Best boat tours in Singapore

By Alex Birungi
Published: July 18, 2024
Traditional boat on the Singapore River near Clarke Quay

Set on the banks of the historic Singapore River, Singapore has a deep connection to water and it’s the lifeblood of this Asian metropolis. Hopping on a boat ride and exploring the ancient river and its islands is an incredible way to see the city from a unique perspective.

We hit the water and came up with a list of the best boat tours in Singapore. From classic bumboat tours of the city to exploring the northeastern islands of the city-state, you’ll find an array of fantastic boat tours that cater to every desire.

Here are our top picks for boat tours in Singapore. Grab your camera and let’s hit the water!

  1. Singapore River Cruise
Image of Boat, Vehicle, Boating, Water, Water Sports, Bridge, Cityscape, Urban, Ferry,

Highlights

  • See the city from a unique perspective
  • Experience life on the Singapore River both day and night
  • Discover the city’s extraordinary mix of heritage and modernity
  • Spot famous landmarks like the Merlion, Raffles, and the Esplanade

Experience Singapore’s most famous landmarks and historic monuments on a Singapore River Cruise. One of the best boat tours in the city, this fantastic tour takes you past all the top spots in the city.

Hop on a traditional bumboat at Clarke Quay Counter, the very place where Sir Stamford Raffles first stepped foot onto Singapore. Marvel at the enchanting mix of rich heritage and modern architecture. Ancient shophouses along the riverbanks have been beautifully restored to house stylish restaurants and bars and shimmering skyscrapers stand sentry over the city.

Glide beneath the grand bridges of Singapore such as the Anderson, Cavenagh, and Clemenceau Bridges, and learn their fascinating stories from your guide. You’ll also get to visit various historical landmarks along the Singapore River that played a central role in the development of the city.

Pass the emblematic Merlion statue at Marina Bay and keep an eye out for the Raffles' landing at the historic Boat Quay. Admire the breathtaking modern architecture of the Esplanade performing arts center. Designed to look like a durian (tropical fruit), the striking buildings have aluminum cladding that reflects the sun to create a spectacular shimmering effect. Have your camera ready to catch it at the perfect angle.

Singapore River Cruises are offered during the day and at night. Don’t forget to use your pass to get onto one of these incredible tours and soak up the essence of Singapore.

  1. Singapore DUCK Tour
Image of Boat, Vehicle, Ferry, Water, Waterfront, Person, Boating, Water Sports, City,

Highlights

  • Explore Singapore on land and sea by amphibious vehicle
  • Make a splashy entrance into the sea at Marina Bay

Another fantastic way to explore the city from the water is on a Singapore DUCK Tour. These tours are conducted on remodeled amphibious vehicles from the Second World War Vietnam and promise an unforgettable experience. Use your pass to enjoy this one-of-a-kind Singapore experience.

Hop on board at Suntec Shopping Mall and drive to Marina Bay where you’ll splash into the water for the water-based part of the tour. Take in spectacular views of Singapore’s famous landmarks like the Esplanade Theater, Gardens by the Bay, and the awe-inspiring Marina Bay Sands. Keep your camera on hand to snap a shot of the official mascot of Singapore - the Merlion.

Trundle back onto land and drive into the Civic District, passing the giant Singapore Flyer Ferris wheel. Explore the rich history of the city with visits to the Old Supreme Court, where the British surrendered to the imperial Japanese army during the Second World War. Pay tribute to those who gave their lives during the Japanese occupation as you pass the War Memorial Park.

Take a final spin around the world’s largest water fountain, the Fountain of Wealth before ending your tour back at Suntec City.

  1. Sunset Sail - Dinner Cruise
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Highlights

  • Cruise in luxury on the Royal Albatross tall ship
  • Discover the magic of old Singapore
  • Take in the spectacular sunset from the water
  • Enjoy a gourmet three-course dinner while cruising

Treat yourself to something special with a luxury dinner cruise on the Royal Albatross. Board the four-mast, 22-sail tall ship at the Sentosa Gateway and cruise past the Palawan Beach Walk on Sentosa Island as you sip aperitifs.

Watch the sun dip below the horizon as you sail past the beautiful southern islands of St Johns and Lazarus. Sit down to a gourmet three-course dinner of globally-inspired cuisine. Marvel at the spectacular views of the city by night as you sail back to Sentosa.

  1. Kelong and Pulau Ubin Guided Boat Tour
Image of Nature, Outdoors, Scenery, Land, Water, Waterfront, Rainforest, Tree, Vegetation, Summer, Sea,

Highlights

  • Escape the city and explore the northeastern shores of Singapore
  • See mangrove swamps, uninhabited islands, and loads of nature
  • Experience life on a floating fish farm
  • Discover the island of Pulau Ubin

Escape the concrete jungle and enjoy a three-hour sojourn to the northeastern banks of Singapore. Hop on a catamaran at the SAF Yacht Club and head out to sea with an experienced guide at the helm. As you make your way towards Pulau Ubin, keep an eye out for fishermen earning their living and floating kelong villages.

Learn about life on a kelong, a wooden platform built by fishermen primarily for fishing or fish farming, and the struggles of sustainable fishing and fish farming. Larger structures are also used by fisherman and their families as dwellings. Only a handful of these ancient structures remain due to rapid urbanization.

Cruise along the shores of Pulau Ubin, the only inhabited island out of Singapore’s 63 islands, and home to traditional kampongs (villages) and disused granite quarries. Pass the lush mangrove swamps of the Chek Jawa Wetlands and watch out for bulbuls and kingfishers.

End your trip with a visit to a kelong with a floating restaurant and enjoy a delicious meal as you experience life on a floating fish farm.

  1. Southern Islands Tour
Image of Nature, Outdoors, Sea, Water, Coast, Shoreline,

Highlights

  • Explores Singapore’s lesser-known southern islands
  • Learn interesting history and facts about the islands from an experienced onboard guide
  • Enjoy a picnic on Lazarus Beach

Hop on a private boat charter for a curated tour of Singapore’s lesser-known islands. Explore five beautiful islands, including Kusu Island, Lazarus Island, St John's Island, Sisters’ Islands, and Seringat Island.

As you cruise around the uninhabited islands, a professional guide will share the rich historical and cultural heritage of the islands and the extraordinary biodiversity of flora and fauna that reside on them.

Visit the Sisters’ Islands Marine Park, home to Singapore’s first turtle hatchery. Discover why Kusu Island is also known as Tortoise Island and is steeped in local folklore and myth. Learn the significant history of St John's Island that is tied to Singapore. Enjoy a picnic on the little-known beach paradise of Lazarus Island and swim in gin-clear waters.

Alex Birungi
Go City Travel Expert

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Things to do in Changi Singapore

Changi is a cute village right at the eastern tip of Singapore, best known for its sandy beaches, lush palm groves and, not to put too fine a point on it, its status as the country’s primary transport hub, thanks to Changi Airport’s prime position slap bang in the middle of the district. But if low-flying aircraft don’t bother you a jot, you’ll find that Changi has bags of charm, from its laid back beach resorts to the many attractions located inside the airport itself. Don’t believe us? Read on to discover why Changi is worthy of a day trip or weekend mini-break on any Singapore vacation, and check out our bite-size guide to the best things to do in Changi, Singapore! Changi and How to Get There Its designation as one of the biggest and busiest transport hubs in all of Asia makes getting to Changi an absolute breeze. The airport is right at the end of the East–West Line on Singapore’s super-efficient Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) metro system, meaning you can get there in around 30 minutes from just about any centrally located hotel. There’s also a slew of bus and taxi services available and, heck, you can even walk, jog or cycle there via the Changi Airport Connector if you fancy it (more on this later). The airport encircles the enormous nature-themed entertainment and shopping complex known as Jewel Changi Airport (or just ‘Jewel’ to in-the-know locals) and its this magnificent, magical, massive playground that has earned the airport the title of ‘best in the world’ dozens of times. Things to do in Changi Airport Make no mistake, Jewel Changi Airport is an entertainment destination in its own right, absolutely worthy of a visit even if it does feel a little weird heading to the airport for a fun day out. But this is no ordinary airport. Far from it, in fact. Housed inside this architectural marvel, you’ll find epic waterfalls, huge slides, pretty gardens and world-class shops and restaurants. And that’s just for starters. Let’s unpack just a teeny tiny selection of the highlights, many of which are free! The Rain Vortex Staking its claim as the world’s tallest indoor waterfall, the Rain Vortex is the jewel in the Jewel’s crown. Rainwater enters through an oculus in the roof of the dome, cascading seven stories through the heart of the building to a pool in the basement level. A truly mesmerizing spectacle at the best of times, it’s even better during the hourly light and music shows every evening. Kinetic Rain Over in Terminal 1, this hypnotic moving sculpture is comprised of 1,216 gleaming copper-plated raindrops, each able to move independently. Together they form elaborate shapes including planes and hot-air balloons, with the patterns repeating on a 15-minute loop. But you really could watch this thing for hours on end without tiring of it. The Slide@T3 Ever imagined the unbridled joy of whizzing down the world’s tallest airport slide? Of course you have! And now’s your chance, thanks to this four-story beast that gets you from level one to basement level three in a matter of seconds. Fab fun for kids young and old. Butterfly Garden There’s no shortage of flowers and foliage to explore in this vast nature-themed complex, but chief among the many verdant attractions on offer has to be the Butterfly Garden. Inside, around 1,000 tropical butterflies dance and flutter around the flowering plants and tranquil waterfall. Pokémon Center Singapore The kids will love this real-life replica of the gaming world’s Pokémon Center, even if your wallet does not. Expect larger-than-life characters as well as (naturally) a vast array of toys, games, trading cards, clothes, bags and, well, just about anything else you can think of. Got to buy ‘em all! Changi: Best of the Rest Changi Beach Park There are plenty of things to do at Changi Beach Park: wiggle your toes in the warm white sand, picnic in the palm groves, take a dip in the blue, blue sea or simply sit and watch the world go by. Way less busy but no less beautiful than its near neighbor at East Coast Park, Changi Beach is a great choice for kampong-style vibes and beach cookouts, though note you’ll need to book a designated BBQ pit to do this. The beach park also has bikes to rent and easy access to the ace Park Connector Network that criss-crosses the island with cycle paths linking parks, wetlands and nature reserves via great green corridors. Changi Airport Connector One such corridor is the Changi Airport Connector, 3.5 kilometers of car-free pathways that link the airport to the East Coast Park. Kids will go wild for the roar-some Jurassic Mile section of the route, where life-sized dinosaurs nibble the leaves and forage in the undergrowth. Dodge nightmarish velociraptors, pause to say hey to gentle giants including the brontosaurus, and get ready to run for it when you spot the terrifying T-rex tearing through the fence! Changi Village Hawker Centre Aromatic nasi lemak, that utterly sensual blend of rice, coconut milk, chilli sauce, crispy anchovies, peanuts and egg, is the one to try at this mostly-Malay hawker center in Changi Village, but you’ll find other fragrant local favorites like chili crab here, too. Heck, why not try both? You only live once, after all. Changi Point Coastal Walk Start at the boardwalk at Changi Bay Point, where the waterfront views are at their absolute finest, then wander waterside, taking in views of village life and watching bumboats ferry daytripping tourists out to Pulau Ubin. If you’re feeling energetic, you can continue as far as Changi Beach Park, for those stunning white sands, relaxing beach vibes, and (go on, you’ve earned it!) a cooling ice cream. Changi Chapel and Museum The collection at this thought-provoking museum includes paintings, murals, sculptures and other artifacts, each contributing to the story of the soldiers and civilians interned at the Changi prison camp during Japanese occupation during the Second World War. Hear tales told by the very people who were imprisoned here, and visit the powerful Changi Chapel, a faithful reproduction of St George’s, one of the churches built here by PoWs. Save on attractions and activities in Singapore Save on admission to Singapore attractions with Go City. Check out @GoCity on Instagram for the latest top tips and attraction info.
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Best Road Trips in Singapore
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Best Road Trips in Singapore

Driving. Sometimes, going for a drive can be a frustrating experience. For instance, no one enjoys the long commute to work. Stuck in traffic, screaming silently into your steering wheel as another idiot fails to merge correctly. Idiot! How dare someone drives on your streets and doesn't even know the laws of the road! Ahem. Even if the commute is smooth, you still end up at work. And let's be honest, you'd probably rather be anywhere else. But sometimes, taking a drive can be a liberating experience. Just you and the open road, no holes barred. You can go anywhere and do anything. The horizon beckons you to adventure - do you answer the call? So, if you're looking for the latter, you'll find great drives in Singapore. It's a beautiful place full of futuristic architecture, beautiful tree lines, and a disarming coastline. But what are the best road trips in Singapore? Get in, start your engine, and read on. Including: Mount Faber Lim Chu Kang Road Mandai Road Ocean Drive Bayfront Avenue and more! Ocean Drive And the sky is so blue, the sun's gonna shine on everything you do. So says the hit 90s track from stalwart luminaries The Lighthouse Family, and yes, we're definitely showing our age. Age aside, the lyrics are definitely appropriate for Ocean Drive, one of the best road trips in Singapore! Ocean Drive is the road's name, so you should know what to expect. You'll be passing by the ocean and getting some of the best views on the planet. On your way, you'll spot some truly massive mansions and other unique buildings, so keep an eye out. And best of all, at the end of it, you'll find Sentosa, Singapore's premier relaxation destination. So why not stop by and check out the Giant Swing and Skybridge while you're there? Lim Chu Kang Road If you want to see the more historic parts of Singapore, take a drive on Lim Chu Kang Road. It's touted as one of the five Heritage Roads in the state, thanks to the many indigenous trees that line it. When you see them, you'll know exactly why they're protected! Angsana, Broad Leaf Mahogany, and Rubber trees will all pop up on your cruise, so be sure to snap some pictures of them as you pass. Maybe get a passenger to do it or stop your car before snapping - we wouldn't want your Singapore vacation to come to an abrupt end! Mount Faber Singapore might not be known for its mountains - it has scarce few of those. However, if you want the next best thing, then a drive up Mount Faber might be one of the best road trips in Singapore! Thanks to the narrow, traffic-free roads, you'll forget you're in Singapore at all! As you get higher, you'll catch a glimpse of Singapore's skyline down in the distance, before you end the first leg of your journey up at Mount Faber Park, a delightful green space where you can easily spread out for a picnic to drink in the view. Mandai Road Another of Singapore's Heritage Roads, Mandai Road is a delightfully green stretch of highway that's well over 150 years old. So, as with Lim Chu Kang Road, expect to see plenty of protected natural beauty as you drive. The old trees form a canopy above you as you go, eventually ending as you reach the Upper Seletar Reservoir, where you'll find a serene lake to explore. Bayfront Avenue For a more modern drive, take Bayfront Avenue and drive right through Singapore's envious Central Business District. If you're looking to tick off some tourist hotspots on your itinerary, then it's one of the best road trips in Singapore! Gaze out of the window, and you'll pass recognizable landmarks of Singapore's skyline, like the Helix Bridge, the Fullerton Hotel Singapore, Marina Bay Sands, and the Singapore River. Leave when the sun goes down to see the Central Business District in all its neon-soaked glory! Kampong Lorong Buangkok Fancy seeing the startling differences between the Singapore of old and the Singapore of today? Then you'll want to take a drive down to the last remaining village on Singapore's mainland - Kampong Lorong Buangkok. Passing Buangkok's modern metropolis, you'll find Kampong Lorong Buangkok. Having foregone the modern marvels of metropolitan life, this village is a peek back to the past. Only a handful of families call Kampong Lorong Buangkok home, so it's understandable that they've all remained very close through the generations. If you do decide to take this fantastic drive, just be on your best behavior when you pass. While the residents might not mind the odd photo, you don't want to pry too much into their happy lives by doing a social media dance or some other heinous action while visiting. Kranji If you're looking to add a little outdoor adventure to your road trip, then definitely put Kranji at the top of your list. Singapore's countryside is full of farms where you can buy fresh produce, and see some animals while you're at it. But if you want to stretch your legs and see some of Singapore's stunning natural beauty up close, then you'll need to leave your car, put on your walking boots, and explore some of the awesome trails you'll find nearby. Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, Kranji Reservoir Park, and Kranji Marshes deserve the foot traffic. Mount Pleasant Road And finally, we'll end on another Heritage Road drive up above sea level. Mount Road Pleasant is its name, and historic buildings is its game. You'll pass beautiful black and white bungalows that predate the Second World War, you'll smell fig, palm, and cinnamon from the local flora if your window's wound down, and you'll enjoy the whole thing no matter the weather. If you want the perfect mix of views, architecture, and nature, Mount Pleasant Road is one of the best road trips in Singapore! And there ends the return journey on our exploration of the best road trips in Singapore! Looking for more non-car-based fun to fill out your Singapore vacation? Check out Go City! With our Explorer Pass and All-Inclusive Pass, you can book your spots way in advance and get the best prices around.
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