Exploring Singapore: Top Things to Do Near Gardens by the Bay

Big day at the Gardens? Here’s where to head next for adventure, views, and fun.

Gardens by the Bay

So, you’ve got Gardens by the Bay on your Singapore bucket list—excellent choice! Those Supertrees, vibrant domes, and blissful gardens are just the start. The area around Marina Bay is packed with fantastic sights, sounds, and flavors. Whether you’re itching for spectacular skyline views, keen on exploring world-renowned museums, or craving Singapore’s legendary food, you’re in exactly the right place. Let’s map out your perfect Marina Bay day with our favorite things to do right nearby. 

Our top things to do near Gardens by the Bay include: 

  • Marina Bay Sands SkyPark Observation Deck 
  • Marina Bay Night Bicycle Tour by Let's Go Tour 
  • Satay by the Bay 
  • Hop-on Hop-off Big Bus: Discover Tour 
  • Historic Raffles Hotel 
  • Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay 
  • Clifford Pier and Marina Bay Waterfront Walk 
  • Singapore DUCKtours 

Marina Bay Sands SkyPark Observation Deck  

Craving panoramic city views? The Marina Bay Sands SkyPark Observation Deck is just a hop from Gardens by the Bay and it’s the ultimate spot to soak in Singapore’s spectacular skyline. Thirty-seven stories up, you’ll see the city laid out before you—think harbor sunsets, glittering skyscrapers, and the Gardens’ Supertrees from above. The deck feels airy and open, perfect for photo ops or simply marveling at this futuristic city-state. 

Evenings have an extra dash of energy when the city lights and laser shows turn Marina Bay into a neon playground. Many visitors pair their visit with dinner at one of the rooftop restaurants for next-level ambiance, but even a quick visit delivers views you won’t forget. Pro tip: time your stop for dusk and you’ll catch the magic hour when sky and city start to glow. 

Marina Bay Night Bicycle Tour by Let's Go Tour

Marina Bay at Night

Cycle fans, this one’s for you! The Marina Bay Night Bicycle Tour is a fresh, fun way to see the city when the temperatures cool and the skyline lights up. Knowledgeable local guides lead the way along quiet riverside paths, breezy parks, and city highlights—all aglow after dark. You’ll get stories about Singapore’s history, secret foodie stops, and tips on the best photo angles. 

Tours are lively and sociable with easy-to-ride bikes, making it a hit for first-timers. Expect plenty of stops to snap gorgeous nighttime shots of the Gardens by the Bay light show, Marina Bay Sands, and the futuristic Helix Bridge. It’s the kind of tour where you’ll return feeling full of local lore, new friends, and a camera roll packed with stunning cityscapes. 

Satay by the Bay  

After working up an appetite exploring the Gardens, stroll to Satay by the Bay—a welcoming open-air food court that’s big on local flavors. Here, hawker stalls grill up skewers of smoky, marinated satay, while the aroma of barbecued seafood and spice-laden laksa fills the air. 

The best part? You dine under the trees with bay breezes and a view of the Supertrees lit up in the evening. Don’t let the casual setting fool you—the satay is grilled fresh to order, the house-made peanut sauce is legendary, and there’s plenty for vegetarians too. Grab a cold sugar cane juice or a local beer and enjoy the lively mix of families, tourists, and locals unwinding Singapore-style. 

Hop-on Hop-off Big Bus: Discover Tour  

Want to explore Marina Bay without breaking a sweat? The Hop-on Hop-off Big Bus Discover Tour loops you around Singapore’s most famous corners. Convenient stops whisk you from Gardens by the Bay to Chinatown, Little India, Orchard Road, and more. It’s ideal if you’re short on time, traveling with kids, or just want an easy way to sightsee. 

Breezy open tops, live commentary in multiple languages, and flexible ticket options mean you can explore at your own pace. Riders love the freedom—dwell at a stop for shopping or lunch, then simply hop back on for your next adventure. It’s sightseeing made simple! 

Historic Raffles Hotel  

For a dash of old-school elegance, nothing beats a trip to Raffles Hotel just a short ride from Marina Bay. Stepping inside this gleaming, white colonial landmark is like time-traveling back to Singapore’s glamorous past. Palm-lined courtyards, breezy verandas, and genteel service—no wonder royalty and celebrities have called it home. 

We always recommend treating yourself to a Singapore Sling at the Long Bar (where it was invented). The bar’s quirky tradition of peanut shells on the floor adds plenty of charm, while ceiling fans lazily swish overhead. Whether you stop by for drinks, afternoon tea, or a peek at the boutiques, you’ll leave feeling like you’ve brushed shoulders with history. 

Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay

View of Esplanade Theaters and Other Buildings in Singapore City Centre

Art lovers—Esplanade is your hotspot. Its spiky exterior is affectionately nicknamed “the durian” (after the famous fruit), but inside you’ll find one of Asia’s busiest performing arts centers. The schedule runs the gamut: orchestral concerts, ballet, world dance, jazz—to say nothing of free fringe performances in the outdoor spaces overlooking the water. 

What really stands out is the buzzing creative vibe. Whether it’s families sprawled on the roof garden, urban sketchers capturing the architecture, or music lovers queuing for tickets, the place bubbles with energy. Check the program for something that catches your eye; you don’t even need tickets to soak up the view and enjoy the lively waterfront. 

Clifford Pier and Marina Bay Waterfront  

Just across from Gardens by the Bay, the Marina Bay waterfront is tailor-made for an easy stroll. Start at Clifford Pier, where colonial glamour mixes with harbor history. The white-arched interiors of today’s restaurant nod to its past as a landing point for early immigrants. Stop for a meal or cocktail and watch the bumboats putter by. 

From here, amble along the promenade past art installations, playful fountains, and skyline reflections dancing on the water. There’s endless people-watching—joggers, couples, families, everyone soaking up Singapore at its liveliest. Sunrise or sunset, it’s pure city magic. 

Singapore DUCKtours  

Up for a wacky way to see Singapore? Hop on the DUCKtours amphibious bus. This WWII-style craft takes you on a city sightseeing adventure—first rolling past landmarks on land, then splashing straight into Marina Bay for water views of the skyline and Gardens by the Bay. 

Guides keep the banter lively, pointing out key sights and sharing quirky stories. The switch from city streets to open water always gets a laugh, and everyone onboard ends up waving at bystanders. It’s a lighthearted tour that families absolutely love—and a truly unique angle on the city. 

 

Remember, Singapore’s charm is in how easy the sights blend together—one minute you’re under neon Supertrees, the next you’re sipping a Singapore Sling, riding a giant wheel, or cycling under glittering lights. Plan to linger a little longer; around Gardens by the Bay, there’s always another adventure waiting just around the corner. 

Enjoyed this? Check out Everything You Need to Know About Go City’s Singapore Passes or Things to Do Near Universal Studios Singapore 

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Singapore Slings
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Things to do in Singapore for a Birthday

It’s your birthday, congratulations! The fact you’re spending it in Singapore means you’re a lucky person indeed, so let’s make the most of it. We’ve put together a little guide to ensure your birthday in Singapore will be one to remember. Universal Studios Singapore AJ Hackett Sentosa's Giant Swing Nature Kayaking Adventure at Pulau Ubin Sentosa 4D AdventureLand Virtual Reality Fighter Jet Experience Puzzle Hunts Raffles Courtyard Tiger Brewery Tour CÉ LA VI SkyBar You may be a year older, but that’s not slowing you down. Get the adrenaline pumping with a trip to Universal Studios Singapore - the only Universal Studios park in Southeast Asia. Take your pick from the seven themed areas: Hollywood, New York, Sci-Fi City, Ancient Egypt, The Lost World, Far Far Away, and Madagascar. Enjoy white-knuckle rides like Battlestar Galactica or Revenge of the Mummy, or celebrate a more leisurely, if not a little wetter, birthday party drifting along with the Jurassic Park Rapids Adventure. Plenty of dining options, selfie opportunities, and the chance to grab a cold beverage or two to cool down - a trip to Universal Studios Singapore is a fine choice for those still young at heart, no matter how many candles are on your cake. Hungry for more action? Head over to AJ Hackett Sentosa’s Giant Swing. 40 meters above the ground, you’ll enjoy the stunning, peaceful, panoramic view of the city, before launching through the air at speeds up to 120kph! If you want to slow things down while still keeping the level of awesome nice and high, how about a nature kayaking adventure across the open ocean? When your friends ask how you spent your birthday, tell them you kayaked around a tropical island, before navigating mangroves surrounded by otters, kingfishers, and eagles. If that’s all a little too ‘outdoorsy’ for you, how about moving indoors and celebrating your birthday in 4D? Sentosa 4D AdventureLand combines all the thrills of a theme park without ever leaving your seat. Choose from a mysterious island, the Wild West, an old mine, or a fantasy land. All use state-of-the-art technology to provide an incredibly immersive experience - feel, touch, smell, and hear every crazy detail. More? You want more excitement? Okay, then what are you waiting for? Go fly a fighter jet! From the Grand Canyon to the Golden Gate Bridge, the Virtual Reality Fighter Jet Experience is as close as it comes to flying a real jet plane. The pre-flight briefing ensures you’re familiar with the controls before you take to the open skies and live your Top Gun fantasy. A birthday with friends is always more fun, and what better way to bond than putting your heads together and solving brain-twisting clues in a crazy puzzle hunt? Puzzle Hunt in Fort Canning Park is a military-themed outdoor adventure, where you’ll take on the role of soldiers on a quest to discover the hidden secrets of Singapore’s army. Traversing Canning Park, you run around searching for clues and puzzles to solve. Puzzle Hunt in Little India sees you assume the role of a code breaker, helping an archaeologist dig up clues to unlock a secret treasure chest. Work as a team to solve the riddles while exploring this stunning, iconic area of Singapore. Fancy being an advisor to the King who’s lost his memory? Puzzle Hunt in Chinatown combines deciphering clues with a fun learning experience, teaching you all about the history and modern-day culture in Chinatown. These puzzle experiences are an excellent way to get off the beaten path and gain a unique perspective of the city, all while having fun with friends. For a little more adult fun, how about exploring the cultural beverages of Singapore? You may have tried a Singapore Sling cocktail before, but have you ever had one in Singapore, surrounded by swaying palm trees and majestic white arches, in the very bar that invented the cocktail? No? Then your birthday party needs to swing by Raffles Courtyard and Long Bar. If you’re a beer connoisseur, why not explore the history behind Singapore’s most famous beer, Tiger? Take a journey from milling the grain, to packaging and labeling, to the best part of all - pouring the perfect pint! Taking a tour of the Tiger Brewery will leave your head full of knowledge and your belly full of happiness. Pouring your own perfect pint is a great experience, but it is your birthday after all. You shouldn’t have to lift a finger. If you want the drinks to come to you, treat yourself to an evening of luxury at CÉ LA VI SkyBar at Marina Bay Sands. Sat in the VIP section, 360-degree panoramic views of the city all around, and a frosty beverage in your hand... today is your day! The only question left - how are you going to top it next year? Save on Admission to Top Singapore Attractions Explore the best things to do with a pass for Singapore by Go City®. Select from top attractions with our All-Inclusive and Explorer passes, where you’ll enjoy access to galleries, museums, tours much more. Share Your Adventure with Us Tag @GoCity in your vacation photos and we’ll feature you on our page. Follow the Go City Instagram and Facebook channels for exclusive competitions, special offers and events to help you make the most of your travels.
Adam Fraiel
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Best Museums in Singapore 

Wandering the galleries and halls of a well-curated museum is a wonderful way to while away the hours. Lucky for museum lovers, Singapore is packed with blockbuster art galleries, top-notch museums, and one-of-a-kind cultural institutions. From contemporary art and natural history to thought-provoking science and technology - whatever your interests, there is a museum in Singapore to explore. Here's our list of the best museums in Singapore. National Museum of Singapore The National Museum of Singapore is the oldest and largest museum in the city and should be your first port of call. Opened in 1887, the museum is housed in a stately 19th-century Neo-Palladium-style building with a beautiful glass rotunda. Take a moment to admire the exquisite architecture – it’s a work of art in itself. The museum houses two main galleries - the Singapore History Gallery and the Singapore Living Galleries. Start in the Singapore History Gallery and learn the intriguing history of Singapore from its humble beginnings in the 14th century to the present day. Interactive and immersive exhibitions highlight Singapore’s development into a global powerhouse. Your next stop is the Singapore Living Galleries where you’ll exhibits themed around food, fashion, film, and photography. Don’t miss the museum's permanent exhibition, Story of the Forest, which brings the treasured William Farquhar Collection to life through a fantastic digital presentation. Use your pass to gain access to this fantastic museum. Opening hours: Daily: 10AM – 7PM Singapore Art Museum If you’re a lover of contemporary Asian art, the Singapore Art Museum (SAM) is a treat! The museum exhibits artworks in multiple spaces, including a satellite space at Tanjong Pagar Distripark, and the main building along Bras Basah Road. This is the one you want to visit not only to marvel at the beautiful architecture of the heritage buildings but to see some impressive art, too. The main wing of the museum is housed in the former St Joseph’s Institution – the oldest Catholic boys’ school in Singapore. With a striking design that harkens back to the European Renaissance, you’ll be amazed by its beauty before even seeing any art. The museum’s extraordinary collection of 20th-century Asian art is exhibited in small and unusual gallery spaces. Nooks and crannies hold impressive works across various mediums and around every corner is another delight. While the museum has never presented blockbuster exhibitions due to its size, it does take part in the Singapore Biennale, and if you’re around for that, it’s well worth visiting. Opening hours: Mon – Thu: 10AM – 7PM Fri: 10AM – 9PM Sat - Sun: 10AM – 7PM   National Gallery Singapore Another luminary in Singapore’s art world, the National Gallery Singapore is huge! The largest visual art gallery of its kind in the city, it's packed with the world’s largest collection of Southeast Asian art from the 19th century to the present. And there are interactive installations and exhibits for the kids too, so make a day of exploring this glorious behemoth. Housed in the former Supreme Court and City Hall building, the sprawling museum building is an architectural wonder in itself. Inside, vast galleries display over 8,000 modern Southeast Asian artworks. Wander around the airy exhibition spaces and admire works by pioneer Singaporean artists like Cheong Soo Pieng and Georgette Chen. You’ll need more than a few hours to explore the entire museum. Head to the Keppel Centre for Art Education where the kids can get creative with a range of artful and active learning activities. When you need to re-energize, the museum has several casual cafés and fine dining restaurants. Head up to the rooftop cocktail bar, Smoke and Mirrors, for a quiet drink and spectacular views of the city. Don’t forget to use your pass to get free access to the National Gallery Singapore. Your pass also allows you to join complimentary tours like Highlights of the Gallery and Building Highlights Beyond their exhibitions and programs, National Gallery Singapore houses a range of art-inspired shops and restaurants, including the three MICHELIN-starred Odette, and one MICHELIN-starred Art. Top Tip: Avoid long queues and visit on a weekday and book your tickets in advance. Opening hours: Mon – Thu: 10AM – 7PM Fri: 10AM – 9PM Sat - Sun: 10AM – 7PM   ArtScience Museum No matter what your age, visiting Singapore’s ArtScience Museum is a must! Based in a striking building overlooking Marina Bay, the museum brings together culture and technology in fascinating ways. Wander around internationally acclaimed exhibitions that explore the fusion of art and science with some amazing interactive multimedia. You can’t miss the museum building. Designed by Israeli architect Moshe Safdie, it looks like a gently unfurling lotus flower. Inside, the art continues with a variety of world-class exhibitions. Marvel at works by Eames, Dalí, Warhol, and Van Gogh or travel back in time to the world of dinosaurs and Genghis Khan. You’ll also find film sets and props from blockbuster films like Harry Potter and Titanic. Don’t miss the interactive journey of lights, digital art, and magic show designed by Japanese arts collective teamLab. The ArtScience Museum is part of the luxurious Marina Bay Sands complex. Why not head up to the CÉ LA VI SkyBar on the 57th floor of Marina Bay Sands for a drink against a backdrop of breathtaking vistas. Use your pass to enjoy a complimentary drink and kick back and enjoy the views. Opening hours: Daily: 10AM – 7PM   Asian Civilisations Museum Singapore is a cultural melting pot and one of the best places to delve into its rich multicultural roots is at the Asian Civilisations Museum. You’ll find the museum at the stunning Empress Place, fittingly located at the mouth of the Singapore River, once the center of global trade. Meander around the galleries boasting thousands of artifacts relating to different cultures from around the continent. Gain an integrated perspective of pan-Asian cultures and civilizations and discover how they have come to define Singapore as it is today. When you are done, relax over a coffee at the museum café and take in the beautiful views of the Singapore River and city skyline. Visit the museum store and pick up a few stylish Singaporean design gifts. Remember to use your pass to gain free access to this museum. Opening hours: Daily: 10AM – 7PM Fri: 10AM – 9PM Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum The Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum is a treasure trove of natural history and museum that needs a few hours of exploration. An impressive collection of more than 2,000 specimens of Southeast Asian fauna and flora is spread across two floors and 15 zones. You’ll find a wealth of fascinating finds from the skeleton of a sperm whale to 150-million-year-old dinosaur fossils. Apollonia, Prince and Twinky - three humungous dinosaur skeletons greet you in the main atrium of the museum and your journey through the history of the natural world begins. Wander through themed galleries of fungi, plants, and mammals; get up close to dinosaur bones, and see the largest species of turtle ever recorded. Take a stroll through the museum’s beautifully themed gardens from mangroves to dryland swamps and marvel at the cliff-like façade and living museum of local plants on the front of the building. Opening hours: Thu - Sun: 10AM – 5PM   The National Design Centre of Singapore A nexus for all things, the National Design Centre of Singapore is a design lover's paradise. Housed in an art décor building in the trendy Bras Basah-Bugis arts and culture district, the center hosts design exhibitions and events that draw Singapore’s coolest crowd. Discover the evolution of Singaporean design at the permanent exhibit, 50 Years of Singapore Design, or attend one of the many art-centric events promoting Singapore’s design scene. Check out Hong Kong-based cult lifestyle and design boutique, kapok NDC for stylish apparel. After all that browsing and shopping, put your feet up and enjoy a cocktail at Tanuki Raw. Opening hours: Daily: 9AM – 9PM   Indian Heritage Centre The Indian Heritage Centre may not be up there with the big guns, but it’s a great little museum that focuses on Indian and South Asian history and is well worth a visit. Located in the heart of the Little India Heritage District, the four-story Heritage Center features chronologically arranged themed galleries that explore the distinctive Indian cultural heritage of Singapore. Activity spaces and interactive displays add an element of fun and special gallery houses touring exhibitions. You can use your pass to visit this fascinating museum, and don’t forget to swing by the museum shop to pick up a souvenir or two after your visit. Opening hours: Tues - Sun: 10AM – 6PM   Madame Tussauds What would a visit to a major international city be without popping into Madame Tussauds? Head to the Singapore outpost at Imbiah Lookout at Sentosa for a few selfies with the stars. Mingle with the usual coterie of international celebrities in the A-List Party section like Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. You’ll also see local superstars like Gurmit Singh, Jack Neo, and Singapore’s Prime Minister, Lee Hsien Loong. Hop on the Spirit of Singapore Boat Ride for a multi-sensory journey through Singapore's rich culture. Sing and dance with some of Bollywood's top celebs and enjoy a 4D experience with your favorite superhero. Bear in mind you can use your pass to gain free entry into the wax museum and enjoy all the extras at no extra cost! Daily: 10AM – 6PM Tues: 10AM – 5:30PM   Of course, there's a lot more to Singapore than just museums. Fancy seeing all the best Singapore attractions without breaking the bank? Pick up a Singapore Pass and save while you sightsee!
Alex Birungi
Gardens by the Bay light show
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