Of all the layover sightseeing and quick city trips we’ve taken, our day in Singapore was a favorite. Not only is it the cleanest city we’ve ever seen, but Singapore is also the most multicultural country we’ve ever been to. In other words, there is so much to do in this tiny island nation that it can be overwhelming.
So where do you start? With a Singapore river cruise and a hop-on/hop off bus tour. Of course, it’s impossible to see it all, but the bus and boat combination will give you a good overview of the city’s major highlights.
As any good Singapore travel guide will tell you, a river cruise in Singapore is one of the must-do attractions. You’ll be able to get up close and personal with Singapore’s landmarks as you drift down the river, right along with its bustling lifeboats and other vessels. Don’t forget to bring your camera!
Unless you’re staying in the outskirts, it’s likely that the HOHO bus stops near your hotel. Hop on and enjoy the ride! It’s narrated in multiple languages, and you’ll have the opportunity to see a lot and hear about the city.
Hop off when the bus stops at Clarke Quay, because that’s where your Singapore River boat cruise begins.
What to know before taking a cruise in Singapore
Two companies offer boat tours: Duck & Hippo River Tours and Singapore River Cruise. Although there are a few minor differences, they both have the same route, and both start from Clarke Quay.
Boat tours depart every 20-30 minutes and there is no need to buy tickets in advance.
If your bus ticket doesn’t include the cruise, buy your tickets at the waterfront.
Singapore River cruise review
As you wait for the tour to begin, take a quick look around Clarke Quay. This is a really intriguing area, a five block-long, colorful collection of high-end condos, boutique shops, tempting bars and international restaurants, repurposed from warehouses that were abandoned when the port was relocated.
Note to self: Must. Come. Back.
Our boat tour began with the guide explaining more about the quay. Only completed in 2006, Clarke Quay Festival Village is Singapore’s largest reclamation project to date. It’s a vast improvement over how it was 25 years ago when it was full of bumboats (cargo boats) jockeying for position in front of a dock full of warehouses.
Long story short, over the years those warehouses had turned the Singapore River into a polluted, smelly mess. This was obviously a health hazard, not to mention terrible for Singapore’s image. By 1977, the authorities had had enough. They spent the ensuing years revamping the area with the goal of turning it into a flourishing commercial and entertainment zone.
Even with those ambitious plans, though, they still wanted to preserve the area’s historical character. And so, they mandated that many of those warehouses should be preserved and repurposed. The old warehouses now house many of the businesses along the Quay, especially the larger restaurants and night clubs.
Boat Quay
The captain headed upriver to Boat Quay, which at one time handled three-fourths of all the shipping businesses in the entire country. Nowadays, Boat Quay is a center for nightlife, and the preserved shophouses and offices have become pubs and restaurants with alfresco dining.
Directly behind Boat Quay are the cosmopolitan skyscrapers of the country’s world-class banking and financial sectors.
Fullerton Hotel
Further downriver, the historic, five-star Fullerton Hotel dominates the waterfront. This building is so grand that it would be impossible to miss. It wasn’t always a hotel, though. When it opened in 1928, it housed the General Post Office building, as well as an exclusive club and some government offices. I guess that explains its size.
Sigh. This is the type of hotel I’d like to become accustomed to staying in. What about you?
Bronze statues
If you stroll the Singapore Riverwalk, you’ll discover occasional bronze sculptures that depict scenes of days gone by.
One of my favorite sights on the cruise is in front of the Fullerton Hotel. It’s a sculpture of five naked boys in the middle of jumping into the water.
This work of art is an homage to the city’s heritage: The river was a popular swimming site until the city renovated its waterfront.
Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay
We had seen this building from our hotel the night before, glowing with brilliant blue lights. It wasn’t until we got an up-close, daylight view that we realized that it is actually a glass building with aluminum shades. It looks pretty weird, I think, and Singaporeans must agree; it’s been called everything from “the eyes of a fly” to “copulating aardvarks.”
We think it looks eerily like that love-it-or-hate it Asian fruit, the durian.
Marina Bay Sands
Our boat passed under a bridge at the mouth of the river and like magic, Marina Bay Sands Resort appeared on the far shore of Marina Bay.
Singaporeans lodged a lot of complaints while it was being built, but they have become proud of the iconic hotel and entertainment complex. Its facilities are constantly used and enjoyed by both Singaporeans and visitors.
Merlion and Merlion Park
The mythical Merlion is Singapore’s mascot and icon, so of course there’s a huge statue of one at the park (aptly called Merlion Park) where the river meets Marina Bay. A Merlion has the head of a lion and the body of a fish, which is very symbolic for two reasons: Singapore’s original name, Singapura, means “lion city” and it has always been a fishing village and port (“mer” means sea).
The captain paused the boat in Marina Bay, long enough for passengers to take plenty of photos, before turning around and returning to the dock.
Dang. We should have taken selfies with the Merlion and Marina Bay Sands in the background.
Please don’t make our mistake.
Read more
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I loved Singapore!! We spent 4 days there. I would have liked that river cruise, great idea.
It was a surprise; we certainly didn’t expect that the city would look so different from a boat.