Travel

Gardens By The Bay Review: 15 Attractions You Should Definitely Check Out

Here’s everything you should know about this hotspot
By: Agnes / July 29, 2022

Gardens By The Bay is undoubtedly one of Singapore’s most popular tourist spots. But not just that, it’s also a great place for locals to explore, whether on dates or on family outings. You can reach the hotspot in many different ways and visit various attractions there. For less than $8, you can appreciate a plethora of flora and fauna. On the other hand, there is also an abundance of free attractions for all. Here at Glitz, we bring you the ultimate Gardens By The Bay review featuring the top attractions to check out!

How To Get There

Source: Gardens By The Bay

First and foremost in our Gardens By The Bay review is how to get to the popular spot. Well, Singapore is known for its convenient and abundant public transportation. Therefore, there are many ways to get there:

1. By Taxi or Grab

If you’re feeling exhausted, you might be lazy to find your way around using public transportation. Alternatively, you can call a taxi or Grab and inform the driver of the spot you’re going to. Every taxi and Grab driver knows Gardens By The Bay because it’s one of the most popular tourist spots in town.

2. By MRT

For those looking to save a couple of bucks, you can get there by MRT. Those on the Circle Line or Downtown Line should stop at Bayfront MRT Station and find Exit B. Then, use the underground linkway which will lead you to either the Dragonfly Bridge or Meadow Bridge. However, both will lead you to Gardens By The Bay.

Those using the East-West Line should stop at Tanjong Pagar MRT Station and find Exit C. Then, find bus stop 03223 which is located at the International Plaza on Anson Road. You can then get into a bus with the number 400 all the way to Marina Gardens Drive. 

3. By Walking

Singapore is a good country for walking, with many safe walkways. Thus, walking to Gardens By The Bay is possible. If you’re at Marina Bay Sands, just cross the Lions Bridge that’s located at the Marina Bay Sands Hotel. On the other hand, you can also take the underground linkway through the Bayfront MRT station and take Exit B.

What To Do

1. Cloud Forest

Source: Gardens By The Bay

A visit to Cloud Forest, which features a mountain covered with plants from all over the world and one of the tallest indoor waterfalls in the world, is a worthwhile experience. Take a stroll along its one-of-a-kind elevated walkways and prepare to be captivated as you get up up and personal with some of the world’s most exotic plant species.

Operating hours: 9am-9pm (Last admission at 8.30pm)

Recommended Visit Duration: 1 hour

Entrance fee: From $8 onwards

2. Flower Dome

Source: Gardens By The Bay

Explore rare flora from the savannahs of South Africa and the deserts of the Middle East, as well as the Mediterranean! Checking out the Flower Dome is a must in our Gardens By The Bay review as it’s the largest glass greenhouse in the world. Learn all about this groundbreaking megastructure that houses plants from all over the world in one convenient location.

Operating hours: 9am-9pm (Last admission at 8.30pm)

Recommended Visit Duration: 1 hour

Entrance fee: From $8 onwards

3. ​​Floral Fantasy

Source: Gardens By The Bay

Floral Fantasy, located just steps away from the Bayfront MRT station, is a mystical haven of suspended bouquets and imaginative floral arrangements. Here you can wander through a variety of garden landscapes that flow into one another. Visit a vivarium full of colourful poison dart frogs on the way!

Operating hours: Mon – Fri 10am-7pm (Last admission at 6.30pm) | Sat, Sun & PH 10am-8pm (Last admission at 7.30pm)

Recommended Visit Duration: 1 hour

Entrance fee: From $10 onwards

4. OCBC Skyway

Source: Gardens By The Bay

The OCBC Skyway offers some of the most captivating vistas in Singapore. This 128-meter-long aerial walkway, which is suspended between two Supertrees at a height of 22 metres above ground, provides a wonderful opportunity to take that postcard-worthy photo of the Gardens’ verdant surroundings, which are located in the heart of downtown Marina Bay.

Operating hours: 9am-9pm (Last admission at 8.30pm)

Recommended Visit Duration: 15 minutes

Entrance fee: From $8 onwards

5. Supertree Observatory

Source: Gardens By The Bay

The Supertree Observatory is located at the very top of the tallest Supertree and provides spectacular views over Gardens by the Bay and the Marina Bay area. At the Gardens’ highest point, you’ll find refreshments, an interactive digital learning experience, photo ops galore, and an overall fantastic time.

Operating hours: Mon – Fri 4pm-9pm (Last admission at 8.30pm) | Sat, Sun & PH 12pm-9pm (Last admission at 8.30pm)

Recommended Visit Duration: 45 minutes

Entrance fee: From $6 onwards

6. Supertree Grove (FREE)

Source: Gardens By The Bay

One of the stand-out things in our Gardens By The Bay review has got to be the Supertree Grove. Yes, these trees are 50 metres tall and even equal to 16-storey buildings. They provide amazing views throughout the day and come to life at night with beautiful lights. The iconic trees shade visitors during the day while seven of them harvest solar energy. At night (7.45pm & 8.45pm), a mesmerizing Garden Rhapsody light and sound show take centre stage. 

Operating hours: 5am-2am

Entrance fee: Free

7. World of Plants (FREE)

Source: Gardens By The Bay

It seems like no matter how many species of flora we discover, there’s always more to find. In our Gardens By The Bay review, we highly recommend visiting the World of Plants if you’re keen to learn something. The World of Plants is a free exhibition featuring six themed gardens. The first is the Secret Life of Trees, where you get to explore the inside of a tree trunk. Next, meet a vast variety of palm trees alongside organisms that live underground. The rest of the exhibition features information on fruits and flowers, life-sized animal topiaries and the history of plants.

Operating hours: 5am-2am

Entrance fee: Free

8. The Canyon (FREE)

Source: Gardens By The Bay

Singapore is known for super hot and humid weather that is constant throughout the year. With this, Gardens By The Bay created a special section specifically for tough plants, accompanied by imported sculptures. A plethora of heat-resistant live plants can be found throughout The Canyon, with over 200 species in total. In addition, you’ll also get to admire over 60 ancient rock forms sourced from Shandong, China. You might even find a rock that’s as tall as 7 metres! That’s more than 2 storeys high!

Operating hours: 5am-2am

Entrance fee: Free

9. Active Garden (FREE)

Source: Gardens By The Bay

One thing you must do in our Gardens By The Bay review is spend some time outdoors. Active Garden is destined to become your family’s new hangout due to its abundance of free and convenient amenities. You get an outdoor gym, interactive musical playground, communal garden, expansive event fields, and a pet-friendly café all at one spot!

Operating hours: 5am-2am

Entrance fee: Free

10. Kingfisher Wetlands (FREE)

Source: Gardens By The Bay

Birdwatchers and ecotourists who visit the Kingfisher Wetlands never leave disappointed. This new feature of the Gardens is home to a thriving variety of exotic plant and animal life. Get your fill at Satay by the Bay, and then enjoy a leisurely stroll to the nearby Wetlands. In addition, savour the wonders of nature and learn how biodiversity can exist even in the middle of a city.

Operating hours: 5am-2am

Entrance fee: Free

11. Bay East Garden (FREE)

Source: Gardens By The Bay

There are winding paths to discover, lush grass, and beautiful palm trees in Bay East Garden. Bay East Garden is a beautiful sanctuary in the middle of downtown Singapore where you can go to relax, read a book, practise your photography, or have a picnic with friends and family while taking in breathtaking views of the Marina Bay skyline.

Operating hours: 24 hours

Entrance fee: Free

12. Dragonfly & Kingfisher Lakes (FREE)

Source: Gardens By The Bay

Take a stroll along the river to revitalise yourself. Explore the lake’s depths to find the amazing ecology that supports the aquatic species you’ve been admiring on the surface. Lakes are home to a wide variety of aquatic organisms, including fish, amphibians, and even migrating birds, so they’re more than just a pretty sight. Because they are able to take in and use excess nitrogen and phosphorus, plants play a crucial role in keeping the lake’s nutrient levels stable. It’s a must-visit spot in our Gardens By The Bay review for sure.

Operating hours: 5am-2am

Entrance fee: Free

13. Heritage Gardens (FREE)

Source: Gardens By The Bay

Heritage Gardens is the perfect place to take a stroll down memory lane and experience the allure of the past. Learn the intriguing histories of Singapore’s many different people groups and their associated cultures via the medium of a wide variety of plants. In addition, you can learn how the three major ethnic groups in Singapore. Plus, how the country’s colonial heritage is all connected to plants by exploring four distinct gardens. 

Operating hours: 5am-2am

Entrance fee: Free

14. Sun Pavilion (FREE)

Source: Gardens By The Bay

Visit the Sun Pavilion and get lost in its breathtaking desert settings. In this outdoor theme garden, you’ll find a wide variety of desert plants, such as the towering Mexican Giant Cardon and the little Turk’s Cap, so named for the unique “cap” it sports.

Operating hours: 5am-2am

Entrance fee: Free

15. Serene Garden (FREE)

Source: Gardens By The Bay

Serene Garden, the newest outdoor garden attraction at Gardens by the Bay, is a one-of-a-kind horticultural garden modelled by the Zen gardens of Japan. But with a more minimalist aesthetic. Just a few steps away from The Meadow is a peaceful 2-hectare area where city dwellers can escape for a while and reconnect with nature.

Operating hours: 5am-2am

Entrance fee: Free

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