Merlion Park
Home of the Merlion statue, looking across Marina Bay to the city skyline.
- Time needed
- 30–45 minutes
- Best time
- Early morning or evening
- Cost
- Free
The story
Merlion Park is home to the iconic Merlion statue, a mythical creature with a lion's head and a fish's body that has become Singapore's national symbol. The original statue was designed in the 1960s and unveiled in 1972; it was later relocated to its present waterfront spot at Marina Bay in 2002. The lion's head recalls the city's name, from the Malay 'Singapura' meaning 'Lion City', while the fish body nods to its origins as a fishing village.
What to see & do
- 01The 8.6-metre Merlion statue spouting water into Marina Bay.
- 02The smaller 'Merlion cub' statue standing just behind the original.
- 03Panoramic views across the bay to Marina Bay Sands and the skyline.
- 04The classic forced-perspective photo of 'catching' the Merlion's water spout.
- 05The waterfront promenade linking to nearby Esplanade and the CBD.
Make the most of your visit
- Arrive early morning or late evening to avoid the busiest tour-group crowds.
- The park is free and open, so there is no ticket needed.
- Try the classic forced-perspective shot 'catching' the water in your hand.
- Visit after dark for great photos of the illuminated bay skyline.
- Combine it with a walk along the promenade to Esplanade or the CBD.
Getting there
Take the MRT to Raffles Place station and walk toward the waterfront, or alight at Esplanade or Bayfront and stroll along the promenade. It is an easy walk from the surrounding downtown stations.
Nearest MRT stations- Raffles Place MRT Station7.8 min walk
- Esplanade MRT Station9.8 min walk
- City Hall MRT Station11 min walk
- Downtown MRT Station12.7 min walk
Walk times are real pedestrian routing (OSRM) from the attraction to each station entrance, not straight-line estimates.
Where to eat nearby — hawker centres
- Capitaspring10.2 min
- Hong Lim Complex15.1 min
- Mnd Complex (annexe B)18.2 min
- Maxwell Food Centre20.4 min
- Chinatown Complex21.4 min
Eat & stay nearby
Top-rated restaurants and hotels within walking distance of Merlion Park, pulled live from Google. Tap any to open it in Google Maps.
EV charging nearby
Driving an EV? The nearest public charging points to Merlion Park, from Singapore’s LTA charger registry.
- Parkroyal Collection Marina Bay, SingaporeSp Mobility Pte. Ltd.· up to 50 kW· DC fast601 m
- The Sail @ Marina BayVolt Singapore Pte. Ltd.· up to 11 kW701 m
- Marina Bay ResidencesNovowatt Pte. Ltd.· up to 22 kW800 m
- Raffles City Shopping CentreSp Mobility Pte. Ltd.· up to 250 kW· DC fast804 m
Distances are straight-line from the attraction. See the full EV charger map →
More to see within walking distance
Itineraries that include Merlion Park
See how visitors fit Merlion Park into a day — with what to pair it with, when to go and real traveller notes.
Staying in the area
Renting or buying near here? These stations have HDB blocks ranked by walk time and liveability: