Right in the heart of Singapore’s bustling city sits an oasis of stunning gardens with pretty water features and unique structures and areas to explore. At night the place becomes even more magical as colorful lights illuminate the area. Singapore has many unique and interesting attractions, and visiting the Gardens by the Bay is something you shouldn’t miss! Here’s some practical info to help you plan your visit to this iconic spot.
Getting to Gardens by the Bay
Being in the heart of the city, Gardens by the Bay is fairly easy to reach on foot or by public transport.
If taking the MRT, take the Circle Line or Downtown Line to the Bayfront station or the Thomson-East Coast Line to the Gardens by the Bay station.
We didn’t use buses at all during our time in Singapore, but you could also take Bus 400 to the Before Gardens By the Bay stop (stop 03341), Gardens by the Bay (stop 03371), Gardens by the Bay Station Exit 1 (stop 03369), Exit 2 (stop 03361), or After Gardens by the Bay (stop 03349). Various buses, including 97, 106, 133, and more, also stop at the nearby Bayfront Station (stop 03509). Check the transit site for more information on routes and the various stops.
If driving, there are multiple paid lots that charge a maximum of SGD$30 per day. For more info on the lots, visit the site.
Gardens by the Bay is large with various access points. Take a look at the map when deciding where to park, walk, or hop off the bus or train, or have it available on your phone when you arrive.
Tickets
There are varying ticket options available at Gardens by the Bay. The prices vary based on variables like your age or whether you are a Singapore resident and the package/attractions you select to visit. There are additional ticket options for residents, such as the option to purchase tickets just for the Flower Dome.
Here are the various basic ticket options with prices for non-resident adults:
Cloud Forest & Flower Dome: SGD$59 per person
Cloud Forest & Supertree Observatory: SGD$34 per person
Floral Fantasy with 4D Ride: SGD$20 per person
OCBC Skyway: SGD$14 per person
Supertree Observatory: SGD$14 per person
There are additional free attractions at the Gardens by the Bay that we mention below.
Note that the above prices may change frequently based on the experience included in the ticket. When we visited, it was the Avatar Experience, but as of mid-2024, it’s the Impressions of Monet.
Tickets are released online 30 days in advance, and we recommend booking early when possible because tickets do sometimes sell out. Just after purchasing, you’ll receive an eticket to your email. Print this to bring or have the code available on your phone upon arrival.
You can also purchase tickets on arrival at The Canopy. Tickets to Floral Fantasy and the Supertree Observatory can be purchased at the entrance to those attractions. If purchasing on arrival, you are not guaranteed a ticket and you may have to wait in a long line to purchase one.
Before booking tickets, check the website for updates, as various attractions in Gardens by the Bay may close for maintenance or private events.
Singapore Passes
If you have one of the GoCity Singapore Passes, the Flower Dome and Cloud Forest combo and Floral Fantasy are covered. You may also be eligible for a SGD$5 discount with the Singapore Tourist Pass.
Things to Do at Gardens by the Bay
There are many things to see and do at Gardens by the Bay. You could easily spend most of a day exploring the gardens. If you don’t have several hours, you may have to pick and choose the attractions you want to see here.
Cloud Forest
Hours: Daily from 9a.m. – 9p.m. (last entry at 8:30 p.m.)
The Cloud Forest is a large dome that contains the iconic waterfall you’ve likely seen photos of when searching up Singapore. This tall waterfall plunges from a “peak” structure covered in greenery with surrounding walkways offering pretty views over the cloud forest garden.
The misters come on every 2 hours starting at 10a.m. to 8p.m. This gives the dome that true cloud forest feel and mystical appearance.
Flower Dome
Hours: Daily 9a.m. – 9p.m. (last entry at 8p.m.)
The Flower Dome is the world’s largest greenhouse! It contains tons of different plants from all around the world, from cacti and baobab trees to orchids and so many other types of flowers. Walking the Flower Dome walkways is like strolling through a fairytale.
Floral Fantasy
Hours: Mon-Fri 10a.m. – 7p.m. (last entry at 6:30p.m.), Sat & Sun 10a.m. – 8p.m. (last entry at 7:30p.m.)
Floral Fantasy is a vibrant display of floral arrangements and varying garden landscapes. There is also an enclosed area containing poison dart frogs! Floral Fantasy offers access to the Fantasy Theater where you can take a 4D simulated flight through Gardens by the Bay.
OCBC Skyway
Hours: Daily 9a.m. – 9p.m. (last entry at 8:30p.m.)
The Supertrees are icons of Gardens by the Bay, and the OCBC Skyway allows visitors to walk between these vertical gardens on a walkway high off the ground. From the Skyway, you’ll get great views of the surrounding gardens and Singapore’s unique Marina Bay area. This is a popular spot to watch the garden light show.
Supertree Observatory
Hours: Daily 9a.m. – 9p.m. (last entry at 9:30p.m.)
Head even higher above the OCBC Skyway to the very top of the tallest Supertree. An elevator will take you to the observatory where there is a small indoor café area where you can grab a snack or drink and take in the views.
You can also head to the upper outdoor deck to look out over the tops of the other Supertrees and city. The views were really wonderful and there are some nice sitting spots if you’d like to take it all in for a while. This is also a popular spot to watch the sunset.
Supertree Grove
Hours: Daily 5a.m. – 2a.m.
Visitors can admire the Supertrees without having to purchase a ticket to the Supertree Observatory or OCBC Skyway. You can generally access the Supertree Grove free of charge and walk around the base of these impressive garden structures. There are some days, such as during Christmas Wonderland, that may require you to purchase a ticket to access the Supertree Grove.
Each night at 7:45p.m. and 8:45p.m., the Garden Rhapsody music and light show takes place. This can also be watched free of charge from the garden areas around the base of the trees. If you choose to watch the show, we recommend arriving a bit before it starts to claim a good spot to sit back and watch.
Other Free Attractions at Gardens by the Bay
If you’re on a budget or don’t want to purchase tickets to all of the attractions in Gardens by the Bay, don’t worry because there are plenty of things to see here without a ticket!
In addition to the Supertree Grove, check out the Sun Pavilion, Serene Garden, Heritage Gardens, Kingfisher Wetlands, Dragonfly Lake, Bay East Garden, and more. Most of these are open daily from 5a.m. – 2a.m. Even if you have tickets to some of the popular sites in Gardens by the Bay, we definitely recommend putting some time aside to walk around other areas here because the gardens, fountains, art installations/sculptures, and views are really beautiful!
Find out more about the individual attractions on the website.
Dining
If you’re feeling like a bite or refreshment, there are multiple dining options at Gardens by the Bay. There are some cafes, sushi, McDonald’s, spots to grab a sweet treat, places to have a nicer sit-down meal, and food halls. Most dining places accept both card and cash, but it’s a good idea to have both.
We went to the Satay By The Bay food hall, where there were various stalls to choose from serving satay, noodle dishes, seafood, dumplings, beer, cocktails, and more. Right before the Garden Rhapsody show, we also came across a little stretch of market stalls at the Supertree Grove where we picked up a spicy sausage and some sweet potato donuts to munch on during the display.
You can also bring your own food for a picnic to enjoy in permitted areas of Gardens by the Bay. Note that there are some areas, such as the Cloud Forest and Flower Dome, where food and drink aren’t permitted.
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Beyond the attractions listed above, there are also temporary experiences held here, such as the Avatar or Impressions of Monet experiences, plant fairs, etc. The park also decorates for different holidays or special events.
Extra Notes on Visiting Gardens by the Bay
When looking to buy tickets, note the fine print highlighting last entry times, time permitted in that attraction, and other regulations.
Some of the attractions close in inclement weather. Certain seasons see a lot of rain, so it is best to have a little flexibility in your schedule in case you need to wait for a storm to pass for walkways/attractions to open back up. There are cases in which they may not reopen for the day.
If you’d like to watch the Garden Rhapsody light show from above the garden floor, we’d recommend the OCBC Skyway over the Supertree Observatory. This way, you are more among the lights. In the Supertree Observatory, you are at the highest point, so you’re more above the show and won’t get to see the lighting effects on the underside of the trees as well.
Singapore can get pretty hot, so stay hydrated during your visit. There are multiple places to buy water or refill your own. On those extra hot days, a walk through the Flower Dome or other indoor areas are quite nice. But do note that it can actually get pretty chilly in here, especially if the misters are on! We were okay in our summer clothes, but noticed quite a few people breaking out a light jacket. Just something to consider bringing if you think you’ll get cold.
Lastly, Gardens by the Bay is a beautiful place to walk around, but if you aren’t feeling a walk, there is a shuttle that runs every 10 minutes from 9a.m. until 9p.m. between the Bayfront Plaza, Active Garden, and the Flower Dome.
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