Merlion Park Tours and Tickets

There are plenty of ways to experience Merlion Park. Looking at ratings and reviews previously given by customers, these are the best tours available right now:

• Lion City Bike Tour of Singapore

• Small Group: Singapore Street Food & Night Tour with 9 Tastings

• Singapore River Cruise, Night Garden Rhapsody & Spectra by CYT

• Singapore Marina Bay Small Group Night Cycling Tour

• Singapore River Cruise and 2 Must-See Water Light Shows

Merlion Park is free, but some travelers opt to visit on a Singapore city tour. Prices start at about US$65 per person for a bike tour, US$90 for a food walking tour, and US$400 per group for a private tour by car.

Yes, Merlion Park is worth visiting: It's home to Singapore's national symbol, the Merlion, a half-lion half-fish creation that combines the city's origins as a fishing village with the meaning of its name, "the Lion City." That makes it an essential Singapore photo stop. Whether you walk, cycle, or ride in a car, visiting as part of a city tour that adds in other attractions can help you maximize your time, along with enriching your understanding of the country.

Per one customer who booked the Lion City Bike Tour of Singapore, "I had an amazing experience on my cycle tour!... Our guide Holden was friendly, knowledgeable, and shared interesting stories about Singapore's history and culture that you wouldn't learn on your own. Cycling through the city was a fantastic way to explore different landmarks. The route felt safe and comfortable. The pace was just right—not too fast, not too slow—and we had plenty of opportunities to stop for photos and questions. I especially loved seeing both the modern skyline and the traditional areas in one trip. It gave me a deeper appreciation of Singapore beyond the usual tourist spots."

With a head of a lion and the body of a fish, the Merlion is the national icon of Singapore. The lion refers to Singapore’s original name—according to legend, a Malay prince spotted a lion and renamed the island Singapura (City of the Sea Lion). The fish symbolizes Singapore’s beginnings as a fishing village.

The new Merlion Park was built in its current location in 2002 when the Merlion was moved from its original location 394 feet (120 meters) away. Views of the Merlion were blocked when the Esplanade Bridge was built. Singapore's original Merlion Park was built in 1972 to showcase the Merlion.

No, you cannot enter or climb the Merlion statue in Merlion Park. You can get close to the statue or view it from the nearby jetty. There used to be a large Merlion on Sentosa that visitors could enter and take an elevator to the top, but it was demolished in 2019.

Merlion Park is open 24 hours a day. It’s free to enter Merlion Park and to view both the 28-foot (9-meter) Merlion statue, which spouts water into Marina Bay, and the smaller 6.6-foot (2-meter) Merlion cub statue that sits in a fountain behind the main statue.

You can visit Merlion Park and the Merlion 24 hours a day. For the best lighting and photos, visit around sunrise, sunset, and at night, when the Merlion and nearby buildings are all illuminated. To avoid crowds at this popular attraction, visit very early in the morning or very late at night.

Yes, there are currently six authorized Merlion statues in Singapore. In addition to the original Merlion statue and a smaller Merlion cub in Merlion Park, there is one statue at Tourism Court, one at Faber Point on Mt. Faber, and a pair of statues at Ang Mo Kio.

There are tons of things to do when you're done visiting Merlion Park. According to travelers, these are some of the top attractions in Singapore:

• Gardens by the Bay

• Supertree Grove at Gardens by the Bay

• Little India

• Boat Quay

• Esplanade–Theatres on the Bay

View Viator's guide to all the best attractions in Singapore.