Singapore has a diverse and rich heritage for a young country. Located at the end of the Malay peninsula this small city-country is one of the crown jewels of South East Asia. Singapore boasts one of the highest quality of living and the highest life expectancy in the world. It’s from this history and advancements that have made Gardens by the Bay one of the most amazing places in Singapore.

Singapore has a diverse culture of Chinese, Malay, and Indian populations. In more recent years, ex-pats frequently have moved and settled in Singapore for its high quality of life, job quality, and warm climate.

Some of Singapore’s most important and richest cultural sites lie in the neighborhoods of Chinatown, Little India, and along Arab Street. By crossing the street in Singapore you are almost transformed as if you are transported to India or China. The restaurants are traditional Chinese or Indian, the markets host local items that normally you would only find in these countries.

But this review isn’t about the history of Singapore, this is about should you visit Gardens by the Bay and our review of what you should and shouldn’t do.

Are Gardens by the Bay worth it?

Let’s take a look at all Garden’s by the Bay has to offer. It is more than just a garden of flowers, or maybe a botanical garden that you might be accustomed to seeing. The Gardens by the Bay area is spacious, beautiful, and will leave you amazed. If you’re looking for things to do in Singapore with kids, this is a great option.

Decide for yourself if it is something you want to see, but if I only had one day or ten days in Singapore, this would be at the top of my list. Here are some of the most common questions that you might have about Gardens by the Bay.

Are Gardens by the Bay indoors?

Gardens by the Bay have both indoor and outdoor attractions. There are a number of outdoor attractions. There are parks, walking paths, towering sculptures, airconditioned restaurants, and biodomes.

It is a mix of indoor and outdoor, but the mass majority of it being outside. This doesn’t mean you can’t pop into one of the restaurants or indoor gardens to cool off for a bit.

Download the Gardens by the Bay map below to see the indoor and outdoor activities and to find out what to do in gardens by the bay.

Are there restaurants or at Gardens by the Bay?

Yes, there are a number of restaurants at Gardens by the Bay. If you are traveling with kids there is a McDonalds and a Children’s Garden Cafe.

If you are traveling on a budget. You will want to check out the SuperTree Food Hall. This is a food court with a number of restaurants and varieties of local and Asian food.

You can also eat at the Majestic Bay Seafood restaurant if you are celebrating an anniversary or just want something a little more intimate.

What to do in Gardens by the Bay

You may have heard of Gardens by the bay but have no idea what all the fuss is about. Well, let’s dive into what to do in Gardens by the Bay so that you can know for yourself just what everyone is talking about.

Super Grove Trees

I bet you’ve seen the pictures of these trees on Instagram, they look like something from a different world. The pictures are spectacular of these giant man-made trees lit up in the night sky. This is definitely one of the best places to visit in Singapore.

The structure of the Super Trees is concrete and tree-shaped iron decorated into 18 vertical gardens, each with a height of 25 meters to 50 meters. At the top of the supertree, there are solar panels attached to collect solar energy and then used as electrical energy. The energy is used in the garden including turning on the lights that decorate the supertree at night.

These trees will amaze you not only with their beauty but also they are incredibly functional. They serve many different purposes including providing shade for plants to grow underneath them, providing energy for themselves through their solar panels, and they even cool the air used in the conservatories. This is one of the reasons why Gardens by the Bay will amaze you.

OCBO Skyway Bridge

One of the top things to do at Gardens By the Bay is to take a walk on the Skyway bridge. The Skyway bridge connects some of the supertrees and allows you views of the gardens and Singapore. A ticket with a specific tour time is required for the Skyway Bridge. Book your tickets early to avoid the lines. You can book online through Klook. An elevator will take you to the top of the trees to the Skyway bridge. As you reach the top, the view will make you stop in your tracks.

Now you get the chance to wander around at the top of the trees and take in the 360-degree views. The path is 128 meters long and has a height of 22 meters from the ground level. 

This gives you a great view of Singapore Bay and the Marina Sands Hotel. If you have a fear of heights, I would not recommend going. It is very safe and secure, but it is suspended high off of the ground.

I personally, do not like heights. When we got to the top I amazed by the views but equally freaked out by the heights. I pushed down my fears and walked out onto the bridge. It was all good until I felt the bridge swaying. Then I was done, I couldn’t handle it. So I left the kids with my husband and quickly walked to the elevator to go back down.

Don’t make the same mistake as me, if you are afraid of heights, skip the Sky bridge. You’ll thank me later.

The kids and my husband love the Skyway bridge. It was one of their favorite part of the gardens. In fact, in their opinion, the bridge was one of the best things to do in Singapore.

Practical Information about the Skyway

Can wheelchairs or strolls go up the OCBC Skyway on the Super Grove Trees? Yes, both wheelchairs and strollers are allowed on the Skyway bridge. You will find it very easy to push a wheelchair or stroller. Wheelchairs and strollers are both offered for rent for only $2.00SGD at the Gardens. Below I have listed these amazing details.

Adult Ticket: $8.00SGD

Kids Ticket: 3 -12 Years old: $5.00SGD

Kids under 3: Free

Open Hours: 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM This is just for the Skyway walk. The gardens are open later. The bridge will also close due to weather conditions.

When is the best time to visit Gardens by the Bay and the Super Grove Trees?

If you visit during the day you almost get a different experience than if you visit at night.  At night it the trees come alive with lights. During the day you will be able to take in more of the scenery and explore more of the grounds, the flowers, the trees and other activities that the gardens have to offer.

Visiting Gardens by the Bay during the day

If you are looking to wander the gardens and enjoy the many plants and scenery the gardens have to offer, visit during the day. The earlier in the day the better. I would recommend going right when they open at 9:00 am.

If you do visit during the day the sun can feel intense and make your visit not as enjoyable since it is stifling hot. So make sure to drink plenty of water. It’s always a good idea to take an umbrella to shield you from the hot sun and because it rains almost every day in Singapore. Buy this mini umbrella from Amazon, it’s easy to pack and carry with you.

If you’d like to take your kids to play in the splash pad that is located in the Children’s Garden, you will want to visit during the day or early evening. The splash pad does close every day at 7:00 pm.

**If you are going to visit the Flower Dome or the Cloud Forest, make sure to go early in the day. They get very busy from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm. Your visit will be a lot more enjoyable in the morning.

Visiting Gardens by the Bay will amaze you at night

If you would like to see the Super Grove Light Show, you will want to go later in the day. I would suggest going to the gardens around 5:30 pm.

Then you can walk around the gardens during the daylight. Take in the sunset over the bay and finish your tour with the light show at 7:00 pm. (Make sure to head over to the super grove a little early to get a seat). Gardens by the bay at night completely transforms into a new world.

The Gardens by the Bay Light Show Times

Every night at 7:45 pm and then at 8:45 pm the trees are lit up and will dance to a spectacular musical production. The show is completely free to watch! This Gardens by the Bay show is one that will amaze you and keep you wanting to come back for another show. We happened to be in Singapore on May the 4th, also known as Star Wars Day. That day they did a Star Wars light show.

The next time we visited the gardens was in late June, it was the same time as their kids’ festival. The light show that night was Toy Story.

Make sure to come early and get a seat as this is the most popular time to see the trees. But trust me it will worth be worth the crowds.

Where is the best place to watch the light show?

You can actually watch the light show from the Skyway bridge as well.  Make sure you plan your ticket to coordinate at the right time. You cannot sit down on the bridge, but you can get a great view of the show from the top!

If you are looking for amazing shots of the trees they are actually better from below, but the experience of being on the bridge during the show is something to talk about.

You do not need tickets to see the light show. Seating is very limited. There are only a few concrete benches available. Most people sit on the ground (which is asphalt) or on the grass (which is also limited) and could leave your pants or clothes dirty.

Make sure to take something to sit on, especially if you are wearing light-colored clothing. These small seat cushions from Amazon would be perfect and they are lightweight. Use these on a long flight or international flight to save your butt from getting tired.

Conservatories at Garden by the Bay

There is so much more than meets the eye at Gardens by the bay. Sitting on the banks of the Marina Bay, Singapore, are 2 giant cooled conservatories or biodomes. The bio-dome conservatory buildings were built to be self-sustaining buildings.

Rainwater is collected from the roofs, then it is cooled by the Super Trees and then used to cool the conservatories. These buildings at gardens by the bay will amaze you to see from the outside let alone what you will see on the inside!

Gardens by the Bay Flower Dome:

Listed in the Guinness Book of World Records, the Flower Dome is considered the largest glass greenhouse in the world. It is unique because it has the largest glass ceiling without any columns in the world.

It is spring year-round inside the Flower Dome. Need a place to cool off after being out in the hot and humid Singapore heat? Head into the Flower Dome to cool off and also to enjoy the stunning flowers from 5 different continents.

The dome maintains its cool temperatures by chilled water pipes that run through slabs of concrete deep in the ground, while warm air is vented out the top and through the Super Trees. Helping it maintain a cool temperature year-round despite the blazing heat outside.

Gardens by the Bay Flower Dome will bring you tears of joy!

The flower dome is spectacular and it will take your breath away with its beauty. The artists have designed floral displays that are out of this world. The gardens are constantly being changed and updated. So every time you visit, it may be different.

Is the flower dome good to visit with kids?

I would definitely say yes! My kids loved running through the cool building. It was such a relief after being in the hot sun too be able to play and cool off.

The walkways are wide and leave plenty of room for strollers and kids to roam. Also, depending on the theme of the garden, the gardens may have the perfect attractions for your kids. Such as they have had fairy themes with fairies hidden, and a princess theme including a large castle. When we visited, they had a Star Wars theme.

Cloud Forest:

Located adjacent to the Flower Dome is the Cloud Forest. This too is an indoor spectacular biodome. Sitting 35 meters (115 feet) it is slightly smaller than the flower dome.

Inside the biggest and most amazing feature is a tropical mountain with an indoor waterfall. The cool mist that comes off the waterfall is worth your ticket price alone. It gives you the feel of walking in a dense tropical rain forest. This dome represents the climates you find in the mountains of Aisa.

You can easily take an elevator to the top of the mountain. Then take the mist-filled Cloud Walk and the Tree-Top walk. This will give you a view of the dome from above. It will give you the sense of being on top of a large tree in the rain forest giving you yet another reason that the Gardens by the Bay will amaze you.

Singapore is an amazing place to visit with kids. Their eyes will be opened wide at the Cloud Forest and Flower Dome by the magnificent sights towering high into the sky of these large domes.

I would recommend both domes when visiting with kids. The Cloud Forest is fun to be able to see the dome from the top. And the flower dome is so colorful and fun. I would recommend buying the combo ticket and seeing both domes with kids, make sure to buy them online to save from standing in line and save money.

What is the difference between the Cloud Forest and Flower Dome at Gardens by the Bay?

The Cloud Forest and Flower Dome are two separate exhibits. They require their own ticket or a combined ticket to visit both. They are located adjacent to one another and you will need to exit one to enter the other.

The main feature of the Cloud forest is the Mountain and waterfall. It has a walkway the allows you to look down from on high about 7 levels.

In contrast, the Flower Dome has a collection of flowers from all over the world. It is more colorful than the cloud forest because it is filled with flowers from all over the world.

The Cloud Forest can be visited in about a 1-hour. The Flower Dome will need 1-hour to 1.5 hours to visit. To best enjoy your time plan on 3-hours if you are visiting both.

Practical info about the Flower Dome and Cloud Forest

Floral Fantasy

The newest attraction at Garden by the Bay and one of the most impressive. This does require its own ticket but it is definitely worth your time!

The main focus of this garden is floral artistry. Flowers hang from the ceiling and are used all over, making this place so dramatic. There are endless places for great Instagram spots 🙂 This is a fun thing to do in Singapore!

This attraction showcases 4 different areas. One of those is where the flowers hang from the ceiling creating a full floral canopy that your kids will love! Another area has a cave that my kids were so excited to run through. Inside the cave, there are lots of orchids and tiny poison dart frogs. My children thought this was great and this is one of the reasons that I tell everyone that Singapore is for kids!

Are you amazed yet?

The full attraction has more than 3,000 different kinds of plants from all over the world. Including some incredibly rare plants that you won’t see anywhere else in the world. This is a plant lovers’ haven.

The last attraction at the Fantasy Floral is a 4D ride called the Flight of the Dragonfly. On this “ride” you fly through the gardens. This is included in your ticket that you purchased. It’s great when you are visiting with kids. But I would not recommend this if you are prone to motion sickness.

This new attraction may be the best one in the entire garden. It certainly deserves a place on your itinerary. Also, this new attraction adds to why the Gardens by the bay will amaze you.

Practical Information about the Floral Fantasy: Ticket Prices, Opening hours, & Location

Far East Children’s Garden and playground:

If you are in Singapore with kids and plan on visiting Gardens by the Bay, you need to make sure and stop by the Far East Organizations Children’s Garden and Playground. This is a top Singapore attraction for kids.

It is an awesome outdoor playground and has an enormous splash pad for the kids to cool off in and play. In fact, make sure to pack an extra set of clothes or swimming suit. Pack sunscreen for everyone! I love this sunscreen by Neutrogena for my kids.

In addition to the giant splash pad; there is a collection of slides, and bridges that the kids can discover. Built directly into the forest and hillside the kids feel like they are in the forest playing. It is basically a giant treehouse and fort for the kids to explore.

Our kids could have easily spent an entire afternoon in this garden. Unfortunately, we showed up too late in the day and the splash pad was closing as well as the gardens.

This attraction is completely free. Make sure to give yourself plenty of time. I would plan at least 2 hours in this garden when visiting with kids.

Gardens by the Bay kids Splash Pad Opening Hours

The Gardens by the Bay kids splash pad opening hours are:

• Tuesday-Friday 10:00 am to 7:00 pm
• Saturday & Sunday 9:00 am to 8:30 pm
• Monday closed

Getting around Gardens by the Bay

Once you have arrived at Gardens by the Bay, you will quickly be amazed by how big the gardens are. Even being active and in fairly good shape this place exhausted me the first time. Now that I know about the options of transportation to get around the gardens, I can enjoy my visit more and save my kids from tiring out too quickly.

The Auto Rider – Driverless vehicle

Singapore is a high tech high and known for advancements in automation. Why not take a ride on the Auto Rider around the gardens? (Didn’t I tell you that Gardens by the Bay will amaze you.)

What a unique experience, riding in the air-conditioned vehicle in the hot Singapore sun. I didn’t get to see this but at night the Auto Rider has digital-glass technology and lighting effects are accentuated.

It will take you from place to place without a driver. My children thought this was amazing! This fun “ride” makes this one of the fun things to do in Singapore.

Ticket Price & Hours for the Auto Rider at Gardens by the Bay:

Hours: 10:00am to 9:00pm daily
Ticket Price: Adults $5.00 SGD
– Kids (3-12 Years old) $3.00 SGD
Runs every 20-minutes from Bayfront Plaza

Free Shuttle Service for Wheelchair passengers

If you are not brave to try the Auto Rider and go driverless, you can opt for the Shuttle Service. This option is free for all those in wheelchairs. This only applies to wheelchair passengers and not caregivers or guests. Guests are still required to purchase a ticket.

Shuttle Service Ticket Prices and Hours:

Hours: 9:00am to 9:00pm daily
Ticket Price: Adults $3.00 SGD
– Kids (3-12 Years old) $3.00 SGD
Runs every 10-minutes: Loops between Bayfront Plaza & the Conservatories

Stroller, Wheelchair, & Nursing Rooms Services:

Singapore amazes me at how considerate they are of all people’s situations. This extends into the Gardens by the Bay.

Strollers & Wheelchairs

Packing a stroller or wheelchair on a plane can be a pain and take up so much room, but when you go to walk around you might need one of these. Take advantage here at Gardens by the Bay. Both Strollers and Wheelchairs are available for a very reasonable price.

Prices: Stroller Rental and Wheelchair rentals are only $2.00SGD per day. Amazing!
Locations: Visitors Center at The Canopy, Information Counter at the Golden Garden, and at Floral Fantasy.
Hours: 9:00 am – 9:00pm. All strollers and wheelchairs must be returned by 9:00 pm.

Nursing Rooms

There are a number of nursing rooms and locations throughout the gardens. No matter where you are at, there isn’t one far from you.

• Golden Garden (Near Information Counter)
• The Canopy (Near Flower Dome entrance)
• Inside Cloud Forest (After going down the escalator from Crystal Mountain)
• Floral Fantasy (Inside Gift Shop)
• Supertree Food Hall
• Far East Organization Children’s Garden
• The Meadow

Gardens by the Bay ticket bundles will save you money

If you are planning to visit more than one paid attraction at Gardens by the Bay, purchasing a ticket bundle will save you money. The bundles also include the shuttle so you can move from one attraction to the next quickly.

I would say to buy the bundle if you want to go to more than one paid attraction and it will be worth its money. Especially if you decide to take the shuttle. It will save you about 15%.

You can buy your Gardens by the Bay tickets here or plan additional tours of Singapore.

Gardens by the Bay Opening Hours and Location

So, do you think that Gardens by the bay will amaze you?

Now that you know more, it’s time to go and see if you are as amazed by the Gardens by the bay as we were. We have enjoyed going to Gardens by the bay multiple times while visiting Singapore with kids.

If you are planning your trip, I would definitely recommend putting these gardens on your list of things to do. It is one of the best things to see in Singapore. It is fun even if you don’t do the paid attractions.

Our kids loved going to the splash pad and the children’s garden, which paid for a free afternoon. A rare thing in Singapore. Even if you’re not a plant lover, these gardens will amaze you! Book your trip to Singapore Here.

More to see in Singapore

Singapore has so much to offer and so many great things to do. For the ultimate guide on things to do in Singapore, check out Travels with Eden’s post. You will love Singapore and don’t want to miss a single site.

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