Picture Singapore and there’s a good chance this building is in the shot. Three hotel towers with what looks like a giant ship balanced across the top — that ‘ship’ is the 340-metre SkyPark, and it sits mirrored in the water of Marina Bay. It opened in 2010, designed by architect Moshe Safdie, and honestly, calling it a ‘hotel’ undersells it. Up top there’s the most famous infinity pool on the planet; below it, a public observation deck looking out over the whole city, a 24-hour casino that ranks among the world’s largest, a luxury mall packed with celebrity-chef restaurants, the lotus-shaped ArtScience Museum, and the free Spectra light show that runs every single night — all in one place. This guide walks you through it piece by piece: what’s free and what you pay for, exactly how the casino works, current 2026 prices, and the smartest order to see it all. Pair it with our complete Singapore travel guide to plan the rest of your trip.

1. Why visit Marina Bay Sands

Marina Bay Sands is Singapore’s single most recognisable landmark — an integrated resort of three 55-storey towers crowned by a 340-metre boat-shaped SkyPark, holding a record-breaking infinity pool, a public observation deck, one of the world’s largest casinos, a luxury mall and a museum, all beside the water of Marina Bay. Opened in 2010 and designed by architect Moshe Safdie, it instantly became the symbol of modern Singapore.

What makes it special is that it’s a destination all on its own. You can spend a whole evening here and never do the same thing twice: ride up for the view, swim above the city (if you’re a guest), catch a free light show, shop and eat among celebrity-chef restaurants, lose track of time in an immersive digital-art museum, or try your luck in the 24-hour casino. And a lot of it is free or cheap. It also sits right in the heart of the Marina Bay loop, a short walk from Gardens by the Bay and the Merlion.

2. The iconic building & the SkyPark

The genius of Marina Bay Sands is its silhouette: three curving towers that lean together and support a single 340-metre ‘sky boat’ — the SkyPark — cantilevering 67 metres past the north tower, one of the largest public cantilevers in the world.

Designed by Moshe Safdie and opened in 2010, the resort cost around US$8 billion, making it one of the most expensive standalone buildings ever built. The one-hectare SkyPark on top spans all three towers and holds gardens, restaurants, the observation deck and the famous infinity pool. From the ground, the towers and the floating SkyPark reflected in the bay are Singapore’s defining image; from the top, you get a 360-degree panorama over the city, the harbour and Gardens by the Bay. It’s worth pausing on the waterfront promenade just to take in the scale before you go inside.

3. SkyPark Observation Deck (tickets & views)

The SkyPark Observation Deck on Level 57 is the public viewpoint at the top of Marina Bay Sands, with a sweeping panorama over Marina Bay, the city skyline, the harbour and Gardens by the Bay.

Tickets are around S$35 for an adult on non-peak days and about S$39 on peak days, with concession (child/senior) tickets roughly S$31–35 and family packages (2 adults + 2 children) from about S$110; prices change, so confirm before you go. It’s open daily 11am–9pm. The deck is at its best around sunset and into the evening, when the skyline and Gardens by the Bay light up and you can watch the Supertree show from above. Remember the observation deck does not include the infinity pool, which is for hotel guests only. For an alternative elevated view, the rooftop bars on the SkyPark (such as Cé La Vi) let you enjoy the panorama with a drink.

4. The SkyPark Infinity Pool (hotel guests only)

The 150-metre SkyPark Infinity Pool is the world’s largest rooftop infinity pool and Marina Bay Sands’ most famous image — but it is exclusively for registered hotel guests, who enter with their room keycard.

An observation deck ticket won’t get you in, and neither will any day pass; the only way to swim here is to book a night at the hotel. The pool sits 57 floors up, its edge seeming to melt straight into the skyline, and it’s open to guests from about 6am to midnight, with poolside food and drinks through the day. If swimming above the city is on your bucket list, work a Marina Bay Sands stay into your plans — and see our guide to where to stay in Singapore to compare the price with other areas. If you’re not staying over, don’t worry: minus the swim, the observation deck gives you almost exactly the same view.

5. Spectra — the free light & water show

Spectra is a free, nightly light-and-water show on the Event Plaza along the Marina Bay Sands waterfront — a 15-minute spectacle of dancing fountains, lights, lasers, mist and an orchestral soundtrack.

Shows run at 8pm and 9pm from Sunday to Thursday, with an additional 10pm show on Friday and Saturday. It’s completely free — just find a spot along the promenade by the water; arrive 10–15 minutes early on weekends for a front position. The towering water jets and projected colour against the backdrop of the illuminated skyline make it one of the best free things to do in Singapore at night, and it pairs perfectly with the nearby Gardens by the Bay Supertree light show for a full evening of free spectacle.

6. The Casino — a complete guide

The Marina Bay Sands casino is one of the largest in the world — about 160,000 square feet (15,000 m²) over four gaming levels, open 24 hours a day, with roughly 700 gaming tables and 2,500 slot machines. Here is exactly how it works for visitors.

Entry & ID: foreign visitors enter free of charge but must show a valid passport — no other form of identification is accepted. Singapore citizens and Permanent Residents must pay a government Casino Entry Levy of S$150 for 24 hours or S$3,000 for a year. You must be at least 21 years old to enter.

Dress code: smart casual is required. Flip-flops, slippers, casual short pants and sleeveless shirts for men are not allowed, so dress neatly. Photography is not permitted on the gaming floor, and large bags may need to be checked in.

The games: the floor is dominated by Baccarat (by far the most popular game in Asia), alongside Roulette, Blackjack, Sic Bo (a dice game), Poker and a huge bank of slot machines and electronic table games. Table minimums vary widely, from accessible tables to very high-limit rooms. Premium and VIP players have dedicated high-limit areas (Ruby, Paiza) and private gaming rooms on the upper levels, and there is at least one non-smoking gaming level for comfort.

Play responsibly: Singapore takes responsible gambling seriously — the local entry levy exists partly to discourage casual gambling among residents. Set a firm budget, treat any losses as the cost of entertainment, and never gamble money you can’t afford to lose. Help resources are available on-site and through the National Council on Problem Gambling.

7. The Shoppes & the canal (sampan rides & Rain Oculus)

The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands is a vast luxury mall with over 80 dining outlets and a full line-up of designer boutiques, built around an indoor canal you can cruise on a sampan boat.

Beyond the high-end shopping, the highlight is the atrium: a canal runs through the lower level where you can take a gentle sampan ride (a small flat-bottomed boat) past the shopfronts, much like a mini Venice. At the heart of the mall is the Rain Oculus, a 22-metre acrylic bowl through which rainwater swirls and pours down two storeys into the canal in a spectacular indoor waterfall — time your visit for a ‘Rain Oculus’ show. It’s an easy, air-conditioned escape from the heat, and you don’t need to spend a cent to enjoy the architecture, the canal and the waterfall.

8. Celebrity-chef dining & restaurants

Marina Bay Sands is one of Singapore’s premier dining destinations, with a roster of celebrity-chef restaurants alongside dozens of casual options across The Shoppes and the resort.

Big names include Bread Street Kitchen by Gordon Ramsay, CUT by Wolfgang Puck, Waku Ghin by Tetsuya Wakuda, Maison by Daniel Boulud and Spago on the SkyPark, plus rooftop bars with skyline views. There are also more affordable choices — a food court, cafes and casual restaurants — so you can eat well at almost any budget. For a sit-down dinner with a view, book ahead, especially on weekends. And if you want the real local flavour at a fraction of the price, the city’s hawker centres are a short ride away and unbeatable value.

9. ArtScience Museum

The lotus-shaped ArtScience Museum beside the towers is one of Singapore’s most striking buildings and a genuinely worthwhile attraction, blending art, science and technology in immersive exhibitions.

Its permanent highlight is teamLab: Future World, a vast immersive digital-art playground of interactive light, projection and sound that children and adults both love (note that selected areas are temporarily closed 15 June–28 August 2026 for enhancements). Alongside it, the museum runs major rotating exhibitions spanning nature, design, science and pop culture. Tickets are bought per exhibition or as a combo; allow 1.5–2 hours. The petal-like ‘fingers’ of the building also channel rainwater into a central oculus, mirroring the Rain Oculus inside The Shoppes — architecture as part of the experience.

10. Digital Light Canvas & more

On the basement level of The Shoppes, the Digital Light Canvas by teamLab is an immersive interactive floor where light, fish and flowers respond to your movements — a quick, photogenic stop, especially for families.

Visitors walk across a mirrored, glowing floor where digital fish gather around your feet and flowers bloom and scatter as you move, with several themed shows through the day. It’s a small but memorable experience, and easy to combine with a sampan ride and the Rain Oculus nearby. Together these make the lower level of The Shoppes an attraction in its own right, beyond the shopping.

11. Staying at Marina Bay Sands

The Marina Bay Sands hotel has around 2,560 rooms and suites across its three towers, and the single biggest reason to stay is access to the world-famous SkyPark Infinity Pool, which non-guests can never use.

Rooms are pricey and book up fast — especially bay-view rooms and anything around the Formula 1 weekend, Chinese New Year and year-end. But guests get the real payoff: full run of the pool and SkyPark, a choice of restaurants and bars, and a central spot with Bayfront MRT and The Shoppes right downstairs. If a night here is on your wishlist, book early, then compare it with other neighbourhoods in our where to stay in Singapore guide. A popular move is to split your trip — one night at Marina Bay for the wow factor, the rest in a cheaper area to save money.

12. Tickets & prices (2026)

Much of Marina Bay Sands is free; you only pay for the observation deck, the museum and your own shopping or dining. Approximate 2026 prices below change often, so confirm on the official site or a reseller before you go.

Booking the observation deck and museum online in advance is usually a little cheaper and lets you choose a time slot.

13. Best time to visit & how long

The ideal plan is to arrive in the late afternoon, explore the air-conditioned Shoppes and ArtScience Museum during the heat, ride up for sunset, then stay for the 8pm Spectra light show.

Allow 2–3 hours for the highlights (deck, mall, light show) or a half to full day to add the museum, a meal and the casino. The observation deck and waterfront are quietest on weekday evenings and busiest on weekends and public holidays, especially around show times. Singapore is hot and humid year-round, so the indoor mall and museum are a welcome midday escape, and an umbrella is handy for a sudden tropical shower. The whole area is gorgeous after dark, when the towers, skyline and Gardens by the Bay all light up.

14. How to get there

The easiest way to reach Marina Bay Sands is the MRT to Bayfront station, which connects directly into The Shoppes via an underground link — you arrive without ever stepping outside.

By MRT: take the Circle or Downtown Line to Bayfront station and follow signs to The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands. On foot: it’s a scenic 10-minute walk from Gardens by the Bay across the Dragonfly Bridge, or a stroll around the bay from the Merlion and the Civic District. By taxi/Grab: drop-offs are at the hotel lobby and the mall. The resort sits at the centre of the Marina Bay loop, so it’s easy to combine with Gardens by the Bay, the Merlion and the ArtScience Museum on foot. For fares, passes and the full network, see our Singapore MRT & transport guide.

15. Tips & what’s nearby

A little planning makes a Marina Bay Sands visit smoother — and it sits at the heart of the Marina Bay loop, surrounded by more of Singapore’s best sights.

• Book the observation deck and ArtScience Museum online to save a little and pick a time slot.
• Come late afternoon: indoor attractions in the heat, sunset on the deck, then the 8pm Spectra show.
• Remember the infinity pool is hotel-guests-only — book a stay if you want to swim.
• For the casino: bring your passport, dress smart casual, be 21+, and set a firm budget.
• The free Spectra show and the promenade let you enjoy MBS on any budget.
• Combine your visit with Gardens by the Bay, the Merlion and the Helix Bridge, all within walking distance.

Once you’ve explored Marina Bay Sands, use our complete Singapore travel guide to plan the rest of your trip — including the adjacent Gardens by the Bay, where to stay and how to get around.

Frequently asked questions

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