Guide To Gardens By The Bay Membership: Is It Worth Paying For?

One of the most popular attractions in Singapore, Gardens by the Bay is home to thousands of species of rare and unusual plants and flowers. While its flower and plants exhibitions are popular among tourists and locals alike, the gardens are also iconic for its architectural shell-shaped conservatories – Flower Dome and Cloud Forest. Accompanying the conservatories are the 18 manmade Supertrees that are 50 metres high. These centrepieces not only provide shade in the day but comes alive with lights and music at 7.45pm.

The Gardens are also known to showcase seasonal specials, festive celebrations, special performances, and other pop-up events. Since travelling overseas can be difficult at the moment, instead of travelling to Japan to see Sakura or Holland to see Tulips, one can do it right here in Singapore.

Let’s find out whether it’s actually worth paying for the membership.

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What Is Friends Of The Garden?

The Friends Of The Garden (FOTG) membership is an annual pass that lets members enjoy unlimited visits to Flower Dome, Cloud Forest and OCBC Skyway. In addition, FOTG members will get to enjoy complimentary parking, merchant discounts and invites to exclusive events.

There are multiple 1-year membership plans to cater to the different groups of people and their families.

The annual FOTG membership for Individual and Family memberships will enjoy unlimited admission into the Flower Dome, Cloud Forest and OCBC Skyway, except during maintenance closure dates and special circumstances stated by Gardens by the Bay. In addition, the full membership provides free parking for the first two hours per day.

The FOTG weekday membership is valid only for 6 months. Members will enjoy unlimited admission into the Flower Dome, Cloud Forest and OCBC Skyway every weekday excluding public holidays, eve of Chinese New Year, Christmas and New Year Day. This membership allows you to enjoy all the benefits of a full member on a weekday but would require you to pay to enter the gardens on weekends, as well as for parking on the weekends.

Admission to OCBC Skyway will depend on weather conditions. If it’s raining or there’s lightning, affected visitors will be ushered to the Supertree Observatory or be allowed to change the time slot for their next visit before their ticket expires.

Benefits Of Friends Of The Garden

Besides the unlimited visits to the two cooled conservatories and OCBC Skyway, members will enjoy discount at F&B and retail outlets, invitation to special previews and events, members workshop and tours, and other perks according to their membership plan.

During birthday month, members receive e-vouchers at various restaurants, such as Hong Kong Sheng Kee Noodle House, Marguerite, Hill Street Coffee Shop, etc, just to name a few. There are also other perks when you sign up for membership because Gardens by the Bay offers Member Promotions and Specials from time to time. Other promotions also offer all-you-can-eat Dim Sum Buffet and a free coke or A&W Root Beer Float with minimum spending. Workshops and activities are also discounted for members.

Frequent Visitors (More Than 2 Times) Will Benefit From Friends Of The Garden Membership

Ticket prices cost the same for Singapore Citizens, Permanent Residents and those living in Singapore (holders of employment passes, work permits and dependent passes).

For a family of four (2 adults and 2 children) to visit all three attractions, the total cost would add up to $106. As the Family Membership for two adults/seniors and up to three children would cost $180, the family of four would have to visit all three attractions at least twice or visit the Cloud Forest and Flower Domes at least three times in one year in order to breakeven or to save money.

Considering that Gardens by the Bay frequently refreshes their conservatories at least four times a year (Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter) in addition to local festivities (Chinese New Year, Hari Raya, Deepavali, Christmas and maybe even more), there is a good chance your family of four would be making good use of the membership. For example, visiting the Gardens in January or February would mostly be full of Dahlia displays in line with Chinese New Year. While visiting in March or April might score some Cherry Blossoms. Don’t forget, beside saving on ticket admissions, members can also save at F&B and retail outlets.

Use Special Bundle Deals For Ad Hoc Visits

There are bundle deals for single admission into both Flower Dome and Cloud Forest. Purchasing ala-carte tickets into both conservatories would cost an adult $24, a child $16 and a senior $15. However, if you’re confident that you’ll be able to visit both attractions on the same day, purchasing the bundle is slightly cheaper than the price of a single ticket. The bundle price for an adult cost $20, a child $12 and a senior $15.

For individual adults, if you find yourself visiting both conservatories more than 3 times a year, even with the bundle price, having the membership ($68) would save you money. But if you’re visiting fewer than four times, it’s better to just purchase the bundle deal at $20.

For families of four (2 adults and 2 children), the bundle price would add up to $64. If the whole family visits the Flower Dome and Cloud Forest more than two times a year, then purchasing the Family membership ($180) would save you money.

Gardens By The Bay Celebrating Its 10^th Anniversary

Launched in 2012, this year is the year that Gardens by the Bay would celebrate its 10^th anniversary. And from past observations, Singapore and Singaporeans tend to celebrate milestones. While it’s difficult to say that something big will happen at the Gardens this year, it’s safe to say with or without a milestone to celebrate, the gardens membership is worth paying for since there are exclusive exhibits all year round.

With its changing floral displays, festive celebrations, special performances, and other pop-up events, even after you’re done visiting the cooled conservatories, you can head towards the OCBC Skyway and do the skywalk over the gardens or hang out at the famous Supertree Observatory and enjoy the lights and music that come on at 7.45pm.

Read Also: Cost Guide to The Friends Of Wildlife Membership (Singapore Zoo/ River Wonders/ Night Safari/ Bird Park)

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