral Fantasy in Gardens by the Bay is a stunning display of floral artistry that features a variety of flowers arranged in colorful and intricate designs, including a towering floral castle and a playful garden of giant mushrooms.
The Floral Fantasy also features a poisonous dart frog vivarium, our favorite part. The frogs are tiny but beautiful with their vivid colors. But please, don’t disturb them by hitting the glass wall and yelling around.
Plan to spend about 30 minutes exploring the Floral Fantasy.
The Floral Fantasy in Gardens by the Bay is open from 10 am until 7 pm from Monday to Friday and from 10 am until 8 pm on Saturday, Sunday and public holidays. The last admission is 30 minutes before the closing time.
The Floral Fantasy tickets are often sold in combination with other attractions in Gardens by the Bay, and the cost varies depending on the combination you choose.
You can also visit only The Floral Fantasy for about $8 when you book it separately here.
IMPORTANT
Please do not touch the flowers or any exhibits in the conservatories! There are many warnings throughout the complex, but many people ignore them. Please don’t be that person. 🙂
4. Supertree Grove
The Supertree Grove, an “Instagram-worthy” spot that offers a unique glimpse into Singapore’s innovation in sustainable urban design, is one of the most unique things to see in Gardens by the Bay and Singapore.
Supertrees at Gardens by the Bay are big tree-like towering structures covered in vertical gardens with over 200 species of plants on the trees. The tallest Supertree is reaching up to 16 stories high.
Fun fact: Seven supertrees are designed to harvest solar energy.
The Supertree Grove area in Gardens by the Bay is open daily from 5 am to 2 am and is free to enter.
We suggest visiting this area both day and night to experience it fully.
5. Garden Rhapsody – Gardens by the Bay Light Show
The Garden Rhapsody, a mesmerizing light and sound show, is the best free thing to do in Gardens by the Bay and Singapore. It takes place every evening at 7:45 pm and 8:45 pm.
The show features over 1,000 trees and plants illuminated with colorful lights, synchronized with music.
You can join the Bus Night Tour with a live guide to the Garden Rhapsody Show, visiting a few other spots, including sampling local food.
The duration of the Garden Rhapsody Show is 15 minutes.
Arrive at least 15 minutes before the show to find your spot. You can be directly under the supertrees or go to one of the elevated side areas as we did.
Visiting Thailand next? Read our Thailand Travel Guides
Like the Gardens by the Bay complex, the Light Show also holds seasonally themed versions. One of these is the National Day edition, which is performed annually around the 9th of August. Additionally, there is a special Christmas theme as well.
6. OCBC Skyway
OCBC Skyway is a 128-metre-long aerial walkway between the Supertrees, 22 meters above the ground. It offers stunning views of the Supertree Grove, surrounding gardens, and Marina Bay skyline.
Plan to spend around 10-15 minutes on the Skyway as there’s not much to do except take photos of the view. Note that your visit might be limited to 15 minutes max if there are lots of people waiting to go up.
OCBC Skyway in Gardens by the Bay is open daily from 9 am until 9 pm, with the latest admission at 8:30 pm. However, depending on the weather, the Skyway can close unexpectedly.
OCBC Skyway tickets are sold on the spot and cost about $10. However, we recommend first seeing the weather and if it’s too busy and then deciding if you want to go.
Save money on conversion fees and ATM transactions. Get a Wise card!
Also read: Things to do in Melaka
7. Supertree Observatory
Supertree Observatory in Gardens by the Bay offers panoramic 360-degree views of the city and the gardens, located on the tallest supertree at 50 meters high.
Marina Bay Observatory and Supertree Observatory at Gardens by the Bay offer the best views of Singapore.
Plan to spend about 30-45 minutes at Supertree Observatory. There are two different vantage points: the top Open-air Rooftop Deck and the Observatory Deck one level below.
Supertree Observatory in Gardens by the Bay is open daily from 9 am until 9 pm, with the last admission at 8:30 pm.
Supertree Observatory tickets are sold on the spot and cost about $10, but you can also buy a combination ticket with some other attractions online for the best deal.
8. Dragonfly and Kingfisher Lakes
Dragonfly Lake has a 440-meter-long boardwalk around the lake and offers beautiful views of Supertrees, Singapore Flyer, and Marina Bay Sands.
There is a similar lake on the other side called Kingfisher Lake, but unfortunately, it is without the boardwalk.
Dragonfly and Kingfisher Lakes are open daily from 5 am until 2 am and are free to visit.
9. Active Garden
Active Garden is another excellent area in Gardens by the Bay featuring a free gym and musical playground. The Active Garden at Gardens by the Bay is open from 5 am until 2 am and is free to visit.
Traveling soon? Get insured!
With 24/7 worldwide assistance, Heymondo includes comprehensive coverage for medical expenses, trip cancellations, and baggage loss or delay. Click here for details.
We accidentally passed by here and loved playing the instruments at the musical playground. 😀
How long should you spend at Gardens by the Bay?
Depending on what you plan to see in Gardens by the Bay, you should count from at least one hour up to five hours and more if you plan to visit everything there is.
Visiting Vietnam next? Read our Vietnam Travel Guides!
Where to stay in Singapore?
Budget
Galaxy Pods Capsule Hotel Boat Quay – offers double and single capsules
Mid Range
The Pod at Beach Road Boutique Capsule – offers beds in dormitories and private beds
Holiday Inn Express Clarke Quay
Luxury
Where to eat at Gardens by the Bay?
There are many different food options at Gardens by the Bay area, including fast food like McDonald’s and Shake Shack, a food court like Satay, a restaurant inside the Flower Dome with a Michelin Star chef, and a few cafes.
Best time to visit Gardens by the Bay
The best time to visit Gardens by the Bay depends on what you want to experience and which attractions you want to see. Gardens by the Bay are beautiful during both day and night.
We recommend arriving early at the Cloud Forest and Flower Dome to avoid the crowds. Also, weekdays are less busy than weekends.
Otherwise, Singapore is a year-round destination due to its tropical/equatorial climate with no clear-cut seasons but warm and humid weather the whole year and rain as a regular occurrence.
November is the wettest month in Singapore, but rain is common even during the non-monsoon season. Still, it’s usually just short showers or storms.
However, the ideal time to visit Singapore is February until April.
Looking for more travel guides and travel inspiration?
