Gardens by the Bay is a 101-hectare park on reclaimed land at Marina Bay, Singapore. The outdoor gardens are free to enter, including the Supertree Grove, where 18 tree-like vertical gardens rise up to 50 metres. The two cooled conservatories, Flower Dome and Cloud Forest, and the OCBC Skyway between two Supertrees need tickets. After dark the Supertrees light up for Garden Rhapsody, a free light and music show. Wide elevated walkways and a children's garden make it easy to visit with a stroller or young children.
Three gardens on reclaimed land
Gardens by the Bay stands on reclaimed land beside the Marina Reservoir and covers 101 hectares. It was completed in 2012 and is part of Singapore's plan to move from a Garden City to a City of Gardens. The design came from Grant Associates, Gustafson Porter and Wilkinson Eyre.
There are three waterfront gardens. Bay South is the largest and holds the Supertree Grove, the Flower Dome and the Cloud Forest. Bay East is quieter and has leaf-shaped gardens with different landscape themes. Bay Central is a waterfront walk meant to link the other two.
The site is built around sustainability. The Supertrees are solar-powered, and rainwater is recycled to water the plants. Themed gardens celebrate the Malay, Chinese and Indian communities of Singapore.
The Supertree Grove and the OCBC Skyway
The Supertrees are 18 concrete and steel structures, up to 50 metres tall. Each is planted as a vertical garden with ferns, vines and other plants, and the canopies give shade through the day. The grove is free to enter, and you can walk the bridges and paths around it without a ticket.
The OCBC Skyway is a boardwalk 128 metres long that links two of the Supertrees, 22 metres above the ground. It is ticketed. The Supertree Observatory, the highest point in the gardens, has refreshments and interactive information displays.
At 7:45pm and 8:45pm every night the grove hosts Garden Rhapsody, a free light and music show. Many visitors lie on the ground and watch the lit canopies overhead. Seasonal events change the evening scene, such as the Christmas light displays.
The Flower Dome and the Cloud Forest
The two conservatories sit side by side and are ticketed. Their curved glass shapes were designed around energy use and climate control, because of the heat outside.
The Flower Dome is the largest glass greenhouse in the world. It copies dry Mediterranean-type climates and presents plants from five continents in nine gardens. The displays change with the seasons, and the annual Tulipmania exhibition is held here. A cacti garden is part of the gardens too.
The Cloud Forest is cooler and misty, a tropical mountain covered in plants with an indoor waterfall and walkways spiralling around it. Floral Fantasy is another ticketed display, with walls of blooms along the route.
With children and strollers
The Far East Organization Children's Garden is free to enter. It has a main water play area for older children and a separate baby and toddler water play area. A dry playground with rainforest tree houses sits alongside, and toilets, showers and cafes are close by.
The elevated walkways are wide and suit strollers. The entrance, restrooms and seating areas are wheelchair accessible. The gardens also run free nature and sustainability tours, such as an urban wetlands walk and a smell-focused tour about plants.
Sunrise and quieter corners
Dragonfly Lake is a good place for sunrise, with the Supertrees and domes framing the view. The park opens at 5am. Another option is the overhead bridge to Marina Bay Sands, reached by escalator, which looks back across to the Supertrees as the sun climbs.
For a different angle, walk or cycle across the water to Bay East. It is quieter, and it shows the domes and Supertrees reflected in the bay.
Perguntas frequentes
Is there an entry fee for Gardens by the Bay?
The outdoor gardens, including the Supertree Grove and the Children's Garden, are free to enter. The Flower Dome, Cloud Forest and OCBC Skyway are ticketed, so check current prices on the official website.
What time is the Garden Rhapsody light show?
The free light and music show runs at 7:45pm and 8:45pm every night in the Supertree Grove.
What is the OCBC Skyway?
It is a 128-metre boardwalk between two Supertrees, 22 metres above the ground. It gives views over the gardens and the Marina Bay skyline and needs a ticket.
Is Gardens by the Bay suitable for strollers and wheelchairs?
Yes. The elevated walkways are wide and stroller-friendly, and the entrance, restrooms and seating areas are wheelchair accessible.
Where can you photograph sunrise at Gardens by the Bay?
Dragonfly Lake frames the Supertrees and domes at sunrise, and the park opens at 5am. The overhead bridge to Marina Bay Sands and the quieter Bay East garden across the water are other options.
