As fun as Singapore is during the day, the city absolutely comes alive at night. The country has a whole new energy when the sun goes down, one of fun and excitement. I’m a big proponent of experiencing cities at night. Something about strolling through a city while it’s all lit up just scratches an itch within me. While I admit that sometimes cities are more dangerous at night, as long as you use your common sense you should be fine. For this post, I’m going to detail what the top things to do in Singapore at night are. From zoos to clubs to boat rides, this list should give you some ideas of where to go in Singapore at night to have a great time. Let’s dive in!
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Clarke Quay
Singapore’s undisputed party central, Clarke Quay is the epicenter of all things fun, especially at night. Clarke Quay takes its name from Sir Andrew Clarke, Singapore’s second Governor. It used to be the area where the various boats carrying goods to Singapore would dock to have their goods stored in warehouses. At its height, dozens of bumboats would dock in the quay everyday, but this polluted the river. Cargo services were moved to Pasir Panjang, and the river was subsequently cleaned, with the whole Clarke Quay being redeveloped into a nightlife space in 2003.
Now, with its huge selection of bars, clubs, and restaurants, Clarke Quay is the nightlife capital of the city. From the ultra-famous club Zouk to the smaller but equally entertaining clubs of Attica and Canvas, just to name a few, you won’t ever get bored in Clarke Quay. The whole quay comes alive with lights and sounds emanating from every corner, giving the area a festive atmosphere. If you have the guts, be sure to ride the G-Max Reverse Bungy, or order Singapore Slings at the many bars located in the quay. Whatever you choose, you can’t go wrong with a night at Clarke Quay
Singapore River Cruise
Located in Clarke Quay as well, the Singapore River Cruise gives you the chance to ride on a bumboat. These boats, as explained earlier, would ply the Singapore river with goods ready for trade. Now of course they don’t do that anymore, instead being converted into a tourist attraction. This was a highlight of my Singapore trip for me, but I did the cruise during the daytime. I’ve heard, however, that a nighttime cruise is equally as stunning, and doing it at night is now on my bucket list for the next time I visit.
You start at Clarke Quay then ply down the Singapore river until you reach Marina Bay. From there you’ll see the Merlion statue, as well as views of the Marina Bay Sands, the ArtScience Museum, and the Helix Bridge. The whole boat ride takes around 40 minutes, and it is well worth the money if you ask me. Seeing all those iconic Singaporean symbols lit up at night is a sight to behold. Be sure not to miss this unique Singapore nighttime experience.
Night Safari
Probably the greatest attraction to do at night in Singapore, Night Safari is a pioneer in the zoo business as it is the first nocturnal zoological institution in the world. Costing S$63 million and opened in 1994, the zoo houses over 100 species in 6 different zones, of which 41% are threatened. The zones include the Pangolin Trail and the East Lodge Trail, among others. The enclosures are supposed to mimic the animals’ natural habitat. It is supposed to feel like they are just a couple of feet away from you, without any discernible cage.
When I was there, it took me about 5 hours to walk through the entire park. It can get creepy at night, especially when you’re all alone with no other guests around you, but it’s such a unique experience getting to see all these nocturnal animals. The Creatures of the Night show is also worth seeing if you have the time, as is taking the shuttle tour through some of the enclosures. The shuttle tour passes through some enclosures, making you feel like the animals are mere feet away from you. It’s incredibly cool, and worth the price of admission.
Marina Bay Sands SkyPark
Located on the roofdeck of the Marina Bay Sands, the SkyPark is 56 storeys high and offers incredible views of Downtown Singapore and Gardens by the Bay. When I was in Singapore, I did this in the daytime, but I’ve heard that it is equally as spectacular at night, especially on a clear night.
I would actually recommend you come during sunset if you can. This allows you to experience the view in both the daytime and at night. Like I also said, a clear day would be best for experiencing this during sunset so you can see the sky change colors as the sun goes down. The SkyPark is the only way you can go to the roof deck of the Marina Bay Sands unless you are a hotel guest or have a reservation at the restaurant on the roof deck, and in my opinion it’s the best view in all of Singapore, so I would highly recommend it
Gardens by the Bay
Adjacent to the Marina Bay Sands, the Gardens by the Bay is my personal favorite Singaporean attraction. It also looks more spectacular at night. Both the Cloud Forest and the Flower Dome come alive at night with special lighting that transforms the whole space into a mystifying, serene garden. These areas are perfect for sunset as well, but if I had to choose I’d recommend the SkyPark over Gardens by the Bay for sunset.
The highlight of every night at Gardens by the Bay has to be the Garden Rhapsody show that takes place in the Supertree Grove. It’s a light and sound show using the lights on the humongous supertrees that takes place 2-3 times every night, depending on the date. They also customize the show to different holidays or celebrations. The Supertree Grove itself is open until 2am every day, so you can experience these beautiful vertical gardens late into the night.
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