You can enjoy Marina Bay on a budget, because many of its best sights are free. The Merlion, the waterfront walk, the Supertree Grove and two evening light shows cost nothing. Add hawker meals, and a full day here can cost little more than your food.
This guide covers free sights, free shows and cheap places to eat. It also picks out the few paid tickets that are worth it. For more about the area, browse our Marina Bay guides.
Free sights around the bay
Most of Marina Bay is public space, and you can walk between the sights for free.
- Merlion Park: see the Merlion, a statue with a lion's head and a fish's body, with Marina Bay Sands across the water.
- Helix Bridge: a footbridge that twists like a strand of DNA, with open views of the bay.
- The waterfront promenade: a flat loop around the bay that takes about an hour on foot.
- The outdoor gardens: the gardens and Supertree Grove at Gardens by the Bay are free to enter.
- Marina Barrage: a dam with a grassy roof for picnics, kite flying and sunset views.
- The Esplanade roof terrace: a free viewpoint over the bay and the city.
For ideas beyond the bay, browse free things to do or our list of 20 free things to do in Singapore.
Free shows and performances
The bay puts on two free shows on most evenings. Spectra is a light, laser and water show on the waterfront in front of Marina Bay Sands. Garden Rhapsody is a light and music show at the Supertree Grove. Each runs more than once a night, so you can usually catch both.
Our guide to free light shows in Singapore explains where to stand. Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay also has many free performances. They often take place at its Outdoor Theatre by the water or inside the building. Check the Esplanade's online programme to see what is on during your visit.
Cheap eats near Marina Bay
Hawker centres are the cheapest way to eat here. These are food halls with many small stalls and shared tables. Most dishes cost roughly S$5 to S$10. Stalls near the bay can cost a little more than those in residential areas. Prices change, so check the signs at each stall.
- Makansutra Gluttons Bay: open-air hawker stalls by the Esplanade, good for dinner.
- Satay by the Bay: a food centre inside Gardens by the Bay, handy before the evening shows.
- Lau Pa Sat: a hawker centre in a Victorian iron building. In the evening, satay stalls set up on the street beside it.
- Amoy Street Food Centre: a short walk from Telok Ayer station, and busy with office workers at weekday lunch.
Our guide on how to eat cheaply in Singapore has more ways to save on meals.
Paid attractions worth paying for
You do not need to pay for much here. Still, a few tickets are good value if you choose with care.
Flower Dome and Cloud Forest
If you pay for one thing, make it the two glass domes at Gardens by the Bay. They are cool inside, which helps in the midday heat or rain. The Cloud Forest has a tall indoor waterfall. The Flower Dome is full of seasonal flower displays.
One view from above
Pick one high viewpoint rather than paying for several. The Marina Bay Sands SkyPark Observation Deck looks straight down on the bay. The Singapore Flyer is a giant wheel with slowly turning glass capsules. For a free view instead, use the Esplanade roof terrace or the roof of Marina Barrage.
Smaller extras
The OCBC Skyway, a walkway between the Supertrees, is one of the cheaper tickets. The ArtScience Museum is worth it if one of its changing exhibitions interests you.
More tips for Marina Bay on a budget
- Use the MRT instead of taxis. Our guide on how to get to Marina Bay lists the right station for each sight.
- Carry a refillable bottle. Tap water in Singapore is safe to drink.
- Come in the late afternoon. You can see the gardens in daylight, watch the sunset and stay for the free shows.
- Eat at hawker stalls and save your budget for one paid view.
- Follow our one day in Marina Bay plan, which links the free sights in a sensible order.
FAQs about Marina Bay on a budget
Is Marina Bay expensive to visit?
It does not have to be. Hotels and restaurants can be pricey, but many sights and both evening light shows are free.
Is Gardens by the Bay free?
The outdoor gardens, Supertree Grove and Garden Rhapsody show are free. The Flower Dome, Cloud Forest and OCBC Skyway need tickets.
Can I swim in the Marina Bay Sands infinity pool?
Only if you stay at the hotel. Visitors can buy a ticket for the observation deck to enjoy a similar view.
Where can I eat cheaply near Marina Bay Sands?
Satay by the Bay is a walk away inside Gardens by the Bay. Makansutra Gluttons Bay is across the Helix Bridge, by the Esplanade.
