Singapore’s Gardens by the Bay is an award-winning urban landscaped garden featuring two cooled conservatories and the Super Tree Grove.
GARDENS BY THE BAY
18 Marina Gardens Drive, Singapore 018953
Facebook: Gardens by the Bay
Telephone: +65 6420 6848
Email: feedback@gardensbythebay.com.sg
Website: http://www.gardensbythebay.com.sg
Related Blog Post: GARDENS BY THE BAY: Singapore’s Iconic Super Trees, Cloud Dome, and Sleeping Child Installation Art @VisitSingapore
First timers may feel a bit intimidated to explore this vast garden. So since I’ve been here a number of times, I’d like like to share this guide to the best way to explore Gardens by the Bay…
FLOWER DOME
I recommend starting your Gardens by the Bay experience with the Flower Dome. Allot about 1-hour minimum, and I highly encourage starting at around 4pm.
The Flower Dome is a year-round showcase of the most beautiful flowers in the world. It’s also home to thousand-year-old olive trees and unusual Baobabs.
As you enter the Flower Dome, go to the Succulent Garden on your right.
The garden showcases water-storing desert plants like Cacti, Aloes, and Crassulae.
It’s amazing to see the Bottle Trees and African Baobabs–the largest trees in the Flower Dome.
My favorite section of this garden–it’s like a white crystal palace in the dessert.
Pay attention to the different installation art integrated into the garden.
At the end, you’ll have an awesome bird’s eye view of the Flower Field. This year’s has a Chinese New Year of the Goat 2015 theme.
Here’s the view during the Flight of Fancy exhibition.
Most people highly recommend going to the Flower Dome during Tulipmania!
Make sure to check out the list of available family activities during your visit.
TIP: Don’t go when there’s a scheduled maintenance as some attractions are closed. Please check the Gardens by the Bay website for the official Maintenance Schedule.
My favorite installation art about Going Home and leaving a part of you in the place you just visited.
The showcase of different Dahlias is the highlight of the Chinese New Year celebration at the Flower Dome.
Love the Year of the Goat installation art with a backdrop of the mountains inspired by Chinese paintings.
TIP: Try building a collection of flower close-up shots for your Instagram and Facebook.
There are themed areas where you can take your shots. It’s always best to take these photos while the area is less crowded.
Happy Chinese New Year from the Mig.Me Asian Bloggers!
CLOUD FOREST
The Flower Dome exit directly leads to the Cloud Forest entrance. First timers may want to Allot about 1 hour to explore.
The 35-meter man-made waterfall and tourists blocking the entrance taking photos and selfies greet you as you enter the Cloud Dome. (Note: If you can’t beat them, join them in the picture taking.)
You’ll have to go around the man-made mountain and take the elevator up to the Lost World at the summit.
The Lost World features the unique vegetation, 2,000 meters above sea level featuring the cute but dangerous pitcher plants.
Then you go down via the Cloud Walk amid the mist, with the sky and the peak of the mountain as your backdrop.
Appreciate the different orchids, ferns, and anthurium planted around the walls of the mountain. Don’t miss the opportunity to get a close look at the source of the waterfall.
Go to the Treetop Walk along the forest canopy and enjoy a bird’s eye view of the mountain and the happenings below.
Explore the different stalactites and stalagmites next in the Crystal Mountain–an inspired cave exhibition showcasing real specimens of rock crystal formation.
Make sure to sit down and watch the interactive presentation of what happens to our beloved Earth when the temperature increases by 5oC!
It’s also cool to understand the whole ecology and sustainability design of Gardens by the Bay.
Finally, you exit through the Secret Garden in the basement level featuring moisture-loving plants, prehistoric ferns, and animal installation art.
SUPER TREES
It’s cool to walk around the Super Trees from the conservatories when the sun is about to set, just around 5.30pm onwards.
I recommend that you experience walking along the 22-meter high OCBC Skyway hanging between two Super Trees.
Take a leisurely walk among the Super Trees with an awesome view of Marina Bay Sands.
It’s a bit windy and wobbly but still an awesome sunset experience with the Super Trees.
Take a break and eat some snacks while you wait for the music and light show.
You can also take a short walk to see the Sleeping Boy Child installation art.
Make sure to watch Garden Rhapsody, a 12-minute music and light show, which starts at 7:45 PM, 8:45 PM, 9:30 PM on Fridays, Saturdays, the Eve of Public Holidays, and Public Holidays.
All the 12 trees come alive, changing color to the tune of the Garden Rhapsody music.
It’s so beautiful, our boys loved it! We felt like kids again watching the giant trees perform.
After the show, you can walk to the nearby Marina Bay Sands for dinner.
After Dinner, don’t forget to catch the 9.30pm WONDER FULL–Southeast Asia’s largest light, water, and sound show with surprise bubbles!
(Wonder Full is shown nightly, weather permitting: Sunday – Thursday: 8:00pm, 9:30pm, and Friday & Saturday: 8:00pm, 9:30pm, 11:00pm. Duration: 15 minutes)
Overall, allot about 4 hours (from 4pm to 8pm) to see the Flower Dome, Cloud Forest, Super Tree OCBC Skyway, and the Garden Rhapsody.
Make sure to check the maintenance shutdown schedule to avoid visiting Gardens by the Bay during those times.
Visit Marina Bay Sands after Gardens by the Bay and watch the Wonder Full show all in one night.
GARDENS BY THE BAY
18 Marina Gardens Drive, Singapore 018953
Facebook: Gardens by the Bay
Telephone: +65 6420 6848
Email: feedback@gardensbythebay.com.sg
Website: http://www.gardensbythebay.com.sg
Access to the outdoor gardens at Bay South is free while admission charges apply to the Cooled Conservatories and OCBC Skyway.
Two Conservatories Entrance Fee: S$28 Adult and Senior Citizen | S$15 Child (age 3-12)
OCBC Skyway Fee: S$5 Adult and Senior Citizen | S$3 Child (age 3-12)
Garden Cruiser: S$5 Adult and Senior Citizen | S$3 Child (age 3-12)
Buy your tickets online here: https://ticketing.gardensbythebay.com.sg/ticketing.aspx
Garden Hours:
Bay South Outdoor Gardens: Opens 5:00 AM – 2:00 AM daily
Cooled Conservatories & OCBC Skyway: Opens 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM daily
Last ticket sale at 8:00 PM daily
Last admission at 8:30 PM daily
Garden Cruiser Hours:
Monday* – Friday: 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM (Last ride)
*Service begins at 12:00 PM every first Monday of the month
Saturday, Sunday, eve of and on PH: 9:30 AM – 4:00 PM (Last ride)
Read Related Blog Post: GARDENS BY THE BAY: Singapore’s Iconic Super Trees, Cloud Dome, and Sleeping Child Installation Art @VisitSingapore
Live an Awesome Life,
Founder, www.OurAwesomePlanet.com
Disclosure: I wrote this article with my biases, opinions, and insights. Read Our Awesome Planet Complete Disclosure Policy here.
P.S. Make sure to check out Changi Recommends at the airport when you arrive for the best Gardens by the Bay ticket prices and schedule flexibility.
