Sunflower Surprise at Gardens by the Bay: Explore & Win Tickets to Portugal

Experience Portuguese culture, step into a sea of over 5,000 sunflowers, join a hands-on workshop and stand a chance to win return tickets to Portugal!

Venue: Flower Dome at Gardens by the Bay
Date: Until Monday, 9 November 2026 | 9am to 9pm
Admission: Charges apply to the Flower Dome

If your family loves exploring different cultures, here’s something to add to your November plans! Happening from today till 9 November 2026, Sunflower Surprise: Garden by the Ocean brings a touch of Portugal to Flower Dome at Gardens by the Bay, featuring more than 5,000 sunflowers, colourful architectural recreations and a series of cultural experiences. You can also look forward to family-friendly workshops and stand a chance to win a pair of return tickets to Portugal.

Explore Portugal Through Over 5,000 Sunflowers

Looking for a colourful spot for your next family day out? Sunflower Surprise: Garden by the Ocean brings a little taste of Portugal to Gardens by the Bay, with over 5,000 sunflowers and plenty of interesting sights to explore.

One of the highlights is a 12m-long recreation of Alfama, one of Lisbon’s oldest neighbourhoods. With its colourful hillside homes and charming details, it’s a lovely backdrop for family photos. You can also walk through the structure to discover Portuguese crafts and tile-inspired designs.

Got little ones who love boats and the sea? Check out the recreation of the Belém Lighthouse and the bow of a traditional caravela, a sailing vessel linked to Portugal’s maritime history. Elsewhere, spot the colourful striped houses of Costa Nova and displays showcasing Portugal’s countryside heritage.

With so many colourful facades and unique displays, there are plenty of photo opportunities and little discoveries to make your visit more memorable!

Beyond the architecture and cultural displays, you can discover unusual sunflower varieties, too. These include the creamy-petalled Helianthus ‘White Nite’, the reddish-burgundy-accented Helianthus ‘Sunfinity Red’ and the cheerful Helianthus ‘Smiley’ series.

Join Family-Friendly Workshops and Cultural Programmes

To experience more of Portugal’s culture beyond the floral display, you can also look forward to additional workshops and cultural programmes taking place during the event, such as:

ConservaClay with WWF Singapore

Venue: South American Garden, Flower Dome
Date: Saturday, 7 November 2026
Admission: Free

Bring the little ones to ConservaClay, a hands-on workshop where children can sculpt marine animals such as whales and sea turtles using air-dry clay.

Organised with WWF Singapore, this family-friendly activity introduces children to marine conservation while encouraging observation and mindfulness. Each session is expected to last around 25 minutes per participant, and the activity is recommended for children aged five and above.

With creative play and environmental learning combined, it’s a fun opportunity for young nature lovers to explore marine life while making their own clay creations.

Portuguese Poetry Readings with Open Mic

Venue: Mediterranean Garden, Flower Dome
Dates: Fridays and Saturdays on 9, 16, 17, 23, 24, 30 and 31 October, and 6 and 7 November 2026
Time: 2pm to 2.15pm and 4pm to 4.15pm

If you enjoy literature and the performing arts, make time for the Portuguese poetry readings with open mic sessions.

Held twice daily on selected Fridays and Saturdays, these 15-minute sessions alternate between Portuguese and English. You can discover works by celebrated Portuguese poets, including Fernando Pessoa, Florbela Espanca and Luís de Camões, alongside other literary voices.

The readings offer a different way to experience Portugal’s cultural heritage, with poetry exploring themes ranging from love and identity to nature and the human experience.

Stand a Chance to Win Return Tickets to Portugal

Your family day out could come with a little bonus! While exploring Sunflower Surprise: Garden by the Ocean, you can stand a chance to win a pair of economy-class return tickets from Singapore to Portugal, courtesy of official airline partner Turkish Airlines.

Joining the draw is easy. Simply look for the two contest boards inside Flower Dome, scan the QR code on each board, answer both questions and submit your particulars.

Who knows, your next family adventure might take you all the way to Portugal! It’s a fun extra to look forward to while discovering the country’s colourful streets and cultural heritage right here in Singapore.

Terms and conditions apply. Visit the official Gardens by the Bay website for the full contest details.