Gardens by the Bay – green oasis in Singapore

The Southeast Asian city-state of Singapore wants to become the greenest metropolis in the world. The Park Gardens by the Bay, which opened in 2012, shows impressively that this interplay of skyscrapers and nature works.

Backfill work in Marina Bay began in Singapore in 1971. In September 2006, after an international tender, two architectural offices from England were finally awarded the contract for their idea. On a part of the land reclaimed from the sea, the 101-hectare park area was created in 2012 Gardens by the Bay opened.

With our small tour bus we arrived at the main entrance of the park. This is on the south-eastern edge of Gardens by the Bay. This is also where you will find the visitor center if you need more information and tips. However, if you are traveling by public transport, you will need to get off at the Bayfront MRT station. This is located below the famous Marina Bay Sands Hotel.

The central point of the park is the Supertree Grove (German group of trees). Various gardens are laid out around them. So we walked around clockwise and crossed, for example, the Chinese, Indian or Malaysian garden. Everything is beautifully designed and the variety of exotic flowers and trees in the park are unique. In total we spent about an hour in the different gardens. For this must im Gardens by the Bay no entrance fee will be paid. An entrance fee is charged only for the two large greenhouses and the OCBC Skyway in the Supertree Grove required.

Gardens by the Bay – Supertree Grove

The artificial trees are the focal point of the park Gardens by the Bay. Die Stahl- und Betonkonstruktionen “wachsen” bis zu 50 Meter in der Höhe und sind mit verschiedenen Pflanzenarten begrünt. Aber nicht nur optisch ist diese Baumgruppe ein Highlight. In ihnen wird außerdem Regenwasser gesammelt, über eine Solaranlage Strom erzeugt und ein Teil der Kühlungsanlage für die beiden Gewächshäuser betrieben. Der erzeugte Strom reicht beispielsweise für die allabendliche Lichtshow “Garden Rhapsody” (täglich 19:45 & 20:45 Uhr).

At a height of 22 meters, the OCBC Skyway installed a kind of treetop path. This is open from 9am to 9pm and costs 8 SGD (approx. 5 EUR). From the 128 meter long path at ground level you should have a great panoramic view of the entire area. It should be noted, however, that only a limited number of people are allowed to enter the steel cable construction. At peak times, such as during our visit, longer waiting times are to be expected. In the crown of the tallest super tree there is also a bar and restaurant, the IndoChine. Further information such as opening hours and offers can be found on the website.

Gardens by the Bay – Flower Dome

My first impression upon entering the Flower Dome, was the pleasant and cool inside temperature. This is always between 23° - 25°C and is therefore almost ten degrees below the outside temperature. This constant temperature range is important so that over 120 million different plants can grow under optimal conditions. A large part of the plants come from Italy, Spain, South Africa or California. In the middle part, the 1.2 hectare Flower Dome, a changing exhibition takes place every three months. During my last visit in July 2016, orchids of all colors and shapes were presented here. The variety was really unique. However, as a European, you shouldn't expect so much "new". The choice of plants was made more for the Asian/tropical audience.

Even if you are not that interested in plants, a visit to the Conservatory is recommended from an architectural point of view. That's how he became Flower Dome Entered the Guinness Book of Records in 2015 as the world's largest greenhouse. Breathtaking when you consider that the outer skin is made of steel and 3332 glass panels, without any supporting columns in the interior.

Gardens by the Bay – Cloud Forest

Personally, I found it much more spectacular Cloud Forest (Eng. cloud forest). At 0.8 hectares, this is a bit smaller than the Flower Dome, but the construction is not really less interesting. Right in the entrance area I stood in front of a 35 meter high mountain from which a waterfall fell. I then took an elevator to the sixth floor. From there it was only one flight of stairs up to the “summit”. Then we went down over several suspension bridges that meandered around the mountain. I keep discovering different plants, ferns and mosses around me. Impressively!

The entrance fee for both greenhouses together is 28 SGD (approx. 18 EUR). They are open daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Satay by the Bay

A paved path led us past the two large glass domes directly along Marina Bay. On our walk to the east, after a few meters we came to the Satay by the Bay over. In this pavilion there are small stalls with all kinds of different food on offer. Overall, it resembles the old market hall Lau Pa Sat, just is Satay by the Bay much smaller.

We chose delicious satay skewers from the extensive range. They are available with chicken, beef or king prawns – you can mix and match your selection. This is served with a slightly spicy peanut sauce and the traditional side dishes such as onions and cucumber. Did they taste good? In short, a visit to the pavilionSatay by the Bay and satay skewers we can only recommend for your trip to Singapore. You can find the opening hours on the official website.

Tips and information for Singapore

how to get there

Singapore Airlines* fliegt 24 Mal pro Woche von Deutschland (Frankfurt 14x, München 7x & Düsseldorf 3x) nonstop nach Singapur. Die Strecke ab Düsseldorf wird mit der neuen Airbus A350 geflogen. Außerdem bietet auch die Lufthansa* a daily direct connection from Frankfurt.

Where is a good place to stay?

The selection of hotels in Singapore is huge, there are over forty 5-star hotels alone. In the luxurious The Ritz-Carlton Millenia at Marina Bay (hotel rating) for example, a room costs from 340 euros per night. However, if you want to live a little cheaper, you will certainly use booking portals such as Agoda* or Booking.com* find what you are looking for. Transit passengers from Singapore Airlines* can stay as part of the "Singapore Stopover Holiday" program from 28 euros per person in a double room (including airport transfer).

how to get around

Singapore has a very well-developed public transport network. Traveling with the modern subway (MRT) or with a regular bus is cheap and reliable. Furthermore, a large number of taxis in Singapore operate around the clock. It should be noted that in addition to the fare (via taximeter), the road toll (ERP – Electronic Road Pricing) is due. Rental cars are of course also offered. However, we would advise against it, and not just because of the left-hand traffic.

What do I need for entry?

As a German citizen, you only need a passport that is still valid for at least six months to enter Singapore. Upon entry, you will receive a residence permit for up to 90 days. Children need their own identification document. Further information, in particular about the strict customs regulations, can also be found on the information page of theForeign Office.

How about security?

Singapore is considered one of the safest metropolises in Asia. After all, the city-state consistently takes action against crimes of all kinds, even supposed “little things” such as throwing away rubbish. Furthermore, the usual precautionary measures against petty crime must be observed.

Which Singapore travel guide do you recommend?

For the perfect city trip to Singapore, we recommend you this guide*. Here you will not only find a detailed city map, but also a lot of information about all the important sights.

Participation in the trip was supported by Singapore Airlines and the Singapore Tourism Board. At this point we would like to thank you again for your cooperation and support. This article represents our free and independent opinion. Further information about independence can be found under the pointCooperation.

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