When I was planning my visit to Gardens by the Bay, I found the ticket options to be… confusing.
Some areas are free. Some are paid. Some attractions are bundled together. Others need separate tickets. And once you start seeing phrases like “Supertree Observatory” and “Supertree Grove,” it’s not always obvious what the difference is — or whether you even need tickets for both.
If you’re standing on the booking page wondering which option actually makes sense, you’re not alone.
When I landed in Singapore, Gardens by the Bay was the very first stop on my sightseeing itinerary. I visited every paid attraction within the grounds so that I could give you a clear, honest breakdown of what’s worth doing, and what feels optional. Here’s what I found out, including my recommendations for which ticket bundle is best!
Quick summary:
Gardens by the Bay has free outdoor areas and several paid attractions, but the ticket bundles can be confusing. I visited every conservatory and viewing platform — here’s what’s worth your money and which option you should actually book.
Recommended tours & tickets:
🌸 Classic Gardens by the Bay Bundle – Includes Cloud Forest and Flower Dome, with optional Supertree Observatory & Floral Fantasy access.
🌳 Gardens by the Bay with OCBC Skyway – Includes both domes plus the scenic treetop Skyway walkway between the Supertrees.
🏙️ Singapore City Tour + Gardens by the Bay – Explore top Singapore highlights before visiting the iconic conservatories.
What is Gardens by the Bay?
Gardens by the Bay is essentially a massive, futuristic botanical garden in the heart of Marina Bay. It contains a large variety of themed gardens, giant “Supertree” sculptures, and two huge indoor conservatories. It’s one of the city’s most famous attractions — and it’s probably already on your Singapore itinerary.
One important thing to know upfront is that most of Gardens by the Bay is completely free. You don’t need to go through any ticket gates just to enter. You can just walk right in and start exploring.
BUT… some of the best attractions at Gardens by the Bay are ticketed and require paid entry. When you start looking at ticket bundle options online, it can quickly become unclear what’s included and what isn’t.
For the sake of this review, I visited all of the paid things to do at Gardens by the Bay Singapore (aside from the optional audio tram tour) so that I could give you a thorough breakdown of what’s actually worth it — and what you might want to skip depending on your travel style.
What’s free at Gardens by the Bay?
Before we dive into ticket bundles, it’s important to understand what you can experience without spending a cent.
Supertree Grove is free to explore at ground level. You can walk underneath the towering metal structures, admiring them from below. Even before going up onto any viewing platforms, I found them to be impressive. These structures also light up at night for the Garden Rhapsody light show, which happens daily at 7:45 PM and again at 8:45 PM (unfortunately I missed this one).
Scattered throughout the remainder of the grounds are multiple outdoor themed gardens with tropical plant displays, sculptures, shaded walkways and beautifully landscaped areas. The waterfront paths around Dragonfly and Kingfisher Lakes are another highlight. I really enjoyed the lovely views toward Marina Bay Sands and the skyline from Dragonfly Bridge.
Technically, you can visit Gardens by the Bay without buying a ticket at all and still have a nice experience. However, the two enormous glass conservatories and the elevated attractions at Supertree Grove will definitely add a special element to your visit. Those are ticketed, so let me explain each one in detail.
Which attractions do you pay for at Gardens by the Bay?
Cloud Forest
If I had to pick the most impressive paid attraction at Gardens by the Bay, it would be the Cloud Forest dome. Do not miss this one.
As soon as I stepped inside and saw the massive indoor waterfall cascading down from above, I was hooked. It honestly feels like you’re walking through a stunningly manicured rainforest. Cool mist fills the air, tropical plants climb the walls, and the whole space feels dramatic in a way that photos don’t fully capture.
The dome is massive. After entering at ground level, the walking path gradually takes you up through various levels to the top of the structure. From there, you wind your way back down through gardens and along elevated walkways and platforms, looking out over the greenery and waterfall below.
During my visit, the dome was featuring Jurassic World: The Experience, with life-sized animatronic dinosaurs scattered throughout — including a very convincing T-Rex that roared at you on passing. I don’t know how permanent the Jurassic overlay is, but it definitely added a fun and unexpected element without taking away from the rainforest atmosphere.
Flower Dome
I visited the Flower Dome straight after Cloud Forest, and as a result I was a little underwhelmed at first — but that’s largely because Cloud Forest sets the bar so high.
The Flower Dome is more like a traditional (though enormous) botanical conservatory. Inside, you’ll find a series of different garden zones themed around global regions or plant types. I’m a sucker for a good succulent garden, so I most enjoyed wandering through the cactus and spiky desert plant section.
During my visit, the “Flower Field” area was decorated for Lunar New Year and featured eight majestic lantern horse statues woven among the blooms. The seasonal installation was clearly popular with visitors and it definitely elevated the experience.
Honestly, the Flower Dome was nice, but not mind-blowing. However, since it’s almost always bundled together with Cloud Forest, you may as well go in and take a look. It’s still a pleasant experience, just not quite as dramatic.
Floral Fantasy
Floral Fantasy is quite different from both the Flower Dome and Cloud Forest. It’s housed in a smaller building near Bayfront MRT station and feels more like an immersive floral art installation than a botanical conservatory.
Inside, you’ll find colourful displays made from a combination of real and artificial flowers — sometimes I genuinely found it hard to tell which was which. It does feel less natural and more curated than the other Gardens by the Bay attractions, though it’s still pretty and visually engaging.
When I visited, Floral Fantasy was hosting a My Little Pony takeover, with show characters integrated with the displays. I know almost nothing about My Little Pony, so that element was largely lost on me — but I can imagine fans or families with young children would enjoy it.
It didn’t take me very long to walk through — probably around 20 minutes at a relaxed pace — so this is more of a quick add-on to other bundles rather than a major attraction to do on its own.
Supertree Observatory
Compared to other observation decks in Singapore such as Marina Bay Sands SkyPark or the Singapore Flyer, I thought Supertree Observatory was less impressive. It’s located at the top of the largest Supertree within Supertree Grove, though it’s still not particularly tall.
At the very top, there’s an open platform with uninterrupted views of Marina Bay Sands and the skyline. Below that is another platform deck where you look out through the metal branches of the Supertree itself. There’s also a small café and indoor seating area, which is useful if you want an air-conditioned break from Singapore’s heat.
Much like Floral Fantasy, I found it fine to do as part of a bundle, but I probably wouldn’t have paid for it on its own.
OCBC Skyway
The OCBC Skyway may be less tall than the Observatory, but I actually found it to be much more scenic. This suspended walkway travels between several of the Supertrees, and it genuinely felt like I was walking among the “treetops” here.
There’s very little obstructing the views along the walkway (which is also very photogenic), so you can wander along while taking photos and admiring views of Supertree Grove and the Singapore skyline.
I definitely preferred the perspective from here over the Observatory. If you’re choosing between the two, I would go for the Skyway bundle option.
Gardens by the Bay tickets explained
Buying your ticket online before you go will save you time on arrival. Instead of lining up at the ticketing counters, you can just show your digital ticket at the entrance to each attraction that you’ve booked and walk straight in.
The classic ticket bundle includes the Flower Dome and Cloud Forest. This is the most popular option, and it covers the two main conservatories.
Optional add-ons are the Supertree Observatory, plus Floral Fantasy and internal shuttle services. The shuttle runs between Bayfront Plaza, Active Garden and Flower Dome. I didn’t use the shuttle as I found the distance was fairly walkable, though it would be useful if mobility is a concern or if you’re visiting in extreme heat.
As I mentioned earlier, I personally preferred the Skyway over Supertree Observatory, so if you’re choosing between the two, I’d choose the bundle that includes the OCBC walkway instead.
It’s worth noting that some of the ticketed attractions within Gardens by the Bay are shut for scheduled maintenance once a month. I’d suggest checking the official website before your visit so you’re not caught out by closures.
So which Gardens by the Bay ticket should you buy?
If this is your first time visiting Singapore and only have a few hours, book the classic Flower Dome + Cloud Forest bundle. This will cover the most impressive attractions and the ones you’re most likely to remember.
If you have half a day to spend at the gardens and love views and photography, I’d pick the bundle with OCBC Skyway access.
And if you’re travelling with kids or enjoy immersive themed exhibits, consider Floral Fantasy as an add-on.
🏙️ If you’re short on time or want a structured introduction to the city, there are also combo tickets that pair Cloud Forest and Flower Dome with a guided Singapore city tour. It’s a convenient way to explore Singapore’s highlights before finishing at Gardens by the Bay.
FAQs for visiting Gardens by the Bay:
How long do you need at Gardens by the Bay?
You can comfortably see Gardens by the Bay in half a day. I spent about four hours there visiting all of the paid attractions and stopping for a quick lunch.
If you’re short on time, focus on your top one or two paid attractions and allow 2 hours minimum. You may also want to consider going back again at night to see the Garden Rhapsody light show in Supertree Grove.
Is Gardens by the Bay free?
Partly. You can enter the outdoor gardens, walk through Supertree Grove at ground level, and explore the lakes and waterfront areas without paying anything.
However, major attractions like Cloud Forest and Flower Dome require a paid ticket. Elevated experiences such as the OCBC Skyway and Supertree Observatory also require separate entry fees.
Is Cloud Forest worth it?
Absolutely. The massive indoor waterfall, elevated walkways, cool misty air and immersive rainforest setting make it the standout experience. It’s also a great break from Singapore’s heat, since the dome is air-conditioned.
How do you get to Gardens by the Bay?
Gardens by the Bay is very easy to reach via MRT (Singapore’s metro system). I started my visit at Gardens by the Bay MRT Station and later exited at Bayfront MRT Station, next to Marina Bay Sands. Both are within easy walking distance of different parts of the gardens.
If you’re using a Singapore hop-on hop-off bus ticket, the bus should drop you either at the east-side parking lot or along Bayfront Avenue outside Marina Bay Sands. From either stop, it’s just a short walk into the gardens.
Should you book Gardens by the Bay tickets in advance?
Yes — I would recommend it. Buying your tickets online means you can skip the ticket counters and go straight to the attraction entrances. During busy periods, weekends or holidays, this can save you a significant amount of time.
*I was a guest of Gardens by the Bay during my trip to Singapore. I’m proud to be an honest and transparent blogger, so every opinion expressed on AGWT is a true review of my experience.
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