Marina Bay Sands → Gardens by the Bay

Singapore builds for its climate, and this short walk is a good illustration. Two of the country's signature developments sit less than a kilometre apart, and the connection between them was designed so that you can make the crossing without spending much time in direct sun — which, one degree north of the equator, is a functional requirement rather than a comfort.

The route

From the Marina Bay Sands shopping level, take the Dragonfly Bridge or the Meadow Bridge south-east across Bayfront Avenue. Both land you inside the Bay South garden, and from there the path runs directly to the Supertree Grove and on to the two conservatories.

About 1.1 kilometres, or 0.7 miles, depending on which bridge and which entrance you use. The straight line is around 0.6 miles. The small difference is the bridge crossing, which is the only way over the road.

What the number is made of

Zero point seven miles is about 1,500 steps. It is flat, fully paved, and largely sheltered — the bridges are covered, and much of the garden path is planted for shade. There is a modest rise onto the bridge deck and back down, no more than eight metres either way.

The number that matters more here is the one for the full visit. Bay South garden alone covers 54 hectares, and walking the Supertree Grove, both conservatories and the Flower Dome adds roughly 1.5 to 2 miles — another 3,200 to 4,300 steps. Most people underestimate this considerably and arrive at the second conservatory already tired.

What the Supertrees are for

Marina Bay Sands opened in 2010, built on reclaimed land that did not exist before the 1970s. Almost the whole Marina Bay district is fill; the original shoreline ran along what is now Beach Road, which is the sort of place-name fossil that survives long after the geography changes. The three towers carry a 340-metre boat-shaped platform across their tops, and the engineering problem was less the weight than the wind and the differential movement of three separate towers under load.

Gardens by the Bay opened in 2012 on adjacent reclaimed ground. The Supertrees are the part everyone photographs and the part most people misunderstand: they are not decorative sculpture with plants attached. They are vertical gardens built as functioning infrastructure. Several are fitted with photovoltaic cells that power the evening lighting display, and others serve as air intake and exhaust for the cooling systems of the two conservatories, venting the heat generated by keeping a Mediterranean climate and a cloud forest running in the tropics.

The Cloud Forest conservatory contains a 35-metre indoor waterfall, and the cooling strategy inside it is deliberately partial — chilled air is delivered low, where people are, rather than conditioning the entire volume, which is why the upper walkways are noticeably warmer than the floor.

Walking it well

Go late. The Garden Rhapsody light and sound show at the Supertree Grove runs in the evening, typically twice a night, and it is free. The temperature difference between two in the afternoon and eight in the evening is the difference between an ordeal and a pleasant walk.

The elevated OCBC Skyway through the Supertree canopy is a paid add-on and worth it, though it adds only about 130 metres of walking. Carry water; humidity here sits above 80 per cent for much of the year and the perceived effort of a flat 1,500-step walk is meaningfully higher than the same walk in a temperate climate.

Your step count, by height

Step length varies with height by more than 25 per cent across the adult range, so the single figure at the top of this page will not be right for everyone. Here is the same distance for a range of heights, using the standard estimate of 0.414 × height.

Your height	Est. step length	Steps for this route
1.55 m	0.64 m	1,755
1.65 m	0.68 m	1,649
1.75 m	0.72 m	1,554
1.85 m	0.77 m	1,471
1.95 m	0.81 m	1,396

These are estimates. If you want a figure that matches your own gait, our guide to measuring your stride length takes about five minutes.

Common questions

How long does the walk take?

About 13 minutes between the two bridges. Allow two to three hours for the gardens themselves.

Is Gardens by the Bay free?

The outdoor gardens, including the Supertree Grove and the evening light show, are free. The Flower Dome, Cloud Forest and OCBC Skyway require tickets.

What is the best time of day?

Evening. It is cooler, the Supertrees are lit, and the light show runs after dark. Midday in direct equatorial sun is the worst option.

Try your own route

Enter any two places into the step calculator to get a figure for a walk of your own, or browse all twenty routes and eight articles.