The air feels refreshingly cool and humid against my skin. I can hear water running and look up at a huge mountain covered with beautiful green plants, flowers, and a gigantic waterfall. We have entered the high-tech botanical gardens of the future – The Cloud Dome inside the Gardens by The Bay Singapore! It feels like we have left our world behind and stepped into the lush alien world of Pandora. 

Gardens By The Bay Singapore

Created in 2012 as part of Singapore’s government strategy of making Singapore into a “City In A Garden” and to increase the quality of life with trees, plants, and flowers, the Gardens By The Bay is an enormous futuristic botanical garden. It cost S$1 billion = US$ 726 425 000 to build, money well spent if you ask me as it is truly magical and like nothing, I have ever seen! It is the Rolls Royce of botanical gardens.

Beautifully located right by the waterfront of Marina Bay, the Gardens by the bay consists of three parts: Bay South Garden (the most prominent part, 54 hectares), Bay Central Garden, and Bay East Garden.

The Bay South Garden is the highlight of Gardens By The Bay and the part that gets most visitors as this is where the iconic and famous Supertrees are located, as well as the Flower Dome and Cloud Forest Dome. Bay East Garden is the second largest part and is a green lung in the city of Singapore, offering great views of the city skyline.
Connecting the two is The Bay Central Garden, a 3 km waterfront promenade, perfect for walking and running, and offers a stunning view of Singapore.

With its 101 hectares of green and lush delight, housing more than 217 000 (!) plants from over 800 different species, it is Singapore’s largest green jewel and urban outdoor recreation area and a must-visit if you are in Singapore!

The Gardens By The Bay Attractions

The Gardens By The Bay, or Marina Bay Gardens, has lots of cool attractions, most of them in the Bay South part. Here are the best attractions of the Gardens by The Bay Singapore:

1. Supertrees

These sci-fi trees are like taken out of the movie Avatar and are soooo cool! There are eighteen Supertrees in Gardens by the bay in total, where twelve of them are put together making a cluster of trees called the Supertree Grove. The trees are of different heights ranging from 25 to 50 meters tall.

The daily light-and-sound show Garden Rhapsody is a must-see! It feels like being right in the middle of a sci-fi movie watching the Supertrees covered with 162 900 plants light up in a spectacular light show accompanied by music. The Gardens by the bay light show is shown every day at 19:45 and 20:45.

The tallest Supertree used to have a very popular restaurant called the IndoChine, but it closed down in 2019. Thankfully, in its stead, they have opened a new observation deck from where you can enjoy a panoramic view of the garden and the Marina Bay area.

The Supertrees are cool in so many ways, not only the visual. They are packed with environmental technologies that mimic the ecological function of real trees. They have for instance photovoltaic cells that harness solar energy to produce power that lights up the trees, which resembles how real trees photosynthesize.

The Supertrees collect rainwater used in irrigation, just like how real trees must absorb rainwater to grow. The Gardens by the Bay has several fountains which also use rainwater. The Supertrees also help out with running and cooling the Flower Dome and the Cloud Forest Dome.

• Opening hours Supertree Grove: 05:00 in the early morning – 02:00 in the night every day
• Gardens by the bay light show time/ Gardens Rhapsody time: 19:45 and 20:45 daily
• Ticket price for the Supertrees Singapore/ Supertree Grove: FREE! Also, the Supertree light show is free
• The Observation deck is open 16.00 – 21.00 (4 – 9 pm) on weekdays, and 12.00 – 21.00 (12 pm – 09 pm) on weekends and public holidays. The last admission is half an hour before closing. Tickets are 14 USD for adults and 10 USD for children.
• Webpage Supertree Grove

2. OCBC Skyway

The 22 meters high and 128-meter long canopy called the OCBC Skyway was sadly closed for construction when we visited Singapore, but it is one of the highlights of the Gardens by the bay.

The canopy connects six of the Supertrees in the Supertree Grove so you can get close to the trees and the plants. It is the perfect place to get a stunning view of the skyline of Marina Bay. You have to buy an extra ticket to get up to OCBC Skyway.

• Opening hours OCBC Skyway: 09:00 – 21:00 (last ticket sale and admission is at 20:00) every day
• Ticket price OCBC Skyway: S$8 for an adult = US$, S$5 for a child (8-12 years old) = US$4. To skip the ticket queue and save money, buy your discounted e-tickets here in advance. The tickets are flexible, so you can book them now and use them any time within the next 180 days.
• Webpage OCBC Skyway

3. Flower Dome

Gardens by the Bay has two cooled conservatories; the Flower Dome and the Cloud Forest Dome, each with a unique interior layout and containing different plants and exhibitions.

The domes are unique worldwide as they are energy efficient and sustainable buildings where the goal is to minimize the environmental footprint.

They use a pretty cool and unique technology system where rainwater is collected from the surface of the domes and circulated into the cooling system. The cooling system and the Supertrees outside are connected, used both to vent hot air and to cool circulated water. Pretty impressive!

Uniquely these huge glass-roof structures have been built without any additional interior support like columns.

The giant glass “egg” Gardens by the Bay Flower Dome is packed with beautiful flowers and plants, divided into seven different gardens each with its theme.

The flower display changes frequently to reflect the seasonal changes and festivals. When we visited, the beautiful and colorful “The Orchid Extravaganza” display was showing. Since orchid is my favorite flower, I absolutely L-O-V-E-D it!

The Flower Dome in Singapore is the world´s largest glass greenhouse with a heigh of 38 meters and 1300 m². The air is kept cool (23-25 C) and dry (60-80% humidity) like the Mediterranean climate. These are the perfect growing conditions for exotic plants from for instance Australia, South America, and South Africa.

The Flower Dome also houses the sophisticated restaurant Pollen, in the middle of an olive grove, serving modern European cuisine where some of its ingredients come from the Garden. The restaurant has a magnificent view of Marina Bay and the Singapore skyline. Pollen is currently temporarily closed for renovation.

• Opening hours Flower Dome: 09:00 – 21:00 every day
• Ticket price Flower Dome + Cloud Forest Dome: S$28 (adult) = US$20, and S$15 (child 3-12 years old) = US$11. To skip the ticket queue and save money, buy your discounted e-tickets here in advance. The tickets are flexible, so you can book them now and use them any time within the next 180 days.
• Webpage Flower Dome

4. Cloud Forest Dome

The Flower Dome is nice, but for me, the Cloud Forest Dome was the one that was most impressive! We even visited it twice as it was so fantastic.

When entering this dome, it feels like stepping into a dense, steamy, and humid tropical jungle, kind of like the Amazonas (although I must admit that we have not been to the Amazonas yet…..but this must be how it feels like…kind of).

Gardens by the bay Cloud Forest Dome is like a lost and mystical world with a big green and lush mountain covered in mist. I kept looking around for the typical jungle animals like orangutans, gorillas, tigers, and monkeys…..but I’m sorry to disappoint you, they are not there I´m afraid. 😉

The temperature inside the Cloud Forest Dome is between 23 and 25 C, and the humidity is 80-90%, which is the same as the tropical montane climate found between 1500 and 3000 meters above sea level. It is the perfect environment for plant life from tropical mountain areas in South-East Asia, Middle- and South America.

As you enter the Cloud Forest Dome, you know this is going to be excellent as you are welcomed by a gigantic 35-meter tall waterfall at the entrance. You can let the water droplets cool you down if you go close enough.

The waterfall is the world´s biggest indoor waterfall, 35 meters tall.
As you follow the walking path called the Cloud Walk, you go around and up the big green mountain “Cloud Mountain” giving you a great view over the Cloud Forest. I loved the Cloud Walk at the top of the mountain where you walk on an airy path on the outside of the mountaintop, taking you to the plateau below. The view from this walk is spectacular!

Also, the Treetop Walk is cool, where you go through a tunnel of green jungle plants and into a canopy walk with great views. There is, however, also an elevator. Here you walk among the top of the tall palm trees giving you a great bird’s eye view of the treetops.

At the top of the Cloud Mountain (35 meters tall), you enter the Lost World which showcases cloud forest vegetation generally found at 2 000 meters above sea level. From here you get a fantastic view of Marina Bay, the Supertrees, and the rest of the Gardens by the bay.

You can also step inside the mountain to the Crystal Mountain Cave, a display of different shapes of real stalactites and stalagmites. The cave is a geologist’s heaven where you learn more about geology, how the various continents are formed, the age of the earth, and the importance of fossils in understanding our planet’s past.

The  Cloud Forest Theater shows a film about how we all can contribute to conserving nature and water to get a more sustainable world and future.

The displays change with the seasons at the Cloud Forest Dome. When we visited, they had recreated their award-winning orchid display, “In a cavern, in a canyon”, which won Gold and Best of Show at the 22nd World Orchid Conference (WOC 22) in Ecuador in November 2017. The display was stunning!

We ended our visit to the Cloud Forest with a walk through the Secret Garden which is fantastic! The Secret Garden consists of limestone forests and caves covered by more than 7 000 plants of more than 135 species. Many of the plants belong to the gesneriads, begonias, orchids, and ferns families.

The coolest, however, was the miniature orchids which are so tiny that their blooms can only be seen through a magnifying glass! How cool and cute is that?! I loved it and could have looked through the magnifying glass admiring the tiny flowers forever. 🙂

• Opening hours Cloud Forest Dome: 09:00 – 21:00 every day
• Ticket price Flower Dome + Cloud Forest Dome: S$28 (adult) = US$20, and S$15 (child 3-12 years old) = US$11. If you want to avoid the long ticket queue and save money, buy your discounted e-tickets here in advance. The tickets are flexible, so you can book them now and use them any time within the next 180 days.
• Webpage Cloud Forest Dome

The End

Gardens by the Bay are Singapore’s biggest green lung and have something for everyone. No matter if you like awesome architectural masterpieces, impressive high-tech technology, or beautiful plant and flower arrangements, a visit to the Gardens by the Bay should be on your Singapore itinerary.

The star of the Gardens by the Bay is the Supertrees in the Supertree Grove with its Garden Rhapsody light-and-music show as well as the OCBC Skyway. But also the Cloud Forest Dome and the Flower Dome are fantastic and well worth a visit.

We bought e-tickets to Gardens by the Bay and the OCBC Skyway here in advance. That way we skipped the long waiting line for tickets. Very easy and convenient! The tickets are flexible, so you can book them now and use them any time within the next 180 days.

The Gardens by the bay also offers a great selection of restaurants and cafes and gift shops. There is also a Children’s Garden where the kids can play and be interactive with water, trampolines, balance beams, hanging bridges, and learn about mother nature.

When walking around the park along the many beautiful walking paths, you will find several fantastic art sculptures and enjoy a great view of Marina Bay and the Singapore skyline. You can easily use at least half a day at this huge park. There is never a dull moment at Gardens by the Bay Singapore!

If you like gardens, then also check out the beautiful Singapore Botanic Gardens.

Where To Stay In Singapore

There is no getting around that Singapore is a pretty expensive city when it comes to accommodation. But on the plus side, the hotel standard is very high, and there are some genuinely wonderful hotels here. Below are some of our favorites hotels at different price ranges.

Top End

Fullerton Hotel

The Fullerton is widely regarded as Singapore’s most luxurious hotel. While the Raffles hotel is under renovation, the Fullerton Bay Hotel is the best choice for old-school five-star colonial-style luxury and world-class service.
If it is within your budget, staying here is an experience in itself. The 25m rooftop swimming pool overlooking Marina Bay is truly spectacular!
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Hotel Fort Canning

Surrounded by the green and peaceful Fort Canning Park this beautifully restored old colonial fort-made heritage boutique hotel is a quiet oasis in the heart of the city. The rooms are large and beautiful with high ceilings, hardwood floors, and super comfortable beds. We loved the spacious bathroom with its stylish bathtub.

There are two large swimming pools and a well-equipped gym. It has a very central location, within walking distance to both the main shopping street Orchard Road and the Colonial District with all the main museums and sights.
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Parkroyal on Pickering

Parkroyal on Pickering is something as rare as an eco-conscious five-star hotel. It shows through in everything from the small touches like the daily refilled glass water bottles to pens made of bamboo to the architectural marvel of the green hanging terraces that decorate its facade.

The rooms are modern, spacious, and very comfortable. The view of the Singapore Skyline from the room and also the bathtub is amazing! There is an infinity pool as well as a well-equipped gym. The breakfast buffet is spectacular, and the location is excellent with both the Chinatown MRT Station and the Clarke Quay MRT Station very close by.
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Mid Range

Jen Orchardgateway

If you want a modern, comfortable hotel that is close to the shopping along Orchard Road, then look no further. Jen Orchardgateway is it! Occupying the top floors of the Orchard Gateway mall the location just simply can’t be beaten. The rooms are very comfortable, but the real standout is the enormous infinity rooftop swimming pool with its spectacular evening views of the city. We also loved the room service robot (yes, indeed a robot!) 🙂
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AMOY by Far East Hospitality

If you are looking for something unique, then the Amoy Hotel might just fit the bill. This renovated old temple building at the edge of Chinatown has become a world-class boutique hotel.

Every room is unique, and the old building creates a special and cozy atmosphere.

The staff is always friendly and helpful. There is an MRT station, Telok Ayer MRT Station (blue Downtown Line), right across the street, and there are plenty of restaurants and cafes around.
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Budget

Lloyds Inn

Located in a quiet residential neighborhood only a few minutes walk from the main shopping street of Singapore, Orchard Road, Lloyd’s Inn has a perfect central location and is excellent value for the money.

The rooms are small but stylish and well decorated like out of an Ikea catalog with some unique touches. Our room had a fantastic open-air shower. It is worth paying a little extra for a garden-facing room.

The garden is beautiful and contains a lovely wading pool and resting area. Breakfast is served in a local Kopitiam (coffee shop), Killiney Kopitiam, on the adjacent road, Killiney Road. This road has plenty of affordable restaurants serving everything from Vietnamese to Indian food.
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Hotel G

Hotel G was a positive surprise to us! While the rooms are tiny, the standard is excellent for the price with clean, modern, and comfortable rooms with flat-screen TVs and private bathrooms with rainwater showers. Loved the hipster-like design.

We opted for a slightly larger room since we were traveling with a lot of luggage and we were extremely comfortable.
Downstairs is a classy and cool wine bar, and the burger bar “Twenty Five Degrees” on the corner serves some of the best burgers in Singapore. Try the truffle chips, they are heavenly!
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⇒ Click here to read our complete guide on Where To Stay In Singapore, with tips on how to find the best hotel and area to stay in for you

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Have you been to Gardens by the Bay in Singapore? What did you think of it? Or have you been to other cool gardens around the world? Please share your experiences in the comment area below. We would love to hear from you! Thanks! 🙂