13 Popular Things To Do In Gardens By The Bay Singapore

A lover of plants and the outdoors?

Or you’re intrigued by grand technologies and imaginative architectures?

Get the best of both worlds all in Gardens by the Bay at the Central Region of Singapore.

This park is the city’s attempt to transform into a City in a Garden while teaching people more about the plant kingdom.

From cooled conservatories and towering Supertrees, to family-friendly parks and facilities, there are endless things to explore here.

So for those of you planning for an outing, why not check out these 13 best things to do in Gardens by the Bay.

1. Visit Flower Dome, Where Spring Is Constant
2. Discover A World Veiled In Mist At Cloud Forest
3. Walk Amongst Super Gigantic Trees At Supertree Groves

13 Best Things To Do In Gardens By The Bay

1. Visit Flower Dome, Where Spring Is Constant

Step inside Flower Dome, the world’s largest glass greenhouse and feel as if you’ve just been transported to a cool arid Mediterranean country.

A splendid array of exotic plants from five continents awaits, along with seasonal and occasional floral exhibitions in the Flower Field for you to check out.

Highlights:

• Join their free, 15mins guided tour to learn more about the unique plants.
• They have Pollen, a fine dining restaurant with a stunning waterfront view of Marina Bay.

Tips: Take shelter in the chilly Flower Dome or Cloud Forest as it’s usually quite hot outside in Singapore.

2. Discover A World Veiled In Mist At Cloud Forest

Marvel at the unusual biodiversity of tropical montane at Cloud Forest, as you ascend a 35-metre tall structure simulating a misty mountain with a waterfall.

Take photographs of stunning vertical gardens filled with colourful orchids, pitcher plants and ferns from the Cloud Walk and Tree Top Walk.

Highlights:

• See plant life found around 2,000-metres above sea level in Lost World.
• Crystal Mountain has real stalactites and stalagmites on exhibit.
• Inspect miniature orchids under magnifying glasses in Secret Garden.

Tips: If possible, purchase your tickets in advance and avoid visiting weekends as both conservatories receive huge crowds during peak hours.

3. Walk Amongst Super Gigantic Trees At Supertree Groves

At Supertree Groves, see supersize man-made “trees” with vertical gardens of up to 160,000 plants that light up the night sky like a scene out of the Avatar movie.

Mirroring real trees, these supertrees can store rainwater while some have photovoltaic cells that harness solar energy to power the Supertrees.

Highlights:

• The Supertree Observatory with an open-air rooftop deck on the tallest tree (50m) offers a 360-degree view of the Gardens and Marina Bay.
• The Garden Rhapsody light and sound shows start at 7:45pm and 8:45pm daily.

Reminder: Arrive 30mins earlier to snatch a good spot for the show.

4. See The Supertrees Up Close on OCBC Skyway

Topping most tourists’ list of most memorable and thrilling things to do in Gardens by the Bay is to walk the 128-metre long OCBC Skyway.

Get a closer look at the mesmerising Supertrees on this aerial walkway that connects one supertree to another, suspended 22-metres above ground.

Highlights:

• Capture those Insta-worthy moments with a panoramic view of the Gardens against the Marina Bay skyline.
• See iconic landmarks like Marina Bay Sands and the Singapore Flyer.

Tips: Come here in the evenings as the sceneries gets lovelier when the sun sets and the light show comes on.

5. Lose Yourself Inside The Dream-like Floral Fantasy

Fall into a world like Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland inside Floral Fantasy and be amazed by their 4 garden landscapes called Dance, Float, Waltz and Drift.

This colourful surreal space was put together with technology, artistry, over 15,000 flowers and 3000 plants to make an extremely photogenic scene.

Highlights:

• Spot some brightly-coloured poison dart frogs, ”fried egg” tree and “Darth Vader” Begonias.
• Their 4D ride theatre lets you ‘fly’ like a dragonfly in a simulated journey through the Gardens.

Reminder: Avoid visiting the 4D ride during peak hours as waiting time can reach up to 45mins.

6. Get Wet And Wild At Far East Organization Children’s Garden

Have kids that are young and energetic? Why not bring them to the Far East Organization Children’s Garden to enjoy a fun splashing time.

Your children can learn and play at the same time with the interactive play delights and educational programmes there.

Highlights:

• The Water Play features have movement detection sensors that create water effects while your little ones play and run around.
• They have tree houses for kids who love climbing and jungle adventures.

Reminder: Bring your swimwear and a change of clothes if you’re heading there.

7. Take A Glimpse Into History At Heritage Garden

Curious about Singapore’s origins and its people?

Find out more through the different plants and installations in four themed gardens within Heritage Garden.

Observe how Singapore’s historical position on the Spice Route is reflected present-day and how its three major ethnicities are intricately linked to Mother Nature.

Highlights:

• Admire the traditional Kolam layout of the Indian Garden and kampung house in Malay Garden.
• See Buddha statues under Bodhi trees in Chinese Garden and find Nutmeg, Rubber and Cocoa trees in Colonial Garden.

Reminder: The park refrains visitors from plucking or damaging the fruits and trees.

8. Enjoy A Scenic View Of The Dragonfly and Kingfisher Lakes

Have a relaxing afternoon at the Dragonfly and Kingfisher Lakes while you explore the wondrous world of aquatic flora and fauna.

Highlights:

• There are QR codes with information about the fascinating aquatic ecosystem scattered around the lakes.
• Look out for the Trio of Kingfishers and Dragonfly Riders sculptures.
• The 440-metre boardwalk beside the Dragonfly Lake is a perfect spot for photography.

Tips: Binoculars are prepared for visitors to see the dragonfly sculptures that are installed in the lakes in better detail.

9. It’s Wild Wild West At The Sun Pavilion

A big fan of those Wild West movies?

Be blown away as you step into the desert-like Sun Pavilion which has more than 1000 desert plants.

Discover special features on these succulent plants that are crucial for them to survive dry harsh environments, certain species can even live up to 15 to 300 years!

Highlights:

• They keep beyond 100 species of desert plants originating from the Americas, Africa and Madagascar.
• Definitely worth seeing are these quirky-looking species like the Mexican columnar cacti, Turk’s Cap and brain cactus.

Reminder: Be careful around the cacti as many of them bear spines.

10. Check In At The Art Sculptures

One of the most interesting things to do in Gardens by the Bay is to check out the over 40 art sculptures that they have.

These local and international creations not only adorn the different landscapes, they also add new light and meaning to the park.

Highlights:

• The Planet is a 9-metre long and 3-metre tall replica of the artist’s own child that looks like it’s floating in mid-air.
• Other impressive sculptures include the Floral Clock, Moongate and Magnificent Bull.

Tips: Check each arts’ location before your visit if you plan to hunt down all of them.

11. Keep Calm And Chill At Serene Garden

Tired of the crowd and want a break? Walk over to Serene Garden, where you can unwind in a tranquil outdoor garden.

This latest addition to the Gardens designed by Jun-ichi Inada, a Japanese landscape designer, took 3 years to complete.

Highlights:

• Features a selection of bonsai-like trees and rocks from Niyodo, Japan and Bukit Timah granite quarry to build a Japanese Zen-inspired garden.
• A central water feature and mini waterfall provide for a calm atmosphere.

Tips:  Admiring the beautiful garden skyline under shady trees here are one of the more enjoyable things to do in Gardens by the Bay.

12. Sunset Watching From The Roof Of Marina Barrage

See how the skies take on beautiful hues of orange and red as the sun set behind Marina Bay Sands from the rooftop of Marina Barrage.

Here, you can have a peaceful time relaxing on their fluffy grass lawns, away from the hustle and bustles of the city.

Photo credits: pub.gov.sg

Highlights:

• This is one of locals’ favourite places for picnics and leisure activities.
• Find a variety of local cuisines and refreshments from Satay at the Bay, a hawker centre located just below the roof.

Tips: The lawns are sometimes wet so bring along a quilt or spread for your picnics here.

13. Bond With Family And Friends At Bay East Garden

After all that sight-seeing, one of the best things to do in Gardens by the Bay with your loved ones is to spend a good time at Bay East Garden.

This serene green space that is open to all was created to deepen community bonding amidst nature in an urban setting.

Highlights:

• Come here for your daily workouts or have picnics with your family on the beautiful lawns.
• A perfect vantage point to see iconic structures like the Conservatories, Supertrees and Marina Bay Sands against the Marina skyline.

Tips: Catch one of the best sunset views in Singapore here!