Things to do in Marina Bay
Marina Bay is a stretch of waterfront at the southern edge of Singapore's city centre, and most of what you can do here is within walking distance along a 3.5 km promenade. The bay was created from reclaimed land and is ringed by gardens, bridges, a performing arts centre, a design museum and the towers of the business district. If you are working out what to do in Marina Bay, think in blocks: one block for the free waterfront sights, one for the paid attractions with fixed opening hours, and one for the evening.
Most of the places below have their own pages with hours and practical detail, so this page gives you the overview and the order that works on foot. Afternoon showers are common, so keep a light rain layer in your bag.
Our picks: walks, wheel and river
The walking tour follows the waterfront, the Flyer ticket gives you one rotation above the bay, and the river cruise comes with dinner for each paying person.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Singapore River evening cruise with dinner
- English-speaking guide
- River cruise ticket
- Dinner
Dinner is included for each paying person. Children who ride for free get no dinner, and tips are extra.
Check availability →
Guided Marina Bay street circuit walking tour
- Guided walking tour
- Historical storytelling
- Archival visuals
The route runs along Fullerton Waterfront, Anderson Bridge and Jubilee Bridge to Esplanade Drive and the Flyer promenade. A Flyer ride, building entries and the F1 simulator are extra.
Check availability →
Singapore Flyer admission ticket
- One rotation
- Shared capsule
Food, drinks and a hotel transfer are extra. Check the current opening hours before you go.
Check availability →Walks and evening tours around Marina Bay
Guided waterfront walks, a street food evening and a river cruise, with live prices and availability.
Esplanade
The domed performing arts centre on the waterfront.
The Esplanade is Singapore's national venue for the performing arts, and you do not need a ticket to enjoy it. It runs free programmes every day, with concourse performances usually in the evening, and paid shows alongside. The Outdoor Theatre hosts free programmes from Friday to Sunday and on national days off, so check the calendar for the dates that match your visit. For a free series in the coming weeks, the Soundtracks programme is listed for 1 to 30 November 2026. A series name is not a guarantee of a daily start time, so read the individual listing before you plan around it.
The public roof terrace is free and reached by lift to level 4. It is a garden with a view over the city and the bay, which makes it a good place to see how the waterfront fits together before you set off on foot. Treat it as a daytime and early evening stop, and ask at the information point if you want to be sure it is open when you arrive. The Jubilee Bridge in front of the building is another good spot for photographs of the two domed roofs. From here the promenade leads on to the Merlion Park in one direction and to the Helix Bridge in the other.
Fullerton Building and Collyer Quay
The harbour's older face.
Across the river mouth from the Merlion, Collyer Quay recalls the days when this was the working harbour of the city. The Fullerton Building, completed in 1928, was once the main post office and also housed public offices. Today you can admire it as architecture and as a landmark of the waterfront: the long façade is best seen from the water's edge or from the bridges nearby. Treat it as a building to look at and photograph.
A walk past Collyer Quay and Raffles Place is also a way to see the contrast between the old commercial district and the glass towers on the other side of the bay. Raffles Place is the nearest MRT station if you start your walk from this side. A guided walk through the historic centre that finishes at the Esplanade and the Merlion Park is a way to hear the stories behind the buildings. A tip is expected at the end; clarify the booking charge and tip arrangements before booking. See the history of Marina Bay for how the shoreline moved outwards.
Red Dot Design Museum
A small museum for product and communication design.
The Red Dot Design Museum stands at 11 Marina Boulevard. It is open from Monday to Friday from 11:00 to 19:00 and on Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 to 19:00, including national days off and the evenings before them, according to the museum's visit page. A single ticket costs SGD 12 and includes a SGD 5 shopping voucher, and four tickets together cost SGD 30 with a SGD 10 voucher. Children up to and including 6 years enter free. The museum names Bayfront, Downtown and Marina Bay stations as about 5 minutes on foot each, so you can fit it into a walk between the Gardens area and the financial district.
It suits a rainy hour or a break from the midday heat, because the visit is short. Check the current prices on the museum's own page before you go, because ticket offers can change.
Marina Bay Financial Centre
The business district on the promenade.
The Marina Bay Financial Centre is the cluster of office towers that gives the bay its skyline on the Downtown side. It is a working business district. For a visitor it is mainly a backdrop and a short stretch of the promenade, close to Downtown and Marina Bay stations. The best way to take it in is the bay-side path with the water on one side and the towers on the other.
Fireworks and festivals
Events that return to the bay.
The bay hosts the countdown to the new year every year, with events and fireworks. Check start times and public viewing areas for the coming New Year's Eve nearer the date, and arrive early if you want a spot on the waterfront. National Day in 2026 was on 9 August, and the parade was held at the National Stadium in Kallang rather than at the bay.
The i Light festival ran along the waterfront in June 2026. The next edition is planned for June 2027, so check the dates nearer the time if you want to match your visit to it. Private fireworks are not allowed at the Marina Barrage, so leave them at home. For a second evening option, see the free Garden Rhapsody show at the Supertree Grove.
Otters at the bay
Wild animals in a city setting.
Otters are among the wild animals seen along the waterways of the city, and you may spot some near the bay. They are wild animals, so keep your distance and let them go about their day. Do not touch, chase, surround or feed them, and take extra care around pups. Leave out the flash and loud noises, and keep dogs on a short lead. Give them enough room that they carry on undisturbed.
More to see around the bay
Shorter stops with their own pages.
Merlion Park
The statue with a fish body and lion head, free and open 24 hours. See Merlion Park.
Helix Bridge
A spiral steel footbridge between Marina Centre and Bayfront. See Helix Bridge.
Marina Barrage
A green roof for picnics and a water gallery. See Marina Barrage.
Singapore Flyer
A 165 m wheel with views over the bay. See Singapore Flyer.
Gardens by the Bay
Outdoor gardens, domes and the evening show. See Gardens by the Bay.
River cruises
Boat rides from the jetties on the bay and river. See Singapore river cruise.
Things to do in Marina Bay: frequently asked questions
How long do I need for Marina Bay?
A walk around the waterfront promenade takes roughly an hour at an easy pace without stops. With photo stops, the Esplanade, a museum and a meal, a full day fills up easily.
What is free to do in Marina Bay?
The promenade, Merlion Park, the Esplanade concourse programmes and roof terrace, the Marina Barrage green roof and the Supertree Grove at ground level are free. Paid attractions include the domes, the Flyer, museum entry and boat rides.
Is Marina Bay good at night?
Yes. Merlion Park is open 24 hours, the Supertree lights stay on until 23:30 and Garden Rhapsody runs at 19:45 and 20:45.
Which MRT station is best for Marina Bay?
Bayfront suits the Gardens, Promenade suits the Flyer and the Esplanade side, and Raffles Place is closest to the Merlion. See getting there for the full list.
Can I touch the otters?
No. Keep your distance, do not feed or chase them, and avoid flash photography.