When visiting Singapore, there are a few attractions that are so iconic that just about every visitor should make time to visit them. Some of the better ones would be The Sands, The Gardens by the Bay, The Zoo and The Bird Paradise.
And with me being a frequent visitor to Singapore, it's a surprise to no one that I have visited all of them, and some more than once.
My first visit to the Gardens was during my first Singapore trip in far too many years, which so happened to be right as the world started to open up after the COVID nightmare. Just imagine how much fun going through Sydney and Singapore airports was
The Gardens by the Bay is a large park built on reclaimed land close to the Sands hotel on Marina Bay. It's made up of multiple waterfront gardens, all of which are well worth exploring. Just make sure to choose a day without too much rain, as there is not much shelter or places to get water, so remember the sunscreen and hydration.
Then come the two domes: these are huge glass greenhouses. One is the Flower Dome, which is broken up into multiple smaller areas containing plants from all over the planet. Then comes the display area right in the middle, which changes all the time. With my many visits, I have seen several different displays, including Pokémon and, more recently, orchids.
The second dome is the Cloud Forest, which contains a cool and moist environment, with the most striking feature being the cloud mountain, which is a concrete mountain covered in greenery, and has a walkway to let you explore. And thankfully for my bad knees, there is a lift to the top.
Talking of the walkway, it is a very easy walk, without any steps, with the only thing to note being the crowds; it's very popular, so at times can be very crowded. I have visited many times, but never on a weekend or public holiday.
If that's not enough, just like the Flower Dome, there is a display area that I have seen highlighting the Avatar movie and, more recently, a very impressive Jurassic World show, complete with animatronic dinosaurs.
Finally, come the Supertrees, another of Singapore's icons, and just like the domes and the Sands development, they are shown in just about every tourist advertisement to attract visitors.
Despite the name, these are not actually trees but steel structures shaped like large trees. They are covered in greenery and have various functions that support the gardens, just as solar panels and water collection.
Right in the middle of this grove of trees is the OCBC Skyway, an elevated walkway that offers stunning views of the gardens, and, again, thankfully for my bad knees, there is a lift.
Finally comes the after-dark Garden Rhapsody sound and light show centred on the Supertree Grove. This is one of those attractions that really impressed me after my first visit, and that's from me, who is known for not being easily impressed; yes, it's that good.
During my next Singapore trip, I am planning to record a 360-degree video complete with sound, which will be on YouTube and linked here.
In short, if you are in Singapore, make time to visit the Gardens; it's one of those attractions everyone needs to see.
Visiting the gardens on a damp and overcast day ruled out exploring most of the gardens. Oh well, it does mean I can explore the two domes and the rest of the gardens another day. The domes are massive greenhouses, with one being dedicated to flowers and the other being home to a rainforest.
Yes, really, it took me years, but I managed to pick a day without rain to revisit the gardens, so this time I will be able to explore the gardens fully and not just the domes. Not that I will skip the domes, but before those weather gods get around to soaking me, I took the chance to wander the outdoors.
About as iconic as it gets, large steel and glass trees that are on just about every tourist campaign for Singapore, and after visiting multiple times, I can see why. If you are in Singapore, do not think about it; just visit, and you will not be disappointed.