Guide to Gardens by the Bay in Singapore - Tips, Free Entries & More

From towering supertrees to a huge indoor waterfall – there are plenty of awe-inspiring sights at Gardens by the Bay.

Published: July 18, 2024
Gardens by the bay

Singapore doesn’t do things by halves. The city is bold, beautiful, and extravagant in every measure. Huge glimmering skyscrapers tower over technicolor colonial houses and tropical nature bursts forth from the hillsides. So you can imagine that their version of a public ‘garden’ is something really rather special.

Spanning 250 acres, Gardens by the Bay is a vast ecological, educational and simply stunning site. With so much sparkle and highrise in the city, it could be all too easy to forget that Singapore is a super-eco tropical paradise. But, Gardens by the Bay, Singapore’s most memorable attraction, will surely remind you.

In this list, you’ll discover the best things to see at Gardens by the Bay including...

  • The Supertree Grove
  • The Sun Pavilion
  • The Flower Dome
  • Heritage Gardens

While entry into the garden complex is free, you must pay admission to enter the two great biodomes - the Cloud Forest and the Flower Dome - and to walk along the Supertree skywalk.

💰 >> See how you can save up to 50% on Singapore attractions

Gardens by the bay Singapore

Cloud Forest

The smaller of the two great swooping glass orbs that rise out of the ground like jewels is by no means the less impressive. Inside you’ll find a great green mountain, bursting with plant life all the way to the top where a stunning waterfall - the world’s tallest indoor falls - cascades to the ground. The mist that courses through the atmosphere of the dome will make you feel as though you’ve stepped into the rainforest.

Cloud Forest

Flower Dome

This is the world’s largest glass greenhouse and is a seriously impressive structure. The larger of the two biodomes plays host to a variety of sculpted gardens from around the globe, featuring a South American garden, a South African garden, an olive grove, a baobab forest, and more! Crowned by a gravity-defying, single-span glass roof, this place really will take your breath away.

Flower garden

Supertree Grove

Catch your breath again outside at the living sculptures that make up the Supertree Grove. A couple of clusters of 18 vertical gardens were built to resemble trees and work as ‘environmental engines’ as they take in and exhaust air for the conservatories' air systems. They are the principal feature in the complex’s ‘edutainment’ concept which aims to teach ecology through wonderful visuals and immersive elements.

In fact, our favorite time to visit Supertree Grove is at night, when the magnificent structures are lit up and perform striking light shows. But don’t just ogle these beauties from the ground. For SGD$8 you can venture 22 meters in the air over a 128-meter aerial walkway through the Supertrees canopy.

Gardens by the bay at night

Dragonfly Lake 

This gorgeous green body of water might look still and silent on its surface, but below it is teeming with plant and aquatic life. The landscaped edges are carefully planted with reeds and other naturally filtering plants that contribute to the ecosystem’s preservation. You can enjoy the lake from the 440m-long boardwalk that meanders around the edge and provides exceptional spots for photography of the gardens with the city’s skyline in the background. 

Dragonfly lake

Sun Pavilion 

This sun-soaked cactus conservatory is an unusual sight in Singapore’s perpetually humid atmosphere. Under the cover of a sculptural glass roof, these cacti and succulents are allowed to thrive in the hot climate while Singapore’s stormwater is siphoned away. Enjoy a wander among these alien-like, prickly protrusions and admire the diversity of the Garden’s inhabitants. 

Sun Pavilion

Heritage Gardens 

Made up of four themed gardens, here you can learn about the history of Singapore through its main ethnic groups - Indian, Chinese, and Malay, up to colonial times and the influence that it left, all told through the power of plants. 

Chinese garden

Wait, there’s more to see at Gardens by the Bay

This attraction is fun for all the family. The kids are guaranteed a splashing good time at the Far East Organization’s Children’s Garden, a fantastic outdoor playground complete with water jets from huge sculptural colorful flowers.

And with at least 10 different dining options and a myriad of cuisines, you almost need never leave the superb complex that is Gardens by the Bay. Satay by the Bay is a shiny new hawker center, adorned in greenery, that can give the city’s famous hawkers a run for their money. 

See the best of Singapore

Discover our full line-up of Singapore attractions including Gardens by the Bay, Night Safari, National Gallery Singapore, and more.

🤩 >> If you want to see and do as much as you can, our All-Inclusive Pass is for you.

😎 >> If you want to pick just a few attractions and visit at your own pace, our Explorer Pass is the perfect option.

So grab a Singapore attraction pass and save while you see!

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Follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and share your adventure with us. Tag us at @GoCity on your travel photos to keep us up to date with your vacation. 

Samuel Ford
Go City Travel Expert

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The Rain Vortex at Jewel Changi Airport
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Things to do in Changi Singapore

Changi is a cute village right at the eastern tip of Singapore, best known for its sandy beaches, lush palm groves and, not to put too fine a point on it, its status as the country’s primary transport hub, thanks to Changi Airport’s prime position slap bang in the middle of the district. But if low-flying aircraft don’t bother you a jot, you’ll find that Changi has bags of charm, from its laid back beach resorts to the many attractions located inside the airport itself. Don’t believe us? Read on to discover why Changi is worthy of a day trip or weekend mini-break on any Singapore vacation, and check out our bite-size guide to the best things to do in Changi, Singapore! Changi and How to Get There Its designation as one of the biggest and busiest transport hubs in all of Asia makes getting to Changi an absolute breeze. The airport is right at the end of the East–West Line on Singapore’s super-efficient Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) metro system, meaning you can get there in around 30 minutes from just about any centrally located hotel. There’s also a slew of bus and taxi services available and, heck, you can even walk, jog or cycle there via the Changi Airport Connector if you fancy it (more on this later). The airport encircles the enormous nature-themed entertainment and shopping complex known as Jewel Changi Airport (or just ‘Jewel’ to in-the-know locals) and its this magnificent, magical, massive playground that has earned the airport the title of ‘best in the world’ dozens of times. Things to do in Changi Airport Make no mistake, Jewel Changi Airport is an entertainment destination in its own right, absolutely worthy of a visit even if it does feel a little weird heading to the airport for a fun day out. But this is no ordinary airport. Far from it, in fact. Housed inside this architectural marvel, you’ll find epic waterfalls, huge slides, pretty gardens and world-class shops and restaurants. And that’s just for starters. Let’s unpack just a teeny tiny selection of the highlights, many of which are free! The Rain Vortex Staking its claim as the world’s tallest indoor waterfall, the Rain Vortex is the jewel in the Jewel’s crown. Rainwater enters through an oculus in the roof of the dome, cascading seven stories through the heart of the building to a pool in the basement level. A truly mesmerizing spectacle at the best of times, it’s even better during the hourly light and music shows every evening. Kinetic Rain Over in Terminal 1, this hypnotic moving sculpture is comprised of 1,216 gleaming copper-plated raindrops, each able to move independently. Together they form elaborate shapes including planes and hot-air balloons, with the patterns repeating on a 15-minute loop. But you really could watch this thing for hours on end without tiring of it. The Slide@T3 Ever imagined the unbridled joy of whizzing down the world’s tallest airport slide? Of course you have! And now’s your chance, thanks to this four-story beast that gets you from level one to basement level three in a matter of seconds. Fab fun for kids young and old. Butterfly Garden There’s no shortage of flowers and foliage to explore in this vast nature-themed complex, but chief among the many verdant attractions on offer has to be the Butterfly Garden. Inside, around 1,000 tropical butterflies dance and flutter around the flowering plants and tranquil waterfall. Pokémon Center Singapore The kids will love this real-life replica of the gaming world’s Pokémon Center, even if your wallet does not. Expect larger-than-life characters as well as (naturally) a vast array of toys, games, trading cards, clothes, bags and, well, just about anything else you can think of. Got to buy ‘em all! Changi: Best of the Rest Changi Beach Park There are plenty of things to do at Changi Beach Park: wiggle your toes in the warm white sand, picnic in the palm groves, take a dip in the blue, blue sea or simply sit and watch the world go by. Way less busy but no less beautiful than its near neighbor at East Coast Park, Changi Beach is a great choice for kampong-style vibes and beach cookouts, though note you’ll need to book a designated BBQ pit to do this. The beach park also has bikes to rent and easy access to the ace Park Connector Network that criss-crosses the island with cycle paths linking parks, wetlands and nature reserves via great green corridors. Changi Airport Connector One such corridor is the Changi Airport Connector, 3.5 kilometers of car-free pathways that link the airport to the East Coast Park. Kids will go wild for the roar-some Jurassic Mile section of the route, where life-sized dinosaurs nibble the leaves and forage in the undergrowth. Dodge nightmarish velociraptors, pause to say hey to gentle giants including the brontosaurus, and get ready to run for it when you spot the terrifying T-rex tearing through the fence! Changi Village Hawker Centre Aromatic nasi lemak, that utterly sensual blend of rice, coconut milk, chilli sauce, crispy anchovies, peanuts and egg, is the one to try at this mostly-Malay hawker center in Changi Village, but you’ll find other fragrant local favorites like chili crab here, too. Heck, why not try both? You only live once, after all. Changi Point Coastal Walk Start at the boardwalk at Changi Bay Point, where the waterfront views are at their absolute finest, then wander waterside, taking in views of village life and watching bumboats ferry daytripping tourists out to Pulau Ubin. If you’re feeling energetic, you can continue as far as Changi Beach Park, for those stunning white sands, relaxing beach vibes, and (go on, you’ve earned it!) a cooling ice cream. Changi Chapel and Museum The collection at this thought-provoking museum includes paintings, murals, sculptures and other artifacts, each contributing to the story of the soldiers and civilians interned at the Changi prison camp during Japanese occupation during the Second World War. Hear tales told by the very people who were imprisoned here, and visit the powerful Changi Chapel, a faithful reproduction of St George’s, one of the churches built here by PoWs. Save on attractions and activities in Singapore Save on admission to Singapore attractions with Go City. Check out @GoCity on Instagram for the latest top tips and attraction info.
Stuart Bak
Stuart Bak
The Rain Vortex at Jewel Changi Airport
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Indoor Activities in Singapore

First the good news: Singapore is warm year round, with super-hot summers and winters with balmy tropical breezes and average temperatures that rarely dip below the mid-70s. But it also rains rather a lot. Monsoon seasons here run from December to March and June to September; frequent downpours even outside of these seasons have earned Singapore a spot comfortably inside the 20 wettest countries on the planet. And, believe us, when it rains here it really Singa-pours! But don’t let a little thing like that put you off! Simply grab a sturdy umbrella and hop on the excellent MRT subway system for direct access to some of the best indoor activities in Singapore, including: The Gardens by the Bay The National Museum Jewel Changi Airport Snow City The Fragment Room Scentopia Hawker centers for adventurous foodies The coolest libraries in town Flower Power Gardens by the Bay is the kind of attraction that merits multiple visits on any Singapore vacation. See it on a dry day from Marina Bay’s SkyPark observation deck – a dizzying 56 stories up – and don’t miss the free evening light show at its Supertree Grove, a series of deliciously Instagrammable tree-like structures on the waterfront, with a fun elevated walkway. Fun, that is, assuming you’re not caught out unawares up there when the heavens open. The gardens have plenty of indoor exhibits to keep you entertained (and dry) if the weather does turn against you. Take the soaring Flower Dome, for example. This huge durian-shaped hothouse – a veritable riot of vibrant blooms and nose-tickling perfumes – is only the biggest of its kind on the entire planet. Step inside to discover the baobab forest, an olive grove that features as its highlight a 1,000-year-old tree, and carpets of colorful flowers in gardens that showcase blooms from around the world, including Australia, South America and the Mediterranean. You might not feel very dry inside the Cloud Forest, where regular misting is in use to keep plants well hydrated and a huge crashing waterfall (the tallest indoor waterfall in the world... maybe) creates its own spray. Find it by following the roaring sound through the forest of ferns, vines and sweet-smelling orchids. An airport may not be the place you’d naturally think of when planning how to spend a rainy day, but then Jewel Changi Airport is no ordinary airport. This nature-themed entertainment complex contains hundreds of shops and restaurants as well as an indoor garden, the Shiseido Forest Valley, that spans five stories. Cascading recycled rainwater through an oculus in the glass-paneled roof, The Rain Vortex makes for a spectacular centerpiece and – wait for it – also lays claim to the title of the world’s tallest indoor waterfall. Heck, go see both and you can make up your own mind! Cultural Indoor Activities in Singapore You don’t have to be an art aficionado to admire the collection at Singapore’s National Gallery, housed inside the monumental City Hall and former Supreme Court in the Civic District. Browse a huge collection of over 9,000 contemporary and modern works from Singapore and southeast Asia and see highlights including Georgette Chen’s series of evocative family portraits and Singaporean Choo Keng Kwang’s woodcuts and oil paintings. The art-inspired shops and two (count em) Michelin-starred restaurants here make it a great destination for filling an entire Singapore rainy day. The National Museum is no slouch either. This neoclassical icon houses one of the largest collections of historical artifacts in Asia. Check out paintings, drawings, sculptures, objets d'art and archaeological finds from in and around Singapore, including such priceless treasures as the ancient Singapore Stone, with its mysterious indecipherable inscriptions. Whiz over to the futuristic ArtScience Museum at Marina Bay Sands for ever-changing immersive exhibitions and a gallery filled with virtual reality artworks. For something a little more traditional but no less eye-popping, catch the curated selection of classic movies, documentaries and arthouse films on show at the museum’s cinema. Did somebody say ‘popcorn’? Indoor Activities in Singapore for Foodies and Funsters Looking for the perfect rainy day activity? How does an afternoon spent gorging on chicken smothered in spicy peanut satay sound? Pretty good, right? Sweet-and-savory-sauce-drenched chili crab –so good it’s basically Singapore’s national dish – is another absolute must-try. Oyster omelet? Count us in! And you’ll need an army to keep us away from umami nasi goreng, another south-east Asian staple that’s at its very best in Singapore’s ubiquitous hawker centers, great inexpensive markets where the heady scents of sizzling spices are nothing short of intoxicating. Try the Old Airport Road Food Centre and Ghim Moh Market for some of the best street snacks in town. Singapore is a treasure trove of quirky indoor activities, meaning you’ll rarely have a dull moment regardless of what the weather decides to do! We’re talking augmented reality experiences, rage rooms, indoor snowboarding and, um, public libraries (bear with us on that one). If you’ve ever wanted to let off steam – and we mean really let off steam – in a safe, enclosed space, here’s your chance. The Fragment Room is Singapore's original rage room, a place where, clad in overalls, helmet, goggles and gloves, you’re free to smash up bottles, plates, cups and even electronic gadgets to your heart’s content. Irritated by the rain that's forced you indoors? Here’s where you can vent like a pro and achieve instant gratification to the melodic tinkling sounds of breaking glass. The clue’s in the names at Scentopia and Trickeye, two of Singapore’s premier augmented reality experiences. Scentopia combines short tours exploring the history and science of Singapore’s perfume industry with an eye-popping augmented reality gallery packed with dinosaurs, huge colorful blooms and other weird and wonderful flora and fauna that appear to leap from the exhibits. Trickeye offers yet more mind-bending illusions and photo opps galore as you and your family dance with mermaids, slay dragons and swim with sharks. Cool off at Snow City, Singapore’s first indoor snow center, where the emphasis is resolutely on fun. Wrap up warm and hop on an inflatable tube for the unforgettable experience of ‘snowtubing’ down the 60-meter snow slope and test your bumper car-handling skills – on ice. Last but by no means least are Singapore’s excellent public libraries. Library@Orchard is particularly cool, a beautifully designed space with long wave-shaped bookshelves, sure to melt the heart of any discerning bibliophile. In Library@Waterfront, the Sentosa views may well prove too distracting to concentrate on reading your book, while Tampines Regional Library comes with its own auditorium as well as boasting an indoor running track and a children’s playground. Save on indoor activities in Singapore Save on admission to Singapore attractions with Go City. Check out @GoCity on Instagram and Facebook for the latest top tips and attraction info.
Stuart Bak
Stuart Bak

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