A Quick Guide to Singapore’s Gardens by the Bay
There are lots of amazing tourist attractions in Singapore, but Gardens by the Bay has its own charm. It’s more like a feeling of entering another world. If you are planning a trip to Singapore this summer, here’s everything you need to know about The Gardens.
What to Expect
The most notable attractions are Flower Dome, Cloud Forest, OCBC Skyway and Supertree Grove, Sun Pavilion, Children’s garden, Heritage Gardens, and the art sculptures. Start with either visiting the Cloud Forest or Flower Garden; they are the most popular places there.
Flower Dome
As the name suggests, this place is all about flowers of different varieties. If you like beautiful flowers or are into photography, this place is for you. Replicating the cool and dry Mediterranean climate, the dome is well-organized and features flowers and plants from five continents displayed in nine different gardens. Wander amongst unusual baobabs and thousand-year-old olive trees as you take in the sights of the Flower Field Display. You can spend about an hour or so in the dome, but if you’re into photography or really into flowers, you could probably spend several hours here.
Open hours: Daily, 9 am — 9 pm
Cloud Forest
Did you know the cloud forest is the biggest glass greenhouse in the world and also home to the world’s tallest indoor waterfall? Need any more reasons to visit the place? There are several levels to stroll in the Cloud Forest and each will offer spectacular views of tropical highlands amidst orchids, pitcher plants and ferns from the cool-moist tropical Montane region. It feels like walking into a movie. It’s a unique experience watching people walk at the bottom level from the top. And of course, Cloud Forest is a great place for Instagram photos. So, don’t forget to carry a good Singapore SIM card for those instant uploads! Spend a couple of hours to take in the beauty of this entire area. If you do it quickly it can be done in 20–30 minutes, but you won’t enjoy it as much.
Opening hours: Daily, 9 am — 9 pm
OCBC Skyway
Next stop is the famous OCBC Skyway, where you get to walk among the “supertrees” and enjoy amazing aerial views. If you are afraid of heights, this might scare you a bit, but it’s totally safe as long as you follow the guidelines. The total height of the skyway is 22 meters and the whole aerial walkway is about 128 meters long. The skyway can be explored in five minutes, but you can stay a little longer to take photos. For the Supertree Grove, you can walk the entire place in about 5–10 minutes, but again, there are a few spots where you may want to stay a little longer. So, in total, you can set aside 40–50 minutes for the OCBC Skyway and Supertree Grove together.
Opening hours: Daily, 9 am — 9 pm
Other Attractions
Sun Pavilion
If desert-like landscapes are your thing, you won’t be disappointed with the Sun Pavilion. The place offers an amazing view with over 1,000 desert plants comprising some 100 different species and varieties.
Opening hours: Daily, 9 am — 9 pm
Children’s Garden
If you are traveling with kids, do visit the children’s garden. The area offers interactive play delights, water play features and educational programs in a lush natural setting.
Opening hours: Weekdays* (Tues — Fri): 10 am — 7 pm
*Closed every Monday
*Closed on Tuesday if the preceding Monday is a public holiday
Art Sculptures
Gardens by the Bay is home to more than 40 sculptures from around the world. Featuring unique pieces, intriguing crafts and stone works, these sculptures complement the beauty of the plant displays and add a new dimension to the landscape. Don’t forget to locate them all while you are there.
The Light Show
Every night around at 7 pm, locals and tourists gather around near the Supertree Grove to see the light show. The first light show starts at 7:45 pm and the second one starts an hour later, each about 15 minutes long. Make sure to arrive at least 10–15 minutes earlier to save a good spot.
Tickets
The ticket itself includes entrance to the Cloud Forest and the Flower Dome. As mentioned before, the Supertree Grove is always open to the public, but you need to get an extra ticket for OCBC Skyway. The ticket for the Flower Dome and Cloud Forest costs around Rs 1349 per person, if you book it using the Matrix Travel companion App.
Getting there
It’s easy to get to Gardens by the Bay with both car/taxi and public transport. Unless you stay close to Marina Bay Sands, walking is not recommended. Grab or Uber is cheap to use in Singapore, but there is also a convenient metro stop at one of the entrances. To save yourself from all the hassles, you can simply book your tickets with transfers for an additional cost of Rs 200–300 using the Matrix Travel Companion app.
Author’s note
As mentioned earlier, you will need a good SIM card for Singapore to upload your selfies on Instagram and of course to stay connected with people back home. Check out Matrix Cellular, they have great offers on all their International SIM cards. Have more questions about the place? Don’t hesitate to ask, I will be happy to help.
