If you’re heading to Singapore, it’s inevitable that you’ll be spending time around the Bay area. So here are the top things to do in Marina Bay Singapore.
1. Gardens By The Bay
Home to the incredible Supertrees, Gardens By The Bay is one of the most famous gardens in the world.
It’s definitely high on most people list of things to do in Marina Bay and if you’re looking for things to do in Singapore on a budget, the majority of Gardens By The Bay is free to roam.
Just a 2 minute walk from Bayfront MRT Station, the easiest way to reach GBTB is to ride the local trains through the city.
From Bayfront MRT simply follow the signs, through the Marina Bay Sands Hotel, to the entrance of Gardens By The Bay Singapore.
The Supertree Grove is completely free to enter, and the incredible Supertrees stand between 25 and 50 metres tall.
The iconic tree-like vertical gardens are also home to the famous (and also free) Singapore light shows which take place every evening.
Fees apply for the cooled conservatories, such as the Flower Dome & Cloud Forest.
You must also purchase tickets if you wish to walk the OCBC Skyway. Which is why its best to book your Gardens By The Bay + OCBC Skyway Combo Tickets in advance.
Gardens By The Bay is best visited in the day time, however be sure to save some time in the evening for either of the light shows that take place daily at 7:45pm & 8:45pm at Supertree Grove.
Entrance Fee: Supertree Grove & Bay South: Free
Cooled conservatories: Adults S$12, Children S$8 (3-12 years)
Opening Hours: Daily: 9am – 9pm.
2. The Merlion Of Singapore
Another of the top things to do in Marina Bay, is to grab a selfie with one of the most iconic statues in the world.
The Merlion is the official mascot of Singapore, and is depicted as a mythical creature with a lion’s head and the body of a fish.
There are a total of seven giant, authorised Merlion statues located around the city. The most popular one, photographed below, can be found at ‘Merlion Park’ close to the foot of Esplanade Bridge.
This original Merlion structure stands proudly at 8.6 meters tall, looking over the whole of Marina Bay as it spouts water from its mouth.
It has subsequently been joined by a Merlion cub, which is located near the original statue and measures just 2 metres tall.
The most expensive of the Merlion’s in Singapore is located on Sentosa Island. Built as a tourist attraction to add to Sentosa’s offerings, the 37 metre tall statue cost 8 million Singapore Dollars to build, and is the only Merlion that you can actually climb inside.
Any of the Singapore Merlion’s are definitely worthy of a quick photo stop, however we recommend visiting Merlion Park for one of the top things to do in Marina Bay Singapore.
To mix up the Merlion Park with a few other attractions you could also hop on the Singapore Half-Day City Tour.
Entrance Fee: Free
Opening Hours: Daily 24 hours.
3. Esplanade – Theatres On The Bay
Singapore’s arts and culture hub.
Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay is a performing arts centre located in Downtown Core, near the mouth of the Singapore River.
Named after the nearby Esplanade Park, it consists of a concert hall which seats roughly 1,600 people, and a theatre with a capacity of up to 2,000 for the performing arts.
The architecture of the building from the outside is spell binding, and can be viewed from all over the Marina Bay area.
There’s also a small outdoor amphitheatre where you can regularly find musicians performs in the evenings. These performances are free to enjoy, and a great way to end an evening by the bay side.
Tickets for all of the current shows can be bought online through the Esplanade website.
Or via the Esplanade Box Office which is open between 12pm – 8:30pm (including Sundays and Public Holidays).
Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay is the perfect place for all the live performance lovers visiting Singapore.
Entrance Fee: Free – S$150.
Tickets vary per showing. Some smaller local performances are free, other tickets can sell for up to S$150.
Opening Hours: 12pm – 8:30pm.
4. Ride The Singapore Flyer
The Singapore Flyer is Asia’s Largest Giant Observation Wheel, and is also located at Downtown Core, near the mouth of the Singapore River.
It opened in 2008, with construction having taken about 2 1/2 years, and is Singapore’s answer to the London Eye.
Standing at 165m tall, if you want a true panoramic view of the city, then this is one of the best things to do in Marina Bay.
Quite the experience, it’s the scenery that makes this attraction. Another plus is that it’s not one of the most popular touristy spots in the area, so there are usually close to no queues.
A perfect family activity, the Singapore Flyer offers amazing views of Marina Bay Sands and the Marina Bay precinct as you spin slowly. Although maybe not one for those with fears of heights.
Entrance Fee: Adults S$33, Seniors S$24 (60 years+), Children S$21 (3-12 years).
Opening Hours: Daily 3:00pm – 9:00pm.
5. Walk The Helix Bridge
A modern bridge linking two parts of the Bay, the Helix Bridge is definitely worth a spot on the things to do in Marina Bay list.
Built in the shape of a curved DNA structure, this work of art not only makes for a great city viewing point, but comes alive at night time.
Previously known as the Double Helix Bridge, it’s a pedestrian bridge linking the Marina Centre to the Marina South area of Marina Bay, and was officially opened on 24 April 2010.
After 3 years of construction it announced itself as the world’s first curved bridge, with canopies made of fritted-glass and perforated steel mesh incorporated to provide shade for pedestrians.
The bridge also has four viewing platforms, which provide stunning views of the Singapore skyline especially come nighttime!
The best way to incorporate the Helix Bridge is either when heading from Merlion Park to Marina Bay Sands, or from the Singapore Flyer to Gardens By The Bay.
Entrance Fee: Free to cross.
Opening Hours: 24 hours.
6. Marina Bay Sands Hotel
If you’re visiting Singapore, you’re definitely going to want to check out the crazy complex that is Marina Bay Sands.
Towering over the , this hotel, casino, shopping mall, world class dining and much, much more.
The most famous of the attractions though, is the incredible . Tourists travel from around the world to take a dip in the world’s largest rooftop pool, whilst looking out over Singapore’s awe-inspiring city skyline.
Although one thing to note, is that the infinity pool is only available to hotel guests. So if you want to take home that postcard photo, you’ll have to book a room.
There are still fantastic opportunities to grab a view of the skyline, from the Sands Skypark Observation Deck. Simply hop in one of the elevators and head to the viewing deck at Skypark on floor 57.
There is an entry fee of S$23 for adults, S$20 for seniors and S$17 for children (2-12 years). However there’s no time restriction to the length of your visit during opening hours from 9:30am to 10:00pm.
The casino is open 24 hours and the complex also has to Singapore’s premier and the .
So take your time and have a look around, and certainly don’t miss Marina Bay Sands off the itinerary, as it’s one of the top things to do in Marina Bay Singapore.
Entrance Fee: Skypark Observation Deck: Adults S$23, Seniors S$20, Children S$17 (2-12 years).
Opening Hours: 24 hours.
7. Rent Scooters And Explore
All of the above and more can be explored by renting one of the nifty electric scooters on offer around Marina Bay.
There are a few companies available, however the most popular rentals we saw people riding were GoScoot.
They can be a little pricey, with most booths renting scooters out at around S$30 per hour. However renting a scooter in Singapore is a great idea, and an easy way to explore all the things to do in Marina Bay.
Most companies will go the extra mile and guide you on the best route to take in order to explore the whole marina. Just be sure to ride with care and stick to the correct pathways!
8. Shoppes At Marina Bay Sands
For a fancy spot of shopping among all the high end brands, The Shoppes At Marina Bay Sands is your place.
Explore Southeast Asia’s largest collection of luxury fashion, with over 800,000 square feet of high-end retail shoppes such as Louis Vuitton, Miu Miu and Chanel.
From watch and jewellery brands, to exclusive emerging labels and children’s collections, you’ll be guaranteed to find any designed item you’re on the hunt for.
Not only that, but the mall also has a lot of fine dining restaurant options, where you can plan a romantic dinner with your loved one.
A canal runs through the ground floor, and you can even pay for a gondola ride around the mall. A stunning waterfall also flows out of the roof every half hour.
Overall, the whole complex was a little out of our price range, but it was nice to window shop and see how the other half live!
Entrance Fee: Free
Opening Hours: Daily 10am – 11pm
9. The Art Science Museum
Whilst exploring the city of Singapore, it’s hard to miss the famous Art Science Museum.
The lotus shaped building has become one of the top tourist things to do in Marina Bay, and even has it’s very own lotus garden located at the foot of the entrance.
Inside there are a lot of different styles of art on display, as well as exhibitions depending on which season you visit. Previously there have been wildlife, futuristic, as well as a marvel avengers exhibition and a Disney display too.
The Art Science Museum in Singapore is also where you’ll find the the famous sparkling lights feature, that you may have seen featured on Instagram.
Fees apply depending on which exhibitions you wish to visit. However the standard ArtScience Museum Entry Ticket can be purchased online in advance.
This ticket grants entrance to the permanent Future World exhibition and entrance to the Digital Light Canvas exhibition.
Overall, the architectural design is great, and the museum is situated directly in front of the Marina Bay Sands Hotel. Making it an easy attraction to tie in on one of your days exploring Marina Bay.
Entrance Fee: Future World: S$16.15
All Access: S$40
Opening Hours: Daily 10am – 7pm
10. Watch Sunset Over The City
If you find yourself still in Marina Bay come the evening, our advice is to grab a good spot for sunset.
After cruising around the beautiful bay and ticking off all the top attractions, watching the sun go down behind the cityscape is a great way to end it.
We secured our sunset spot (as pictured below) next to the glass Louis Vuitton building, located directly in front of the Marina Bay Sands Hotel.
Another awesome option for evening activities is the Big Bus Night Tour. On this 3 hour trip you’ll try some local cuisine at Chinatown Food Street, catch a light show at Gardens by the Bay, then sample tropical fruits and barter at Bugis Street.
Or if you’re more of a fine diner, you could try the Singapore by Night Dining Experience. A 4 hour tour that includes dining by the river, a bumboat cruise, and an optional Singapore Sling cocktail.
Either way, by the time you’re at the end of your days in Singapore, your feet are certainly going to be aching.
So finding a place to sit down and watch the sun go down is the best way to recap over the experiences you’ve had.
11. Watch An Incredible Marina Bay Light Show
After all of this exploring, hopefully you’ll have enough energy left in you to hold out for one of the spectacular Singapore Light shows!
One of the most famous things to do in Marina Bay is to watch the city light up after dark. However, with a couple shows to choose from, you may have to do it twice.
It’s a toss up between ‘Spectra’ the Marina Bay Light Show, and ‘Garden Rhapsody‘ by Gardens By The Bay.
Our personal favourite was Spectra, for it’s dramatic music and city backdrop. Although it’s definitely worth staying out to see both.
If you plan it right, you can even watch the Garden Rhapsody show at 7:45pm, and then head over to Marina Bay for Spectra at 9:00pm!
The light shows in Singapore are truly incredible, completely free, and the perfect way to close out your Singapore bucket list.
12. Stroll The City By Night
If you’re all light showed out, or light shows aren’t really your thing, then walking around the city at night has a completely different feel to it.
When we first saw the skyline fully lit up from the Helix Bridge, it stopped us in our tracks. We’d gone from travelling on tuk tuks around the more local side of Asia, to standing in one of the cleanest and most beautiful cities we’d ever seen.
The best area to stroll after dark is Marina Bay. It’s safe, there are still plenty of pedestrians about, and it’s very well lit up.
The big bright lights of the city from Marina Bay are a pretty amazing way to end your Singapore trip!
Where To Stay In Singapore
Luxury – Marina Bay Sands
Towering over the bay, this iconic hotel offers the world’s largest rooftop infinity pool, 20 dining options and a world-class casino.
It has direct access to Singapore’s premier shopping mall and the ArtScience Museum, which features the permanent exhibition, Future World.
All rooms at Marina Bay Sands come with a flat-screen cable TV. Furnished with contemporary-style dark wood decor and carpeted floors, free WiFi is also available.
Floor-to-ceiling windows open up to panoramic views of the Singapore skyline.
Mid-Budget – Holiday Inn Express Clarke Quay
Holiday Inn Express Singapore Clarke Quay is centrally located in Singapore. It’s located just 750 yards from the Clarke Quay MRT Station and 0.6 miles from Chinatown.
It offers a 24-hour rooftop fitness centre, 2 whirlpools and a 40 yards swimming pool overlooking Clarke Quay and Robertson Quay.
Each air-conditioned hotel room comes with a 32-inch LED TV, an iPod dock and free Wi-Fi access.
Backpacker – Blue Jazz Hostel
Strategically located in Jalan Besar, Blue Jazz Hostel offers budget accommodation in Singapore.
Just 450 yards from City Square Mall, Blue Jazz Hostel is a 5-minute walk from Farrer Park MRT Station.
Guests can also take a stroll through the interlocking streets to cultural heritage sites such as Little India and Arab Street.
Blue Jazz provides air-conditioned dormitories with a personal reading light, power socket and personal locker. Shared bathrooms include hot/cold shower facilities.
Guests can also enjoy meals at the in-house cafe or have a drink at the bar. Free WiFi is available throughout the property.
For more places to stay in Singapore you can check the latest prices on Booking.com.
More Singapore Blogs
4 Days In Singapore Itinerary – The Ultimate Guide
Instagrammable Places In Singapore – Ultimate Guide
Gardens By The Bay Singapore – Complete Guide
The Best Hawker Centres In Singapore
Pin It For Later!
lux
Tuesday 1st of October 2019
excellant.... we loved ur travel experience and helpful as well thank u
Charlie Pauly
Tuesday 1st of October 2019
Thanks!