Clarke Quay and Riverside Attractions

Singapore Flyer

Meet the world’s largest Giant Observation Wheel – the Singapore Flyer. It is a one-of-a-kind experience in Asia. Built over a three-story terminal building, Singapore Flyer is 150 metres in diameter, 165 metres in height and travels at 0.21m per second. Each of its 28 city-bus-sized air-conditioned capsules can carry up to 28 passengers and a complete rotation of the wheel takes approximately 30 minutes.

The panoramic views from the top are impressive – passengers can see the Singapore River, Raffles Place, Merlion Park, Empress Place and even a glimpse of neighbouring Malaysia and Indonesia. But there's more to the Singapore Flyer: experience many of its fine-dining locations, fun shopping opportunities and lifestyle venues including the Seafood Paradise @ Flyer (famous for its chili crab, butter crab, cereal prawns and drunken prawns) and a fish 'foot spa' where imported ‘garra rufa’ turkey fish 'pedicure' your feet.

G-Max Reverse Bungy

The most adrenalin-inducing activity in Singapore has got to be the G-Max Reverse Bungy, Singapore’s first ever bungy. Be launched skywards at 200km per hour to a height of 60 metres for approximately five minutes; the experience is not unlike being an astronaut in a rocket launch. Also for a few more dollars extra, riders can get a T-shirt and a DVD recording of themselves in action, taken by an on-board camera.

Statues of Sir Stamford Raffles

The city-state has two statues of Sir Stamford Raffles, recognised as Singapore’s founder. Sir Raffles' dark bronze statue stands tall in front of Victoria Theatre. Its replica, made in pure white poly-marble, stands at North Boat Quay to mark the spot where he first land ed on the island in 1819. Both areas are popular with locals, especially on cool evenings.

Singapore River

The Singapore River, which cuts through the heart of the city, was for many decades the main artery of trade and commerce for the British. Today, the stately Victorian and neo-classical Roman structures still stand proudly along the river banks, but they jostle for space with the many concrete-and-glass skyscrapers that have shot up in more modern times.

The best way to view many of the buildings, statues, monuments and museums that Singapore has inherited from its colonial past is to take a walk along the Singapore River, or a river-boat tour that starts at Clarke Quay. This half-hour tour costs SG$ 9 per adult and SG$ 4 per child, and leaves at 09:00 - 23:00 daily. You will be brought along the Singapore River on an old bum-boat, the kind that used to navigate up and down the river in colonial times.

Most of the colonial buildings and monuments are on the north side of the river, the central Business District and its plethora of skyscrapers occupying the southern bank. Many of them are clustered around the City Hall and Raffles Place MRTs, so if you're taking a walk just exit from these stations.

At the mouth of the Singapore River stands a statue of the Merlion, a half-lion, half-fish mythical beast that has come to symbolise Singapore. The Merlion, which spouts water from its mouth, has a (much larger) cousin in Sentosa Island.

Heading upriver, you will see the historic Anderson and Cavenagh Bridges. Cavenagh Bridge, built in 1869 and now for pedestrians only, leads to Empress Place, which was named in honour of Queen Victoria. At Empress Place, you will find the elegant Victoria Concert Hall, where classical concerts by the Singapore Symphony Orchestra are held regularly.

There's also a cosy cafe here that's open throughout the day and serves good ol' Brit fare like fish and chips and chicken chops, besides local spring rolls and curry puffs. Next to the concert hall is Victoria Theatre, where local and foreign plays are a regular feature. Outside the theatre is a dark bronze cast statue of Stamford Raffles, officially unveiled in 1887.

The imposing Empress Place building, built in1865, was once a court house and is now being refurbished to house the Second Wing of the Asian Civilisations Museum. Nearby, next to the river, is the spot where Raffles landed in Singapore. This event is commemorated by a another statue of Raffles, this time in white marble and built in 1972, set at the site where he first set foot on the island.

Hugging the sides of the river are Boat Quay and Clarke Quay, which have experienced a renaissance in recent years. But while they were formerly streets teeming with sailors and coolies loaded with ships' cargo, today, the many godowns and shophouses that line the river have been renovated into trendy restaurants and bars. Read more about these in our food and dining section.