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Marina Bay Singapore is an entertainment, commercial and residential hub – and a must-see on any trip to Singapore! The best way to discover the district is to walk around Marina Bay – and we designed a perfect Marina Bay Walking Trail that features top sights.
Development of Marina Bay – an area built on reclaimed land and fed by the Singapore River – only began in 1988, but quickly grew and gained status as one of the top Singapore tourist attractions. The modern-marvel Marina Bay Sands Hotel is a focal point of the area – and can be seen from afar – but there are many more Marina Bay Singapore attractions to see.
Our easy-to-follow Marina Walk Singapore is perfect for sightseeing in Marina Bay!
About Our Marina Bay Waterfront Promenade Walk
Our self-guided Singapore Marina Bay Waterfront Walking Tour begins with an up-close look at the Merlion fountain. Walking counterclockwise, our Marina Bay walking route circles around the perimeter of the bay – detouring a couple of times – to explore the best things to do in Marina Bay.
To help you find your way on the Marina Bay Sands Walk, we’ve included a Marina Bay Map of Sights at the end of the post.
Top Tip: Combine this Singapore Marina Bay walking tour with two other nearby must-see districts! Exploring Singapore Chinatown and the SG Downtown Core are two of the top things to do around Marina Bay Sands.
What You Will Need for your MBS Walk
Before you set off to see the tourist attractions in Marina Bay, make sure you are prepared for your walk!
City Walking Shoes for Singapore
We cover some ground in our Marina Bay Waterfront Singapore Walk. Despite the heat, it is best to wear comfortable walking shoes for the self-guided tour. I like to wear lightweight shoes by Columbia – and Kris prefers city walks in his Merrell shoes. Find more tips in our post, The Best Shoes for Traveling.
Singapore Sun Protection
The sun in Singapore is intense – and there is little shade along most of the Marina Bay Sands walkway. Plan to get an early start and be sure to apply sunscreen before your walk – and consider bringing a wide-brimmed travel hat or travel umbrella to shade your face.
Singapore Travel Camera
There are numerous incredible sights along the Marina Bay Sands Promenade – and we think it is best to capture the beauty with a real travel camera. In our travels, we use a Canon Rebel (an excellent budget camera for beginners!) with an everyday 18-135mm lens (which is ideal for city pics!).
WiFi and Singapore Map
At the end of the post, we provide a useful Singapore Marina Bay Map, but you can only use it when you are connected to the internet. To stay connected when we travel, we use a GlocalMe Mobile WiFi Hotspot. We can connect up to ten devices at one time (great for families or groups), data is available online or via SIM card and it doubles as a power bank.
However, having a paper map is always a good idea…just in case. You can buy a Marina Bay Singapore Map – like this one – before your trip.
Travel Day Pack
Whether you travel with a backpack or a suitcase, you’ll also want the perfect day bag to organize all your everyday travel essentials for your Marina promenade walk.
Travel Insurance for your Singapore Trip
Travel Insurance may protect against canceled trips and lost luggage, as well as illness and injury abroad, too. Get rates, coverage and details with World Nomads.
Marina Bay Singapore Attractions
Our Marina walking trail is the perfect introduction to the district and the many tourist attractions that reside in it. That said, some of the Marina Bay Singapore Attractions require a fee.
Because we were visiting Singapore on a budget, we were not able to partake in all of the Marina Bay activities or enter all of the attractions. However, with our Self-Guided Marina Bay Walking Tour we were able to see the highlights of the area. To help other travelers determine which sights to enter, we’ve include additional information regarding admission prices and tickets.
Guided Tours in Marina Bay, Singapore
We enjoyed our walk by the bay on our own, but visitors can also join guided tours and sightseeing in Marina Bay. On a highly-touted 3-hour walk, participants learn the secrets behind Marina Bay Singapore that are not found in guidebooks. Reserve your spot for the guided walking tour now on Viator!
MBS Free Walking Tour Singapore
Lace up your walking shoes – it is time to start exploring the many things to do around Marina Bay!
Top Tip: Use the Raffles Place MRT Station to get to Marina in Singapore. If walking to Marina Bay Sands Waterfront from the Downtown Core, use the air-conditioned underpass at Fullerton Hotel to avoid both the heat and the traffic…and then make your way to the Merlion Fountain.
#1 Merlion Fountain
The first stop on our Marina Bay Sands Tour of Attractions is the famous Merlion Marina Bay Fountain.
The half-fish-half-lion creature, the Merlion, is a symbol of Singapore that melds the city’s history as a fishing village (translating the word sea to mer) and meaning of its original name (Singapura, meaning Lion City).
One of the five official Merlion statues in Singapore, it sits at the edge of Marina Bay with water spouting from its mouth. A viewing platform has been built over the water to allow visitors to see – and pose for pictures – from multiple angles and is one of the top Marina Bay attractions.
#2 Clifford Pier, Singapore
Built in 1933, Clifford Pier welcomed immigrants, tourists and Singapore visitors exiting ships until 2006 when it was no longer needed. The historic building how houses an upscale restaurant, The Clifford Pier, which is part of The Fullerton Bay Hotel, a 5-star Marina Bay hotel.
#3 The Promontory
Often used for Marina Bay events, The Promontory offers spectacular views of the iconic sights on Marina Bay Waterfront Promenade Singapore. Tip: Set your camera to Pano mode for a great panoramic shot!
#4 Marina Bay Financial Center & LeVel 33
Marina Bay Financial Center is comprised of five soaring office/residential use skyscrapers – the tallest exceeding 800 feet. While visiting the offices may not be one of the top activities in Marina Bay, going to the brewery is!
Beer enthusiasts and those seeking an elevated view of Marina Bay will not want to miss LeVel 33, the world’s highest brewery. Located on the 33rd Floor of Tower 1, drinking a beer at the brewery is one of the best things to do in Marina Bay Singapore. Of all the Marina Bay bars, this is the one we highly recommend!
From the prime balcony seating, views stretch over the bay to the Singapore Flyer and Gardens by the Bay. It’s an ideal place to take Marina Bay Singapore pictures from above. Beers may not be cheap…but the view is included!
#5 Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands
The Shoppes at Marina Bay is a luxury shopping mall in Singapore (one of the many). The Marina Bay shops are very Las Vegas-esque, complete with high-end stores, restaurants, a Marina Bay casino and even an indoor ‘river’ with gondola rides.
Regardless of whether or not you are a shopper, the Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands offer a nice place to cool off from the sweltering Singapore temperatures. Strolling by the stores is also one of the free things to do at Marina Bay Sands complex.
#6 Marina Bay Sands Singapore
The iconic Marina Bay Sands Hotel is the centerpiece of Marina Bay Singapore. Looking as if the towers emerged from the depths of the sea, sweeping a boat right out of the water and hoisting it up in the air, the architecture is astounding.
While looking at the building is awe-inspiring, visitors are invited to go to the top to take in the incredible Marina Bay Sands view of Singapore. The most coveted viewpoint is from the famous Marina Bay Sands rooftop infinity pool, but unfortunately, the Marina Bay Sands Pool is only open to hotel guests (find out just how much a room will cost for your stay!). However, the 57th Floor SkyPark can be visited (ticket required) and Marina Bay Sands restaurants and bars are open to the public.
#7 Gardens by the Bay
Visiting Gardens by the Bay tops the list of Things To Do at Marina Bay Singapore! Highlights of the gardens include the Supertree Grove, Sun Pavillion, Heritage Gardens, World of Plants, Dragonfly Lake and Kingfisher Lake…and admission to these Marina Bay tourist attractions is absolutely free! The attractions are linked together by the Gardens by the Bay walking trail.
Visiting the two indoor gardens, the Flower Dome and Cloud Forest, are top MBS attractions. However, these sights require a ticket for entry.
Gardens by the Bay are a must when Marina Bay sightseeing. Time your visit to coincide with the daily Garden Rhapsody light show (or make a return visit at night). The Gardens by the Bay laser show happens daily at 7:45pm and 8:45pm.
#8 Marina Barrage, Singapore
Visiting the Barrage is one of the Marina Bay activities that many tourists miss – but shouldn’t! The Marina Bay district dam was built in 2008 to maintain a fresh water supply for the city and it was specifically designed to double as outdoor space for residents and tourists to enjoy.
The Marina Barrage Walking Trail loops around to the top of the Marina Barrage building for phenomenal views. On the Marina Barrage walk, visitors can see the Supertree Grove and Marina Bay Sands Hotel Singapore. The massive, grassy park is perfect for a picnic, flying a kite and watching sunset. Guests with ample time can cross the dam to walk through Gardens by the Bay East.
Top Tip: If you need to cool off before or after arriving at Marina Barrage, kick off your shoes and wade into the splash park at the base of the Barrage.
#9 ArtScience Museum Marina Bay Sands
If you are wondering what to do in Marina Bay indoors, then the ArtScience Museum is your answer! As part of the hotel complex, visiting the ArtScience Museum is one of the more educational Marina Bay Sands activities. The shiny building, designed to resemble a lotus flower, houses intriguing exhibitions relating art to science. A ticket is required for entry.
#10 Helix Marina Bay Bridge
The Helix Bridge is a DNA-looking pedestrian bridge straddling the narrow opening of the bay – and crossing it is one of the top things to do in Marina Bay Sands. The bridge has lookouts offering views of the marina and Singapore from different vantage points.
#11 Singapore Flyer
From a distance, the Singapore Flyer might look like any ordinary carnival Ferris wheel, but the Marina Bay observation wheel is truly incredible. Standing at 541 feet, it ranked as the World’s Tallest Ferris Wheel when it opened on Marina Bay in Singapore (and only was surpassed in 2014 by the Vegas High Roller).
The wheel has 28 air-conditioned capsules, each of which can hold up to 28 people – and is a major Marina Bay tourist attraction. A ride on the Singapore Flyer requires a ticket.
#12 Marina Bay Float
Complete your Marina Bay walking tour along the Marina Bay promenade on the north side of the bay and pass by the Marina Bay Float: a professional floating soccer field. The Marina Bay floating platform also hosts other events, like ceremonies and concerts.
#13 Esplanade Theaters by the Bay
Continue walking along the Marina Bay trail to the Esplanade Theaters. Another example of unique Singapore architecture on Marina Bay, Esplanade Theatres by the Bay is a performing arts center, housing both a concert hall and a theater inside. It’s the outside, however, that garners much attention from tourists. The design looks to some like the eyes of a fly, but to many Singaporeans, it resembles the stinky, tropical fruit, durian.
#14 Makansutra Gluttons Bay
End your Singapore Marina Bay self-guided walking tour with a bite to eat at the popular Gluttons Bay hawker stalls – some of the best cheap food around Marina Bay Sands.
At the Hawker Centre, cooks whip up meals at a frenzied pace and the aromas are too good to pass by! Grab a plate of local fare and dine Singapore-style at the plastic picnic tables.
Top Tip: We liked the spicy noodles from Soon Lee Fried Hokkien Prawn Mee – but each stall has a signature dish, so check them all out and decide which looks best to you!
#15 Light Show Marina Bay Sands
One of the top Marina Bay things to do is see the bay at night! With glowing city lights, Marina Bay at night is spectacular – and is enhanced with the impressive laser light show at Marina Bay Sands.
Colorful streams of light cut through the dark sky set to the beat of a music soundtrack. Marina Bay Sands Light Show Time: Every day at 8pm and 9pm – and an additional show on Fridays and Saturdays at 10pm.
Top Tip: See the best of Singapore at night on a guided tour – sights include Gardens by the Bay and the Marina Bay Sands SkyPark Observation Deck. Book before you go with Viator.
Marina Bay Tourist Map of Sights
Use this link to Google Maps for a Map of Singapore Tourist Attractions in Marina Bay. The interactive, online map is marked to help you find your way to all the Best Marina Bay Singapore Sights!
That wraps up our Self-Guided Free Tour Singapore Marina Bay! For more tips on visiting Singapore, use our detailed, day-by-day Singapore Itinerary!
More Walking, Running and Hiking Trails in Singapore
We outlined an ideal Marina Bay sightseeing route, but it’s great for getting exercise, too. That said, travelers who want to hit the trails during their trip to Singapore have a few more trail options.
7 Mile Marina Bay Loop
Joggers looking for a longer Marina Bay trail loop can follow the complete coastline of the bay. A shoreline path parallels the water’s edge for a scenic Marina Bay run.
Tanjong Rhu Promenade
The Tanjong Rhu Walk is a coast trail along the east side of Marina Bay that connects to Bay East Garden – offering fantastic Singapore skyline views.
Benjamin Sheares Bridge Walk
Ranked as the longest and tallest bridge in Singapore, the Benjamin Sheares Bridge offers phenomenal views of Singapore – and there is a pedestrian lane for walkers and runners.
Kent Ridge Park
An excellent spot for a nature walk, Kent Ridge Park features elevated walkways and exercise stations.
Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve
An ASEAN Heritage Park, Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve has many trails for visitors to walk and enjoy nature. The park is located on the far north side of Singapore, near Johor Bahru, Malaysia.
Eastern Coastal Loop
The Eastern Coastal Loop is an 11-mile walking and biking trail near the Changi Airport. The Changi walking trail is a mostly paved path through parks and the Changi Beach.
Start planning your trip to Singapore! Search for the lowest airfares, the best accommodations and fun things to do…then start packing! Want more travel planning tips? Head over to our Travel Planning page for more information and tips on traveling – and for country-specific information, take a look at our Travel Guides page!
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