Singapore River Cruise - When, Where and More Travel Tips

The Singapore River at sundown is a very romantic sight.
Enjoy it on an evening cruise.

On a Singapore River cruise, you can leisurely enjoy this very historic part of Singapore.

Beautiful heritage buildings. The CBD skyline. The Marina Bay skyline. Quaintly lit bridges. Lively riverfront restaurants and bars.

Sit back and let your guide explain how they have all come together. Enchanting.

The cruises on the Singapore River are basically run by 2 different companies:

1. Singapore River Cruises & Leisure
   
   
2. Hippo Tours Group.

Here, you see a Singapore River cruise bumboat pulling up at a jetty.

• Re-engineered electric-powered bumboats. Similar to those used for carrying good pre-1970s, but minus the fumes and noise.

• Hybrid solar-electric-powered modern boats. Partly-covered, partly open-topped. Walking around permitted.

• Recorded commentary.

• Commentary by on-boat guide.

• 9am - 11pm, daily.
  (Last boat at 10.30pm.)

• 9am - 10pm, daily.

For 40- & 60-minute cruises:

• Merlion Park (down-river)
• Fullerton Hotel
• Raffles Landing Site
  
• Boat Quay
• Riverside Point
• Liang Court (up-river)

For the 60-minute cruise only:

• Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel
• Robertson Quay

• Clarke Quay
  (near G Max Reverse Bungy)
  
  
• Esplanade Waterfront Promenade
  (near Makansutra Gluttons Bay)

• Take the MRT to Raffles Place Station. Take Exit H. Follow the river to Fullerton Hotel booth.

• Take the MRT to Clarke Quay Station. Take Exit E and cross the bridge to the jetty.

Cruise Options

Singapore River Cruise

Hippo River Cruise

• Duration: 40 minutes
  
  
• Prices:
  Adult: $17, Child: $10
  
  
• Route:
  The 40-minute cruise plies between Liang Court and Merlion Park at Marina Bay.
  
  You may start at any jetty and end at the same jetty.
  

• Duration: 30 minutes
  
  
• Prices:
  Adult: $18, Child: $13
  (Child = 3-12 years old)
  
  
• Route:
  The cruise starts at Clarke Quay, makes a loop near the Esplanade at Marina Bay, and goes back to Clarke Quay.
  
  You may start at either jetty and end at the same jetty.

• Duration: 60 minutes
  
  
• Prices:
  Adult: $22, Child: $12
  
  
• The 60-minute cruise includes the 40-minute route.
  
  But it goes farther up-river to Robertson Quay and covers newer sections on the River.

• Not available.

• Prices:
  $4 for a short trip
  $8 for a medium trip
  $16 for a long trip
  
  
• These are one way trips from any of the jetties listed above.

• Not available.

• Not available.

• Prices: Adult: $23, Child: $13
  VALUE!
  
  
• Unlimited boat travel between jetties up till 10pm.

1. To get closer to the sights on the River?
   
   You may want to do a half-cruise half-walking-tour combo. For example, you could start with a one-way River Taxi from Liang Court to Merlion Park, which will give you an overview of the Singapore River.
   
   Thereafter, you could take a walking tour of the River in the reverse direction, stopping at wherever you fancy.
   
   
   
2. The best time to take the cruise?
   
   Start the cruise between 7pm and 7.30pm.
   
   Why?
   
   It is not too hot. The sky is not too dark. The lights on the bridges and buildings have just come on. The silhouettes of the skyscrapers are at their most interesting. And if there are clouds, there'll be hues of pink, orange and blue. You get the idea... ;-)
   
   
   
3. If you are at the Marina Bay malls or the Singapore Flyer?
   
   To start a cruise, there's no need to travel all the way to a jetty at the Singapore River. The Esplanade Jetty (by Hippo Cruise) is just a 10-15 minute walk away.
   
   
   
4. If you plan on spending a day at Singapore River and Marina Bay?
   
   Buy the Hippo River Day Pass. VALUE!
   
   With the Day Pass, you may cruise the River day and night - and see the difference.
   
   Stop at the Esplanade Jetty to shop at the Marina Bay malls, catch a show at the Esplanade Theatres or ride the Singapore Flyer. Then slow down with a reverse cruise to Clarke Quay, have a tipple and dine by a riverside restaurant. At twilight, have another cruise. And more...