Singapore River cruise: tickets, timings and when to go

In 40 minutes you see where the city began and what it has become. And you don't walk a step in the heat.

The boats are electric, so the ride is quiet. It's a good first evening in Singapore, it works well with children, and it's a nice break after a day on your feet. Skip it only if you want a long cruise or the open sea. This one stays on the river and the bay.

Singapore River Cruise sails the classic bumboats, with painted faces on their bows. It has run on the river since 1987.

• Board at: Clarke Quay, Read Bridge (also at Clarke Quay), Clifford Pier, or Bayfront South by Marina Bay Sands.
• Times: Clarke Quay from 11am Monday to Thursday and from 10am Friday to Sunday. Clifford Pier and Bayfront South from 10.30am to 9pm. Read Bridge from 1pm, with the last boat at 10pm.
• Good for: an early or a late ride.

WaterB runs electric boats and plays a video commentary on board.

• Board at: Clarke Quay (its Fort Canning kiosk, in front of Clarke Quay Block A), Merlion Park, or Bayfront North in front of the ArtScience Museum.
• Times: 2pm to 9pm, with a boat about every 30 minutes.
• Good for: starting right next to the Merlion.

Our advice: take whichever company has a stop near you at the time you want. Before 2pm, that means Singapore River Cruise.

Singapore is close to the equator, so sunset barely moves all year. It falls between about 6.50pm and 7.20pm.

A daytime ride is good for photos of the old buildings. It's hot on the water, though, so bring a hat and a drink.

Plan around the rain. From October to November and from late March to May, storms often build in the afternoon and early evening. December to early January brings longer spells of heavy rain, according to the Meteorological Service Singapore. The boats may wait out a storm or move your trip, so if storms are forecast, go earlier in the day.

Spectra is a free 15-minute show of fountains, lasers and music over Marina Bay. It runs at 8pm and 9pm every night, with an extra show at 10pm on Fridays and Saturdays. Times change on some nights, so check the Spectra page first.

You can watch it from the Event Plaza in front of Marina Bay Sands, or from a boat. Both companies run an evening cruise for it, and both cost more than a normal ride:

• Singapore River Cruise's Laser Show Cruise boards at its Clarke Quay jetty at 7.30pm and 8.30pm. Tickets are sold only at that jetty, and there's no refund if the show is cancelled.
• WaterB's Marina Bay Light Show Cruise leaves its Fort Canning kiosk at Clarke Quay and runs from 7.30pm to 8.30pm. If the show breaks down, you get part of your money back.

If you only have one evening, the light show cruise does both in an hour. With more time, here's the evening we'd suggest:

1. Board at Clarke Quay about half an hour before sunset.
2. Back on land, have dinner by the river at Clarke Quay or Boat Quay.
3. Before 9pm, head to the Event Plaza for Spectra. The nearest MRT station is Bayfront (CE1/DT16).

Next comes Elgin Bridge. It stands where the first bridge across the river was built in the 1820s. Then the low shophouses of Boat Quay line the bank, with tables at the water's edge.

Across the river is a white statue of Stamford Raffles. It marks roughly where he is believed to have landed in 1819. Just after it is Cavenagh Bridge, a white suspension bridge from 1869. Look for the old signs at each end that still ban cattle and horses. Together with Anderson and Elgin bridges, it's protected as a National Monument.

Then the river opens up. The Merlion, Singapore's half-lion, half-fish symbol, spouts water at the river mouth. Across the bay sit the two spiky domes of the Esplanade, which locals call the durian. Straight ahead is Marina Bay Sands, its three towers joined by the SkyPark on top.

The boat turns in the bay and brings you back the same way, so you get a second look at everything.

Then came the big clean-up. In 1977, Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew gave the environment ministry ten years to clean the river. The boatmen moved out to Pasir Panjang, and the job was declared done in 1987.

That same year, Singapore River Cruise brought the bumboats back, this time for passengers. Since 2008 they've run on electric motors. The boats that once carried rice now carry sightseers, quietly.

You don't need to book a normal ride ahead. Both companies sell tickets at their jetties and kiosks. Singapore River Cruise welcomes walk-ins, and WaterB takes them when there's space.

If you'd like it sorted before you fly, book a 40-minute river cruise ticket from Clarke Quay. The page shows the current price, and the e-ticket arrives by email the day before your date. If you live in Singapore, ask about local rates at the counter.

A few tips:

• Getting there. For Clarke Quay, take the MRT to Fort Canning (DT20). For the Merlion, use Raffles Place (EW14/NS26). For the Marina Bay Sands side, use Bayfront (CE1/DT16).
• Time. Allow about an hour: 40 minutes on the water, plus buying a ticket and boarding.
• What to bring. Water and a hat by day, and an umbrella from October to January.
• Children. Children's fares start at age 3. Singapore River Cruise counts children up to 11, WaterB up to 12.

About 40 minutes. WaterB's evening light show cruise takes about an hour.

How much does a Singapore River cruise cost?

Prices change from time to time, so check the current price on our river cruise ticket page. Children pay less from age 3. The light show cruises cost more than a normal ride.

Can I take a river cruise in the morning?

Yes, with Singapore River Cruise. Its Clarke Quay jetty opens at 11am Monday to Thursday and 10am Friday to Sunday. Clifford Pier and Bayfront South start at 10.30am. WaterB starts at 2pm.

Where do the boats leave from?

Clarke Quay is the easiest place to start, as both companies board there. Singapore River Cruise also leaves from Read Bridge, Clifford Pier and Bayfront South. WaterB also leaves from Merlion Park and Bayfront North.

Can you see the light show from the boat?

Yes, on the evening light show cruises. They leave at 7.30pm, and Singapore River Cruise has a second one at 8.30pm. You can also watch the show for free from the Event Plaza.

Is a Singapore River cruise worth it?

For a first trip, yes. It's the easiest way to see the old river and the new skyline in one go, sitting down. If you've already walked the river, try the light show cruise instead.

For an easy first evening, book a river cruise ticket from Clarke Quay for just before sunset, then stay by the river for dinner. Or let someone else plan the night. Our private evening tour with a local guide adds the Marina Bay Sands SkyPark and the Supertree light show at Gardens by the Bay, with a car between stops.