Marina Bay Attractions

Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay

Know by the locals as the Durian because of its spiky roofing, Esplanade is another premiere performing arts venue in Singapore. Esplanade features a 2,000-seat theatre, a 1,600-seat concert hall, two smaller studios, a mall as well as two outdoor theatres and is situated along the promenade. The two spiky looking domes are the large theatre and concert hall and have more than 7,000 pieces of aluminium roofing (resulting in the spiky effect which is supposed to look like microphones). Shows performed here include live music, dance and theatre.

The 8,000sqm Esplanade Mall is a mixture of retail outlets, restaurants and entertainment facilities housed over three levels. Esplanade is also used for lifestyle and arts-related events too. Another part to visit is the library@esplanade, on its third floor – Singapore's first performing arts public library. Library hours are from 11:00 – 21:00 daily) Located just by Marina Bay at the mouth of the Singapore River, it's a well-known meeting point for locals and offers lovely central-city views of the harbour. Also on many occasions live music is played between the Esplanade exit and the river.

Merlion Park

The Merlion is the mythical symbol of Singapore, situated at the Merlion Park at Marina Bay. The statue is a creature that is a cross between a fish and a lion, spouting water out from the mouth into the river. This famous imaginary beast attracts over a million visitors per year. The park itself has a nice setting with terraced seating offering great views of Singapore’s city skyline and landmarks as well as scenic waterfront. Nearby there are lots of shops selling souvenirs, especially of Merlion icons such as refrigerator magnets, T-shirts, key chains and photo frames.