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Singapore is often described as a futuristic city. Nowhere is the reason for this more evident than at the Gardens by the Bay. Perhaps Singapore’s most popular attraction, this area of 101 hectares of reclaimed land sprawled around the Marina District is home to over 250,000 exotic plants and provides a beautiful escape from the surrounding skyscrapers of the city. There is a lot to do at Gardens by the Bay, and a visit will take at least a few hours. Luckily its located central to many of Singapore’s popular sites so its easy to work a visit into your plans.
If there was only one thing you could see in Singapore, make it Gardens by the Bay. In this post I’ll highlight some of the ways you can spend your time exploring this science-fiction like paradise filled with Supertrees and conservatories that you won’t find in any other city.
I highly recommend visiting Gardens by the Bay in the late afternoon. That way you’ll be able to enjoy the outdoor garden areas in daylight while also sticking around for the spectacular night time show at Supertree Grove. Allow enough time to visit both conservatories before the night show (about an hour each).
If you want to get an idea of how to allocate your time in Singapore, check out my suggested 3 day itinerary post HERE.
If you’re short on time, prioritise the Cloud Forest and Flower Dome conservatories, as well as getting up close with the Supertrees. Take your time exploring though – there’s a lot to see here.
Undoubtedly the main feature that draws people to Gardens by the Bay are the incredible Supertree structures. These massive concrete structures tower up to 50 metres tall and are adorned with 162,900 forms of plant life. The Supetree Grove contains 12 of these structures, while there’s a further 6 scattered around throughout the rest of the Gardens.
While they’re pretty to look at and provide shade from the hot Singaporean climate, the Supertrees also serve a functional purpose. The massive structures contain cells designed to harvest solar energy, lighting up the area at night. Furthermore, they act as rainwater catchments, absorbing water which is subsequently filtered for re-use throughout the area. The Supertrees at Gardens by the Bay are an example of environmentally sustainable urban planning at its best!
The trees are beautiful from the ground, but if you want a closer look, as well as wonderful views of the surrounding landscape, you’ll want to head up to the OCBC Skywalk. This 22 metre high walkway connects two of the trees and circles the grove. The panoramic photo-opp is definitely worth the cheap ticket up if you’ve got time.
As mentioned above, Supertree Grove is also where you can view the stunning Garden Rhapsody light show. It normally plays twice a night, at both 7.45pm and 8.45pm. Try to arrive around 15 to 30 minutes before it starts to settle in for a good spot to watch the show.
In my view, Cloud Forest is the most incredible part of Gardens by the Bay. Housed inside one of the giant cooled conservatory domes, this glasshouse contains a gigantic 35 metre waterfall thundering down the side of a man-made mountain covered in tropical vegetation. An elevator takes you to the top of the mountain, where you’re transported to a simulation of the Cloud Forest ecosystems found at approximately 3,000 metres in South East Asia and America. You’ll notice the change in the atmosphere as you step into the conservatory, as its a massive relief from the humid air outside at around 24 degrees Celsius.
From the top of the mountain, you’ll wind your way back down through arrays of orchids, ferns and other vegetation, your surroundings changing with each level you descend. One of the best parts of the journey is the Cloud Walk, an elevated pathway that extends out from the mountain structure, providing sweeping views, both below and of the forest itself. Due to the clear dome structure you’re in, you can even look out at the surrounding Singapore marina skyline. There’s also a second walkway lower down the mountain that brings you around the tree top level. If you’re lucky, you’ll time your exploration of the Cloud Forest with sprays of fog, adding the atmospheric experience.
There’s a lot to see in the Cloud Forest. When you first get to the top of the mountain you’ll be at the Lost World exhibit which contains live venus flytraps (alongside LEGO replicas!) and other beautiful species found at high altitudes. Later on, you’ll have the chance to explore a Crystal Mountain Cave filled with stalactites and stalagmites.
Arguably the most wonderful part of the Cloud Forest comes right at the end. After a film highlighting the importance of environmental conservation, you’ll reach the Secret Garden at the very bottom of the mountain. This area, surrounded by limestone cavern walls contains a plethora of brightly coloured plant species, some so small and intricate that they’re only visible under a microscope. I could have spent ages just sitting here in this tranquil part of the forest becoming lost in the serenity.
The Flower Dome is the second of the conservatories at Gardens by the Bay. Unlike the Cloud Forest, this dome showcases species of flowers and plant life from numerous distinct geographies. Inside the Dome you’ll find themed areas showcasing regions such as California, the Mediterranean, South Africa and Australia. You could easily lose track of time venturing around each of these garden exhibits – the Flower Dome is actually the largest glass greenhouse in the world!
While it may not blow your mind like the Cloud Forest, the Flower Dome is still a place of immense beauty to enjoy. Allow yourself to wander as you explore each alcove, surrounded by all the kinds of plant life on display. Adding to the experience, the Flower Dome sees rotating theming throughout the gardens – when I visited in December, the gardens were filled with topiaries of super cute Disney characters and holiday displays.
The Flower Dome also features the renowned restaurant Pollen inside. It was closed during my visit (it was late in the evening), but it if you’re hungry it may be worth stopping by for some European cuisine. Fun fact – some of the ingredients used here are actually grown in the Gardens by the Bay!
Between the Supertrees and massive conservatories found at the Gardens by the Bay, its easy to overlook the rest of the area. That would be a mistake, as there’s plenty to see just wandering around the exterior Gardens themselves (not to mention that doing so is completely free). One area that I really liked just outside of Supertree Grove was the assortment of Heritage Gardens. Highlighting the local diversity that has led to Singapore being called a mixing pot of different cultures, this area of the Gardens explores the city’s history through specific displays inspired by Singapore’s Colonial, Indian, Malay and Chinese roots. I enjoyed watching the surroundings shift venturing from Indian Banyan thickets to Malay Breadfruits and Chinese Pine to Colonial Cocoa plants when travelling between the Heritage Gardens.
Don’t forget to stop and take some photos here. Personally I found the Chinese garden to be particularly photogenic.
The Heritage Gardens are on the way to main attractions if you’re coming into Gardens by the Bay by MRY, so I definitely recommend exploring this area of the park on your way to the conservatories.
Realistically, you could spend an eternity wandering around the Gardens by the Bay taking in the beautiful scenery in this green oasis. If you’ve got more time to explore, make the most of your visit by wandering through the Gardens and seeing what you find. While I didn’t make it outside of Gardens by the Bay South (there’s two less famous sections also located around the Marina), this area alone contained countless sculptures and lakes worth tracking down. Perhaps the most noteworthy of the various artworks scattered around the Garden is Mark Quinn’s Planet. This giant sculpture of a human baby can be found seemingly floating in the air, a short walk from entrance to the Gardens near the MRT station.
There’s no telling what else you might find if you spend enough time poking around the Gardens.
As you can see, there’s enough to do at Gardens by the Bay to keep you busy for hours. It really is a destination that is unlike any I’ve experienced around the world. While Singapore is famous for its Botanic Gardens (which you should definitely also visit), I preferred Gardens by the Bay simply due to just how much there was to see here. Gardens by the Bay is a must-visit when you’re in Singapore and I can’t put into words just how beautiful this place really is. Its a stunning blend of nature and technology that provides an insight into the future of sustainable urban planning. Singapore really is a city of the 21st Century. Gardens by the Bay is one way it demonstrates that. Don’t miss it.
Have you been to the Gardens by the Bay? What was your favourite thing to see when exploring the Gardens?