After visiting a variety of themed gardens at Gardens by the Bay, we finally arrived at the famous Flower Dome. Conveniently, the location is not far from the ticket counter, making our walk brief and eliminating the need for a shuttle car. But that day was boiling, nonetheless.
The Flower Dome is a magnificent conservatory that hosts hundreds of plants from all around the world, including Australia, Africa, the Mediterranean, and South America. It is reputed to be the largest greenhouse in the world.
Nestled within the Gardens by the Bay complex, the Flower Dome is located adjacent to the Cloud Forest. If you're interested in learning how to reach this popular attraction, please refer to our previous article on navigating Gardens by the Bay.
During our visit, the Flower Dome ticket was bundled with the Cloud Forest, meaning visitors couldn't purchase just one of them. The combined ticket price was SGD 28, or approximately Rp 290,000. Tickets can be bought at the entrance of Gardens by the Bay or online.
We opted to purchase our tickets online a few days in advance. So, we didn't need to wait in line at the ticket counter. Instead, we simply scanned the barcode on our smartphone to gain entry to the Flower Dome or Cloud Forest.
The Flower Dome is open daily from 9 am to 9 pm. However, it is occasionally closed during specific hours for maintenance. To avoid any inconvenience, I recommend you to check the maintenance schedule on the official website before planning your visit.
Upon scanning the barcode, we entered a hallway adorned with large screens showcasing various images of flowers, seemingly welcoming us before we entered the garden area.
As we stepped into the garden area, we were immediately struck by the cool, refreshing air—a pleasant surprise given the scorching heat in Singapore at the time.
The Flower Dome is divided into several areas, with plants grouped according to their region of origin. Each plant also features an informative label. The following are the various areas within the Flower Dome:
The first area we encountered was the Australian Garden, which, as the name suggests, showcases various Australian plants. The Queensland bottle tree, resembling the African Baobab tree, is particularly striking.
Surrounding the Queensland bottle tree are several seating options, offering visitors a chance to rest. Since we had just entered the Flower Dome, we decided to continue exploring the other areas.
Next, we ventured into the South African and South American Garden area, where we discovered exotic plants native to South Africa and Chile, The Bird of Paradise, that was particularly captivating.
Originating from South Africa, the Bird of Paradise plant earns its name because its vibrant flowers resemble the Bird of Paradise, or Paradise Bird. The stunning flowers are reminiscent of the tail of the Bird of Paradise.
We then strolled through the Mediterranean Garden, which features various plants from the Mediterranean region, such as Spain and Italy. Olive trees, figs, dates, and many more can be found here.
The Olive Grove, dedicated to the popular Mediterranean plant, houses several olive trees that were relocated directly from their original habitats. Some of these trees are over 1,000 years old!
Adjacent to the Olive Grove, a staircase leads visitors to the Californian Garden, where various fruit and vine plants, such as oranges and grapes, can be found. The Californian Garden also features comfortable long chairs, providing a perfect spot for visitors to rest and relax for a while.
Close to the staircase leading to the Californian Garden, visitors can find displays of processed olive oil available for purchase at the gift shop. Additionally, two captivating art installations are located nearby—Aesop's Goose and the Golden Egg, and La Famille De Voyageurs—adding further visual interest to the area.
After exploring the various thematic gardens, we proceeded to the enchanting Flower Field. This area showcases a diverse array of flowers from numerous countries, beautifully arranged to create a stunning visual display.
The Flower Field is an ideal spot for photography enthusiasts, as the vibrant and colorful floral backdrop is highly instagrammable. In addition to flowers planted on the ground, some are also displayed in pots hanging on the walls.
The Flower Field is situated near the Function Room, which, during our visit, appeared to be hosting events such as seminars. Above this room lies the final garden to explore—the Baobabs and Succulent Garden.
To reach the Baobabs and Succulent Garden, we used the stairs adjacent to the Function Room. For those who prefer not to take the stairs, an elevator is also available. At the top, visitors can admire the legendary Baobab trees native to the African continent.
In addition to Baobabs, the Succulent Garden area features an array of cactus plants, which also originate from Africa. Nearby, a captivating art installation—a statue of a girl named Kei Chan—can be found.
Having completed our tour of the Flower Dome, we descended from the Succulent Garden and made our way toward the exit. Restrooms and seating areas for relaxation are available near the exit.
Before leaving, visitors pass through a souvenir shop offering a variety of Gardens by the Bay-themed items. For those feeling hungry, stalls selling an assortment of snacks and beverages are also present.
We decided not to make any purchases at the souvenir shop, as we were eager to continue our adventure at the Cloud Forest. To learn more about our experience at the Cloud Forest Singapore, please take a closer look to this article.
