Gardens By The Bay Review: A Must Visit In Singapore

Come find out all you need to know as I share my Gardens By The Bay review and tips for visiting. From what to see to how to get there, buying your tickets, and more, this Singapore gem is a highlight you won’t want to miss!

Rated as one of the top three things to do, no trip to Singapore is complete until you check out the impressive Gardens By The Bay.

There are so many different areas, from indoor waterfalls to flowers from all around the world, and some super impressive mechanical trees! Seriously, Gardens By The Bay is definitely worth checking out in Singapore.

Honestly, no matter how many times I visit, this is one stop that’ll always be on my Singapore itinerary. Currently, we are at 4 times and counting, since I’m sure there’ll be plenty more to come!

Nevertheless, let’s get into all the details worth knowing so you can make up your mind whether you’d like to visit (spoiler: the answer is YES, GO).

Visitor Information	Current Details
Outdoor gardens	Free; generally open from 5:00 am–2:00 am
Cloud Forest	9:00 am–9:00 pm, last admission at 8:00 pm
Flower Dome	9:00 am–9:00 pm, last admission at 8:30 pm
Cloud Forest + Flower Dome	S$46 adult / S$32 child for non-residents
OCBC Skyway	S$14 adult / S$10 child for non-residents
Supertree Observatory	S$14 adult / S$10 child for non-residents
Garden Rhapsody	Free at 7:45 pm and 8:45 pm nightly
Best MRT station	Bayfront MRT, Exit B

Visiting Gardens By The Bay In Singapore: The Ultimate Guide & My Review

Supertrees illuminated pink and purple at night in Supertree Grove — Definitely can’t miss the Garden Rhapsody Light Show

🚗 How I Book Cheap Transport In Singapore: 12Go Asia

Location & How To Get To Gardens By The Bay

Gardens by the Bay is smack bang in the middle of the city center, surrounded by all the best touristy spots. The good thing is it’s super close to the Bayfront MRT stop. This means no matter where you’re staying, you’ll have no issues getting there.

If you don’t happen to be near an MRT station, then taxis are basically everywhere in the city (and in my experience, drivers are super friendly). Just make sure to pay by the meter.

Alternatively, there is also an excellent bus system here as well, which of course stops at Gardens by the Bay. You’ll need to jump on bus 400 and get off at stop no. 03371 along Marina Gardens Drive.

And it’s right next to the Marina Bay Sands Hotel, which is seriously one of the coolest places you could stay in Singapore. I’ve yet to save enough money to stay, but perhaps one day, cause you know that pool’s on my bucket list.

Getting To Gardens By The Bay On The MRT

I must say Singapore has an amazing MRT network. I remember first visiting and being completely overwhelmed (I’m from NZ and we don’t have anything like this here). Luckily enough, it was pretty easy to figure out!

In terms of getting to Gardens by the Bay, you will be in luck. The nearest station is Bayfront, and you’ll be able to get here on both the Circle and Downtown lines.

Take Exit B and follow the underground linkway before crossing either Dragonfly Bridge or Meadow Bridge into the gardens. From here, it takes around 10 minutes to reach the main attractions.

Alternatively, Gardens by the Bay MRT station on the Thomson-East Coast Line provides direct access through Exit 1 beside Satay by the Bay. This is useful if you’re arriving from somewhere along that train line, although Bayfront remains my preferred option for a first visit.

Tasha Amy sitting on the MRT in Singapore — The Singapore MRT is super safe

Taking the MRT in Singapore with passengers sitting down — Most people take the MRT

How To Book Your Ticket

Walking around the grounds of Gardens By The Bay and the supertrees is free and a must in any Singapore Itinerary.

However, you will need to buy a ticket if you want to go inside one of the domes. You’ll find the main ticketing area behind the Supertree Grove. It took us about 10 minutes to get there from the MRT exit.

A ticket costs $46 SGD / US$35.80 for adults, and it allows access to both the Flower Dome and Cloud Forest. If you’re keen to get some impressive views from higher up on the Supertree Observatory Skyway, this is a separate ticket that costs $14.00 SGD / US$10.90.

Tasha Amy walking along the OCBC Skyway between the Supertrees — Walking on the skyway

Tall central Supertree surrounded by smaller Supertrees, viewed from the OCBC Skyway — The impressive Supertrees

Visiting The Cloud Forest Dome

Once we purchased our tickets, we decided our first stop would be the Cloud Forest Dome. Gardens By The Bay is actually made up of 3 different parts, the main one being the South Garden, where you will find the supertrees and domes. No wonder it’s one of the best things to do in Singapore.

Seriously, it’s crazy as soon as you step into the Cloud Forest, you’re transported into another world. The first thing that hits is the refreshing temperature drop. This dome is kept at a lovely 23°C, a stark contrast to the muggy heat of Singapore.

As soon as you enter the Cloud Forest, you’re greeted by its enormous 35-meter indoor waterfall.

Walking around, there are many gardens of orchids, ferns, and pitcher plants. Though the main journey starts with a short elevator ride up to the top. Here is the Lost World exhibit, which changes from time to time, right now its Juarssic Park themed.

This is certainly one of the top attractions, and especially a must if you are traveling Singapore with kids.

Tasha Amy standing beneath the indoor waterfall inside Cloud Forest at Gardens by the Bay — Impressive indoor waterfall

View through hanging plants toward the indoor waterfall inside Cloud Forest — Looking through the waterfall

Cloud Walk

The Lost World leads onto the Cloud Walk, a suspended walkway that branches away from the mountain and slowly curls around to the floor below. There is a great view out of the dome to Marina Bay Sands, and in the other direction is the Singapore Flyer.

Looking back towards the mountain, it’s pretty impressive to see the vast amount of plants used to clad the side of this enormous structure.

Tasha Amy looking toward Cloud Mountain and its elevated walkway inside Cloud Forest — The walkways inside the Cloud Forest

Elevated walkway curving around the plant-covered Cloud Mountain inside Cloud Forest — Mist coming out of the bridge

Crystal Mountain and Tree Top Walk

Built like a cave, this level has many stalagmites and stalactites, fossils, and interesting rocks.

On this level is also the tree-top walk. Similar to the cloud walk, but at a lower level, the tree-top walk takes you away from the mountain before looping back around and exiting on the same level.

Part of the walkway takes you right up alongside the structure, so you can get super close to all the plants that line the mountain. It makes a good photo spot with an amazing backdrop of red flowers among the green ferns.

🚗 How I Book Cheap Transport In Singapore: 12Go Asia

The Hidden Forest

Around Crystal Mountain, you’ll find The Hidden Forest, an interactive digital art experience focusing on plants and animals found within cloud forest environments.

Exploring The Flower Dome

After spending time exploring the Cloud Forest Dome, make your way over to the Flower Dome.

It’ll be another refreshing temperature drop as you walk in. However, with 3,332 glass panels, it is much larger than its Cloud Forest counterpart. The Flower Dome seriously has so many different areas, too many for me to go over in detail. Though a good place to start is the succulent garden.

It’s just like being in the desert without the heat. Here you’ll find an impressive display of cacti, aloes, and crassulas. Look, but don’t touch, these plants you won’t want to get too close to.

Surrounding it are many other gardens, such as the South African, Australian, and Californian gardens, to name a few. You can actually see the African Baobab here, it’s the tallest tree in the Flower Dome.

So, there is a hell of a lot to see here, and it’s massive. Every time I’ve visited, we get to a point where we give up and leave. You could seriously spend hours here, and that’s without spotting all the impressively camouflaged sculptures.

Tall cacti and succulents growing inside the Flower Dome at Gardens by the Bay — Massive cacti growing in the Flower Dome

Walk Around Supertree Grove

Next up, we have Supertree Grove, which is free to walk around, perfect if you’re trying to backpack Singapore on a budget. Supertree Grove contains 12 of the 18 Supertrees found throughout Gardens by the Bay.

11 of these Supertrees have environmentally sustainable functions, including photovoltaic cells, while seven are specifically designed to harvest solar energy.

This is located right in the middle of Gardens by the Bay, so you literally can’t miss it. You’ll also be able to find smaller Supertrees at the Silver and Gold Gardens. They may just look like some random structure, but this is Singapore, so these trees definitely serve a greater purpose.

First off, over 160,000 plants have been planted on the exterior of these 12 Supertrees, of which the majority have solar receptors to store energy for the light show in the evenings, and 2 others act as an exhaust system to keep the air cool.

OCBC Skyway crossing between the Supertrees with Marina Bay Sands in the background — Looking up to the OCBC Skyway

Tasha Amy walking toward Supertree Grove with Marina Bay Sands in the background — The Supertrees look massive from down here

OCBC Supertree Skyway

You’ll find the OCBC Skyway in the center of the Supertree Grove, between the 2 tallest trees. This is actually a bridge walk suspended in the air with pretty amazing views.

Heads up, though, there can be quite a line, so the best time is to go early in the morning. This is simply because there’s a limit for the number of people on the bridge at once. I know, it may sound like a hassle, but because of these limits, it’s never overly crowded at the top, and you can get some awesome photos.

Once at the top, it’s a pretty jaw-dropping moment when the impressive view greets you. At 22m in height, you can see all around the gardens and to the neighbouring Marina Bay Sands.

The OCBC Skyway and Supertree Observatory require separate tickets. Both cost S$14.00 for non-resident adults and S$10.00 for children.

The OCBC Skyway is the suspended walkway connecting two Supertrees, while the Supertree Observatory is located at the top of the tallest Supertree. If you only want to book one, I’d choose the Skyway for the experience of walking between the trees.

Tasha Amy posing on the OCBC Skyway with a Supertree behind her — Views are epic but there’s not much shade

View over Gardens by the Bay toward the Singapore Flyer and glass conservatories — View towards the Flower Dome from the skyway

Witness The Garden Rhapsody Light Show

In the evening, you’ll need to head back to Gardens By The Bay for the famous light show. This happens at both 7:45 pm and 8:45 pm, so you have 2 different chances to catch it. However, the queues here can be CRAZY LONG. Seriously, it’s a bit insane, aim to be sitting waiting 30 minutes early on a weekday and 1 hour early on weekends.

After getting off the MRT, we slowly approached the gardens. Having already visited yesterday, we knew of a few spots that would be good for viewing.

Unfortunately, with the rain, we opted for shelter under a real tree with a few other people. At 7.45 pm, right on time, all the lights of the supertrees faded to black, and we came out from hiding to watch the show.

Check out my full Garden Rhapsody Light Show guide

A short narration starts the performance. Then, the music begins, and the lights of the trees start to glow. There are themes for the shows, but it’s less of a storyline and more like showcasing music from that particular time.

Tasha Amy sitting at Supertree Grove waiting for the Gardens Bay The Light Show to start — Waiting for the show to start

The Supertrees at the Gardens By The Bay Light Show lit up pink — My fav spot looking straight up at the Supertrees

The Supertrees and OCBC Skyway during the Garden Rhapsody light show from the Marina Bay Overpass — View from the Marina Bay Overpass

Other Things Worth Doing In Singapore

Now I’m sure you already know how many awesome things there are to do in Singapore.

Nevertheless, let’s get into a little breakdown so you can have the best time.

If you’re planning more of your Singapore trip, check out my guides on getting from Singapore Airport to the city, visiting Lau Pa Sat, and the Mandai Wildlife Parks River Wonders and Rainforest Wild Adventure.

🚗 How I Book Cheap Transport In Singapore: 12Go Asia

Chinatown

Seriously, I do love Chinatown in Singapore, it’s a great place to stay, and generally affordable compared to a lot of other options.

If you’re keen on some shopping and cheap eats, wander on over to Pagoda Street. Seriously, prices here were surprisingly low for souvenirs! Afterwards, definitely make sure to head over to The Buddha’s Tooth Relic Temple. For a unique perspective, try visit at night when it’s all beautifully lit up.

Streetart of a man and a cart serving icecream along the street in Chinatown Singapore — Just some of the impressive street art you can find in Chinatown

Little India

Now, to mix things up, definitely visit Little India. It really is a lot different than the rest of the city, a little bit of the Chaos of India meets the orderly Singapore.

If you’re looking for a decent, affordable meal, be sure to hit up the great restaurants around here, especially if you like Indian cuisine. Also, keep an eye out for all the cool murals and street art, which you’ll find all over the place!

A basket of Naan bread and butter chicken in Little India Singapore — There’s some great restaurants nearby in Little India

Tasha Amy standing in front of the House of Tan Teng Niah in Little India Singapore — The colorful House of Tan Teng Niah

Sentosa Island

For those looking for a bit of fun, perhaps traveling as a family, then Sentosa Island is a must. This is where you will find Universal Studios, though there’s also a waterpark, skywalk, butterfly garden, and plenty more.

Make sure to take the cable car over for some seriously epic views!

Looking over one of the resorts at Sentosa Island in Singapore — If you’re keen on Universal and theme parks Sentosa is a good place to stay

Marina Bay

Last up, we have exploring the impressive area of Marina Bay. If you can definitely visit in the early evening when the heat isn’t at its worst, it’s a great spot to watch the sunset.

While here, you can simply wander along the waterfront, see the famous Merlion statue, and catch the light show, all of which are free. Alternatively, there’s a super nice touristy hawker center called Makansutra Gluttons Bay, which is worth checking out. And afterwards, head over to ride the Singapore Flyer.

If you want even better views, hit up the bar at the Marina Bay Sands Hotel. Or just stand back and admire the building, then walk through the mall that’s part of it.

Looking over to Marina Bay during sunset — Wandering around Marina Bay

Where To Stay In Singapore

Now, when it comes to accommodation in Singapore, you’ll be super spoiled, but definitely prepare your wallet. Seriously, it’s majorly not cheap here… At all!

The number of times I have traveled to Singapore and found myself in a random lil hostel, even when one of Taylor Swift’s concerts was on, so you just know that was hectic.

Anyway, in terms of hostels, one I do keep going back to is Wink at Mosque Street. It’s very much no frills, but still super comfortable at a pretty damn good price point for Singapore. They have pod-style dorms, with a privacy curtain, great air con (as long as your bunk mate doesn’t change the temp *eye roll*), and I’ve never ever had an issue with cleanliness here.

Oh, plus a massive bonus, the bedding in the dorm is amazing. Thick, fluffy duvets and multiple pillows. No lies, it’s the main reason I come back.

Though if you have a bit more cash to splash out on a hotel, I did stay at Hotel Mi Rochor on a girls’ trip and it was the perfect choice. Clean, comfortable, modern, and with a nice swimming pool.

Oh, and make sure you stay somewhere that is close to the MRT, as that’ll no doubt be your main transport method. Both Wink at Mosque Street and Hotel Mi Rochor are about 2 minute walk away from the MRT station, and it makes a massive difference.

Check out my full breakdown of best locations to stay in Singapore

Wink At Mosque Street

In the heart of China town. A comfortable and clean hostel starting from $40.00 per night.

BOOK NOW

Cube Social Boutique Capsule Hotel

Super modern capsule hotel right on the Singapore River. These capsule rooms start from $70.00 per night.

BOOK NOW

Hotel Mi Rochor

Excellent hotel in a great area surrounded by restaurants. Rooms start from $140.00 per night.

BOOK NOW

Holiday Inn Express Singapore Clarke Quay by IHG

A super nice hotel with a great view and epic location. Prices for rooms start from $190.00 per night.

BOOK NOW

🚗 How I Book Cheap Transport In Singapore: 12Go Asia

FAQs About Visiting Gardens By The Bay

Is it free to enter Gardens by the Bay?

Yup, it’s free to enter Gardens By The Bay, which makes it a super affordable thing to do in Singapore. However, you’ll need to buy a ticket if you wish to check out the Cloud Forest or Flower Dome, as well as do the Skywalk.

How many hours do I need for Gardens by the Bay?

Seriously, you could easily spend all day at Gardens by the Bay. However, no matter what, it’s unlikely you’ll see it all. I recommend spending 2 hours if you aren’t visiting the domes, but if you are, it’ll probably be more like 3 or 4 hours.

Can you just walk around Gardens by the Bay?

The Gardens by the Bay is a pretty large area that you can simply walk around if you can handle the Singapore heat. Oftentimes, you can find locals just hanging out here exercising.

Is Gardens by the Bay worth visiting?

Yes, Gardens by the Bay is absolutely worth visiting. I’ve now been four times, and it’s still somewhere I make a point of returning to whenever I’m in Singapore. The outdoor gardens, Supertree Grove, and Garden Rhapsody light show are all free, while the Cloud Forest is worth paying for if your budget allows.

Daytime view of Supertree Grove and the elevated OCBC Skyway — Right up among the Supertrees

Wrap Up: My Gardens By The Bay Review

Okay, so hopefully I have convinced you why Gardens By The Bay is worth visiting. From the impressive domes, massive mechanical trees, and super crazy light show.

Though, seriously, one of the reasons I love this place the most is that unless you want to explore a bit further in depth, there isn’t actually an entry fee to check it out. So really, you have zero excuses to not come!

Any Questions? Let me know in the comments!

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Come find out all you need to know as I share my Gardens By The Bay review and tips for visiting. From what to see to how to get there, buying your tickets, and more, this Singapore gem is a highlight you won't want to miss!

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. So, if you click on it and purchase something, I get a small percentage at no extra cost. As always, all opinions are my own, and your support is much appreciated.

Backpackers Wanderlust was a guest at Gardens By The Bay, however, as always, all opinions are my own.