So you’re visiting Singapore but you’re not willing to dish out hundreds if not thousands of S$ to stay at the Marina Bay Sands? I totally get it. But there is so much to do at this iconic Singapore hotel and piece of architectural marvel as well as the adjacent Shoppes at the Marina Bay Sands mall.
From rooftop views to various dining options, amazing light shows and modern architecture, the Marina Bay Sands are part of any visit to Singapore. This blog post encompasses all things Marina Bay Sands…
Things To Do at the Marina Bay Sands
The SkyPark Observation Deck is located in Tower 1 of the MBS, is the rooftop lookout point that allows you to have a stunning view of Singapore’s Marina Bay, Central Business District, Gardens by the Bay, and many parts of the city centre from 198m/650ft (56 storeys). It is also a unique viewpoint for the nightly Spectra Light Show.
Open daily 9am-11pm, though time slots don’t start until 11am; tickets are S$39 adult/S$35 for concession during peak hours of 5pm-9pm or S$35 adult/S$31 for non-peak hours 11am-4:30pm; reserving your ticket/time slot is required. Staff will say that pictures are complimentary; free to take not to keep the print out.
It is windy and hot up there – there is little shade so please protect yourself from the sun. There is also very limited seating and tripods are not allowed, however, I took my small 12 inch tripod and had no issues. Please note that you can only visit the infinity pool if you are a hotel guest at the MBS.
Expect to spend about 45 minutes at this top Singapore attraction. Drinks can be purchased for a mile high price at a stand and gift shop. Here are a few other activities this top Singapore attraction has to offer:
- Sunset in the Sky (for S$118 per person) enjoy private entry/seating, chocolate, champagne, a personalized photo book from 6pm-9pm on Tuesdays-Sundays, excluding PHs and dates outlined on the MBS website. Food items have to be ordered extra a la carte for an extra charge.
- Silent Disco (S$45-S$55 per person) is a monthly event hosted from 10pm-1pm. Not familiar with silent disco? It’s when each patron receives their own pair of wireless earphones and the DJ plays music directly through your earphones, offering multiple channels for varying playlists that can be selected by the user. The Marina Bay Sands also offer an experience like this during full moon!
The only con of the SkyPark is that your photos will obviously not feature the iconic building. You can get a smaller, narrower view for free from Tower 3 of the Marina Bay Sands by visiting the look out spot near the entrance of Ce La Vi.
More attractions offered by the Marina Bay Sands include:
The Shoppes at the Marina Bay Sands features 240 luxury shopping storefronts and 40 dining options across 74,322 square meters/800,000 square feet and three, arguably four, floors. Please note, unless you go to eat, there is virtually no seating in this mall (unless you go outside), so be prepared for a lot of walking and standing; also bring a jacket!
Please don’t forget to check out the floating Apple & Louis Vuitton stores beside the ArtScience Museum! Check out a floor map of this massive complex here. Expos and conventions are also regularly hosted here.
Livewire is a live sport betting bar at the Shoppes at the Marina Bay Sands that’s open daily 10am-10pm, but hours are adjusted based on sporting event times. Must be 21 or over to enter. Smart casual attire is required and capacity is limited.
The Marina Bay Sands Casino is available free (entry) for tourists so long as you prove that you are a visitor to Singapore (Passport/Visa/SG Arrival Card). You must be 21 or older. Gambling in Singapore is different than Las Vegas and elsewhere. The Casino features 600 tables and 3,000 machines. Open 24/7. It is located on the bottom floor of the Shoppes. Be sure to check out casino rules here.
Marquee Night Club is the largest club in Singapore and the only of its brand in Asia. It has hosted various famous DJs and prides itself in having state of the art technology. Tickets for special shows start at S$20 per pax, with the club opening doors at 10pm and closing well into the next morning at 6am, Fridays-Sundays (so Monday mornings).
View this post on Instagram
The Sands Theater for performing arts such as concert shows, musicals, and more. There are also show+dining options available. Click to to learn more.
Sampan Rides are available daily from 11am-9pm right inside the mall, similar to those found in Venice. Ticket pricing is S$11 or S$15 per person; the S$11 price is for non-peak hours (Monday-Thursday). Otherwise, this 30-minute experience is offered daily from 11am-9pm (final ride at 8:30pm). You can even pay extra to see the Rain Oculus in action only on Tuesdays & Thursdays at 1pm, 3pm & 5pm.
Children under 85 cm (2’10”) and pregnant patrons are not permitted to ride.
View this post on Instagram
The Spectra Light Show is a free nightly water, music and light show put on nightly at 8pm & 9pm, as well as 10pm on Fridays & Saturdays. The show lasts about 15 minutes but be sure to get there early to grab a great viewing spot right on the MBS promenade (near the floating Apple store), otherwise known as the Event Plaza.
You are also able to view the show from the SkyPark, from the rooftop pool (if you’re an MBS guest), from a river taxi, as well as from inside the Shoppes. You can also catch small glimpses of it from the Singapore Flyer, the Fullerton Promenade, the Promontory@Marina Bay, the Esplenade Rooftop, and the many other hotels lining the Marina Bay. Please be aware of any changing or additional showtimes on the official MBS homepage prior yo your visit.
Nearby Singapore Attractions:
- Gardens by the Bay
- The Marina Barrage
- ArtScience Museum
- Red Dot Design Museum
- Singapore Boat Taxi
- Singapore Flyer & Formula 1 Circuit
- Singapore Maritime Gallery
- Helix Bridge
- Marina South Promenade & Marina Coastal Park
Room Prices & Amenities
View this post on Instagram
Please note that the infinity pool is for hotel guests only and cannot be accessed for those who are only visiting the SkyPark or the rooftop restaurants.
As for room pricing, standard rooms start at around S$730/night while suites range into the several thousands of S$ per night, typically starting at around S$2,000.
Beside the expected amenities like valet parking, gym, pool, and spa access, you also have access to fitness classes, babysitting, butler services, diet-accommodating menus, and more. Hotels rooms can either have rooms across Gardens by the Bay or the Central Business city skyline/Marina Bay.
Dining Options at the Marina Bay Sands
View this post on Instagram
Dining options at the Marina Bay Sands are abundant, especially when you count all the restaurants, cafes, and food stalls at the Shopped at the Marina Bay Sands. Inside the hotel lobby itself, you’ll find Jin Tang Wan (Chinese), Wakunda Restaurant & Bar (Japanese), Rise (Local Cuisine), SPAGE Bar & Lounge (Western), Origin & Bloom (Cafe & Pastries), The Club (Western), and Blossom Restaurant (Chinese).
On the roof of Tower 1, you’ll find LAVO (Italian) where as on the Tower 3 Rooftop is Ce La Vi (Western & Asian). KOMA is a renowned Asian fine dining establishment located inside the Shoppes at the Marina Bay Sands that is often frequented by celebrities such as Taylor Swift, who reportedly dined here during her extended stay during her Era’s Tour in March 2024.
Be sure to scope out all dining options here, to include what’s available at the Shoppes, inside the Casino, and at the ArtScience Museum. If you are looking for a hawker-style experience, your closest options are at the food court inside the Shoppes, Jurassic Nest Food Hall (Gardens by the Bay), or at Satay by the Bay inside Garden by the Bay’s Kingfisher Wetlands.
TIP: If you plan on dining inside the actual Marina Bay Sands (or on the rooftop), chances are that it’s formal/fine dining with a dress code, at least with certain dress code requirements starting at certain dining hours. Entry costs to the lounge vary based on the day (S$35-S$38) and can be redeemed for food and drinks. Please note the dress code here. You have a better view of the rooftop pool and are actually on the 57th floor, not the 56th like at the SkyPark Observation Deck.
How to Get There
How to get to the Marina Bay Sands and the Shoppes at MBS (there are pedestrian overpasses from the MBS to Gardens by the Bay and the Shoppes):
MRT: Take the Circle Line (CE1) or Downtown Line (DT6) towards BayFront or take bus lines 106, 133, or 97 to the Marina Bay Sands Theater or take bus lines 97, 106, 133, 502, or 518 to the MBS.
BUS: Take a taxi or Grab to the MBS/the Shoppes at MBS. The MBS Hotel is located at 10 Bayfront Avenue, the Shoppes are located at 8 Bayfront Avenue.
Boat Taxi: Take a boat taxi to Bayfront North WaterB kiosk; You are able to take a boat taxi from Merlion Park, the Asian Civilization Museum or anywhere along the Singapore River. Learn more here.
Walk to the MBS from Gardens by the Bay by taking the Dragonfly Bridge, walking across the Dragonfly Pond via the Silver Gardens/Active Garden, or taking the pedestrian and/or vehicle bridges Southeast of the Heritage Gardens/the Dragonfly Bridge.
Conclusions & Final Thoughts
Thank you for checking out this blog post all about the things to do and see at the Marina Bay Sands, Singapore’s most recognizable architectural masterpiece. I hope this helped you gain some tips from someone who has been there done that. Wishing you all the best building your itinerary and have the most amazing trip to Singapore!
Your passion for this topic shines through in your writing It’s clear that you put a lot of effort and thought into your posts Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us