14 Best Things to Do in Marina Bay
What is Marina Bay Most Famous For?
Marina Bay has been the biggest winner in the fast-paced development of Singapore. The whole Marina Bay area has undergone an epic transformation and is now the de facto center of Singapore for visitors. The Marina Bay Sands complex is the focal point, and many of the great things to do and see revolve around this building and resort.
The variety of attractions at Marina Bay wouldn’t be complete without the famous Merlion, Singapore’s symbol and most sought-after photo-op. Aside from pretty things to see, the area is packed full of fun and fascinating things to do as well, all of which are great for the whole spectrum of different visitors that flock to this stunning spot every year.
1. Gardens by the Bay
Dramatic lights and spectacular plant life
Good for: Couples, Families, Photo, Nightlife, Budget
Gardens by the Bay is an incredible, futuristic park featuring giant manmade tree structures (called the “Supertree Grove”) which tower into the sky. This Singapore attraction has won countless awards and continues to wow the endless succession of visitors who have the chance to get up close and personal with the trees by using the impressive Skywalk over the gardens.
Come nightfall, the 50-m-tall trees are brilliantly illuminated with a kaleidoscope of colors, making the whole park even more spectacular. The show starts around 8 pm and is free (unless you want to use the Skywalk, where there is a small charge). Read more
Location: 18 Marina Gardens Drive, Singapore 018953, Singapore
Open: Daily from 9 am to 9 pm, Outdoor Gardens open daily from 5 am to 2 am
Phone: +65 6420 6848
Gardens by the Bay
2. ArtScience Museum
Fascinating facts in a stunning building
Good for: Families, History, Photo
The ArtScience Museum in Singapore stands proudly as a landmark in itself at Marina Bay. While most traditional art or science museums attract visitors purely for what is found inside them, at ArtScience Museum, this is not the case.
The iconic lotus flower design of the building is simply stunning, making this attraction worth a look purely for its spectacular architecture. Inside is just as impressive, with over 20 gallery spaces across a total area of 50,000 ft2 highlighting all things creative and historical in Singapore (exhibitions are subject to regular change). Read more
Location: 10 Bayfront Avenue, Singapore 018956, Singapore
Open: Sunday–Thursday from 10 am to 7 pm, Friday–Saturday from 10 am to 9 pm
Phone: +65 6688 8868
ArtScience Museum
3. Marina Bay Sands SkyPark
Glorious views of the Singapore cityscape
Good for: Families, Photo
Venturing up to the Sands SkyPark, perched at the very top of the awe-inspiring, 3-pronged Marina Bay Sands complex, is a great way of seeing the iconic Singapore skyline in all its glory.
56 stories above the city, you can see Singapore with all its skyscrapers, parks, and architectural eccentricities. Admire the verdant beauty of Gardens by the Bay and the sea beyond, dotted with boats of all shapes and sizes. As the sun sets, the world becomes a blaze of gold and pink before Singapore’s lights awake, creating a glittering vista. Read more
Location: Marina Bay Sands, 10 Bayfront Avenue, Singapore 018956, Singapore
Open: Daily from 10 am to 4.30 pm then from 5 pm to 10 pm
Phone: +65 6688 8826
Marina Bay Sands SkyPark
4. Merlion
Singapore’s iconic mascot
Good for: History, Photo
The Merlion is not just any ordinary statue. This solid concrete, 70-ton, water-spouting, half mermaid-half lion figure is a mythic symbol of Singapore, and probably the most sought-after photo-op for visitors to the city-state.
Whilst the iconic statue is the main focal point, the surrounding area has a nice terraced seating area (free to use) where you can relax, take in the view or have yourself a little picnic (or a cheeky beer at night). There is also a purposely built jetty stretching out over the water, providing a great platform for that all-important photo of the Merlion, or the rest of the Marina Bay, which is just as stunning. Read more
Location: Merlion Park, 1 Fullerton Rd, Singapore 049213, Singapore
Merlion
5. Singapore Flyer
A journey high above the city
Good for: Families, Photo
The Singapore Flyer is one of the world’s largest observation wheels and is a perfect way getting a great view of that stunning Singapore city skyline. Towering 165 m into the sky (and with a similar diameter), guests can get some breathtaking views all whilst making their way around the loop at a very leisurely pace (at 0.21 m per second).
Famous sights such as the Singapore River, Raffles Place, Marina Bay, and the CBD can all be seen from the comfort of your air-conditioned capsule. A capsule fits up to 28 passengers, though there are usually far fewer on a single ride. Read more
Location: 30 Raffles Avenue, Singapore 039803, Singapore
Open: Daily from 10 am to 10 pm
Phone: +65 6333 3311
Singapore Flyer
6. Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay
Live shows and spectacles
Good for: Couples, Families, Photo, Nightlife, Budget
Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay is a vast arts and culture center in Singapore’s Marina Bay that boasts a separate concert hall, theater, and outdoor performance area. A great range of live shows, local and international musical performances, and cultural displays are held regularly across this multi-purpose venue.
This fantastic venue also hosts regular free events, great for the whole family. Find Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay by taking the MRT to City Hall or Esplanade Circle Line station. From there it’s a short walk, just look for the 2 large aluminum and glass domes on the riverfront. Read more
Location: 1 Esplanade Drive, Singapore 038981, Singapore
Open: Daily from 8 am to 11.30 pm
Phone: +65 6828 8377
Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay
7. Spectra Light Show at Marina Bay Sands
Incredible free light show, every night
Good for: Couples, Families, Photo, Nightlife, Budget
Every evening, Marina Bay in Singapore becomes illuminated by the jaw-dropping, award-winning Spectra light show. From 8 pm daily (with later shows too), fluorescent lasers are beamed across the water, projected from the top of the iconic Marina Bay Sands Resort, as well as the adjacent ArtScience Museum.
The great thing about this Singapore attraction is that it’s totally free, can be enjoyed from a variety of viewpoints around the bay. If you miss it, there’s always one to see the next day. Get up close to Marina Bay Sands and you’ll hear the music too, but this show is really more about the visuals.
Location: 10 Bayfront Avenue, Singapore 018956, Singapore
Open: Sunday to Thursday at 8 pm and 9 pm, Friday and Saturday at 8 pm, 9 pm, and 11 pm
Spectra Light Show at Marina Bay Sands
8. CE LA VI
Delicious cocktails and stunning views
Good for: Couples, Photo, Nightlife
CE LA VI on the 57th floor of Marina Bay Sands offers uninterrupted views of the city and bay. With a cocktail costing around the same price as the entry to Marina Bay Sands observation desk and CE LA VI’s slightly more elevated location, it has quickly become one of Singapore’s hottest rooftop venues.
For those not lucky enough to be staying at the Marina Bay Sands hotel, a few drinks at CE LA VI Singapore is a perfect way to enjoy a little of the luxury this iconic building has to offer. Read more
Location: Marina Bay Sands North Tower, 1 Bayfront Avenue, Singapore
Open: Daily from 4 pm until 1 am
Phone: +65 6508 2188
CE LA VI
9. Flight Experience Singapore
The adventure of being a pilot
Good for: Families, Unusual
The Flight Experience center on Raffles Avenue offers a completely unique experience in Singapore – you can ‘fly’ your very own Boeing 737-800, albeit in an ultra-realistic simulator. As well as some pre-flight training, you get your very own licensed pilot to guide you through take-off, cruise, and landing, lasting up to 90 minutes.
You’ll have a whopping 24,000 airports to choose from, and you can fly over some iconic cities either at night or day. These include the nerve-wracking decent into Hong Kong’s harbor airport, or over the spectacular Manhattan skyline into New York’s JFK.
Location: 30 Raffles Ave, Singapore 039803, Singapore
Phone: +65 6339 2737
Flight Experience Singapore
10. Marina Barrage
Ideal spot for picnics and kite-flying
Good for: Photo, Budget
Marina Barrage is a multipurpose site in Singapore, in that it’s part dam, part tourist attraction and recreational site. It’s just a short walk away from another of the city’s major attractions, Gardens by the Bay, and is on the very southern tip of the main island.
The rooftop park part of the dam is especially popular for picnicking and kite flying. With the main elevated section of grass overlooking the city’s skyline, the place is also popular among sightseers and for taking in the stunning Singaporean sunsets. Read more
Location: 8 Marina Gardens Dr, Singapore 018951, Singapore
Phone: +65 6514 5959
Marina Barrage
11. Marina Bay Sands
Skyscraper with rooftop pool
Good for: Couples, Families, Photo, Food, Nightlife, Luxury
Marina Bay Sands is an icon of Singapore’s ever-growing city skyline. The 3 skyscrapers have, what seems to be, a high-speed train balancing precariously across the top. In fact, this is one of the highlights of Marina Bay Sands Hotel: a huge, rooftop pool with sweeping views of Singapore.
The location of Marina Bay Sands is another plus point as the MRT underground is close by and you can walk to several of Singapore’s top attractions, such as Gardens by the Bay, the Merlion, and the ArtScience Museum. Read more
Location: 10 Bayfront Ave, Singapore 018956, Singapore
Phone: +65 6688 8888
Marina Bay Sands
12. National Stadium Singapore
Home of Singapore soccer
The National Stadium in Singapore is an all-purpose sports arena where you can watch the Singapore National Soccer team play their home matches, together with exhibition cricket, rugby, athletic, and live music events.
The spectacular dome-shaped stadium is visible from all over Singapore, with its retractable roof and red/white seating making it stand out as one of Singapore’s most famous landmarks. The stadium is by far the biggest in Singapore, holding up to 55,000 people, though the customizable seating can be reduced for smaller events. Read more
Location: 1 Stadium Drive, Kallang, Singapore
Phone: +65 6653 8900
National Stadium Singapore
13. Singapore F1 Grand Prix
The world famous nighttime race
Singapore Grand Prix is the only F1 race held at night. The seasonal GP also regularly presents a cool mix of top music performances and enhanced on-track action. The Marina Bay Street Circuit is Singapore’s street-based F1 circuit around the bay area. 5.1 km long with 23 turns, the picturesque harborside location has been compared to Monaco and Valencia’s circuits.
As one of the few counter-clockwise circuits in F1 racing, the whole Marina Bay Street Circuit is brilliantly illuminated using 108 power cables connecting 12 twin-power generators to 1,600 light projectors. Another unique feature of the Singapore street circuit is that between turns number 18 and 19, the racetrack goes underneath a section of the grandstand at The Float. Read more
Location: Marina Bay Street Circuit, Pit Building, 1 Republic Boulevard, Singapore 038975, Singapore
Phone: +65 6738 6738
Singapore F1 Grand Prix
14. South Beach Singapore
Luxury complex of restaurants, hotels, and more
Good for: Families, Shoppers, Photo
South Beach Singapore partly defines Singapore Downtown’s skyline, with 2 skyscrapers, each 40 stories high, towering over the Marina Bay area, as well as many restaurants, a couple of luxury hotels, office spaces, and hundreds of permanent residences. There are also a number of malls in the vicinity.
You can find the complex is on South Beach Road (hence the name), walking distance from famous Singapore attractions such as Raffles Hotel, The Marina Bay, Esplanade, and The Singapore Flyer. It’s also home to the fancy boutique hotel, The South Beach Singapore. Read more
Location: 30 Beach Road, Singapore 189763, Singapore
Phone: +65 6672 5722
South Beach Singapore
This article includes opinions of the Go Guides editorial team. Hotels.com compensates authors for their writing appearing on this site; such compensation may include travel and other costs.