Marina Bay· 4 min read
What Is Marina Bay Famous For? Its Landmarks Explained
Why Marina Bay became the face of Singapore, and what each of its landmarks means to the city, from the Merlion to the Supertrees.
Photo: Basile Morin, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped
Neighbourhood Guides
Marina Bay Guides
Singapore's postcard skyline: what to see, where to eat and how to spend a day and night around Marina Bay.
These guides cover Marina Bay Singapore, the waterfront with the city's best-known skyline. They explain how to get there and what each landmark is. You will also find a one-day walking route and tips for a small budget.
Short on time? Start with the itinerary. Read the transport guide first, as the sights are spread out.
Plan it with EatStays: Restaurants in Marina Bay & CBD, Hotels in Marina Bay & CBD and Gardens by the Bay.
Showing 1–5 of 5 guides
Per page
- Marina Bay
- Marina Bay
· 4 min read
Things to Do in Marina Bay: Sights, Walks and Food
A simple roundup of the main sights, walks, free shows and places to eat around Marina Bay, with links to our detailed guides.
Marina Bay· 4 min read
One Day in Marina Bay: An Easy Walking Itinerary
A morning-to-night walking plan for Marina Bay that links the main sights in order and keeps you indoors in the hottest hours.
Marina Bay· 4 min read
Marina Bay on a Budget: Free Sights and Cheap Eats
How to enjoy Marina Bay for little money, with free sights and shows, cheap hawker meals and the few paid tickets worth buying.
Marina Bay· 4 min read
How to Get to Marina Bay by MRT, Bus and Taxi
Which MRT station to use for each part of Marina Bay, plus bus, taxi and walking options from the city centre and popular hotel areas.
Why visit Marina Bay
Marina Bay Singapore is the waterfront at the heart of the city. Its skyline appears on most postcards of the country. Hotels, gardens, museums and office towers ring a wide bay. A long walking path links them all. Most first-time visitors spend at least half a day here, and many come back after dark for the lights.
The area is spread out, so plan your route before you set off. Our post What Is Marina Bay Famous For? Its Landmarks Explained gives a quick overview. For a fuller list of ideas, read Things to Do in Marina Bay: Sights, Walks and Food.
The main sights around Marina Bay
Gardens by the Bay
Gardens by the Bay is a large park behind Marina Bay Sands. Its Supertree Grove is a cluster of tall, tree-shaped steel structures covered in plants. The outdoor gardens are free. The Flower Dome and Cloud Forest are two cooled glass conservatories that need a ticket.
Marina Bay Sands and the SkyPark
Marina Bay Sands is the hotel with three towers joined by a long deck on top. The Marina Bay Sands SkyPark Observation Deck is open to the public with a ticket. The rooftop pool is for hotel guests only. Beside the towers you will find a large shopping mall and the lotus-shaped ArtScience Museum.
Merlion Park and the waterfront
Merlion Park is home to the Merlion, a statue with a lion's head and a fish's body. It is the most popular photo stop in Singapore. From here, the promenade loops around the water. You pass the Esplanade theatres, then cross the Helix Bridge, a curved footbridge shaped like a strand of DNA.
More views
The Singapore Flyer is a giant observation wheel with wide views over the bay. Marina Barrage is a dam with a grassy roof. Locals go there for picnics and kite flying.
Free things to do in the evening
You can enjoy much of the bay without spending money. The promenade and the outdoor gardens are free. Two free shows run on most evenings:
- Spectra is a light, water and music show on the waterfront in front of Marina Bay Sands.
- Garden Rhapsody is a light and music show at the Supertree Grove.
Show schedules change, so check them before you go. Our Marina Bay Night Walk links both shows into one evening. For more ways to save, read Marina Bay on a Budget: Free Sights and Cheap Eats.
Where to eat around the bay
Food here ranges from hawker stalls to hotel restaurants. A hawker centre is an open-air food hall with many small stalls. They sell local dishes at low prices.
- Satay by the Bay is a hawker centre inside Gardens by the Bay.
- Makansutra Gluttons Bay is a row of hawker stalls by the water near the Esplanade.
- Lau Pa Sat is a hawker centre in an old cast-iron market hall in the business district.
For a sit-down meal, the Marina Bay Sands complex has many restaurants. Ippudo (Marina Bay Sands) serves Japanese ramen. CUT by Wolfgang Puck is a steakhouse. Ce La Vi serves modern Asian food high above the bay. For seafood such as chilli crab, try Jumbo Seafood (Riverside Point). Prices vary a lot and change often, so check menus before you book.
Where to stay near the bay
Staying here puts you close to the main sights and the business district. Most hotels are upscale, and many rooms face the water.
- The Fullerton Bay Hotel sits right on the waterfront.
- The Fullerton Hotel Singapore fills a grand old building near the mouth of the river.
- Pan Pacific Singapore and PARKROYAL Collection Marina Bay are other five-star choices in the area.
Families can read Family Hotels Near Gardens by the Bay. If you are torn between two areas, Marina Bay vs Orchard: Where Should You Stay? compares them.
Getting there and getting around
The MRT, Singapore's metro, is the easiest way in. Bayfront station serves Marina Bay Sands and Gardens by the Bay. Raffles Place station is a short walk from Merlion Park. Our guide How to Get to Marina Bay by MRT, Bus and Taxi covers every option.
A few tips for a good visit:
- Walk in the early morning or after sunset, when it is cooler.
- Carry water and an umbrella, as showers can arrive quickly.
- Use the malls and covered walkways to escape the heat.
- Follow One Day in Marina Bay: An Easy Walking Itinerary to see the sights in a sensible order.
FAQs about Marina Bay
Is Marina Bay free to visit?
Yes. The promenade, Merlion Park, the Helix Bridge and the outdoor gardens are free. You pay only for places such as the SkyPark deck, the conservatories and the museums.
How much time do I need for Marina Bay?
Half a day covers the main sights. A full day lets you add Gardens by the Bay, a museum and the evening shows.
What is the best time of day to visit Marina Bay?
Late afternoon into the evening works well. It is cooler, the skyline lights up and the free shows start after dark.
Can I use the Marina Bay Sands pool without staying there?
No. The rooftop pool is for hotel guests only. Visitors can buy a ticket for the SkyPark Observation Deck to enjoy the view instead.