Gardens by the Bay

Supertree Grove at Gardens by the Bay

Gardens by the Bay covers 250 acres of reclaimed land on the waterfront. The best spot to get an idea of the sheer size of the Gardens is from the top of Marina Bay Sands, directly opposite the park. Getting here is easy, either via walkways from the hotel, which give you elevated views or by taking the slightly longer riverside promenade to enter the park near the 2 domes.

Walking around the park won’t cost you a cent but there is a fee if you want to step inside the climate-controlled conservatories or walk amongst the Supertrees. There is no doubting the dominance of the steel-framed ‘tree’ plantation, towering over Gardens by the Bay with 12 of the large metal structures in the central grove and half a dozen others placed in other parts of the garden.

Over 200 different species of plants and flowers cover the exterior of these tall upright gardens – twice a night, at 7.45pm and 8.45pm, they are a centrepiece of the gardens’ light and music show, casting a glow over the park, and making you feel like you are in a modern fairy tale.

For those who like a view, take the trip 25 metres up to the remarkable walkway that connects 3 of the trees together. The 50-metre tree in the centre offers 360-degree panoramas of the Gardens as well as Marina Bay.

The Greenhouses at Gardens by the Bay

If you need to cool down, head into Cloud Forest, the smaller shell-shaped structure with a 35-metre-high mountain covered in plants that usually thrive in tropical highlands. Don’t worry if climbing feels too much, there is a lift that takes you up into the mist and gives you a great view looking down over the walls of plants and orchids.

The Flower Dome is also cooler than outside, recreating the drier climes of places like California and the Mediterranean. In this gigantic conservatory, you will find yourself on a journey around the world, with Baobabs from Africa, Olive trees from Spain, Kangaroo Paw from Australia.

A visit to both greenhouses costs S$28 for adults and S$15 for kids. Inside the Flower Dome, you’ll also find Pollen, a Mediterranean restaurant that creates dishes using herbs and vegetables grown in-house.

The rest of the Garden

If you arrive via Bayfront MRT you will first have to walk past the Dragonfly and Kingfisher lakes. If you have enough time, walk along the boardwalk to discover the many birds and insects that have made this area their home.

In a nod to the different nationalities that have settled in Singapore over the years, there is a series of four interconnecting gardens with plants and trees from India, China, Malaysia and the Colonial garden.

Besides Pollen, you can also find a host of casual restaurants to try: Cafe Crema offering sandwiches and snacks, Supertree Food Hall and Satay By The Bay, which serves up satays as its name suggests alongside various other grills.

Gardens by the Bay’s location makes it an easy getaway from Singapore’s traffic and skyscrapers. It offers a fun space to explore horticulture from around the world. But even better than that, the Supertrees, Cloud Forest, and Flower Dome bring plants to life in a way you’ve probably never seen before.