Singapore River was important to the former British colony from the very beginning, when it served as a trade route to the inner parts of the island. By the late 20th century, it became polluted, and efforts were made to clean up the waters. Today, the river has given up its value in trade to become a vital tourism spot, serving as a scenic backdrop to heritage sites, fine dining, and party places near the city center.

The best place to start touring the river is at the mouth, where the Merlion resides. At 8.6 meters in height and 70 tons in weight, this half-lion, half-fish symbol of the island nation spits water continuously inside Merlion Park. Don’t forget to pay respect to the smaller Merlion statue just 28 meters besides it, as well. Nearby is Cavenagh Bridge, Singapore’s oldest bridge, allowing people to cross over the mouth. Riding the Singapore Flyer, the world’s tallest observation wheel at the moment, will give a great view of the mouth of the river. Another, more adventurous way to admire the surrounding is through the G-Max Reverse Bungy in Clarke Quay. Customers get strapped in and flung upwards with a huge rubber band at 200 kph, and those who are able to keep their wits about and their lunch in can enjoy the scenery from up above.

If you happen to spot a durian-shaped edifice in Marina Bay, you found Esplanade Theaters on the Bay, Singapore’s answer to the Sydney Opera House. Opera and classical concerts are common fare at the Esplanade, where a theater, art gallery, concert hall, and studios are house under its spiked domes. Budget travelers can enjoy free outdoor productions during weekends at the outdoor riverside stage.

The next place to visit is the Raffles Statue, which is next to the Asian Civilizations Museum at Empress Place. Resting nobly with skyscapers acting as the backdrop, this statue supposedly marks the exact spot where Sir Stamford Raffles first landed on Singapore. The Asian Civilizations Museum itself is one of the city’s newest and largest museums, dedicated to covering the scope of Asian culture, with the countries surrounding Singapore given particular emphasis. The Museum used to be the Empress Place Building, which served as a court house, immigration department, and government office at different times in the past. Nowadays, the building plays host to various exhibits, such as a special gallery which is dedicated to the peoples and places along the Singapore River. Close to these sights is Elgin Bridge, which opened in 1926 to link the Chinese merchants on one side of the river to the Indian merchants on the other side. Many statues adorn the banks, which represent the growth of the surrounding area from a sleepy settlement to a bustling metropolis.

Once night takes hold of the city, there’s no better place for visitors to find themselves I in than by the riverside. The main party districts are Boat Quay on the south of the river and Clarke Quay on the north bank. Once warehouse shophouse districts that serve the river traffic ages ago, these areas have now been transformed into Singapore’s nightlife central. Bars, theme clubs, and restaurants open and close here in dizzying pace, so that visitors can come back again and again and find new experiences each time.

The best way to tour Singapore River is through bumboats and the Singapore River Cruises. No reservation is needed; just simply hop onboard at one of the many riverbank terminals. If you prefer a walking tour of the sights, the nearest MRT stations to the riverside are at Raffles Place and Clarke Quay, while the nearest terminal to Marina Bay is at City Call. From there, take the long underground footpath past Esplanade and Suntec. Visit during the dry season to avoid the monsoon rains. Though shoppers can spend time in places like Suntec City and electronics place Funan DigitaLife Mall, they are better off among the mall-to-mall concentration along Orchard Road.

Posted in Attractions, Singapore

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