Explore Marina Bay: Things to See, Do & Experience

What is the first thing that comes to mind when someone mentions Marina Bay? Marina Bay Sands right? A world-renowned building in Singapore, thanks to its striking architecture. It is also one of the most instagrammable spots in Singapore. However, Marina Bay is more than just this iconic hotel. Let us dig deeper to learn some historical insights and the things you can do at Marina Bay.

The origin story 

Marina Bay is the symbol of 21st-century Singapore, a centerpiece of the urban transformation that the city went through in all these years. Thanks to this, Marina Bay is one of the busiest spots in Singapore, attracting millions of people annually. This place has something for everyone, from art museums to casinos, from nature spots to city stuff.

In the 1800s, the waterfront served as a gateway to the city, from tourists to immigrant workers seeking a better life. It also became a financial hub of Singapore post-independence. In 1971, the government began a land reclamation project with the city’s rapid growth in mind. This project gave birth to the prime waterfront area built entirely on reclaimed land. Marina Bay is the central area of Singapore connecting Downtown Core, Marina South, Marina East, and Straits View, making it the hub for tourism. 

You can do plenty of things here. Here is a list of things you can do at Marina Bay apart from visiting the Marina Bay Sands:

Gardens by the Bay

Gardens by the Bay is a haven for nature and photography lovers. The complex is massive and comprises many parks and conservatories. This place will surely keep you on your toes throughout your visit. Some must-visit spots are Bay South Garden, the largest park within the complex. The OCBC Skywalk, Flower Dome, the world’s largest glass greenhouse, and Cloud Forest that is home to the world’s second tallest indoor waterfall. Do visit Satay by the Bay to relish flavourful Singaporean delicacies. They serve one of the best Satays in town. Lastly, attend the enchanting light and sound show, running daily from 7:45 pm to 8:45 pm. 

The easiest way to reach Gardens by the Bay (GBTB) is via MRT. The closest is Bayfront, which connects both Marina Bay Sands and Gardens by the Bay. The nearest bus station is also Bayfront. The lift next to the bus stop takes you directly to the garden entrance. It takes about 5 to 6 hours to cover everything, which includes the conservatories, the themed gardens, floral fantasy, and the skywalk. During peak time, the queues can be long and might take 6 to 7 hours to cover the entire place.

Merlion Park

Merlion Park is home to the iconic symbol of Singapore. This mythical water-spouting half mermaid-half lion figure symbolizes the origin of Singapore as a fishing village. Merlion means the sea lion. The name takes its inspiration from Singapura, which translates as the lion city. Merlion Park is a great place to hang out and enjoy delicious seafood. The park is a short walk from the Raffles MRT station and Fullerton Hotel bus stop.

ArtScience Museum

If you love the amalgamation of art and science, this is the right place for you. The museum is part of Marina Bay Sands resort and is one of a kind museum in the world. The exterior resembles a lotus flower and is referred to as the “Welcoming Hand of Singapore”. We didn’t get time to visit this museum, but I will surely visit this museum on my next visit. Bayfront is the closest station to reach the ArtScience museum and can also be reached via Marina Bay Sands hotel and the Helix bridge.

Helix

Helix bridge is DNA shaped bridge connecting Marina Centre to the Marina South. The bridge lights up beautifully at night, highlighting the double helix structure of DNA. The floor of the bridge consists of pairs of colored letters representing the four bases of DNA, which are c (cytosine) – g (guanine) and a (adenine) – t (thymine). The unique thing about this bridge is that the nucleotide sequence written over it doesn’t match any known DNA sequence in the world.

Singapore Flyer

The Singapore Flyer is the largest observation wheel in Asia. It is also one of the best ways to get a 360-degree view of the city. On a clear day, you can also see the neighboring islands of Malaysia and Indonesia. They also offer a unique dining experience that lets you eat while ogling at the striking cityscape. What more can you ask for in the comfort of an air-conditioned capsule? It is just a 10-minute walk from the Promenade MRT station and remains busy on weekends. The Flyer rotates slowly (30 minutes per rotation), giving you enough time to see everything around you. We visited the Flyer on a weekday and got a smaller queue. However, during the peak season, it might take up to 30 minutes to get to the ride, which includes buying tickets from the counter, a security check, and the walk-up to the main entrance. The best time to ride the Flyer is just before sunset, as you get both day and night views of the skyline.

Esplanade Theatre

The two large glass domes by the riverfront next to the floating stadium lie Singapore’s famous art and cultural hub known as the Esplanade Theatre. The theatre comprises a concert hall, theatre, and outdoor performance area. Reaching the theatre is easy as it’s merely a 2-minutes walk from the Esplanade MRT station.

Marina Bay Sands

Marina Bay Sands, the most iconic building in Singapore, gained popularity because of its infinity pool. It is also world’s one of the most expensive standalone casino properties attracting millions of tourists annually. Anyone can visit the hotel and enjoy the attractions. However, the infinity pool is only open to boarders. Visit the Sands SkyPark perched at the top of the hotel complex to get a breathtaking 360-degree view of the beautiful skyline. Or ride the Venetian gondola. There’s so much to do at the Marina Bay Sands. Bayfront MRT station is the closest and the best way to reach Marina Bay Sands. The station is connected to the hotel and takes only 5 minutes. The SkyPark is an observatory that gives you a nice city view. Visiting time differs depending on the season. Mom and I visited The SkyPark during the off-season. With this hack, we ditched the usual crowd that helped us to spend more time at the deck. Moreover, we bought the direct entry tickets from isango!, which saved our time standing on the redemption counter. It took us merely 5 minutes to reach the 56th floor, and we spent around 45 minutes gazing at the beautiful skyline. 

Please Note: During peak hours, they limit the duration of their stay to 30 minutes.

Clarke Quay

If you’re bored exploring Marina Bay on foot or looking down the observation deck, head to Clarke Quay for a fun boat ride. It’s an exciting 20-minute ride along the bay that gets you a beautiful view of the city.