Close to 6,000 plants – more than half grown in-house by horticulturists – bring the colours, textures and spirit of summer alpine blooms to Flower Dome in its first Swiss-themed floral display
Gardens by the Bay’s newest floral display Alpine Adventure brings the wild beauty of Switzerland’s alpine landscapes to Flower Dome, in a creative interpretation of a Swiss summer here in the tropics – with about 60 per cent of plants grown in-house.
The first-ever Swiss-inspired floral display for the Gardens was officially opened today by Minister for Law and Second Minister for Home Affairs, Mr Edwin Tong. It is presented in collaboration with Switzerland Tourism, and supported by the Embassy of Switzerland in Singapore, SWISS International Air Lines, Travel Switzerland, Zürich Tourism, Geneva Tourism, Adelboden-Lenk-Kandersteg Tourism, Glacier Express, and Gornergrat Railway. Alpine Adventure will run until Oct 12.
A recreation of a traditional Swiss wooden chalet and Zurich’s Fraumünster church set amidst vibrant Swiss-inspired meadows in Gardens by the Bay’s Alpine Adventure floral display
In an amalgamation of horticultural design and cultural storytelling, nearly 6,000 plants of over 50 varieties bring the landscape to life, with sweeps of snapdragons, cleomes, geraniums, and petunias, punctuated by bold bursts of begonias in red, pink, and white. The landscape also features recreations of Switzerland’s most recognisable landmarks and traditions, bringing the cultural and natural heritage of the Alps together.
Growing an alpine landscape from scratch in-house
About 60 per cent of plants in Alpine Adventure were cultivated in-house by research horticulturists in Gardens by the Bay’s back-of-house cooled nursery because of challenges getting true alpine plants to grow in Flower Dome.
Alpine Adventure – Flower Clock
True alpine plants are small, compact, and adapted to survive sub-zero conditions, and they cannot thrive in the tropics, even in Flower Dome’s controlled conditions. To capture the character of Switzerland’s landscapes – celebrated for their dramatic mountain ranges and picturesque meadows – the Gardens’ horticulturists had to create a plant palette that was both textured and layered. The 50 varieties grown in-house were selected for colours and forms that fulfilled this criteria, and more crucially, their ability to flourish for the floral display.
Of note are the larger-than-usual begonias, nurtured to produce blooms up to 12cm across – almost double the size of common varieties. These include the Odorosa series, in striking shades of orange and red, with lush, ruffled petals, as well as the Sensation series, in dual colours – white and pink, or yellow and red – with layered petals that form full, rounded blooms.
Classic Swiss landmarks recreated
Complementing the vibrant plant palette are recreations of some of the best of what Switzerland has to offer, bringing the cultural and natural heritage of the Alps together. Highlights include:
- The Golden Spot on the Gornergrat summit in Zermatt recreated in the Flower Dome against a dramatic wooden backdrop of the Matterhorn Mountain. Now a popular photo spot, the gold-plated carriage was once part of the historic Gornergrat railway, and remains famous for its panoramic views of the Matterhorn since 1898.
- Swiss landmarks such as Zurich’s St. Peter’s Church, recreated as a 6.5-metre-tall structure with the largest church clock face in Europe, and the Fraumünster church, standing at 6 metres tall with its famous stained-glass windows created by the modernist artist Marc Chagall.
- The Glacier Express, recreated with a 5.5-metre-long cabin featuring panoramic windows that visitors can walk through, to experience the world’s “slowest express train”, renowned for the breathtaking alpine journey it takes.
- Geneva’s Flower Clock, reimagined at 3 metres in diameter with almost 1,000 begonias in red, pink, and yellow, complete with real working clock hands. First created in 1955, the landmark is also known as Geneva’s “Botanical Timekeeper”.
- Swiss wooden chalets, with one decorated with balcony boxes and hanging baskets of begonias, and another styled as a traditional apothecary, evoking the alpine tradition of wellness through herbs.
- Traditional Swiss crafts and culture, including papercutting, a folk art used to tell stories of rural life, and the alphorn, once used by herdsmen to communicate across valleys and now a proud symbol of alpine heritage.
- Valais blacknose sheep and alpine cows, spotted “grazing” among the meadows, evoking the pastoral charm of Switzerland’s countryside.
Exclusive performance by renowned cellist JodokCello and a chance to win air tickets
Visitors can also look forward to a special performance by internationally renowned Swiss cellist JodokCello, who has an international social media following of over 13 million. On Oct 1, he will perform exclusively in Flower Dome against the backdrop of Alpine Adventure, blending classical training with contemporary soundscapes in a performance that bridges tradition and innovation.
As visitors go around the floral display, they can also take part in Play & Win a Trip to Switzerland! – an interactive contest where they can discover the Swiss highlights featured in Alpine Adventure. By unlocking seven Swiss icons through a web game, participants stand to win the grand prize: a trip for two to Switzerland, along with exciting weekly prizes.
📅 Mon, 8 Sep to Sun, 12 Oct 2025
🕙 9am to 9pm
📍 Flower Dome
Details:
- Admission charge to Flower Dome applies.
- Visit here for details.
You can also get tickets via Klook, Fever, Pelago and KKday.
JodokCello Performance
JodokCello, the crossover cellist sensation from Switzerland with over 13 million followers across social media platforms, performs live amidst the Alpine Adventure floral display. This is a one-day only performance.
📅 Wed, 1 Oct 2025
🕙 2pm to 2.30pm, 4pm to 4.30pm
📍 Flower Dome
Details:
- Admission charge to Flower Dome applies.
- Visit here for details.
You can also get tickets via Klook, Fever, Pelago and KKday.
Play & Win a Trip to Switzerland!
Visit Alpine Adventure and scan the QR code on the contest poster in Flower Dome to participate in the Grand Tour of Switzerland web game! As part of the game, uncover clues to find seven Swiss icons and stand a chance to win a trip for two to Switzerland, including:
- Return Economy flights on Swiss International Air Lines to Zurich
- Two-night stay in Zurich
- 1st Class Swiss Travel Passes
- Train rides on the Gornergrat for Matterhorn views
- Panoramic train journey on the Glacier Express
There are also exciting weekly prizes to be won! Stay tuned for more details.
Contest date: Mon, 8 Sep to Sun, 12 Oct 2025
Activities of Alpine Adventure
Sensory Moments – Alpine Adventure
Discover peculiar facts about the bountiful blooms of begonias! Join us for a 10-minute sharing at each of the three stations in the Sensory Moments programme to explore the colourful begonias using your senses of sight, touch and taste.
📅 Sat, 13 Sep 2025
🕙 2pm to 5pm (Participants can drop by the stations anytime.)
📍 South American Garden, Mediterranean Garden and Flower Field in Flower Dome
🏷 Programme is free. Admission charge to Flower Dome applies.
You can also get tickets via Klook, Fever, Pelago and KKday.
Get Crafty! – Begonia Crossbody Strap by Happy Hands Can
Jazz up a crossbody strap with the splendid beauty of begonias! Participants will be guided to craft vibrant begonias using pipe cleaners. Materials provided include a pre-strung macrame strap and a selection of colourful pipe cleaners.
📅 Sat and Sun, 13 & 14 Sep 2025
🕙 10am to 6pm
📍 Australian Garden in Flower Dome
🏷 $15/pax, including materials. Admission charge to Flower Dome applies and on-site registration is required.
You can also get tickets via Klook, Fever, Pelago and KKday.
September School Holiday
It is the one-week September school break. Do check out our compilation of things to do this September School Holidays 2025.
Mid-Autumn Festival falls on 6 October this year. Remember to check out our list of Best Mooncakes and Best Bak Kwa in Singapore 2025.
Looking for what to do during the Mid-Autumn Festival? Read Mid Autumn Festival 2025.
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