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Let’s talk about one of my favourite attractions in Singapore – Gardens by the Bay! There are so many things to see and do in this lovely city-state but Gardens by the Bay has won my deep sympathy. The extraordinary gardens are located in the downtown of Singapore, right next to the main landmark Marina Bay Sands.
Singapore’s Gardens by the Bay cover more than 10.000 m² (30 % of Central Park; read more about Central Park) of an area and consist of 3 waterfront gardens, Bay South Garden, Bay East Garden and Bay Central Garden. Other attractions to be discovered there are two city conservatories, dining and events spaces, lakes, waterways, as well as the Cloud Forest and the Flower Dome. Anyway, there is no doubt, the most spectacular piece of the garden and what you see in a lot of the photos of Singapore these days is the Supertree Grove! The unique architecture of the gardens was even awarded the “World Building of the Year” award in 2012.
Planet Sculpture ~ Baby Sculpture
While walking through the Gardens by the Bay, there is no chance that you will miss the giant Baby sculpture called the “Planet”. The unique floating sculpture is one of the most important works made by the British artist Marc Quinn. The size and construction of the sculpture are remarkable and kind of mysterious. It took me a couple of minutes in order to realize that the big sculpture is solely standing on the baby’s hand!
Cloud Forest
Another unique attraction of Gardens by the Bay is the Cloud Forest! The Cloud Forest is an enclosed terrain where you can find a 35 m tall mountain covered with numerous plants from the tropical highlands as well as the tallest indoor waterfall in the World. The Cloud Forest is a perfect “mini” version of the mountain forests located in South East Asia, South America and Central America. It is a project that aims a better understanding of the rare and unfortunately disappearing Highland flora.
The Flower Dome
Another part of the complex Gardens by the Bay is the Flower Dome which patterns the Mediterranean and semi-arid regions of Italy and Spain, as well as some parts of Africa. The Flower Dome is the largest glass greenhouse in the World (1.300 m²) and is a winner in the 2015 Guinness World Records! The temperature inside the Flower Dome varies between 23° and 25° and the humidity between 60% and 80% – perfect for growing Mediterranean plants!
The Children’s Garden
The most favourite part of families with children is the Children’s Garden! Here you can find everything that every child would wish for – adventure trail, treehouse, hanging bridges, trampolines, balancing beams and a lot more children friendly attractions! The Children’s Garden is perfect for children between 1 and 12 years of age, and of course for older people too.
Supertree Groove, Gardens by the Bay
The amazing Supertree Grove at the Gardens by the Bay consists of 18 Supertrees (12 located in the Grove) ranging from 25 m to 50 m in height. The Supertrees are vertical gardens with tree-like construction covered with more than 2.000 exotic species (bromeliads, orchids, ferns, tropical flowering, etc.) and 162,900 natural plants! There is no fee for visiting the garden, but if you want to experience the Supertrees from above and enjoy the view over the garden and Marina Bay you should go for the OCBC Skyway walk which will cost you a small fee.
But what are these trees all about? The keyword is sustainability! Each Supertree is a giant construction with a trunk core (that gathers and collects rainwater) wrapped with a steel frame. The inner vertical structure has also a concrete core that upholds the Supertree. An important part of the constructions is also the planting panels which support the cultivation of the living skin. On the top of each tree is a canopy with a sustainable function to water the plants via a hydraulic jack system.
Some of the trees are covered with photovalvic cells (solar power) to collect light during the daytime which is used to illuminate the trees at night during the light show which starts at 7:45 p.m. Therefore the best time to visit the Gardens of the Bay is in the late afternoon. Make sure to find the best place at 7:30 p.m. to watch the light show as the area gets crowded very quickly and the best viewing opportunities – taken. These Supertrees offer a mesmerizing light and sound show at night which is definitely worth to see!
Operating Hours
Outdoor Gardens: Daily, 5 am – 2 am
Cloud Forest Conservatories & Flower Dome: Daily, 9 am – 9 pm (last ticket sale at 8 pm)
The Children’s Garden: Tuesday to Friday, 10 am – 7 pm (last admission: 6.30 pm); Weekends & Public holidays, 9 am – 9 pm (last admission: 8.30 pm)
Enjoy the day!
