For the budget traveler, Singapore’s an intimidating destination.

Recently ranked the most expensive city in the world, I was eager not to blow all my money there. With this goal in mind, I decided to visit only one paid attraction: Gardens by the Bay.

Gardens by the Bay is a futuristic park located in front of the Marina Bay Sands. It’s a remarkable place of alien-looking “supertrees” and conservatories holding thousands of plants.

It’s science fiction come to life.

Gardens by the Bay

Gardens by the Bay has two conservatories: the Flower Dome and Cloud Forest. Each is home to different plant-life. The conservatories are enormous glass structures and the building cost was enormous. The 28 dollars you pay to enter seems paltry by comparison.

The Flower Dome

The Flower Dome is cool and dry, matching the climate of places like the Mediterranean, South Africa and South America. The plant-life is from these regions and there are some bizarre specimen on display.

Cloud Forest

Far more interesting though is Cloud Forest, which replicates a mountainous tropical forest. The air is refreshing and waterfalls cascade from Cloud Mountain, a structure you can descend.

A steel path winds down from the summit, where you can get an amazing view of the Singapore Straits. What was the inspiration behind this I wonder?

The Supertree Grove

Besides the conservatories, the Supertree Grove is also worth a visit. Here you can appreciate the size of the supertrees as they tower fifty metres above the ground. Each tree is covered in a medley of vines, orchids and ferns, a truly unique sight.

The supertrees have similar environmental qualities to real trees. Solar cells provide power for their lights, and rainwater is collected for irrigation. The trees even suck in air to cool the neighbouring conservatories. It’s about as eco-friendly as a large concrete and steel structure can be.

For five dollars you can also walk among the trees, along the Skyway.  This 22 metre-high walkway spans the Supertree Grove. From this height you even get a decent view of downtown Singapore.

The Garden Rhapsody

At nighttime, the Gardens are most beautiful. This is helped by the Garden Rhapsody, a ten-minute symphony that plays every evening in the Supertree Grove.

With the Marina Bay Sands as the backdrop, music blasts from the supertrees. The lights on the trees erupt like fireworks, flashing in time with each song.

Purples, reds, greens and blues cover the trees from top to bottom. You can’t look away as this giant kaleidoscope flashes and sparkles. It’s a psychedelic trip through Isaac Asimov’s imagination.

And, best of all, it’s free.

Have you been to Gardens by the Bay? What was your favourite attraction in Singapore? Leave a comment below