How much does it cost to visit Gardens By The Bay (tickets, food, transport and more)
I put this guide together as part of my series on how much it costs to see the sights of Singapore. This guide is intended to help visitors to Singapore budget for their trip.
Much of Gardens by the Bay is free to visit, you can explore the Supertrees, the Children’s garden, and other gardens without paying anything. There are of course experiences that cost money, including the Cloud Forest and Flower Dome, as well as a wide variety of food options.
I’ve included more detail on all the experiences at Gardens by the Bay that cost money below. I’ve also included some FREE things you can experience while at the Gardens, as it’s a great place to explore even on a tight budget.
Entrance tickets
Gardens by the Bay itself is free to visit. This means you can walk around the gardens and get up close and personal with the Supertrees without having to pay anything.
The light show is also free, apart from at Christmas time when it becomes part of Christmas Wonderland and requires purchase of a ticket. The Garden Rhapsody light show runs every day at 7:45pm and 8:45pm.
Paid attractions at the Gardens include:
| Attraction | Entrance Price (adult) |
|---|---|
| Flower Dome + Cloud Forest | S$59 |
| Floral Fantasy | S$20 |
| Skyway | S$14 |
| Supertree Observatory | S$14 |
Occasionally the Flower Dome and Cloud Forest tickets are sold separately. I always find it a better deal though (and worth it) to buy both tickets together. Children’s tickets are also cheaper.
My personal favourite attraction is the Flower Dome. I always feel nature is the highlight of Singapore’s unique offerings to visitors, and the Flower Dome captures this well.
The Skyway and Supertree Observatory give you a chance to experience views over the whole Gardens by the Bay. They also give you a chance to see more of the Supertrees and their fascinating living structures.
Tickets can be purchased on the Gardens by the Bay website here.
Food
Food choices at Gardens by the Bay span a full range of budgets, from affordable hawker stalls all the way up to well-regarded dining establishments. Prices accordingly range from roughly S$10 per person to S$100 per person.
| Food | Cost (estimate) |
|---|---|
| Satay | S$10 per person |
| Burger | S$10 per person |
| Chilli crab (hawker) | S$50 per person |
| Chilli crab (restaurant) | S$60 - S$80 per person |
Hawker stalls can be found in Satay by the Bay. This is an outdoor food court, resembling a hawker centre, focussed on serving satay and seafood dishes. Thai, Korean, and Chinese stalls are all represented here, with the freshly grilled satay being the highlight.
A meal from these hawker stalls can be as cheap as S$10 per person. Though if you’re ordering seafood, expect to spend anywhere from S$20 to S$80 per person (crab is typically the most expensive).
An indoor foot court is also available, with air conditioning, next to Supertree Grove. Prices are similar. I like eating the Ayam Taliwang (famous fried chicken) and ice cream here. Be careful as it gets busy in the evenings leading up to the adjacent Garden Rhapsody sound and light show (see the Freebies section at the end of this guide for more info about the free show).
Burgers are another affordable option with McDonald’s and Shake Shack having outlets within the gardens. Burgers from here cost between S$8 and S$15 - prices are comparable with other outlets across Singapore.
Restaurants at Gardens by the Bay include:
| Restaurant | Budget |
|---|---|
| Hopscotch. BBQ’d meat, steak, ribs, fish & chips | S$30 - S$50 per person |
| Tung Lok. Seafood, with crab specialties. | S$50 - S$100 per person |
| Marguerite. Modern French with an extensive wine selection | S$100 - S$150 per person |
Coffee can be found at McDonald’s and Starbucks. Though if you’re looking for a local ‘kopi’, it can be found at the Satay by the Bay food centre (coffee is open from 9am). Local kopi costs S$2.50, while international coffee costs S$7.60.
Gift shop and souvenirs
There is a gift shop near the main entrance (where buses and taxis are) that sells a variety of Gardens by the Bay, as well as some general Singapore gifts and souvenirs. A highlight is that you can buy some of the plants that you’ve seen around the gardens (if you’re buying the live plants, be careful of whether your country will allow you to bring them back in, many don’t).
Toys, art work, snacks, and more are all available for purchase. Prices range between S$10 for magnets and the like, and can go over well over S$100 (I saw a wood carving of the supertrees mounted in a clear frame for S$146).
The gift shop is open from 9am to 9pm daily and prefers payment by credit card or QR code app (cash is accepted).
Transport
Gardens by the Bay is located to the east of the CBD, across the road from Marina Bay Sands. It’s easily accessible by train (MRT), bus, walking, cycling, and taxi.
Getting to Gardens by the Bay is outlined in the following table:
| Transport | Cost (estimate) |
|---|---|
| MRT | S$1.20 - S$1.80 |
| Bus (public) | S$1.20 - S$1.80 |
| Cycle | S$5 - S$15 |
| Big Bus tour | S$60 (full day ride) |
| Taxi | S$15 - S$30 |
Costs depend on how far away you are from Gardens by the Bay. If you’re staying on Orchard Road I like taking public bus route 106 to get to the Gardens - it’s often double deck and sitting up the top gives you this amazing view of Marina Bay Sands as you come in over the bridge (you do have to walk through MBS to get to the Gardens from where the 106 stops).
I also like cycling to the Gardens. There is parking for bicycles at various stops along the perimeter of the Gardens (clear signs indicate where cycling is not allowed within the gardens), such as at Satay by the Bay or the entrance to the Flower Dome and Cloud Forest. Bicycle rental is available in East Coast Park, Esplanade, or by using the bike share HelloRide (blue) or Anywheel (green) apps.
Transport around the gardens is also important given the size of the gardens.
Getting around Gardens by the Bay is outlined in the following table:
| Transport | Cost (estimate) |
|---|---|
| Wheelchair | S$2 |
| Shuttle bus | S$3 |
Wheelchair rental is a daily charge until 8:30pm and wheelchairs can be rented from the Gift Shop, The Canopy ticketing counter, or Floral Fantasy ticketing counter.
The shuttle bus runs at a 10-minute interval from 9am to 9pm daily (last ride at 8:45pm). The $3 ticket price is for a 2-way ride. It operates as a loop service with stops at:
- Bayfront Plaza (Exit B from Bayfront MRT)
- Active Garden
- Flower Dome
Guided Tours
An audio guide shuttle bus tour is available operated by Gardens by the Bay.
The Garden Cruiser Audio Tour operates on 20 minute intervals throughout the day and takes roughly 20 minutes to complete.
Tours start from the main entrance (outside the gift shop).
Costs for the tour are S$10 for adults and S$5 for children.
Baggage storage
Baggage storage is available at self-serve lockers located at Golden Garden, The Canopy, or Floral Fantasy.
Three sizes are available:
| Small | Medium | Large |
| S$4 | S$6 | S$8 |
The fee is paid for a single use to store your items up until 2am. Please do not leave anything in your locker after 2am as it will be removed by staff.
Only SGD 2 notes are accepted. Payment by card is not accepted.
Freebies
There are plenty of things to do for FREE at Gardens by the Bay. While visiting, you can check out any of the following for free:
- Garden Rhapsody light show
- Children’s Garden
- Kingfisher Wetlands
- Supertree Grove
Garden Rhapsody light show is a nightly event held at the Supertree Grove. The free music and light show - a different show each month - occurs at 7:45pm and 8:45pm.
The Children’s Garden is a free to visit adventure designed for children from age 1 to age 12. There are play zones, tree houses, and a water splash area where the kids can run around. Bring bathers for the kids as they’re sure to get wet. The Children’s Garden is open from 9am to 7pm Thursday to Sundays and public holidays.
Kingfisher Wetlands are home to an open wetland area with diverse flora and fauna to explore. I personally enjoy the peacefulness of the open lake area, particularly given how close you are to the city. There are free tours every weekend, starting at 8:30am and 10:30am.
Supertree Grove is home to the largest collection of Supertrees within the gardens. The Supertrees here rise up to 50m high and you can get up close and personal to see the living ‘skin’ of the trees for free. The grove is home to the Garden Rhapsody light show.
